Mel Hills * Wild Art

WEB Page Success!

2010-09-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Ooops, A little slack of me not to update this a while back. Have gotten the web page all working ( I think)
Let me know if you find any problems!.
Just got to keep the new artworks section updated. That should be interesting.
http://www.melhillswildart.com.au/.
Cheers.
Mel.

New Website

2010-04-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

I've finally gotten my new website up and running! I've still got to add a shopping cart and the contact form doesn't work but otherwise ...well, it's a start.

Have a look at http://www.melhillswildart.com.au/

Last weeks entertainment

2010-04-13T19:39:00.001-07:00

noctuid day moth008,
originally uploaded by Mel Hills' Wild Art.

My easter treasure was finding this beautiful "pasture day moth" Apina calisto.
I found another couple of groovy sites while I was looking to ID her too.

Mel at Work on a tromp l'oel

2010-03-24T20:36:00.001-07:00

Mel at Work on a tromp l'oel,
originally uploaded by Mel Hills' Wild Art.

Just trying to sort out profuile pics for a web page, and how to upload them!

New Cards for 2009-2010 Season

2009-10-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

The New card designs for this season are fresh off the press!
It's been a few months work to gather images design them all and get everything together. 16 new card designs have been printed which brings the total card range to 24. We have 8 new landscapes from Freycinet to Bruny Island and another 8 animal designs.
I'm just starting to distribute them now and excited to see how they go.
Have a look at the flickr posting -
I'll add them to the card and print designs one.
Cheers,
Mel.

The process of creation....

2009-03-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

All the images I create are sourced from my own sketches and photographs gathered during my travels.
When painting animals and scientific illustrations many sketches are made and exact measurements and other details such as feather counts are taken.
After playing around with shetches and compostions, the final image is drawn onto the final surface - usually paper or board.
The image is then built up in successive layers, starting from the background. I usually try to leave white or light areas unpainted, to let the paper sing through and somtimes mask these areas out initially.
Applying colour in multiple layers enables me to obtain a special depth of colour and texture for fur, feathers and foliage.
Each layer must be allowed adequeate drying and setting time before the next can be sucessfully applied.
The final steps involve adding hair and feather detail with increasingly fine brushes and then ultimately the highlights. This too may requre several layers, with drying time in between.
I aim to make the end image something of detail and beauty that can be looked at for a long time, without becoming boring. I also endeavor to capture something of the place and atmosphere in my landscapes and something of the character and beauty of the animals in the portraits.
Well, it's something to work towards ( : ....

२००९ update

2009-03-11T23:10:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy few months getting cards and limited edition prints to many distribution points up the East Coast of Tasmania and
discovering weekend markets are at lot more fun and less scarey than I thought.
I've become a member with the Peppercorn Gallery in Richmond - a co-op gallery run by the artists. It's lovely to have some feedback and input from other practising artists. But I've been kept busy creating and framing or mounting works for the wall space as well as creating small works for markets and the last couple of weeks a range of Bookmarks! Lots of fun ( :

Now, with the season winding down it's time to start working on a new and exciting body of work for 2009 - There's so much on this year it's mind boggling, so I'm just going to try to focus on creating the images for a new card range in the next couple of months. And looking forward to working BIG again...

New Card Range

2008-12-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

There is a range of 8 new cards available.
Featuring native tasmanian animals and landscapes, these cards are printed with vegetable based inks on recycled, chlorine free paper.
Card size is 170mm x 122mm.
Each card is packaged with an envelope in a clear plastic viewing sleeve for protection.

Card designs available include:
Hermit Crab,
Freycinet Seagull,
Swanport Soldier Crab,
Pademelon,
Bennett's Wallaby,
Sitting Devil,
Prowling Devil,
Green Tree Frog.

Limited Edition Prints

2008-12-01T14:15:00.001-08:00

All Limited Edition Prints are Archival quality, utilising acid free paper and stable inks.
Each print is individually hand numbered and double mounted, with a foam core backing board.
They are lightweight for posting and ready to frame.
Sizes do vary between prints, but all are approximately A4 with mounts.
Each Print is presented in a clear plastic sleeve for protection.

Current images available as prints include:
Tasmanian Devil on the Prowl.
Firetail Finch.
Freycinet Silvergull.
Pademelon.

Limited Edition Prints and Cards

2008-12-01T14:04:00.001-08:00

Watercolour Landscapes

2008-09-11T01:22:00.000-07:00

Commissions

2008-09-10T17:54:00.000-07:00