Cooktown Art Festival Shire Hall Displays

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Bloomfield Artist Margaret McCosh - Art Dolls

As part of the Cooktown Art Festival the Bloofield Artists displayed paintings, fine crafted wooden furniture, and a range of art works including these wonderful dolls. Also see our Web Site for paintings by Margaret.

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Saturday Markets @ Cooktown Art Festival

Cooktown locals hold a market in the park every Saturday. For the Cooktown Art Festival Week-end everyone made a special effort to display Art, craft, jewelry and produce for sale. The yummy food stalls are always busy.

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Click this link to see Roly's Shop

Cooktown Art Festival - Woodcarving - Mark Berg

Mark Berg's discovery of woodcarving has become a lifelong passion. He captures the colour, texture and beauty of woods expressed through elegant and functional works. The usefulness and unique properties of wood and an attraction to natural science led Mark to realise that the pleasure we humans gain from making and using tools has persisted from the stone age to the present. He first discovered his enthusiasm for woodcarving making handles for garden tools. He studied Polynesian wood and stone artifacts and tools at Auckland museum and learnt basic carving techniques working with Maori woodcarvers. These skills have been honed over twenty years working on Australian hardwoods.

Some of the works can be seen at Aukland University or in Cooktown at the Courthouse, Hospital and Botanic Gardens. Most works are in private collections.

Photos of Woodwork

Cooktown Art Festival 2009 - At The Kindy

The Cooktown Art Festival is showcasing the work of our youngest artists with the Kindergarden Art Display, Coffe Shop and Cake Stall!

Cooktown Art Festival Arty Bras

Cooktown Art Festival Belly Dancers

Filmed at Cooktown Art Festival opening night Friday 14th August 2009 at the Cooktown Creative Arts Association in Charlotte Street Cooktown. The local belly dancers provided this wonderful entertainment. There was also music and the fashion parade of Arty Bras with many fantastic entries.
The festival is Supported by Cook Shire Council, Queensland Events and Queensland Government Gambling Community Benefits Fund. Details on festival events at http://cooktownart.com.au/cooktown_ar...

Cooktown Art Festival Dunny Art!

Some of the entries in the Dunny Art at Cooktown Art Festival!

Cooktown Art Festival Opens Tonight!

Today everyone was busily preparing for the opening tonight of the Cooktown Art Festival. The banners are outside the venues and feature the Cooktown gecko by Heather Willcox, a local artist.

Sarah Blasko and QMF Laid In Earth Concert 2009

Last night at a free in Cooktown the weather put on a welcome of wind and drizzly rain. But the show must go on! Sarah Blasko sang as part of the one and only performance of the newly composed work titled 'Laid In Earth' by composer Damian Barbeler.
The afternoon began with the massed percussion piece ‘Mothership’, performed by school children from the region. Following this, new songs from Indigenous Deadly Award winning band Black Image and Sydney’s Kurrawong Ensemble lead into the sunset performance of Laid In Earth, which was introduced with a vocal blessing by the renowned Hope Vale Choir.

Performers included Damian Barbeler, Emma-Louise, Daniel Rojas, community singers from Hope Vale, Rossvilleand Cooktown, Black Image Band and the Kurrawong Ensemble.

Cooktown QMF Laid In Earth Concert

One off performance of the Cooktown 'Laid In Earth' Concert as part of the Queensland Music festival on Saturday 1st August 2009.

Video of the Hopevale Choir's introduction to the newly commissioned work from celebrated composer Damian Barbeler.

Golden Brush Award Winner

Congratulations to the Golden Brush Award winner for the July theme 'Frogs'! Heather Willcox won with this pastel depicting two frogs. Five paintings were entered in all. Heather's was chosen as the outstanding entry. A second pastel entered by Heather depicting a 'lazy frog' was also highly praised.

The prize for July is either a set of flat Taklon brushes or a new frame (glass and matt board) suitable for pastels or watercolour paintings.

Golden Brush Award Winner!

Winner of the June 2009 'Golden Brush Award' goes to Jean Haack. The prize of a set of brushes was most appreciated. The theme of 'Eyes' was captured in a painting titled 'Wise Eye'.

The July theme is 'Frogs'! Put you thinking caps on and we'll see the results the first Saturday art session in August! The best 'frog' will also win a prize!

Genesis Heat Set Oils Workshop

Some of the participants in the RADF and Cook Shire Council funded Ludij Peden Genesis Heat Set Oils Art Workshop.
Left to right:
Amanda Jones, Jade Jones, Betty Clarke, Alex Poberay, Heather Willcox, Ludij Peden (seated) Tracey Blumer, Evelyn Hill, Faye Pini, Sue Stacpoole, Jane Holloway

Artists in "The Zone" with Genesis Heat Set Oils

Once the artists started painting the concentration and interest in using the Genesis Heat Set Oils was complete. Silence decended and everyone entered the 'zone of creativity'.

Wonderful Week-End Painting!

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The Genesis Heat Set Oil Painting Workshop tutored by Ludij Peden was a great success. Thanks to Reginal Arts Development Fund and Cook Shire Council for funding the workshop and giving so many artists and newbies the chance to participate.

The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government and Cook Shire partnership to support local arts and culture.

Without this funding our small community of artists would not have had such an opportunity.

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Art Workshop Has Started!

Genesis Heat Set Oil Workshop with tuition by Ludij Peden. Participants introduced to this new type of oil paint! President, Betty Clarke, on left and Ludij Peden, on right, in front of the Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery.

Ready To Try!

The Genesis Heat Set Oil Painting Workshop by Ludij Peden is set to begin this week-end. The students are eager to try this new type of oil paint. Many have tried traditional oils nad moved to acrylics when traditional oils caused problems because of toxicity or the smell of turps.

Results of the workshop will be posted on this blog! Hopefully inspiring works of art!

Artist Ludij Peden

Raised in Cairns in Far North Queensland, Ludij Peden has shown a fascination with painting houses. Her first exhibition, in Brisbane, entitled ‘Pub Crawl’ featured historic hotel buildings around Queensland and northern New South Wales. Ludij noticed the destruction of old houses as they where demolished to make way for modern buildings. By painting old Australian houses and cottages she captures the image before they disappear.

Ludij started using watercolours in the 1980's after heavy metals and the solvents in her oil paints made her very ill.

Recently Ludij discovered Genesis Heat Set Oils which are non-toxic and odourless and yet handle like traditional oil paint. They stay wet until dried with a heat gun.

Ludij's most recent solo exhibition in Cairns, ‘Contrasts’, featured a mix of oils and watercolour paintings featuring houses and scenes from across Australia and paintings from a recent trip to New Zealand.

Ludij and her husband live in Yungaburra on the Atherton Tablelands and Ludij has an art studio behind the house.

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? ? ? Budding Artist ? ? ?
Genesis Heat Set Oil Painting Workshop
With Artist Ludij Peden
Saturday 11th Sunday 12th July From 9:30am to 4.30pm
Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery 125 Charlotte Street
Paint, palettes & canvas provided Morning and afternoon tea
$40 members $50 non members
$20 deposit secures place
Bookings Faye Pini 0434356362
The Regional Arts Development Fund is a Queensland Government and Cook Shire Council partnership to support local arts and culture

Golden Brush Award Winner

Winner of the May 2009 'Golden Brush Award' goes to Faye Pini. The prize of a paintbrush set was most appreciated.

The May theme of 'Footprints' was captured in a painting titled 'Print in the Sand'.

Next months theme is 'Eyes'!

So put you thinking caps on .......... we'll see the results in a month!

Thanks To David K Rees and Wife Val

The walk through with this years judge to discuss the criteria used in judging the exhibition and provide feedback to artists was very useful and instructive. All the artists attending were delighted to have such an opportunity.

Thanks so much to David and Val for taking the time to do this! They are very gracious.

This years exhibition has been a great success and having such a reputable judge of international standing has been a real coup for our art society and gallery.

Award Winners 31st Annual Art Exhibition 2009

Click link to see list of art award winners.

Award Winners 31st Annual Art Exhibition 2009

Cooktown Annual Art Exhibition!

The art entries for our 31st Annual Art Exhibition 2009 have arrived in the gallery! Hanging commenced yesterday and continued throughout today! So many art works to display that space is a problem. We are getting more and more entries every year.

We are grateful and lucky enough to have the assistance of Lou Derry with John as her able assistant. The paintings as arranged by Lou look fantastic! Elizabeth, with her trained artists eye also helped to decide on placements. The arranging of so many diverse paintings in all mediums, styles and sizes is not easy and the depleted 'hanging committe' did a superb job.

We have so many talented artists and when dispayed to advantage the talent is truly on show.

Due to life events and accidents most members are out of commission or working below capacity. Those working - or maybe croaking in Crooktown are:

• Betty with a badly lacerated and broken finger done while launching a boat
• Elizabeth recovering from a dislocated shoulder
• Janice unwell
• Sue feeling crook
• Faye with a pinched sciatic nerve

Lou, John and Peter are fit at least and as a consequence have been doing all the hard work of lifting and placing art works.

As life goes on in spite of the exhibition other members are unavailable. They either have to work or have births, serious illness or family crisis. Somehow we do manage to put it all together every year and that is certainly an achievement.

Once the art works are judged and we have had the award presentations on opening night - this Saturday - we can take a breath and enjoy the success of our exhibition! We may even get a chance to relax and enjoy the new paintings as we 'man' the gallery over the week leading up to the Discovery Festival. Hopefully we'll also sell a few!

Hopevale Arts and Cultural Centre Opens

Members of Cooktown School of Art Society attended the opening of the Hopevale Arts and Cultural Centre and the Nganthanun Bamawi Bayan Gallery in last week. The new centre is a real asset to Hopevale community and artists.

Facelift for Gallery - Hard At Work

Pictures of the workers gardening and painting. The Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery was given a facelift in preparation for our 31st Annual Art Exhibition which opens Saturday 30th May and will be open to the public from Sunday 31st May to Monday 8th June.

Golden Brush Award Winner!

Winner of the April 2009 'Golden Brush Award' goes to Betty Clark.

The April theme of 'Raindrops' was captured in the painting titled 'Safe Under Mum's Brolly'.

Next months theme is 'Footprints'!

As our Annual Exhibition is on the first week in June we will defer the "Golden Brush Award' presentation to the second Saturday of June.

So put you thinking caps on and get inspired by footprints .......... we'll see the results in a month!

Painting PRIZE

Monthly Painting PRIZE to be 'awarded' to a painting chosen by the artists who attend the weekly painting sessions at the gallery on Saturdays at 1pm.

Paintings to be based on months 'theme'.

Theme for April: 'Raindrops'

Any ideas on Painting Prize and weekly painting sessions are welcome!

Prize: 'Acrylic Revolution' painting book by Nancy Reyner.
Seehttp://www.nancyreyner.com/book.htm or her blog athttp://www.nancyreyner.com/painting-blog/2007/10/acrylic-revolution-sold-out-second.html

Painting Session in Gallery!!!

Don't forget! We have weekly painting sessions in the gallery at 1pm.

Please come and enjoy the company of fellow artists!

You may even create a masterpiece!