Fiona Buchanan

I have been working in oils lately. Something I have avoided before. I love acrylics, the way you can use watercolour techniques, washes and transparent layers, but I thought I would give oil paint a go. Well turns out I love it! So soft and clean, and the fact that each layer takes time to dry gives me time to reflect on each work. The panic I always feel when working against the clock with acrylics drying so fast is gone.

However I tried to pain...

Its always a dilemma. Pastel or paint? Pastel is so rich in colour and texture, and being such a blend between drawing and painting it is a joy to work with this medium.

With paint on the other hand you can work as large as you like (or as large as will fit in your car haha), and the surface of the work can remain open and uncovered.

And the nature of the finished work is so different. Pastel gives a sense of peace and stillness while paint can sho...

A few weeks ago I searched my garden and the bush around and the only flowers I could find were four nasturtiums and a couple of jonquil stems growing wild. Well that was enough...

Now there are flowers appearing everywhere. Some I have never seen before, cactus flowers that only appear for a short time, crazy wild things in Kings Park. Freesias all over the lawn...so lovely.

 Here's another image from the archives. Part of the 'Books are Full of Magic' mural at Dunsborough Library. This reminds me its ok to think big and paint big too.

I came across this image back in my archives today and was reminded of when I discovered the work of Elizabeth Mowry. Her pastel work is extraordinary and beautiful and this crazy poppy painting was inspired by her book 'Landscape Meditations'.