lisa marie's picks - week 40: CARNIVAL

WOW what a colour filled vibrant week Carnival week was. Thank you for filling my feed with the most incredible images once again.

I know I am quiet of late commenting, as I have a heavy workload, but please know that each and every one of you that posts, brightens my day and inspires me with your creativity and the obvious passion that is evident in your work.

Keep drawing and painting and filling this world with your exquisite creations everyone.

The world needs more colour and it certainly needs the gifts you all offer it.

Here is a small selection of pieces that quite simply took my breath away this week.

Lisa-Marie x

Belladonna Raudvee

Caleb Salisbury

Clara Cook

Ian McLean

Ishrat Habib

Kate Bartholomew

Leonie Cheetham

Lex McKay

Lisa Jones

Lou Endicott

Mandy Wings

Margaret Dewar

Marie Charrois

Marie Laure Fontan

Melissa Tan

Peter Hinton

Richelle Sanders

Susan Ruming

Tash Farrar

meet challenge admin - Natalie Daniel

Natalie Daniel

1. Your name, location
Natalie Daniel, Upper Hunter Valley NSW

by Natalie Daniel

2. Describe your family
My Husband Jamie and Son Dylan, they are both farm boys who love the wide open spaces.

by Natalie Daniel

3. Describe your work
I am currently working from home on our family farm feeding the pigs and watching over the cattle as well as keeping the sheep out of the veggie garden. This allows me the freedom to be creative in between. I am a soap maker and also do pet portraits which help fund my growing art supplies.

Farm - by Natalie Daniel

4. What is your career goal?
I am currently studying a diploma of Graphic Design online, so my first goal is to complete my course and create a portfolio. My dream is to be working on our farm and illustrating in-between, I love the idea of illustrating a children’s book and working my influences from my farm into my illustrative work. I know I will never be completely self- sufficient though it is something I truly value and strive to achieve.

by Natalie Daniel

5. Describe your art background
When I was in my teens I would attend watercolour classes with ladies well into their 50’s and older, I would spend my Friday nights soaking up their wisdom and that is where my passion for watercolour began. Once married and working full time my art was pushed aside, although not forgotten I would always do the odd gift for friends and became more of a self taught artists just doing what felt right.

Bird - by Natalie Daniel

6. What do you love about the Challenge?
I love the support and encouragement I have found in the challenge. The connection to liked minded people is something I had craved for such a long time and I have made wonderful new friendships which I treasure so much.
The challenge has given me a safe place to encourage me to fill my need to be creative and was my inspiration to study Graphic Design this year. Due to my studies I have not been able to keep up with my challenge pieces in 2015 and I have really been missing it. I love the motion the challenge gives us to keep going each week doing what we love in a safe caring environment and being inspired by such talent from the members each day is truly a blessing. This may sound strange, it was almost as if the challenge gave me permission to paint and I let go of the guilt.

by Natalie Daniel

7. Tell us something that we don’t know about you
I always wanted to be a mermaid when I grew up, I love Elvis and I dream to own a pink Cadillac convertible.

by Natalie Daniel

Follow Natalie online:
Website: www.nataliedaniel.com.au

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Natalie-Daniel-Illustrations/686263844793812

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/natjeandan/

Items for sale
Handmade Soaps: http://www.countryculture.com.au/a-piece-of-clipson-en/

vair's picks - week 39: MELBOURNE

Hello everyone!

I've lived in Melbourne my whole life, with a short stint in Geelong, and so many of you have captured part of it so well! I couldn't choose them all so here are some great ones, but thank you all for portraying my favourite city so beautifully.

Annie Hamilton Grundy

Ben Pegram

Bryanna Pearl Talor

Caleb Salisbury

Danny Zemp

Dave Lieu

Dianna Lynn

Helen McGuire

Izabela Ward

Jayne Wallace

Jess Racklyeft

Jessica Compton

Joanne Stead

Joanne Stead

Jolanda Jarman 

Kim Bergstrom

Nicky Johnston

Patricia Ward

Samantha Cohen 

Sarah Ang

Sharon Hinchliffe

Sophie Pittaway

Cara King

meet Challenge member: Belladonna Raudvee

Belladonna Raudvee

1. Your name, location 
My name is Belladonna Raudvee and I currently live in Dongara, Western Australia. I moved here from my home state of NSW about 8 years ago.

2. Describe your family
I met my partner when the boat he was fishing on broke down in town. I told myself the moment I seen him that he was the man I would marry. Fast forward 10 years, 3 daughters, 4000kms and here we are!

Week 15 2015: STRUCTURE by Belladonna Baudvee

3. Describe your work 
I am currently involved in drawing the illustrations that will be etched into the stainless steel refurbishment of the ship Batavia's astrolabe that will be erected in a Geraldton park. In June 1629, the Batavia was wrecked on Morning Reef, on the Houtman Abrolhos Islands. There is a horrendous and brutal story involved, well worth a read!

Week 23 2015: RAIN by Belladonna Raudvee

4. What is your career goal? 
I have wanted to be an artist, Egyptologist, anthropologist, author and personal trainer but as I am now an adult I made the decision to focus on my childhood dream of illustrating children's books.

Week 25 2015: AFRICA by Belladonna Raudvee

5. Describe your art background
Drawing was just a background hobby of mine until I joined up with the local TAFE that offered two days a week Art Certificate. I was pregnant with my second child at the time but by the age of 4 months, Kirraleigh wasn’t content to sit in her rocker during class anymore. So since then I have been teaching myself everything I can.

Week 4 2015: INSECTS by Belladonna Raudvee

6. What do you love about the Challenge? What have you learned? 
I joined the challenge this year to give me a reason to practice and learn to complete illustrations faster. It has been the most rewarding experience and it reminds me every day that I am making progress towards my goal. The members are the support I need to give me that extra push.

7. What is your favourite illustration you have done for the challenge so far?
Week 15: VIETNAM is my favourite illustration of the challenge. I stepped out of my box and found a style that I enjoyed immensely as well as being my first watercolour.

Week 15 2015: VIETNAM by Belladonna Raudvee

8. Tell us something that we don’t know about you
Belladonna is the scientific name of Poison Ivy, my Father named me from a herb book. I am one of those rare people that love their name!

Week 21 2015: STRIPES by Belladonna Raudvee

Follow Belladonna online:

Website:  www.belladonnaraudvee.com

Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/belladonnaraudveeartist

Instagram: www.instagram.com/belladonna_raudvee

Redbubble: www.redbubble.com/people/belladonnaart/shop