Yes I would still like to pull a Bruno Mars and lie in my bed but alas I can only dream about it.

Apart from my art commitments, this weekend is a full one. I am involved with ‘Book Creators Circle’; it is a group of people and businesses who have something to do with the book industry. It is a world wide group. Weather a writer, publisher, printer, editor etc. there is a place for you. To find out more visit www.bookcreatorscircle.com.au You will find it very interesting.

This Saturday Book Creators Circle are having a book Expo. Visitors from out of town will be here in Cairns, writers will have tables and there are two new books being launched. Spike Milligan’s daughter will be here as one of our visitors and guest speaker. The Expo is from 10am at Rydges Hotel, Cairns Esplanade. Come along and purchase yourself some new books, with every purchase your name goes into a draw for some fabulous prizes.

Also on this weekend (and what I am attending), is the Cairns Tropical Writers, Writers Retreat. The presenter, Veny Armanno, is senior lecturer at UQ and has published quite few novel of various genre and has won, and been shortlisted, for quite a few literary awards. The retreat will be broad-based but will cover mainly novel and memoir writing. There are obvious things like character development, plot structure included, but he will cover much more.

It is to be held at the Cairns Colonial Club. The retreat includes 1 night’s accommodation, breakfast, morning and afternoon teas, buffet dinner and a one-on-one feedback session on Friday afternoon for anyone who sent a sample (10-12 pages of their novel – chewing my nails about this) by 1st September.

The retreat will start at 9am on both Saturday and Sunday. Which means, I need to be over at the ‘Rydges Tradewinds’ early. I have to set up two tables and get back to the Colonial Club in time for the retreat start. I won’t have time to worry about all of my unfinished artworks this weekend.

I know it’s only Thursday but I have to get in as much painting as I can before I leave Friday lunchtime I also should be packing everything I need for both weekend activities. Phew.

Are you exhausted … I am.

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Just like Bruno Mars ‘Today I don’t feel like doing anything’…

But unlike him I can’t just lie in my bed, I have deadlines to meet.
In the next couple of weeks I have two major art competitions to be ready for. Eight works for one and two for the other, and this weekend I will be away at a writers retreat. The retreat is something I also need to be prepared for and whilst I am at the retreat I have another event I need to set up and dismantle on Saturday.

So today rather than lie in my bed I will be in my studio PAINTING (and packing writing gear for the retreat). I kind of know what to work on first…

The Innisfail Art Society Inc. Biennial Art Exhibition has a lot of different categories (19) and you are allowed up to eight entries, so I won’t be competing against myself. I have till the 5th October to be finished – 13 days minus the retreat days.

Of my eight pieces I have finished
• A computer generated art piece
• A miniature (etching)
• A large canvas with a semi abstract urban landscape painting
• A large semi abstract painting on paper (framed)
• A large representational painting on paper (framed)

What I am working on
• An artist book
• A portrait on canvas of a well known Cassowary Coast resident
• And maybe a drawing….?

For the Cairns Regional Art Exhibition I need two works. I have finished one, a large 2D work – which is a semi abstract painting on paper (framed) and have three canvases on easels to decide which will be the chosen piece, I am working hard to create a semi abstract urban landscape – I have 7 days for this minus the three I will be away for the retreat, so only four… for this one I have to send images of the completed work with my entry form. I’m not too worried – yet.

… As for the retreat ….

To be continued…..

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