Jewelry Workshops - USA March 2012

Art and Soul Viginia 2012

Wow one of my best artist buddies ( aka Jen Crossley)  and I are off to the US next year to teach some jewelry workshops.

Art and Soul Virginia  1-6 th of March 2012

I will be teaching some one day classes

Capture my heart

No solder etched shadow box

and Jen and I are teaching our masterclass Found, Etched and Connected.  This is such a fun and technique packed class, that involves no glue so your jewelry will last forever.

Found Etched and Connected

Jen is also teaching some one day and evening workshops so be sure to check out her classes.  She is an amazing teacher and alot of fun as well.

I am really looking forward to this adventure and also excited about making some new American friends. 

InTension- Fibre Exhibition



Finding Home - Christine Atkins 180 x 104 x 24cm



Last Sunday I helped man the WAFTA exhibition at the Moores Building in Fremantle. 

The exhibition was themed around architecture,  black and white and bold colours.  As you could imagine it could be extremely difficult to curate a show with so many diverse artists, but WAFTA did a wonderful job of pulling together a interesting and cohesive exhibition.

Unfortunately photos were not allowed so I can not show you any of the works except mine.  The hanging of the exhibition was really well done and interesting, with a 2D and 3D section.  All the 2D panels were mounted on bamboo sticks and hung as if they were floating in space.  Hard to explain without photos.  I took some time to stand in the middle of the space and the effect was very interesting.  Upstairs were the 3D works, which of course are always my favorites.  There were a group of felted and patch worked dogs that were great fun with each one having its own unique character, by Karen Cameron.  As I was downstairs for most of the time I did not get the chance to study the amazing pieces in as much detail as I would have liked.  I am hoping that I will get a chance to go and have another look before the exhibition closes.

InTension August 12-28th of August 2011

Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery

Henry St Fremantle 10-4pm every day. 

PS:  there is a nice coffeeshop inside the building for coffee after visiting the exhibition. 

Reliquaries and Shrine Workshops 2012

The problem with not posting on your blog like a good little blogger is that all of a sudden you have so much to share it is overwhelming.

Fibre Arts Australia has arranged two fantastic events for 2012 which I will be teaching at. 

For both events I will be teaching my Reliquaries & Shrines Workshop

The first is in Ballarat Victoria from 8th to the 14th of April

The second is in Western Australia at the Monastery at New Norcia 15th to the 22nd of April

Fibre arts do such a fantastic job of the week with all meals and accommodation provided with tutor slide shows each night so you get to view all the tutors works.  Check out some of the other tutors as well.   So hard to choose which class to do sometimes. 

I have made some fantastic and lifelong friends from these weeks and it is absolute heaven to have everything provided for you, so it is a week of total art indulgence. 

Art Melbourne 2011

From the Fire- Christine Atkins 2011

Hi all, I am finally back from Melbourne and have so much to share.  While sales at the show were slow I meet some wonderful people and sold one of my pieces to a hospital art collection.  From the fire will be going to a new mental health hospital in the Dandenongs in Victoria.   This piece was created after the horrific bush fires in Victoria and our own bush fire in Toodjay in Western Australia which also destroyed many homes two years ago.   This piece shows the resilience of humans and of our native plants.  The blackened seed pods represent how our bush needs fire to regenerate, for seeds to grow and sprout and how from this destruction came many stories of hope, heroism and resilience both human and animal.  The resilience shown by the people affected by these fires was amazing and still ongoing today.  I feel that their stories and sense of community hold many lessons for us to learn from. 

As well as my piece going to a place of healing I also met some amazingly talented people and I thought I would introduce you to some of the people I shared my row with.

Oodlies   are a range of fantastically quirky characters created by Joi Murugavell.  Joi and her husband Casper are amazing people.  I am blown away by the following they have created in one short year.  As well as her prints Joi had some hand drawn chairs and shoes at the show.  They were great fun and I loved meeting them both.  Jo's pieces are inspired by some interesting people and experiences.  Go here to read more about the inspiration for image above.  The Cycle of Waking Up.

Sarah Gully- Art Melbourne 2011

Sarah Gully had a range of her miniature oil paintings, acrylic paintings on found board, and water colour pencil drawings.  Sarah's art has a quirky sense of fun and adventure.  Her pieces had great titles, I just wish I could remember what they were to share with you....... 

Sarah Gully - Art Melbourne 2011

Sarah Gully- Art Melbourne 2011

I will post some more finds soon......... 

Ceramic stories- Kathy Ruttenberg

Grounded        32”x56.5”x26”      ceramic-2009

I have been so caught up with getting every thing ready for Melbourne I have not had much time to look for  new works to share with you, however I came across Kathy Ruttneberg's work this week and could not wait to share it with you.

Kathy works in ceramics, watercolours and etching, but my love of sculpture has won out here and I am extremely taken with her ceramic pieces.  I am amazed at how much imagery can be put into one piece and how rich each one is.  I would love to sit and listen to Kathy as she told the stories contained within each piece. 


Role Reversal     26”x23”x18”       ceramic-2010



Tree Hugger   92”x35”x40”  ceramic, bronze, wood-2010



Be sure to also check Kathy's work displayed in Macys window.  It helps us to see the scale of these wonderful pieces.

Art Melbourne Ticket Giveaway

If you are going to be in Melbourne from the 19-22nd of May and would like to come to Art Melbourne I have tickets to giveaway for the opening night, Friday and weekend. Included in each giveaway is for entry for two.

If you would like tickets email me your address and which day you would like to attend. Please include two preferences incase your first choice is taken

info@christineatkins.net

Opening night- Thursday 19th of May 5 -9pm
Friday     20th of May    12 -9pm
Saturday 21st of May    10 -5pm
Sunday   22nd of May   10 -5pm

PS:  Make sure you come by and say hello.  I will be at Stand S22.

Learning Curves

Wow what a few weeks of trials and learning's.

First lesson- Patience.

Second lesson - What can go wrong, will go wrong

Third lesson - Having a tooth pulled out hurts (alot) and no they do not let you keep your tooth







Crating artworks for Art Melbourne

The universe works in mysterious ways.  Why is it that when you are really busy and have alot on with deadlines looming things go wrong.  First a week of being sick, then a week of trips to the dentist with a bad tooth and lastly needing to uncrate all my crated artwork and reshoot the photos.

Lighting is not right.

I have experienced a large learning curve over the last few weeks on how to and how not to photograph artwork.  I quite openly declare that anything to do with photography means my mind automatically shuts down. However one part of being an artist means the documentation and promotion of your work and if you are like me there is no money in the current budget for a professional photographer so it is DIY.  

So two weeks later, one new camera, new lens and new studio lights and I have photos.  I now slightly understand aperture, ISO, white balance,exposure and the importance of getting the lighting correct.    One book I found helpful was Photographing Arts, Crafts & Collectibles: Take Great Digital Photos for Portfolios, Documentation, or Selling on the Web by Steve Meltzer . 

PS I forgot to mention if you decide to photograph your own work look forward to some (alot of ) trial and error. Apparently practice does make perfect. 

My next learning curve ....... how to design promotional materials or find a graphic artist who is willing to help me.  Any offers?