the good , the bad and the ugly .

Now this will be a post you will want to read ......................The good the bad and the ugly of the art world !!!!! ok the truth . Firstly let me tell you nothing better than being a painter girl 24/7 you wake up and can paint in your PJ's if you want . This is not a glamorous occupation except for the odd occasion your a judge, its your exhibition or you at an event art related and your just in desperate need of a photo opp.  Media and promotion is everything and thank god for cyber world can i get a high five .lol I find the addiction that is the internet is crazy and time consuming but necessary . I have only just learned whats a stylus pen is used for and here is my first sketch not on paper , its a bit like a magic slate i had as a kiddy . Its sure is a complicated world nowadays.

While of course as a artist i work my ass off daily yes thats right 7 days a week . I do a bit of swanning and procrastination and not to mention the constant need of more coffee . See no ones perfect . I am a gallery artist thats constantly booked up for exhibitions years in advance, thats awesome i know but exhibitions are pressure.Stressing out pressure. No complaining because you know what your signing up for when you get so excited about getting excepted into art college .There are however some things they dont tell you and over a course of decades you will encounter some negative aspects of the art world .

Firstly i have sold many many painting and most recently 12 appear to be lost . I am sure the clients who purchased them have no idea the artist was never paid . A gallery went into liquidation and thats that and as they are overseas its near impossible to chase .Dont start me on galleries that just close up over night and you never see your paintings again . I lost another 20 works this way once . Galleries dont always pay aswell and artists are so grateful just to be represented we say nothing . This is maddening and happens all the time in the art world you always here rumours but we all still think this wont happen to us .etc . However on a brighter note there are awesome galleries that do pay and they have the the respect of the artists and we all love them . I find its important to learn from experience and dont make the same mistake twice and if you do like me at least you took and chance because the next gallery might be the the best one EVER.

So there really is no fairytale in this world but it sure dose have enough sparkly moments to over come the darkness .

 

starr's adventures in never neverland.

Well darwin really is like no other city in australia , of course the first thing that hits you is the heat . yes its winter in brisbane but its like summer in darwin. While i was only in town for a few day for my opening of WONDERLAND 2014 i simply had a ball . Just check out the invites how divine . I did write this in the sand at the mindel markets just totally blown away by the beach . Yes i am a night owl so even walking on a beach is a big event .

My gallery that represents me in darwin has been representing me for over 15 years !!!!! Framed the darwin gallery is just lovely with beautiful white walls and i just love how they hang a show . I adored getting to meet lots of my clients some older ones and some first time buyers . ohhhhhh here is the exhibition online so you can check it out !!!!!http://framed.com.au/featured-artists/starr

 Prints of Alices adventures in never neverland my latest in my alice series is also available via framed for the next three months exclusively. One thing on my list to do was hit cullen bay , it never fails to amaze with all those yachts . i had a sav blanc and oysters with my girlfriend Mykala who decided to join me on my adventure . We were most excited to find out the the US navy was in town as last time i was there 6 years ago i danced on top of a bar to the YMCA with some navy boys . Sadly no table top dancing for me this trip ........DAMN IT.  

 The PR and press of an exhibition is always exciting and fun . I am quiet the poser so no dramas there just hope they get my best side . I love to strike a pose or VOGUE .The girls from the NT news were a delight and worked over time getting great shots .Here is behind the scenes .

 ohhhhhh and here is me having a cup of tea with the white rabbit hes quiet the character and hes was filling me in on all the wonderland gossip . Most exciting conversation i have had in years .

They sure did pick a wonderful photo !!!!!!!! great article aswell . 

Wow and double WOW its just awesome to see your exhibition all hang and hung beautifully . I had a lovely opening and really loved the atmosphere of framed the staff are just a delight . Was so nice to see the director Anne whos been unwell and made a recovery just in time for my visit .The ceramics that u can see are from famed gold coast artist bill powell , a lovely man as well .  

The exhibition is on throughout may so please if your in the area check it out or online all works are available for acquisition via www.framed.com.au

  cheers starr xox

If in doubt add more color !!!!!!!!

If in doubt i always say just add more color !!!!!!!! well in my case this is always true . I have a real love of color and my style really revolves around this idea . I can never understand the term muddy as quite frankly this has never happened in all my years of painting . Colors should always be respected and if mixed then again respected . I could not really name my favourite color in truth as what i love to paint with might be aquare but my clothing and personal choices might tend towards PINK.

 While i have a very defined style and never really paint outside it, as why would you when its how i was naturally born to paint . Every artist if given the time and dedication will find there own natural style . Thats truly the greatest gift you will ever get artistically . However at times your style may be the hottest thing around or just not hot anymore . I Just keep moving in my style and progressing never looking back and always moving forward . I am exceptionally lucky to be traditionally trained and in all mediums that enables this easily.

 My latest "Imagination series" takes all my former abstract skills and twists them with my sketches in a bright colour pallet. With a bit of street and pop thrown in . I have also taken skills from my past and reinvent them back into this new series .Yes u can see a bit of spray can from my past as i had a BMX and a nap sack and did used to get up to all sorts of artistic fun in my teen years . This series is also a great way of getting inspiration from all my former visual diaries . I paint like I sketch and would have it no other way .

Some of this new series will be unveiled in May at the 'framed the darwin gallery " for my WONDERLAND 2014 exhibition . OHHHHHHH the opening is actually may the 9th so if your around please pop in as it should be an awesome night . www.framed.com.au

Alices adventure's in Never Neverland .

My latest edition to my Alice in wonderland series is complete !!!!!!!! Finally its taken many a sleepless night . My Dreams are always a bit intense and most of my paintings come to me while i am sleeping . I then put myself under pressure to get my vision on to canvas in the studio . For weeks i am not so nice to be around , friends call and i act very distracted , my mind only handles one thing when i am in Alice mode . Much thought, sketches and studies go into each painting .

'ALICES adventure's in never neverland' is all about Darwin and the NEVER NEVER. Kakadu is a magical world in its self but what amazes me is a tiny boat is easily lost in a sea of waterlillies. Whether its the destination or the journey ahead . Never mind however alice has her ipad to navigate and the white rabbit for company . Pink flamingos make their first appearance in my series and how wonderland are they!!!!!!! .Ohhhhhh and also my 18th century vintage 'Alice in wonderland' book with the original cover thats my most coveted possession . I love the modern thrown in with the old for a twist .

WONDERLAND 2014 is opening at the Framed gallery in Darwin on May the 9th . I am very excited and will be in attendance as i just adore Darwin and the gallery . I have been represented by them for over a decade or more . My latest Alice painting will be officially unveiled and prints of this work will also be available. Its going to be a floral frenzy with whimsical undertones . x

     

INXS forever .

So how good was the INXS movie I just loved it . INXS was part of my teenage soundtrack and i had a crush for at least a whole two weeks on Michael at one stage .lol I was a bit fickle in those days . My love could be brought by who ever was on the cover of smash hits magazine. I sketched this when i was about 15 or 16 i would say maybe earlier . When i have a crush it normally translated in to a sketch being drawn . My favorite song of theirs even till this day is "DONT CHANGE" , they lyrics still pack a punch . I can say for certain i have never changed at all , grown yes but never changed . here are the lyric !!!!!!!!!!! X

I'm standing here on the ground
The sky above won't fall down
See no evil in all direction
Resolution of happiness
Things have been dark
For too long

Don't change for you
Don't change a thing for me

I found a love I had lost
It was gone for too long
Hear no evil in all directions
Execution of bitterness
Message received loud and clear

Don't change for you
Don't change a thing for me

I'm standing here on the ground
The sky above won't fall down
See no evil in all directions
Resolution of happiness
Things have been dark for too long

Don't change for you
Don't change a thing for me

VANITY galleries

A vanity gallery is an art gallery that charges artists fees to exhibit their work and makes most of its money from artists rather than from sales to the public. Some vanity galleries charge a lump sum to arrange an exhibition, while others ask artists to pay regular membership fees and then promise to organize an exhibition with a certain period. 

Well that's what Wikipedia says !!!!!!!!!! I think these galleries are scams and a complete waste of time and in my early days out of art college i even fell for a few . Being so much wiser nowadays i can see what they really are and they just crush dreams of young or inexperienced artists. Every month i get emails from these galleries wanting me to exhibit in NYC or a castle in Italy or even the center of London . They are all the same and always have the same formula approach thats how u can tell in 2 minutes flat that they are indeed a vanity gallery . I can assure you they have no interest in selling your work or mine .  

I was actually at one of these galleries for one of my openings and was in shock at how out of their depth they were when i actually sold a painting . ie the one above called SUNSET STRIP .They clearly never actually expect too, let alone can work out how to do the sale for the client . Was just all very awkward. I also met some of the other artist that were on show as well . We had all spend our money and some had come from afar. While yes i was young and inexperienced i was a hot seller in Australia and was from the moment i took flight from uni . I had been spoit by having wonderful galleries in OZ representing me and had no idea that galleries all over the world were not the same . 

   This is my story but you may have a far more positive one in one of these vanity galleries.It is a very expensive lesson that i had to learn , not just the cost but the shipping of the works aswell . I have since found many galleries overseas that are awesome and work just like the ones here but they are few and far between and finding them is like a needle in a hay stack.  

PARIS is a wonderland ....part 2

My biggest love about Paris has always been the night life . Stars only come out at night after all. Lots of my works reflexes this idea and with a name like starr this was always going to be . This is one of my most favorite photos taken by a random strangers who were laughing at me trying to do a selfie . Thank god they offered to assist me !!!!!!! . This was late afternoon and i was on my way to have cocktails with my seriously attractive agent then i was to be hitting the Nouvelle eve which is pretty much across the road from the moulin rouge. I was a very lucky artist to have a few beautiful dancers that were more than happy to pose for me .

My art has been promoting the Nouvelle eve for years now .........I just love this post card !!!!!!! While in town i visited to Louvre and as always am totally in love with most everything i see. I saw a Toulouse lautrec exhibition there and felt amazed as i kinda appears i am following a similar art path with the dancers and the clubs . Too some its a bit naughty and underworld, even seedy , but i never see that just the beauty and sparkle . I am so inspired when in this world i come alive . I cant wait to show you all the new works but all in good time .

 The street art around Paris was just awesome , i love all the streets scattered with it . One seriously could get lost in some of those back streets . I have a few navigation issues and am always getting lost but as always i find the french so friendly and always happy to put me on the right path .This photo was taken in the alley just up from where i was staying !!!!!!

 My epic birthday happened while i was in town which was nice it was all about me that day lol . I could have gone anywhere for dinner that night but i wanted to go to "LES DEUX MAGOTS" I have painted this iconic cafe many many time so it was wonderful to dine there and of course with the best of friends . It was a truly magnificent night .Yes there will be my latest version of this cafe in my 2014 November exhibition. ohhhhhhhhh writing this blog makes me miss Paris so much its a good thing i will return this year . Till then i can paint till my hearts content Paris the city that truly is a WONDERLAND .xo