Vanessa Osborne Art

  The World in Colour This latest writeup is coinciding with a very special event... my birthday 😊 And not just any birthday...it is birthday number 50! How and when did that happen? I do not know because I feel just as ignorant and naive as I always have! 😂    So, for my 50th while I am trying to quietly celebrate (as quiet as friends will allow), there is an exciting adventure coming up at the end of April 2024 that I can't wait to share with you! But for now we all need to be patient and as I have been pondering the wonderful world of colour, that is what we shall talk about.   A palette being put to good use!  (Photo: Vanessa Osborne) Sing a rainbow   Pondering happens rather often when there is painting and creating to be done and as I love colour, this subject is regularly at the very centre of my musings. This is kind of ironic coming from someone who often wears black on black… but I really do love colour. One thing about being an artist is you ge...

   For the Love of Georgia If you knew me and my art you might think Georgia  O’Keeffe has been one of my major influences right from the start. Amongst other things, Georgia created paintings of large scale blooms, very close up. Truth is, I didn’t know who she was up to about 5 years ago. I recognised some of her artworks as soon as I saw them but it took a workshop and  a discussion with my very good friend, Rebekah Pedersen Art (check out her beautiful paintings!), before I started to properly pay attention. I feel like I may have been living under a rock for a while there not to have become acquainted with the work of this genius, and I can now say Georgia is one of my absolute favourite artists!   My favourite Georgia O'Keeffe collection  'Georgia O'Keeffe Museum' text by Barbara Buhler Lynes, published by ABRAMS, New York, 2007 At school we mostly studied the impressionists. Those that we studied were all men. My family nurtured my love of art from a young ag...

  She's an ideas girl... A wise man once said, “She’s an ideas girl”. He was talking about me. That’s not what makes him wise, in fact that would make that statement quite questionable 😂 But he is definitely someone who earnt my respect – so what a compliment!  Lately I have been thinking about what he said. It was probably close to 20 years ago now, but it must have resonated since it keeps coming back to me.  I have never thought of myself as being someone with a lot of drive or who likes to set goals. I have had to reevaluate this because in the last few years I have really upped the ante and have determinedly chased my dream of being an artist, even though I HAVE been an artist for many years. It is in my DNA, there is no denying that! You may have already read About Me where I have said that art is ‘something I have to do’. It’s true. When I am not creating, particularly painting, I feel flat, empty, even depressed. Some...

  Stuck in a Rut! Stuck in a rut... Where did that term even come from??? (Well actually, according to a search “stuck in a rut” possibly came from the 1800s when wagon wheels would become stuck in a groove (or ‘pothole’ as they are commonly referred to in Australia) in the road. Makes sense.) But for sure, in a rut I have been stuck! What is one to do when this happens? I tell myself to just keep going. An artist is meant to paint, right? Well, not today, and not yesterday. Maybe not even tomorrow… As my mentor recently pointed out, I have been busy working on my art - just in different ways.  December is a busy month in and of itself, so instead of painting up a storm, I have been doing other arty things such as photography, i.e. collecting masses of future painting references. December is a month of blooming roses, hydrangeas, and dahlias in my neck of the woods, [amongst many other beauties]. So, I have been spending time with my beautiful muses; how is it that a simple ro...

A Room of One's Own When I was a teenager, and even now, I had visions of what my future art studio would be. I picture living in a house in the countryside, maybe the Barossa Valley; my studio is a large room with natural light from just the right directions - preferably from two sides. There are French windows and doors looking out over the gentle rolling hills. Inside I have multiple easels. They have wheels so I can move them around easily, and crank handles to wind them up and down. There is a shelf packed with beautiful art books. All my artists supplies are accessible whenever I need them, in perfect storage shelves and caddies. There is a gorgeous vintage Persian rug covering the floorboards. It has an effortless shabby chic feel and is super functional. I could go on and on. A view from my studio - Iris paintings and tools of trade (Photo: Vanessa Osborne, 2023) My art space   Now back to reality! So, I live in the suburbs, not the country, I work a “real” job that relia...

Having Fun with Floral Art Painting, drawing, and all things art related bring me complete and utter happiness. Art also gives my busy mind and hectic lifestyle space and freedom to slow down and breathe. 'Sunflower' Acrylic on Canvas Board 46cm x 46cm (18"x18") (Photo: Vanessa Osborne, 2023) A simpler time   Life used to be much simpler. Of course, as children we had no idea what we were in for!  The world has rapidly changed before our eyes with technology progressing at mind blowing speed. Everything we ever thought we wanted (or didn't know we wanted!) is now available at the click of a button. Instead of waiting months for an overseas delivery we have them in a week; we can have food delivered to our front door from just about any restaurant without having to get out of the lounge chair; movies on demand; and the shops are open EVERY DAY - some of them 24/7! 'Peachy Poppy' Acrylic on Canvas Board 20cm x 20cm (8"x8") (Photo: Vanessa Osborne...