Liz Gray Art News – June 2021

Greetings!

I hope you’re having a great month! I’m writing to let you know what new paintings and projects I’ve been working on in my studio. The three works featured in last month’s newsletter are now all hanging in beautiful homes and of course there are new works this month.

I’ve been occupied with a 5m copper artwork over the last few months, and it was very exciting to see it eventually installed on site two weeks ago.The public artwork, titled “Connections”, has been hung in the City of Vincent’s main administration block in Leederville.

Last year I was a successful applicant in the City of Vincent’s COVID-19 Arts Relief Grant funding initiative, and through the opportunity created a work which depicts various characters in and common to Vincent. Using technologies at times, people, their pets and the indigenous birds of the area connect during the pandemic. Various residents of the City posed for the work, including well-known Jeff Michael from Noongar Radio. During a very trying time in the world, I wanted to depict the positive connections which help maintain our mental health and well-being.

Vincent Mayor, Emma Cole officially launching the work.
Vincent Mayor, Emma Cole officially launching the work.

After designing the work, copper sheets were cut by water jet. I painted the cut- outs, using oil paint and added further surface interest with an engraver. It was a fantastic project to work on from start to finish as copper is such a beautiful substrate to work on. Aside from its obvious luminescent qualities, even thin layers of oil paint have vibrant intensity because the paint doesn’t sink into fibres like it does on canvas, so you have to do less work to get it looking good. : )

The real people beside the painted ones:

Liz Gray Post 06 2021 Image 01
The real people beside the painted ones! Dave Ramsay and his two beautiful children.
Viola Steed, owner of Matchmaking solutions in Mount Lawley, carrying a bag of what has become a pop icon synonymous with the pandemic; toilet paper!
Viola Steed, owner of Matchmaking solutions in Mount Lawley, carrying a bag of what has become a pop icon synonymous with the pandemic; toilet paper!

Interesting fact

Copper has disinfectant qualities and so was a perfect choice for an artwork about the pandemic. The metal has antimicrobial qualities and resists certain corona viruses. According to scientists, where active Covid-19 droplets will remain alive on plastic and stainless-steel surfaces for days, they will only survive on copper for hours.

Copper painting workshop

I will be hosting a winter warming copper painting workshop at the beginning of August in Sorrento, Perth.

Tuesday, 3rd August | 6:30 – 9:00 pm.

I’ll be teaching some painting and engraving techniques and there’ll be traditional German gluhwein to add warmth to the evening – and of course, refreshments and drinks are included in the ticket price! You will leave the workshop with your own ready to hang copper artwork!

Places are limited so if you are interested, please drop me a line or call to book your spot. You can also find more information and a link to a ticket HERE.

Winter Exhibition

Following the workshop “Pinot & Paint Night”, I’ll have a small showing of some of my new works at the Sorrento space of Applecross Art with an opening on Friday, 6th August.

Drop me a line if you’d like a reminder invitation to this event.

Oil on canvas, “Luminescence” is available now and is 1800mm x 1100mm
Oil on canvas, “Luminescence” is available now and is 1800mm x 1100mm

A new work on my easel is this one, “Gauguin’s girl” and I’m loving the cobalt blue! What an electric and energising colour it is. In this work I’m juxtaposing a monochrome figure with the complimentary orange tones of Birds of Paradise flowers. Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin was of course the French Post-Impressionist artist who is recognized for his experimental use of colour. He spent ten years in French Polynesia and created many evocative paintings of local women, clad in fabulous sarongs and lounging around on the island.

If you are interested in any of the works featured in this newsletter, please contact:

Email: contact@lizgrayart.com

T/ +61 466 272 852

I’m also always available to be commissioned for new work and really enjoy the opportunity of working with clients to create works for particular spaces.

Hope your next couple of weeks are inspired!

Till next time!

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