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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
Love is like a Ball and Chain, Ingrid Lee 2012, acrylic on canvas 122 cm x 81.5cm
In between kiln firings, I’ve been working on a new canvas painting. Finally this abstract expressionist painting Love is like a Ball and Chain, Ingrid Lee 2012, acrylic on canvas 122 cm x 81.5 cm, part of the Destiny and Love series is finished, so I’m just writing a quick post as Christmas is a busy time with baking and concerts and parties, one hundred and one other things…and painting of course!
Love is like a Ball and Chain, Ingrid Lee 2012, acrylic on canvas 122 cm x 81.5cm
The main lyrics of the song Ball and Chain by Janis Joplin inspired this painting…particularly the idea that some types of love we feel, or the emotions attached to it, feel like a ball and chain, it’s heavy: emotionally, mentally and physically draining, and in my experience, at the end of the day, probably not the right relationship. I don’t have much more time to explain the painting today….sorry 
But basically the movement of line work and colour reflects the rhythm and signatures of the music (see another painting where I have used this technique). The impassioned quality of Janis’ voice, and the raw edge is reflected in the imperfect brush strokes (or should I say undefined rather than imperfect) and the large broad layers of brushwork…especially the layered reds, and around the greens. The complimentary colours I’ve used to connote the guitar work in the music in contrast to Janis’ voice. Largely I have tried to capture the essence of her emotionally charged performance captured in this clip.
Here’s the video clip, Ball and Chain, Janis Joplin 1967 Monterey Festival….
During the process of painting these works, including the ones on porcelain, they are creating the story of where the final paintings will explore the notion of destiny. Over the next few weeks during the festive season, I’m mainly working on porcelain. So this is probably the last canvas painting for the year.
See another painting inspired by music “Air that I breathe”
New painting in progress- The Air that I Breathe
Here is my latest canvas painting I’m working on, based on the song “The Air That I Breathe” I’ll go into more about the artwork and meanings in a later post once it has been completed. I’ve been busy writing articles for magazines, organising art projects and planning new art work for my next exhibition in Thailand in November- that one is for porcelain, so I haven’t been blogging much 
I have been listening to the k.d. Lang version of The Air That I Breathe; here are a few pics…I’m half way through the painting, the song is at the end of the pics, with the lyrics I focused on too
The yellow bits are metallic gold…
“Peace came upon me and it leaves me weak
So sleep, silent angel, go to sleep
Sometimes, all I need is the air that I breathe
And to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe
Yes to love you
All I need is the air that I breathe ”
Thanks for reading my blog posts here, if you’d like to see more of what I do, please join my facebook fan page Ingrid Lee Artist or follow my facebook company page Ingrid Lee Enterprises Pty Ltd for more up dates about my work in exhibitions, collaborative projects, media publications and so on 
Painting of First Night in St Petersburg….Step by step
This is another of the 13 paintings I’ll be taking for my exhibition…so I thought I’d share with you the step by step photos so you can see the development of the painting. This painting was totally inspired by the photo I took during my first evening in St Petersburg, Russia, see more on this blog post.
The finished artwork (it is still difficult to capture the transparency of the layers of gold work with a camera).
"First evening in St Petersburg," 2012. Ingrid Lee, Acrylic on canvas, 76.5cm x 61cm.
This painting is one of delight and wonder as the magic and life of this city sparkled before me. I love the technique of using gold paint as a beautiful metallic base for my artwork and I also mix this rich hue with other colours to highlight the energy and light of a subject.
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Close up of finished painting:
Have a peek at my exhibition work
Just sharing a peek at my exhibition in St Petersburg, Russia. The exhibition is about my journey to St Petersburg, which began with my quest to enrich my artistic soul. My new kiln arrives this week, so I’ll share a little bit of my porcelain artworks in a few weeks. And be sure that I’ll share more about the exhibition, with full pictures in a few months time, once the exhibition has started.
To put all of the artworks for this exhibition into context for you, here is an excerpt from the publicity information I’ve written about my artwork.
……..My journey revealed more than heart and soul. It encapsulated an element of connectedness to the art of history, to time and place, to people past and present, to music and feelings, and as a result, to a greater sense of enlightenment….
Overview of Art works:
The artworks I have created since my first journey to St Petersburg are acrylic paintings on canvas and contemporary designs on porcelain. The canvas paintings are reflective of my experiences in St Petersburg and the interwoven threads and connections of my passion for this city.
I believe the journey of the artistic soul is a life long experience and St Petersburg is hopefully one of many in my growth and evolution as an artist. A place which was initially of just imagination and dreams, which finally became a reality, so my art could reflect my personal expression and interpretation of my immersion into the heart and soul of a city.
I’m sharing two paintings, but these paintings are not finished, and the photo quality is not good because I’ve used my i-phone….but they are a peek! When all of the artworks are completed, I will share high resolution photos.
Here is a close up of the bottom corner…these colours a little more accurate..but the bottom corner is painted with gold, and many of the highlights throughout the painting are in gold blends also, but again it is difficult to capture with i-phone.
My delivery of porcelain supplies arrived this week! Lustres, burnishing gold and texture reliefs…..all ready to start my plates which will be in contemporary designs to reflect the historical essence of Catherine Palace and St Petersburg.
Not my usual painting
I’ve been painting and creating lots of artwork lately, for my masterclasses and for my exhibition….but this is a painting which is not my usual thing, and has nothing to do with my exhibition work…really I think I listen to too much Adele while I paint! Funny what you internalise! Think I’ll choose some different tunes and stick to classical with no lyrics
Now back to painting important stuff!
“I’ll make you cry until your heart bleeds black.” Acrylic on canvas, Ingrid Lee.
Love is waiting, Ingrid Lee.
My latest painting, finished today, acrylics on canvas 40″ x 40″ titled “Love is waiting” was inspired by two songs, Adele’s Make you feel my Love (video at bottom of post) and Cyndi Lauper’s time after time (wrote about this in another post).
Love is Waiting, Acrylics on canvas 40″ x 40″, 2011, Ingrid Lee
I’ve tried to cut to the parts of the painting which reflect the lyrics of the song which I was expressing, if that makes sense…just to let you understand a bit more about my painting process.
Adele’s Make you feel my Love
I could hold you for a million years,
To make you feel my love.
I know you haven’t made your mind up yet,
but I will never do you wrong.
I know that from the moment that we met,
No doubt in my mind where you belong.
and Cyndi Lauper’s Time after time…..
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick and think of you.
Caught up in circles, confusion is nothing new.
Flash back, warm nights, almost left behind,
Suitcase of memories, time after …
Sometimes you picture me, I’m talking too far ahead.
You’re calling to me I can’t hear what you said,
You say, go slow, I fall behind.
If you’re lost you can look and you will find me, time after time.
If you fall I will catch I will be waiting, time after time.
After my picture fades and darkness has turned to gray,
Watching through windows, your wondering if I’m ok.
Secrets stolen from deep inside, and the drum beats out of time.
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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New painting “As petals fall” starting
My new painting “As Petals Fall,” this piece is inspired by some poetry I’ve been writing. I’ve been listening to Sneaky Sound System while painting this too, the videos for the songs are at the end of this post…totally inspired by the lyrics “Everytime I fall you take my hand…And you would volunteer to understand me”…Enjoy the progress to date. I’m using metallic gold light as the medium value throughout this painting.
organising values
2nd layer
1st stage of painting, underpainting colour is Southern Blue Ocean
This is the song for my muse for this painting “Big” by Sneaky Sound System.
Painting “Funny Valentine” by Ingrid Lee
It’s finally completed!!!! The painting ”Funny Valentine” is done….I’m really happy with this painting. I think the relationship and interaction between the male figure (left) and female (right) are clear, and details are fine. I did change my original intention of using the line design from the original post (I did apply it to this painting, but it looked crap, so I wiped it off). I’ll use this in either an ink or porcelain piece.
'Funny Valentine' Acrylic on canvas 24 x 36", 2011. Ingrid Lee
Close ups……
I’ve started my “Funny Valentine” painting
Finally, I’ve started my “Funny Valentine” painting (canvas size is 24 ” x 36″), which I posted the ideas for a few months ago…they were inspired by the Chris Botti/Sting version of “My Funny Valentine…see my post Inspired by “My Funny Valentine”.
Thought I’d just share and document (very important as I have many interruptions of everyday life, and I forget what I’m thinking!!!) a bit of the first painting stages….basically I have the music playing while I paint, and select the colours while thinking of two things:
- Maintaining intense under-painting in values that will show through and create the next layers of painting (See more about my technique) or check out my other post about creating intensity with complementary colours.
- Selecting colours which reflect how I feel as a direct response to the music.
The sketch I’m thinking and planning from for this stage of painting:
Here is the palette of colours using Matisse acrylic flow paints: Magenta, Australian Yellow Green, Southern Ocean Blue (Phthalo Turquoise), Cobalt blue, Titanium White, Cadmium Red Medium.
A close up
