Looking back over 2015 it was a very busy but creatively satisfying year for me with my work shown in 2 joint exhibitions and participation in 8 group shows, plus teaching a watercolour workshop in early November.
In May I had one of my local photographs accepted into the 2015 ‘Marrickville Urban Photography Exhibition’, an annual exhibition organised by Marrickville Council. The 2015 theme was ‘Conflict and Compassion’ and I will be out with my camera once again in early 2016 so I can submit an entry for this year’s exhibition.
However, most of my time in the first half of 2015 was devoted to organising work and preparing for a large joint retrospective exhibition with my friend and fellow artist, Michael Hogan. The exhibition was entitled ‘Different Approaches: A Retrospective’ which featured a very diverse range of work we had both created independently over the last 15 years and was held at the wonderful Gaffa Gallery in Sydney’s CBD.
Also in June/July I participated as an exhibiting member in the 2015 ‘ASMA (Australian Society of Miniature Art) National Awards Exhibition’ at the Ewart Gallery in Willoughby entering one of my miniature watercolour paintings.
With the successful Gaffa retrospective exhibition finally out of the way, I turned my attention to preparing for another joint exhibition with my cousin and fellow artist, Tracey Scheitel, and to creating some new work to fit in with this exhibition’s theme, ‘Liquid Life’, which covered anything at all relating to water. The exhibition was held in the first 2 weeks of September at the Shorethyme Restaurant/Gallery, a great venue located at Norah Head on the NSW Central Coast.
August/September also saw me showing work in 2 other group exhibitions. Firstly, the ASMA ‘A Brush with Japan’ exhibition which was held at the Gosford Regional Gallery with works reflecting the beautiful Japanese Gardens located in the gallery grounds and all things Japanese. I entered a miniature watercolour painting of a lotus flower and also provided a colour pencil drawing of a lotus to contribute towards the spectacular ‘Kimono’ artwork created by ASMA members as the main feature of this exhibition.
And secondly, I entered some of my watercolour and printmaking work in the ‘Still Emerging’ exhibition, organised by the Inner West Women’s Shed members which was held at the Seaview Gallery in Dulwich Hill.
In October I had a number of my works on show in the 55th ‘Ryde Art Society Art Exhibition’ held at North Ryde and also had one of my watercolour paintings accepted into the ‘Looking Out Looking In’ exhibition held once again at the Gaffa Gallery.
As well as my visual arts work, on 1 November I taught a 1-day watercolour workshop entitled ‘Simply Watercolours’ which was held at the Scratch Art Space Gallery/Art School located in Marrickville. I had 9 enthusiastic students on the day and am currently in talks with Scratch Art Space regarding the possibility of teaching another watercolour workshop there in 2016.
During the November/December period I took part in another 3 group exhibitions, the first one being the annual ‘Wyongah Progress Association Art Exhibition’ which is organised by my cousin, Tracey Scheitel, who lives in the area.
Then I contributed a graphite and colour pencil drawing to the ‘Gaffa Fundraiser’ exhibition at Gaffa Gallery. Sales from participating artists’ work will go towards funding Gaffa’s 10th anniversary celebrations which will take place during 2016.
And finally, I entered a watercolour painting in the ‘Harmony’ exhibition held once again at the Shorethyme Restaurant/Gallery at Norah Head.
2016 is shaping up to be another busy and creative year and I am very much looking forward to working on new work, taking part in more exhibitions and doing more teaching. So a very Happy New Year to all my followers and watch this space!
Pamela Horsnell Artist 