Blog: Sydney

Making Memories – Art Journal

“We didn’t know we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.”

This is using another page from the sold out Artist Almanac Calendar (the original painting is still available here though). It was fun getting inspired by this older artwork of mine, depicting the Sydney Opera. It made me not only revisit the way I created the background, but also the visit to Sydney itself.

In fact I was there twice and I remember how much I loved strolling through the Botanical Garden right there as well as seeing Herbie Hancock in the Opera. Pretty cool btw, sitting in the nose bleed seat wayyyyyy up high, last row with my back to the wall, and Herbie so tiny down on stage. And yet it didn’t matter – the sound being so phenomenal in this building. I digress though LOL!

I used some heavy bodied and soft bodied acrylic paints right out of the tube on the page, and then blended the colors with a brayer. It is one of my favorite ways to create texture on canvas, but since this is in my ledger, I took a piece of paper and carefully dabbed it on the background to flatten the peaks of paint out a little bit.

I used some acrylic markers to add marks and also my Embroidery stamp set for added mark making. I love the mixture of a repetitive stamp as well as a hand made mark.

Here are some of the supplies I used:

Comments (2)

  • Sue Clarke

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    Nat, I just love that background! I find it funny when people say we’re making memories as they are doing an activity…of course you will look back on them…but it IS just fun! Much later one will realize just how much the activity was enjoyed=wonderful memories. I don’t know if I made any sense, but I agree with your sentiment.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      I totally get it! we do not set out with that premise from the beginning, it just turns out that way.

      Reply

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Sydney Opera House Painting

2016

I was lucky to be invited twice to teach in Australia and I have fond memories of Sydney. The first time I went to Sydney we were able to get some tickets to a Herbie Hancock concert in the opera – the very last seats in the back …the sound was good..Herbie was a tiny ant- but it was pretty cool :) Australia is fascinating and a real Artful Adventure – for this painting I used an Australian Dictionary for the background, made a stamp with gum tree nuts and also used actual gum tree nuts. The painting is part of the travel chapter in my book Artful Adventures in Mixed Media. Maybe some day I will be back but until then this painting is my little Australia at home :)

Acrylic paint, ink, marker, charcoal, paper ephemera, gum tree nuts on canvas 9×12 -Available for Purchase – email me if interested .

 

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Art Stroll: Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia

Art Stroll MCA Sydney

A couple of months ago, I was in Australia and visited a couple museums but I wanted to spread out the posts for you a bit- so finally I would like to take you on an art stroll through the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, Australia.

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Isn’t this an amazing piece? It was quite big – Noah Eshkol, Window to the Sea, 1975, Cotton, pique, satin

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Noa Eshkol, Window to the Night, 1981 – cotton, cotton lawn, flannelette, twill, cretonne, jersey, percale, pique, poplin, satin, taffeta, repp with lurex threads, crepe fabric.

The material list reads like a “Who is Who of Fabric”, don’t you think? These pieces made me wish I was a sewer …I am not, but I would like to include more fabric and sewing into my work.

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Daniel Boyd, Untitled, 2016 – oil, charcoal and archival glue on linen.

The details are just so amazing and I love the combination of classic charcoal drawing on top of aboriginal art.

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Daniel Boyd, Untitled, 2016, oil, digital print and archival glue on canvas

Mesmerizing!

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Daniel Boyd, Untitled, 2016, oil, charcoal and archival glue on linen

Boyd translates and re-contextualizes historical images and explores ideas of strength, spirit and aboriginal resistance while at the same time commenting on science, evolution and Darwinism.

“He uses dots as a veil to create scenes that appear incomplete, leaving space for the viewer to complete the story, and mirroring how history is partial and completed through memory and myth.” – Signage at MCAA

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Nina Beier, Allegory of Charity, 2015 – ceramic cups, coffee beens, resin, wood, metal

Look at the crackle texture!!!

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Gordon Bennett, Abstraction (City dweller), 2013, acrylic on linen

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Gordon Bennett, Abstraction (Ntive), 2013, acrylic on linen

“These two paintings are part of a larger series that superimpose the faces of contemporary Australians over earth-toned figures bearing similarities to representations of primitivist figures in the paintings of late American Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat”.  What a wonderful example on how an artist got inspired by a different artist, and translated the inspiration into his own cultural background and style – into something entirely new that only a little hint off the inspiration is left. I love this!!!!

 

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Gordon Bennett, Untitled (dismay, displace, disperse, dispirit, display, dismiss), 1989, oil and synthetic polymer paint on canvas

Bennett is interested in the power of language and the way it shapes culture and identity.

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Newell Harry, As Veneral Theists Rest/The Natives Are Restless, 2008, letraset, black and white gesso and ink on craft paper backed with interfacing, lights, beads, rubber, wool, wood, ceramic, plant fibres, metal, string, cotton, shell, transformer

This was such an amazing piece to explore visually – I did restrain from touching it- but it was very very tempting. BTW- this was the first museum where I actually saw two different people touching paintings and being told off by the guard. I had never seen this before but heard that this happens quite often from one of the Conservators at MoMA and I am just astonished. Tempting – yes – but big no no!

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Tim Johnson Four elders, 1986, oil on canvas.

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again so amazing to see the painting from further away and from a very close distance.

 

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Wait…who is this goof ball in my pic? Awe- my sweet friend Julie- LOL. We had such a good time :)

These pieces on bark were just so amazing- I would love to have some of those hanging in my living room!

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I hope you enjoyed the stroll and those images and materials inspired you :) have a wonderful creative day!

Comments (4)

  • Gayle Kush

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    I am a fiber artist and work almost exclusively in fabric and sewing. I follow your blog because very much of what you do on paper transfers over onto fabric wonderfully! I find a lot of the tips and ideas you have to be useful in my work. Especially your stamps and stencils!!! I paint on fabric all the time. You should try your techniques on fabric (with fabric paints if you plan on sewing anything) once. You just might like it!!!!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      Gayle- how wonderful to hear that you are actually work with fabric and sewing! You made me totally tempted to try out some new things with fabric- thank you :)

      Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Hello Nat,
    Yes, I did enjoy the stroll.
    I would love to be around when you and Julie hang out…I can just tell that you’re both having some crazy fun!
    The dot painting are my favorites.
    Peace,
    Sue

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      We would love to have you :) Have a wonderful 4th July weekend, Sue! big hugs,nat

      Reply

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Mixed Media Circus Workshop at Darkroom Door in Berkeley Vale, Australia

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After the workshop in Melbourne, Julie and I taught in Berkeley Vale at Darkroom Door, about 1 1/2 hours North of Sydney. My wonderful friend and awesome manufacturer Rachel Greig hosted us in her warehouse and classroom and it a great group rocking out the paint, art supplies and art journals!

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Everyone was working for three day, creating covers, painting, stamping, stenciling, book binding – getting messy fingers and tables:) It was so much fun! I loved the class room with high tables and high top chairs, making it possible for everyone to choose to work standing up or sitting. Since I work standing up- this was a dream :)

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Look at all the beautiful colorful pages …with Birds, and Elephants, and other stamp sets :)

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Birds mixed with Julies Stamps and Stencils.

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and more elephants :)

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the Urban Scribble – love the staggered city look!

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And lot’s of stencil patterns for background papers

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I loved how everyone embraced having two different teachers and stencils and stamps from two different persons as well.

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Love the look of the Fashion Dame Stencil used in different colors for pattern

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And the Lilly Wallpaper stenciled with black gesso

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and the Arabesque Stencils used with white over black gesso

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Batik

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one of Julie`s Face Stencils used with my Ornament Stencil for hair

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Another hybrid page with Julie’s stencil on the left and my Art Deco Wallpaper Stencil on the right

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And this is so true – :) If all fails, join the circus :)

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I think this one did? Love the girl taking a ride on the Elephant Stencil!

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So much creative energy and colors in the classroom

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And here is Julie explaining something – it was really fun teaching together again :)

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And here are some photos of me teaching …which usually- you know…there aren’t any :)

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Thank you so much Rachel for having us- you are the best!!!!

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And here we are :) Bound and colorful finished art journals!!!

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And thank you Amanda and Amanda, Belinda, Rachel, Robyn and Robyn, Paula, Kristy Lee (mmmmhhh did I butcher your name again???? please forgive me with your super cute smile, ok?), Lorraine, Genevieve, Vesna and Vesna! We will always have “I pet a kangaroo”, the dog on the tucker box, create you own at mäccas, don’t hesitate to mess up the table, fire alarms, Lemingtons, Anzac Biscuits and lot’s of laughter together. It was wonderful to spend those three days with you!!!

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I will post some photos from Melbourne and Sydney, street art and kangaroos in the next weeks – it was such a fun trip :)

 

 

Comments (17)

  • Robyn Seaniger

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    Looking through your workshop at dear Rachel Greig’s Darkroom Door Workshop on the Central Coast reminiscing about how much I learnt from you and Julie. Watching other creatives interpretate your demonstrations into art was so much fun. I see you have shown two pages of my own and also a photo of me smiling happily while working on my album. I feel like an accomplished artist now ☺️. I wanted to look back on this workshop because it was a great accomplishment for Rachel to bring you to the Central Coast. Thanks for the wonderful memories of friendship and art.

    Reply

  • Tracy Moloney

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    F U N times :)
    I thoroughly enjoy watching Rachel in action on ScrapIt tv as well!!!

    Reply

  • Jackie P Neal

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    Looks like everyone had a blast and the creativity was flowing!!

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  • Becca Yahrling

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    Oh what fun and creativity at it’s best.

    Reply

  • Teresa Godines

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    Wonderful projects. Looks like everyone had a great time.

    Reply

  • Karen Petitt

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    Lucky ladies! Looks like everyone had lots of fun and enjoyed it too. So wish I could do classes but being disabled is a real issue for me and getting to and back from one I just can’t right now. Lucky, lucky ladies Karen x

    Reply

  • Nicole N.

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    Looks like a lot of fun! And it’s great that it can be shared around the world.
    From: Connecticut

    Reply

  • barb macaskill

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    I would absolutely LOVE to meet the Darkroom Door crew one day!! It would be the culmination o a dream come true. I have always wanted to go to Australia and being able to do crafty things while I was there would make it an even better journey!!
    LOVE what the ladies have created using your awesome Foam stamps and stencil sets!!! MUST HAVE THEM ASAP!!! TFS!

    Reply

  • Carla Hundley

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    Looks like a wonderful
    time had by everyone!
    Carla from Utah

    Reply

  • Sue Clarkes

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    Nat, you even managed to post different pics than Julie did.
    I really like the quote “when all else fails, join the circus”.
    It goes well with “not my monkeys, not my circus” in some way.

    Reply

  • Greta H

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    Oh what fun–beautiful art work!

    Reply

  • Mary Holshouser

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    I would love to take some of your classes. I enjoyed seeing all of the finished projects – especially the elephant designs. I collect elephants and I’m always looking for new stamps/stencils and ways to use them.
    the girl riding the elephant was a clever idea.
    thanks for sharing so many wonderful finished projects.
    Illinois.

    Reply

  • Sabrina Radican

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    Oh boy… I wish I lived there so I could come and visit you and have lots of inky fun!! All of their pages look absolutely, gorgeous, beautiful. wonderful and looks like they all had a blast!!

    Reply

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Sydney, Australia – here we come: Mixed Media Circus: Art Journal Adventure

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My friend Julie Fei-Fan Balzer and I will be teaching the Mixed Media Circus: Art Journal Adventure workshop 1 hour North of Sydney in Berkley Vale – at the Darkroom Door Art Studio , Australia April 15 -17, 2016. 

Mixed Media Circus Art Journaling Adventure from Nathalie Kalbach on Vimeo.

More information and Signup for the class here

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info sydney

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You can sign up for this 3-Day-Workshop here: Mixed Media Circus: Art Journaling Adventure. We would really love to see you there*-and we are super excited to come Down Under and it will loads of fun and a real art journaling adventure!

*if you are in the Melbourne area and would love to join us there- we are teaching at Artified April 8-10,2016 – sign up and more info here

have a gorgeous day,

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