They are both now in doggy heaven as they were such gorgeous little dogs who were my family. I miss them very much. These photos were taken 4 years ago but show their personalities.
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| Daisy |
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| Rosie |
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| Daisy & Rosie with knitted jumpers in their beds |
Monday, 12 January 2015
Vale - my Rosie and Daisy
Sadly last week I had to take Rosie to the vet as she was beginning to suffer. At 17 she was blind and deaf and her back legs were starting to go. She still liked to eat but I was worried she would fall off the edge of the deck where she sometimes wandered bumping into things. Daisy was also blind and her life ceased last year when she was often lost in the garden at night in the freezing cold of winter. She was probably the offspring of Rosie and a couple of years younger. Both came from the RSPCA - they were found together wandering the streets of a Canberra suburb with their long hair all matted. I took them both as they were clearly dependent on each other.
They are both now in doggy heaven as they were such gorgeous little dogs who were my family. I miss them very much. These photos were taken 4 years ago but show their personalities.
They are both now in doggy heaven as they were such gorgeous little dogs who were my family. I miss them very much. These photos were taken 4 years ago but show their personalities.
Monday, 27 October 2014
Book on my recent travels to Central Asia
Hope you enjoy my book that I have just uploaded to Blurb for printing and PDF. Click on the icon for full screen display to see it clearly.
Monday, 20 October 2014
My Garden this spring
I have not posted for a long time - largely because I have been away for several weeks on a trip in Central Asia. I have yet to organise my pictures and make a photo book. But my garden has been looking nice this spring so thought I would post some photos here.
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| My back deck - the hanging baskets were only just planted. |
Monday, 25 August 2014
My Photobook on South America
I have just finished my photobook on South America where with two Aussie friends, Janice and Val, I spent three months travelling, partly on our own and partly on a Penn Overland trip by bus. We also had 10 days on an old boat seeing the Galapagos Islands. This was in 1973. I have scanned all my slides and have 635 photos in the book.
We had been teaching in Canada for three years and were finally moving again to see more of the world, as Australians often did in those days.
Hope you enjoy this book. It can be purchased on the Blurb website
by entering my name in the search box. All my books are available for viewing and purchasing there.
The book is best viewed here in fullscreen mode which is available with the far right icon below.
We had been teaching in Canada for three years and were finally moving again to see more of the world, as Australians often did in those days.
Hope you enjoy this book. It can be purchased on the Blurb website
by entering my name in the search box. All my books are available for viewing and purchasing there.
The book is best viewed here in fullscreen mode which is available with the far right icon below.
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Recent pastel paintings
These are two soft pastel paintings I have done recently on Wednesdays when I meet with others to paint. I am enjoying returning to pastels, my favourite medium.
I photographed this still life set up under the trees at Floriade many years ago and decided to paint my interpretation of it with bright colours which I love.
This grevillea flower closeup was waiting to be painted.
I photographed this still life set up under the trees at Floriade many years ago and decided to paint my interpretation of it with bright colours which I love.
This grevillea flower closeup was waiting to be painted.
Thursday, 24 July 2014
Some Mixed Media Paintings
My canvas was covered in glue and sand sprinkled on it to give a rough texture when painted with acrylic paints. The idea was to give a feeling of Edward Hopper's work. He was a mainly urban painter and often at dusk or night. I only had a photo of houses in the daytime so I have attempted here to give a night look by making the sky dark and light in the windows. It was fun to do.
I had covered a canvas with crushed tissue paper and painted the whole area in yellow ochre. It had been sitting around for a few months. I was searching for a design idea and began drawing flasks. To contrast with the curves of the flasks I began drawing triangles and using different colours for decoration. Most of the yellow ochre was covered although this was not the original intention. Another piece of work that was fun to do.
This collage was made for the Squares Exhibition that has just finished at Strathnairn Gallery. I always love this opportunity each year to do something different on a small canvas. I decided to do a collage using all the advertising stuff that comes in the mailbox and newspaper every day. The background at the top has painted paper covered with semitransparent Lutradur polyester sheet. I have called it Baubles Collage.
I had covered a canvas with crushed tissue paper and painted the whole area in yellow ochre. It had been sitting around for a few months. I was searching for a design idea and began drawing flasks. To contrast with the curves of the flasks I began drawing triangles and using different colours for decoration. Most of the yellow ochre was covered although this was not the original intention. Another piece of work that was fun to do.
This collage was made for the Squares Exhibition that has just finished at Strathnairn Gallery. I always love this opportunity each year to do something different on a small canvas. I decided to do a collage using all the advertising stuff that comes in the mailbox and newspaper every day. The background at the top has painted paper covered with semitransparent Lutradur polyester sheet. I have called it Baubles Collage.
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Tiffany Lampshade in 'Poppy' Design
I have been making this lampshade for over three years but finally I mounted it on a stand today and put the lights on. Although there are some things not quite right as it was hard to make, these all fade into the background when it is lit up. I am very pleased. The diameter is about 52cm so it is quite large with three globes.
While cutting and foiling the glass it was impossible to know just what the colours would be like with proper light behind. I had problems with oxidation of the solder as I hadn't realised it was not good to have some of the panels exposed to air for years. Using fine steel wool over all the seams to get it off was really hard and the result not perfect. Then it was hard to get the black patina to take well too. But the colours work and that's all that matters in the end.
While cutting and foiling the glass it was impossible to know just what the colours would be like with proper light behind. I had problems with oxidation of the solder as I hadn't realised it was not good to have some of the panels exposed to air for years. Using fine steel wool over all the seams to get it off was really hard and the result not perfect. Then it was hard to get the black patina to take well too. But the colours work and that's all that matters in the end.
Saturday, 24 May 2014
Photobook on Mexico, Guatemala, Curacao & St Kitts
Mexico and Guatemala by Ruth Lathlean
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Make Your Own Book
This is my seventh photo book thast I have made using Blurb BookSmart software. Gradually I am scanning many of my slides from my travels and making books.
You can view this book in fullscreen and it is also for sale in the Blurb.com bookstore.
This is my seventh photo book thast I have made using Blurb BookSmart software. Gradually I am scanning many of my slides from my travels and making books.
You can view this book in fullscreen and it is also for sale in the Blurb.com bookstore.
Friday, 9 May 2014
Tryptich painting - after Matisse
I've been working on this huge tryptich for the last 6 weeks. Michael Winter's class is looking at the work and style of Henri Matisse. We were to paint an interior with at least one person in it. Most were looking at photos of home but I decided to use a quirky photo I took in 2006 when I was in the medieval city of Carcasonne in the south of France. I was alone and looking for a place for dinner but I think I was the only person eating - everyone else was drinking!
We were to join 3 canvases together to make a tryptich. The size influences the way one sees and paints. It was quite an experience. The final size is 2.3m x 1m (or 90" x 40"). Even balancing the canvases on the easel was hard with clamps used at the back.
The painting was drawn in charcoal and painted in acrylic using six tertiary colours which were harmonious. I feel that the painting is more about colour than anything else - and Matisse also used unusual colours. I made areas of impasto/texture and also flat areas with emphasis of line in places. It was great fun to make this painting and I've already decided what to move and where to put it on a high wall in my house.
Click on photo to see a larger size.
We were to join 3 canvases together to make a tryptich. The size influences the way one sees and paints. It was quite an experience. The final size is 2.3m x 1m (or 90" x 40"). Even balancing the canvases on the easel was hard with clamps used at the back.
The painting was drawn in charcoal and painted in acrylic using six tertiary colours which were harmonious. I feel that the painting is more about colour than anything else - and Matisse also used unusual colours. I made areas of impasto/texture and also flat areas with emphasis of line in places. It was great fun to make this painting and I've already decided what to move and where to put it on a high wall in my house.
Click on photo to see a larger size.
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Still life painting & tapestry weaving
This was a small still life acrylic painting I did a month ago when there were plenty of peaches around. I looked at Itten's Elements of Colour" and tried some unusual harmonious tertiary colours as my palette. I was about to start a huge tryptich and wanted to experiment with colour. The theme is Matisse's indoor compositions and paintings - lots of colour and pattern. The large one is still in progress 1m x 2.2m in size.
This is a small woven tapestry on the theme Light and Shade that I have just entered in the annual tapestry challenge that is exhibited in New Zealand and Australia. Images are eventually all shown on Flickr.
This is a small woven tapestry on the theme Light and Shade that I have just entered in the annual tapestry challenge that is exhibited in New Zealand and Australia. Images are eventually all shown on Flickr.
Monday, 17 March 2014
Morocco - my latest book
This is my latest Blurb book on Morocco. You can see the whole book here. Just click the arrow.
Saturday, 15 March 2014
Some Acrylic Paintings
This semester I am doing an art course called "Matisse - from his room to yours" with Michael Winters. I always enjoy his courses as he pushes my boundaries and I do things I never thought I could do or even wanted to do. This course looks at Matisse's paintings of indoors scenes and the way he composes, uses colours and applies paints.
At first we photographed lots of angles in our own home that might be appropriate. We converted these to black and white so we were not influenced by reality colours. We chose two of these initially and did graphite and coloured pencil drawings on A3. They were then converted into small canvas paintings in acrylic. Things were to be stylised, one was to have a border, and one was to have one colour used for 80% of the painting.
I then painted this somewhat larger still life made from a cluttered arrangement of objects on a patterned textile. Matisse used pattern and textiles a lot. It was first painted loosely in burnt umber and white. Acrylic glazes were then added to it giving some colour but allowing the background to show through.
At first we photographed lots of angles in our own home that might be appropriate. We converted these to black and white so we were not influenced by reality colours. We chose two of these initially and did graphite and coloured pencil drawings on A3. They were then converted into small canvas paintings in acrylic. Things were to be stylised, one was to have a border, and one was to have one colour used for 80% of the painting.
I then painted this somewhat larger still life made from a cluttered arrangement of objects on a patterned textile. Matisse used pattern and textiles a lot. It was first painted loosely in burnt umber and white. Acrylic glazes were then added to it giving some colour but allowing the background to show through.
Sunday, 16 February 2014
Monoprints
Recently I went to a monoprint weekend workshop with Jo Hollier, a well known printmaker. We had a lot of fun working with gelatin plates and stencils as well as trace and reduction monoprints. We did some by hand printing and some with a pass through the press. I have uploaded some onto Flickr and here they are here.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
Mixed Media Paintings
Recently I spent a full week at the 'Summer Art Experience' run by the Artists Society of Canberra. I did a class in Mixed Media with tutor Marijke Greenway whose work I admired when she taught last year, and also from her website. This is at www.marijkegreenway.com
These are 4 paintings that I was reasonably happy with.
The first is a small sample of painting (or pouring paint) on to unsized canvas on the floor. My large one needs to be redone as with a leg problem I had trouble bending down to the floor and my creativity deserted me.
This next acrylic painting was on stretched canvas. Marijke had many photos of her trip to the Kimberleys in northwest Australia and became the inspiration for a painting.
These bell like flowers are from the Eucalyptus Caesia - the canvas was prepared with tissue paper and gesso. I think a different subject would have showed the texture better from this technique.
This Grevillea flower was done with oil pastels on a piece of board painted black. It was interesting to try but not a medium I really like with its oily feel.
We also tried painting with inks but I didn't have much variety in colour, so used some cheap food dyes. They sort of worked but run very easily when adding layers so I abandoned them. I need to experiment more with different media and supports this year. In February our Wednesday painting group will start again. I'll probably return to pastels for a while but also acrylics as I'm doing Tuesday afternoon classes with Michael Winters. The course is called 'Matisse:from Matisse's room to your room.' The classes are from the Centre for Continuing Education at ANU at www.anu.edu.au/cce
These are 4 paintings that I was reasonably happy with.
The first is a small sample of painting (or pouring paint) on to unsized canvas on the floor. My large one needs to be redone as with a leg problem I had trouble bending down to the floor and my creativity deserted me.
This next acrylic painting was on stretched canvas. Marijke had many photos of her trip to the Kimberleys in northwest Australia and became the inspiration for a painting.
These bell like flowers are from the Eucalyptus Caesia - the canvas was prepared with tissue paper and gesso. I think a different subject would have showed the texture better from this technique.
This Grevillea flower was done with oil pastels on a piece of board painted black. It was interesting to try but not a medium I really like with its oily feel.
We also tried painting with inks but I didn't have much variety in colour, so used some cheap food dyes. They sort of worked but run very easily when adding layers so I abandoned them. I need to experiment more with different media and supports this year. In February our Wednesday painting group will start again. I'll probably return to pastels for a while but also acrylics as I'm doing Tuesday afternoon classes with Michael Winters. The course is called 'Matisse:from Matisse's room to your room.' The classes are from the Centre for Continuing Education at ANU at www.anu.edu.au/cce
Monday, 25 November 2013
My book on my travels to the U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe by car in 1969
This is my latest book that I have done using Blurb Booksmart. I have just uploaded it and it will be 2 weeks before the book arrives. It is for sale through the Blurb online bookstore. You should view it in fullscreen mode so you can read the print.
Wednesday, 6 November 2013
Tapestry Weaving
It's been a long time since I posted any weaving on this blog but now is the time! Today I went to the Textiles Workshop in the Canberra School of Art and was present for the cutting off of the Canberra Centenary Community Tapestry. There is a blog on it at canberra100communitytapestry. This has been a huge project all year by both experienced tapestry weavers and some beginners after instruction. It is part of the Canberra Centenary. This photo was taken just before it was cut off. I only contributed a small amount of weaving but it was most exciting. Annie Trevillian was the designer. Those familiar with Canberra can find an amazing lot of features, both historic and natural. It will hang in the Legislative Assembly from early December.
Many are making small tapestries on Canberra to hang with the large one for a short time. This is a small (approximately A4) tapestry that I have done. Mine is an interpretation of Floriade which occurs every spring in Commonwealth Park. There are lots of flower beds, especially wih bulbs. I used French knots to make them!
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Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Photo Book on Bhutan
Bhutan: land of the thunder dragon by Ruth Lathlean
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Make Your Own Book
This is my photobook of Bhutan where I recently spent 15 days. You may view all the pages (use full screen for the best view) or purchase it online through the Blurb bookstore. Hope you enjoy the pictures. I am waiting for the printed copy to arrive.
This is my photobook of Bhutan where I recently spent 15 days. You may view all the pages (use full screen for the best view) or purchase it online through the Blurb bookstore. Hope you enjoy the pictures. I am waiting for the printed copy to arrive.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Still life abstracts
It has been such a long time since I lasat posted anything. But of course I have been to Bhutan and am currently working on a photo book which I will post here eventually. I have also returned to my Wednesday art group. I finished the acrylic painting (red background) that I began in Michael Winter's class just before I went away. My last post included this unfinished, but here it is finished. It was inspired by the work of Piet Mondrian with a mosaic background with straight lines.
I have now just finished another painting with a blue background. The still life came from my head, not reality. I used warm colours for the objects and cool colours for the background - more or less. I also added curved lines as they appealed to me.
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