Darebin Drawings – The Book!

Well it has been a few months since I last posted and you may have thought that the Artist in Residence adventure was over for me, but not quite. Over the few weeks following the residency I decided to produce a small book to document the year-long artist residency at Darebin Parklands. It took five weeks from inception to the proof printing, but I have now taken a little more time to perfect it and it is ready to release into the world... but it's a staggered release.

First you get the chance to get a signed copy :)

May I introduce you to my latest baby Darebin Drawings - The Darebin Creek Collection by me, Katie Roberts. It is a beautiful, small, hard-bound, self-published little (only 18x18cm) gem documenting some of the history of the area and almost all of the artworks created during my residency in 36 full colour pages. It is truly lovely to hold the whole residency in my hands.

If you would like a signed copy, please place and order directly with me using this form here.

It will soon be available on Amazon and other book sellers, but for now you will find it here.

The last day of the artist residency

It was a year ago today I started this residency at Darebin Parklands in beautiful, inner city, bushland park in Melbourne. Last Sunday was the last day of my exhibition Darebin Drawings that I held in the studio at the completion of this residency. After a year here it was both sad and joyous to be finishing.

I am really proud to have created the work I have and to have established the Artist in Residence which I hope will be ongoing, with another artist starting after me. It has been a big year. I have produced over sixty works including five very large drawings, smaller works on paper, several oil painting and artist books and hundreds of photographs and even a few video pieces. 

Finally, I have also produced a book, a small square record of the Darebin Creek collection that I hope will leave a legacy of this body of artwork about the creek for future generations. It should be available early May for anyone who is interested.

The Darebin Creek work is ongoing, even though the residency and exhibition is over. I have only made and completed a third of the work I want to make so I imagine I could easily spend another year or two on the creek making art. So if you see me and my bike making some art by the creek, stop and say 'Hi!' The best thing about doing this residency has been meeting all the community who care so much about the creek and park, the environment and history of the area. What a fantastic community.

So, thanks to the rangers especially head ranger Peter Wiltshire for being so supportive sharing all his vast knowledge and creating this space in the first place. To also to Katy, Therese, Adrian and Peter. Thanks to the Darebin Creek Management Committee for being so supportive and open to this idea. To the Friends of the Darebin Creek and the Darebin Parklands Association, all the visitors and volunteers.

It's been a great journey! :)

Darebin Drawings Exhibition Update

The exhibition Darebin Drawings is going really well, I am having fun meeting the lovely art and park goers and getting to make some art in these final weeks too. As always seems to happen there is a rush of inspiration and energy in the last few strides of a projects, just like there is a rush of people through the door at the end of the day! But, it's more then welcome. I am loving the feeling of everything coming together , and everyone coming together to celebrate this art and the amazing park.

So, I thought I would post some more photos up here of the work so far, for you to enjoy.

Katie Roberts 'Beneath Darebin' Ink, pencil, mixed media on paper 2013-14 (SOLD)

Katie Roberts 'Mountain, Egg' (from my journal) ink and pencil 2014

Katie Roberts 'Fairy Bridge - Darebin Creek' Pencil NFS

Katie Roberts 'Bush City Geometry' Pencil, ink, watercolour and mixed media on paper 2015

Katie Roberts 'Leaf Map' Mixed media on paper 2014

If you are interested please also check out my facebook artist page here. 

If you are interested in purchasing or perusing a selection of my artwork as cards or prints and various other things, please have a little look here at my Redbubble profile.

Completion of Artist Residency 2014-2015 Exhibition and Open Studio by Katie Roberts

Please come along tomorrow night or anytime in the next three weeks (Thursday - Saturday 11-4pm) to see the artwork produced as part of my year long residency at Darebin Parklands in Alphington, Melbourne. Exhibition and Open Studio 26th March till the 12th April 2015. Artist Talk Saturday 28th March 4pm. It would be great to see you there to celebrate.

En Plein Air, Outdoor Oil Painting Workshop

Tomorrow and the next day I hold a two day workshop on en plein air oil painting, (that would be outdoors for the non-French speaking of us) in the tradition of the Heidelberg School artists, such as Tom Roberts who painted of the Darebin Creek too. It's going to be really wonderful. Will post more soon.