Caroline

Neighbourhoods

Coastal Capers

Last week my partner and I had a couple of days off and did some local travel launching from "Kilcunda" each day. Kilcunda is not far from Wonthaggi along the rugged coastline of Bass Strait – the stretch of water between mainland Australia and Tasmania.

Nature

Revisiting Nadine Dudek

Come revisit the watercolour paintings of birds produced by Nadine Dudek.

Architecture

Victorian Desalination Project and Ecological Reserve

The Victorian Desalination Project (VDP) in southern Victoria includes one of the largest single ecological restoration projects undertaken in Victoria. The project was announced by the Victorian Government in June 2007 when Melbourne's water storage levels dropped to 28.4%. Photo my own.

Realism

Artist Jeffrey Smart, Born Adelaide, Australia 1921 – Died Arezzo, Italy - 2013

The National Gallery of Australia, (NGA) is showing a Jeffrey Smart exhibition, which marks one hundred years since the artist's birth. Today we are lucky to be able to hear about the exhibition from a young fan, R from Glen Iris. Credit hero image The Traveller 1973 Credit qagoma.qld.gov

Childrens Art

Loch Village - promoting inspirational art by local kids - Part 2

During Covid lockdowns, we discovered creative ways to do traditional things. During our recent trip to Loch Village, I was intrigued about the story behind the artwork in the main street. Photo my own

Architecture

Loch - a village of friendly folk - Part 1

Nestled in the verdant hills of South Gippsland is the beautiful Loch Village. Anchored at the eastern end of the main Street, the Loch Brewery and Distillery which occupies the former Union Bank building (1902), makes the perfect starting point to stroll around the village. Photo my own

Collector

Mysteries and Memories of Boxes

What is it that attracts us to collect boxes and treasure them? Firstly the memories they invoke – how we acquired them and the personal stories we attach to them. And secondly the mystery of what they contain – from meaningless paraphernalia to treasured keepsakes.

Brazil

Bring in the New Year by escaping to the Amazon Rainforest

We are going to welcome in the New Year by escaping into an Amazon Rainforest with Jan and Mary Tuijp. You can enjoy the amazing photography and "teleport" yourself to a completely different world.

Celebration

Happy Christmas 2021

From all of the AnArt4Life blog team to all of our wonderful subscribers and social media followers - a very Happy Christmas with family and friends.

Christmas

The feast of Sinterklaas 2021

The feast of Sinterklaas celebrates the name day of Saint Nicholas on 6 December. Gifts are given on St. Nicholas' Eve (5 December) in the Netherlands and on the morning of 6 December, Saint Nicholas Day, in Belgium, Luxembourg and northern France.

Celebration

Happy Fourth Birthday to the AnArt4Life Blog

Celebrating 4 wonderful years of daily posts from the AnArt4Life blog made possible by the dedicated following we have from our subscribers and social media supporters. The blog team thanks you all for being part of our journey where the art that is all around us is shared far and wide.

England

Linoprints by Annie Soudain

Annie Soudain a retired art teacher spent her early years in Cornwall where her interest in plants was piqued by long walks with her Mother along disused railway tracks. Autumn Glow Credit:thesussexguild.co.uk

Photography

Pictures of Port Macquarie

Our young resident photographer recently visited Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. Today she shares some of her photos with us.

Scandinavia

The Futuristic, Functional, Fun Lego Head Office

Today we showcase how the Lego brand morphs their renowned blocks into real ‘bricks’ and mortar. To see the results, we need to travel to the birth place of Lego, Billund, Denmark, a small town located approximately 260kms west of Copenhagen. Image: Credit:CFMoeller.com

Scandinavia

Ole Kirk Kristiansen, founder of The Lego Group, a story of faith and resilience

The LEGO Group was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The company has passed from father to son and is now owned by Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, a grandchild of the founder. Image credit: lego.com

Nature

Through Edie's eyes

We are delighted to introduce you to possibly "our youngest contributor Edie, aged 12 from NSW". Edie is an aspiring artist especially in the field of anime and she would like to share some photos taken on her recent travels around NSW, Australia.

Flowers

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder

Dame Elizabeth Blackadder, who was celebrated for her exquisite flower painting, died at her home in Edinburgh on Monday at the age of 89, just a month short of her 90th birthday. Today an acknowledgement of her talent.

Inspiration

Covid Creative Charm

ABC Radio Sydney conducted a Household Lockdown Portrait Competition in which participants were asked to recreate a famous artwork, or submit an original one, using people and objects in their home. More than 250 people took up the creative challenge and entered the competition on social media.

Figurative Art

Freda Robertshaw - A Trailblazer

Unable to afford a model, Australian artist Freda Robertshaw (1916-1997) painted herself nude, the first Australian Woman to do so, in what must have been a provocative, even confronting, act.

Art Mentors

Sheila Cruthers leaves a legacy that “will paint Australian women artists back into our history”

Introducing Sheila Cruthers, an art collector and a philanthropist of note. What makes Sheila different to other who championed Australian women artists.

Women Artists

Alexandra Dillon, a painter of old paintbrushes and other discarded items

Alexandra Dillon is a Los Angeles-based surrealistic painter creating art on found objects. A love of Old Masters led her to study classical realism in Florence, Italy. Dillon paints imagined portraits on worn out paint brushes & other common discarded objects. Credit: alexandradillon.com

Metalwork

I love this artist Cal Lane, in spades

Bridging industry and fine art Cal Lane eliminates the tough and imposing characteristics of steel and iron to create alluring delicate and intricate sculptural forms using wheelbarrows shovels and fuel tanks as her canvas. Credit:Photos Cal Lane Facebook

Dogs

Contemporary Scottish Artist - Louis McNally

Louis Mcnally is a contemporary Scottish artist who paints using a distinctive style. He painstakingly develops his paintings over many weeks using drawings, photos and memory. Image credit: scottishartpaintings.co.uk

Naive and Folk Art

Naïve UK artist Mani Parkes loves the simple things, and dogs!

Mani Parkes has always wanted to be an artist. Today she is a successful professional artist. The quick drying nature of acrylic paints are ideal for Mani as she can add all the tiny details to her pictures without delay. Image credit: "Make a Wish" by Mani Parkes redraggallery.co.uk

Thread and Needle

Woman of the West Tapestry

The Woman of the West Tapestry is located in the Bland Shire council building in West Wyalong. The tapestry is tribute to the pioneer women of the Shire. It was a project of the Bland Spinners and Weavers Group for Australia’s bicentennial celebration in 1988. Image credit: Neil Crook