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Recent Posts
New video about lustre painting and magazine articleThe other week I posted a video explaining the techniques and… »
Porcelain painting and other arts in ThailandThe second post in a series about my trip to Thailand last year.… »
My porcelain feature in Swiss magazine Art and PorcelaineI'm sharing another magazine feature of my award winning porcelain… »
My porcelain feature in DECOR-magasinet from NorwayLast month I was interviewed by Editor Margrete Tennfjord for a four… »
Floating in my freedom, Abstract expressionism on porcelainFinally finished this new painting on porcelain this week, "Floating… »
Expressionist landscapes on canvas and updatesI've been really productive over the past few weeks, I've been… »
We are Soldiers of Love, Ingrid Lee, 2013 porcelain vaseI started this porcelain painting We are Soldiers of Love, late last… »
Challenge of abstract expressionist lustre on porcelainThe challenge of abstract expressionist lustre on porcelain is where… »
Finishing and starting new projects on porcelainIt's been busy few weeks, so I haven't had much chance to paint… »
Demo via skype in St PetersburgIt was 4.30 am in Melbourne and I presented a ribbon embroidery… »
Abstract expressionism on porcelain
Progress of lustre painting on porcelain
What’s on my mind
Red Rose, acrylic on canvas, Ingrid Lee
Finally finished the Red Rose painting I started at painting demo for an art show last week……I’ve included some photos for the development of the painting…..now to finish off a couple of other paintings, and then I can start planning for my next exhibition 
This painting was completed on a gold background, using my favourite technique at the moment of blending gold into the highlights…it adds a rich luster to the rose. Listened to Billie Holiday throughout the painting of this Red Rose Great inspiration!
Red Rose, acrylic on canvas 24" x 24", 2011, Ingrid Lee
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Inspiration from Catherine’s Palace, Russia
Every sight, smell and sound of St Petersburg was inspirational, and stirred my creativity to write poetry, draw sketches and ideas, so much so that each evening was spent sorting out my photo journals across twitpic albums and facebook in an attempt to organise my thoughts for later.
However there was one place which evoked a different feeling and inspiration, Catherine’s Palace. I had a great sense of calm despite the opulence and decadence of the many rooms dedicated to artworks, antiques and ‘palace life.’ Maybe my sense of calm was due to a consistent state of amazement and wonder at the splendour of the gardens and grounds and grandeur of the palace 
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But, there was one room which totally amazed me, at first I thought it was the mirrored ball room….
Ingrid Lee in the Mirror ball room
A very unglamourous photo of me….but I had to take photos somehow!!!…and yes I know, the shoe covers are stunning
But then I walked into the Amber Room. Here is a special photo of me in the Amber Room, a complete chamber decoration of amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors. This photo is special not only because of the beauty of the room itself, but because photos are not allowed to be taken- obviously I didn’t take it, so I’m still a good girl but I greatly thank my friend for taking this picture all the same That room was simply breathtaking…walls, floors, ceiling, artwork…amber has such a magical sensation.
So how will this visit to Catherine’s Palace influence my artwork? These are photos which trigger ideas for me at the moment….
Largely colour, decoration and opulence are the main themes….
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And I just had to end this post with Catherine the Great herself!
This dress was stunning!!! It’s the same dress she’s wearing in the painting (left). The colours and materials used were amazing…and to think I walked through the palace where she did!!!!
Art with Valerius Ivanov in St Petersburg
Opportunity happens when you are happy to keep your doors open…that is what happened with my final art experience in St Petersburg. I was extremely fortunate to study a masterclass with awesome artist Valerius Ivanov at the Nevsky Forum Hotel.
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While we had fantastic chats in sentences combined with Russian, English and German…whatever works but I was really engaged by Valerius’ use of modern techniques which he generously shared.
Artwork by Valerius Ivanov
I had greatly admired Valeri’s artwork in the hotel lobby when I first arrived, there was great happiness which emanates and connected with me from his compositions…how awesome to actually work with him later in the week, a great surprise!!! He taught me a new technique of a sgraffito style technique on board
Artwork by Valerius Ivanov
And he made a portrait of me, reflecting my journey and readings of Gogol which I discussed in another blog post…How lucky am I???? Here it is:
I look forward to creating some interpretations of my experience in St Petersburg using this technique. Valerius, thanks so much for a wonderful experience and opportunity to work with you and offering me a new perspective on things, from great heights!!
Porcelain in St Petersburg
While visiting many museums and galleries in St Petersburg and Pushkin (Tsarskoye Selo), I was fortunate to see many beautiful displays of antique porcelain….I was in heaven!!! During those trips I worked with professional porcelain artist Alexei Nordin, we did a study tour of antique porcelain and techniques through The State Hermitage Museum and Catherine’s Palace.
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Alexei generously shared his insight of the delicate porcelain sculpted cups and pot-purri pieces, and other painted designs, which really informed my background knowledge of porcelain artistry. There were many Meissen porcelain pieces as well as pieces produced in Russia.
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The porcelain was so beautiful, and heavily ornate giving great design ideas for my next projects. It was marvellous to see an entire dinner setting in Catherine’s Palace.
Here’s a quick video of another favourtie room, the Blue Room:
It is important as with any art form, to understand processes and techniques of the past, to interpret art for today. I have been greatly inspired to create new porcelain works…where is the time??? Thanks a lot Alexei for your time, expertise and guidance on this porcelain tour
Masterclass with Valentina Razenkova, St Petersburg
During my recent trip to St Petersburg, Russia, I studied a masterclass with the wonderful ribbon embroidery artist Valentina Razenkova. Valentina’s work is intricately detailed and combined handpainting and ribbon embroidery, and hand embroidery to create the most amazing landscapes and still life compositions. I was fortunate to learn her own technique for roses…and we went shopping for shoes, jewellery, and ribbons of course!
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Some of Valentina’s works are double layered, where she does a layer of ribbon work and embroidery with handpainting, then covers this with a layer of organza, and then embroiders ontop of that layer…it creates a multi dimensional effect. You can’t see this in photos very clearly, but in real life her works are breathtaking!! I love her technique of creating each petal individually to sculpt the flowers, and then handpaint to create definition.
In this artwork, there is a tree and birds on one layer of fabric, then the organza is placed over the top and embroidered onto, to give a sense of depth.
I can’t wait to practice the new techniques I have learned, so that I can start my project based on a rococco style roses still life :)
Thanks so much to Valentina, and my friend Kristina who was our interpreter Valentina is a gracious and hospitable hostess, and beautiful woman who made my stay very comfortable, and the learning a pleasure.
Painting demonstration at school art display
I had fun tonight doing a painting demonstration for kids and their parents at a local school art display. It was wonderful to see all of the children’s artwork displayed in a range of mediums, including video and live music perfomances. I was invited to paint on canvas, so I started the underpainting of a small red rose on gold ground…really love answer kid’s questions about the progress and steps of a painting, and seeing their pleasure in watching art happen. Great evening.
Underpainting of rose, only the first 2 layers….
Books I’m reading during my trip to St Petersburg
For those of you who might not know, I’m off to St Petersburg this week on an art study trip, read more at my other blog post. I’m going to find a 30 hour flight really boring, especially if I can’t paint or write or do much really, so being the prolific workaholic that I am, I’ve decided that reading will amuse me, unless I find someone interested to talk to
So here are my selection of books I’m reading during my trip to St Petersburg:
The Heart Garden by Janine Burke, which is about Sidney Nolan’s muse and lover, Sunday Baillieu. It basically portrays her significant impact on Australian modernism…should be an interesting read, I’ll let you know how it goes.
The other book, is one which I have read a few times, but I am revisiting The Collected Tales of Nikolai Gogol. I adore Gogol’s writing, and it appeals to my sense of humour, similar to the way Voltaire’s works do. In particular, 
The Nose and The Overcoat are my favourites, but I pretty much like them all. The last time I read his works was about 6 years ago, so it will be comforting to revisit with older eyes, and quite appropriate for my impending trip to St Petersburg. While Gogol went to St Petersburg in 1828 to seek his fortune in St Petersburg, I am seeking fortune of the artistic soul I suppose