Chorus of colour 2014

Its always so exciting when u complete an exhibition and you see it all come together  . My job is now officially done and its over to the representing gallery . Traffic jam galleries are wonderful and i just know this new body of work will look incredible hung on their gorgeous white walls.

ohhhhhh check out my artist statement about this show . .............

 A Chorus of Colour represents my sojourn through the modern art world. It combines my affinity for the true Masters with my yearning to realise all possible futures in terms of the present.

This current work, as with my entire body of work to date, marries the world I envisage with the world that surrounds me.Striving to stay afloat in a sea of mediocrity.

A Chorus of Colour is not merely a chorus, it is a symphony!! Hyper Colour Hyper Reality. Not merely work to decorate walls, the paintings sing the story of life and the struggle to be heard.

The colour, line and narratives are my voice as I seek to render the world as I see it into a fully rationalised 2D vision.

OHHHHHH and did i mention my partner in crime for this exhibition is fantastic danielle Mcmanus . shes a wonderful talent and i just love her work . So please check out the details above for the opening and you can view the intire exhibtion online at www.tjg.com.au .All works are currently available now for sale and are flying out the door so get in quick . I do hope if your in the sydney area you can make it and it will be delightful to catch up . xo

dynamic sydney harbour .....acrylic on canvas 1mt x 150cm .

dancing nudes musings

I magical moment happened this week , mum visited and dropped back some of my older art thats shes had hanging around her house . As shes got all new pieces to go with her latest revamps . So arriving in all there glory are some of my DANCING NUDE series . These originally arrived on the art scene in an explosion of colour just under two decades ago . I love this series its where my nudes started humbly from my hours upon hours of life drawing helped . Everyone has there own way of drawing this is mine whether i like it or not .I LOVE it of course .

  This is them today of course i have a massive progression in my style but they still have the same unique quality they did when they were first created .So painterly , POP , panache they are . The original series was an incredible hit and saw my first exhibitions become complete sell outs .This first sell out was at the redhill gallery of course who have been behind me for decades and exclusively represent me in my home town.  One of my finest moments was an incredibly famous artist who was at my first show congratulating me on my creating an amazingly original style . I had at the time not realised what i had created and just how unique its all was . I was totally in my own world and really had never stepped in a gallery or ever seen much other work except for the masters .

So yesterday i put the dancing nudes up on my facebook page and was overwhelmed with the response and could not help my self to see if i could do a quick stylus sketch . I have said before i love drawing with this cyber marvell as its keeps things loose and yes i can still sketch like i did decades ago so yeah!!!!!!!! .So thank you so much everybody you have all encouraged me to do the dancing nudes again . So stay tuned for my latest offering in this iconic series that started it all. xox

commissions around the world and back again.

 So yes i do promise from around the world and back again when i am doing commissions. NYC is proving to be very popular but your thinking i have been to your shows and never have i seen new york paintings ? Well the reason is normally i am just too busy painting the commission's of this iconic city at any one moment.However i can assure you at my next brisbane show New York paintings will be attending the opening this time . So stay tuned for that . This was a recent redhill commission and i believe it was very well received .Its of time square clearly but with a spiderman twist and yes thats no accident as its what the client requested specially.       

 Now whos not totally in love with the empire state building !!!!!!! this was a recent commission arranged by my sydney gallery for a client . Many different versions of sketches were considered but this won out over a proposed central park version. I know in an instant if its a photo that i can work from and then turn into awesome painting for my clients .Some clients will bring me holiday snaps etc and i can look thorough heaps and I just know immediately if it going to end up on canvas or not.

 This ballerina is called "it had to be YOU . Yes thats a harry connick jr song i know and believe me its deliberate. This commision was truly unique indeed , they loved the ballerinas but needed a twist with it and while it may not make sense to you or me to the couple in question its very meaningful and personal . So i think the words to the song was the couples song and the three mice symbolised their three children . Now the cheese means something as well . When it all combines however it comes across as very whimsical and magical i think with a bit of a fairy tale tone . Let me tell you the clients were just so in love with there ballerina.  

Ok now here is my latest one , its from my imagination series and the brief was white and bright with my crazy imagery done in my sketch style . I love it when i get these types of commissions as i really go to town with such a broad brief . Always lots of fun for sure . While all my galleries that represent me can arrange commissions for you which is by far the easiest way to have something special for you done . I also get clients commissioning me from locations where i am not represented like melbourne and let me tell you , you would be amazed how many works of mine grace the homes down south . Ok and not to mention all my global around the world clients from paris and london and back to LA again .

 For commissions or the closest gallery to you please contact e starr@starrfineart.com

cheers starr x

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