-
story as art
Whenever someone says to me, “I’m so not creative” or “I haven’t got a creative bone in my body” as happened again recently, I wonder how that narrative first emerges in a person’s mind and why it takes such hold in the stories they tell about themselves. In life, we all make creative choices every […]
-
art workshop for canberra tree week
On Wednesday 2 May, I will be introducing the “STEP into plein air” event on behalf of NatureArt Lab, as part of Canberra Tree Week at the National Arboretum. My artist talk is followed by a three-hour art workshop held among beautiful local endangered trees and flowering plants of the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park (STEP), […]
-
sketching trees at earth festival
What’s not to love about painting trees? Even better, painting trees in the beautiful surrounds of Canberra’s Australian National Botanic Gardens. I was invited to demonstrate acrylic sketching techniques as part of NatureArt Lab’s course promotion event on Saturday 21 April at the Earth Festival – celebrating sustainable living with a great vibe, music, good coffee […]
-
hmas adelaide commission
Presenting commissioned art to HMAS Adelaide From birds to ships! When the Ship’s Welfare Committee commissioned an original painting to showcase HMAS Adelaide’s capabilities as a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, I was thrilled. I have painted ships before but not quite at this scale so I was absolutely determined to enjoy the whole experience. I […]
-
jerrabomberra art workshop
Tomorrow I will be hosting a one-day art workshop at Jerrabomberra Wetlands for members of the Wildlife and Botanical Artists (WABA) society. Earlier this year, I was invited to give a presentation to WABA members in the beautiful surroundings of Canberra’s Australian National Botanic Gardens. I spoke about my approach to art, techniques for gaining inspiration, […]
-
life, love & demise sold at birdlife exhibition
Feeling happy that another painting has found a forever home! My painting of Hooded Plovers has sold at BirdLife Australia’s “Birds + Us” exhibition. This painting was inspired by the courageous determination of beach-nesting birds and the fragility of their survival. I have donated the entire sale price to the Threatened Bird Network (TBN). I’m […]
-
sketching pixie
Sketching a tree is fairly straightforward. Other subjects can be more difficult. Pixie was a very obliging subject, dozing in the late summer afternoon following a hard day’s work hauling a gypsy wagon along country roads in farmland near Bendigo, Victoria. I haven’t turned these sketches into a painting but I might one day. Sometimes the […]
-
colour palette
I find that I’m inspired simply by looking at my wooden box brimful of paint tubes. No matter how scuffed, squeezed, contorted, holed or shiny new they are, I love them all. My basics are Payne’s Gray, Titanium White, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Hooker’s Green (acrylic) or Terre Verte (oil), Cobalt Blue and Yellow Ochre. […]
-
reading tolstoy
Reading Tolstoy Size 11 cm x 6 cm Acrylic on Arches paper SOLD Exquisitely framed prints available On a cool winter’s eve, the subject of this portrait sat quietly under a lamp, reading. The scene represents the serenity and timelessness of a deep appreciation of the arts, literature and philosophy. The title of this miniature portrait […]
-
elwood
Elwood Size 35.5 cm x 45.5 cm (14 in x 18 in) Acrylic on canvas SOLD By all accounts, Elwood was a lovely dog. This painting was commissioned by clients who provided photographs of their beloved pet. Combining several references, I painted Elwood with his favourite toy in a characteristic pose of playful alertness. Toys, […]
Dr Megan Spiers 