That’s entertainment
Posted: 30 January 2019 Filed under: Artists, Inspiration | Tags: art, books, documentaries, exhibitions, inspiration, podcasts 6 Comments
Hope you’re good and that you are enjoying 2019!
Prints and drawings by Rona Green included in Summer Selection at Australian Galleries 2018-19
Here are a few recommendations for your consideration if you’re looking for some art related entertainment to kick off your year:
Exhibitions
Summer Selection at Australian Galleries
28 and 35 Derby Street, Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia
Until 19 February 2019
A group exhibition of works by Australian Galleries artists
Mirka Mora: Pas De Deux – Drawings and Dolls at Heide Museum of Modern Art
7 Templestowe Road, Bulleen VIC 3105 Australia
Until 24 March 2019
An exhibition commemorating the life and work of Australian artist Mirka Mora which is nothing short of amazing.
Anna Boghiguian at Tate St Ives
St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1TG UK
8 February – 6 May 2019
This retrospective exhibition is on the dream list (if only I could transport myself to the UK à la Star Trek!).
Anna Boghiguian at Museum der Moderne Salzburg
Books − creativity / businessy stuff
Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life by Twyla Tharp
The dancing queen of routine gives you the low down on being productive.
Art Money Success by Maria Brophy
A text book on how to get your arse into gear and make a living as an artist.
On Being An Artist by Michael Craig-Martin
A mix of memoir and instruction this is a candid, enjoyable, useful read.
Books − contemporary art and art history
Old in Art School by Nell Painter
Only recently finished this book and I savoured every word. It is a beautifully written sharing of the ups and downs encountered when choosing to take a new direction in life.
Modernists and Mavericks: Bacon, Freud, Hockney and the London Painters by Martin Gayford
Every book I’ve read written by Martin Gayford I have thoroughly relished, and this one is about some of my favourite artists making it all the more riveting.
Abstract Expressionism has always been of interest to me (especially the work of Helen Frankenthaler), and this book is extremely enlightening.
Books − artists work
Kiki Smith: Prints, Books and Things by Wendy Weitman
Published to accompany an exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, New York in 2003-04 − be sure to check out the accompanying website for the show.
Kerry James Marshall by Charles Gaines, Laurence Rassel and Greg Tate
A marvellous book. You can also learn more about the work of Kerry James Marshall on The Modern Art Notes Podcast (he is fantastic and delightful to listen to) – here and here.
A Printmaker’s Cookbook – Images in Relief by Dianne Fogwell
As Sasha Grishin describes it, this is a “how Fogwell did it book”. Absolutely fabulous.
Dianne Fogwell at Geelong Gallery
Documentaries
Blurred Lines: Inside the Art World directed by Barry Avrich
A tantalising / tormenting exposé depending on your vantage point!
Hairy Who and The Chicago Imagists directed by Leslie Buchbinder
Love!!! As well here is a link to a clip of artist Jim Nutt talking and painting.
You can purchase this series on good ol’ DVD via Amazon, etc., plus the Art21 website has tons of resources to pleasurably trawl through.
You can also watch a short doco about my work if you’ve got 22 minutes to spare.
Gladys Nilsson and Jim Nutt
Podcasts
Talking with Painters hosted by Maria Stoljar
Maria Stoljar asks Australian painters all you ever wanted to know in a relaxed conversational way, and the show notes for this podcast are excellent.
Artists Helping Artists hosted by Leslie Saeta
Almost a decade of AHA episodes to scour for ideas about art marketing as well as plenty of interviews with artists (with a particular focus on plein air painters). Leslie Saeta is always accompanied by a co-host making this an informal yet informative style podcast.
Bench Talk hosted by Tom Gerrard
As Tom Gerrard is an artist himself he is great at squeezing out as much info possible from his diverse range of creative guests.
Tom Gerrard
Here’s just a handful of the engaging artists I follow:
And you can follow me on Insta too – @ronagreenart
Prints by Rona Green featured in the Maroondah City Council San Carlos Art Boxes 2018-19
Cheerio!
Rona Green 
Wooftastic resources to sniff out, thank you🐾
💜nose nudges💜
Thank you for following 🙂
Hi Rona
Wishing you a very successful exhibition and hope this year brings everything you hope for.
Thank you for all the great info!!
all the best
Sue Harris
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Hi Sue
A pleasure! Many thanks for following the blog.
Hope your work is going good, and life in general is as well.
Kind regards
Rona
Hi Rona,
I’m really grateful to you for taking the time to share these resources with me.
I came to an artist talk of yours in the city 8 or so months back, and just wanted to tell you how insightful that was for me. I’d been following your work for years, and to finally see your work (and you!) in person was a real treat. I was also a bit late to the game re: your Abbotsford convent studio, and would’ve loved to take part in one of your workshops. If they ever come up for you again don’t hesitate to reach out.
I just started linocutting 5 years ago before moving from Adelaide to Perth, taking my materials with me. Sadly I didnt juggle full time work very well and these materials gathered dust, before not making my baggage allowance for my move to melbourne 3 years ago. A bit of a financial loss, but also a real shame because it’s a creative medium that really appeals to me, and I haven’t jumped back on the horse.
I’m also finding that I have a creative block when it comes to actually producing the work- For too long I’ve had idea after idea, be it drawing/painting/sculpture, but I end up never putting my hands to work. It leaves me with a lot of frustration….I’m curious if you have ever experienced this?
One of my recent guiding mantras is ‘I am a creator surrounded by my creations,’ this is my dream. To not look on a wall at my Pete Cromer or Dick Bruna, but at one of many Scott Rossiters!
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Hi Scott
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. I really appreciate you following my work and for attending the talk. Every now and then I run a workshop so if you’re keen to be kept in the know you can join my mailing list via my website to receive notifications – http://www.ronagreen.com/mail
If you want to get stuck in to linocut printmaking again and need to get some new tools you don’t’ have to spend big bucks to start off, e.g. at Neil Wallace Printmaking Supplies – https://www.e-artstore.net/product-group/7595-japanese-3-piece-set/category/335-japanese-tool-sets
Ideas come easy, it’s just a matter of which ones to follow through! Always go with the idea that sticks out most to you and run with it (being sure to jot down all ideas in a notebook or similar for the future). Make work with whatever time you have available and work to that time frame, doesn’t matter how little or much it is (if it’s not much work small so you can see things happening). Sometimes drawing is a good way to get going as it’s immediate, whereas printmaking does require a bit more of a time commitment due to the process.
Participating in a workshop can be a helpful way to get cracking. You might look at https://baldessinpress.com.au/upcoming-workshops/ or https://www.australianprintworkshop.com/learn or http://www.fps.org.au/ or https://the-art-room.com.au/classes
Try not to pressure yourself too much. Not that art is easy but it shouldn’t be a stress, rather a challenge. It is very much about chipping away at it. You might want to check out The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.
And, oh, I adore Dick Bruna. I’ll never forget this, from an interview – https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/donotmigrate/3557810/Dick-Bruna-creator-of-the-Miffy-books-talks-about-his-life-and-work.html – “When he draws Miffy crying, he tells me, ‘I very often start with three or four tears. I take away one, and the next day I take away another one, and at the end I have one tear, and that’s very, very sad.'”
Best wishes
Rona