NEW WEBSITE NOW UP AND RUNNING. I WILL BE KEEPING THIS BLOG ON THE GO FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY AND THEN THE NEW BLOG ON MY NEW WEBSITE WILL TAKE OVER FROM THIS ONE. THE NEW SITE WILL BE ADDED TO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TOO AS I GET THINGS MORE ORGANISED. Please visit www.gailtavener.com and place a comment on the new blog too. Thank you, it will be exciting to finally have my site able to be updated by myself instead of having to bother someone else all the time. Do visit the new site regularly and have a wonderful 2013.

SKINKS IN THE GARDEN We have hundreds of cute skink lizards in the garden all year round and they love the sunshine. They sun themselves on the rocks and dash around chasing each other through the garden and across the paving. Very Cute

Working on the watercolour "Blue Wrens in orchids" just putting in final touches. This original painting is available and is beautifully custom framed at $595.00. Art prints are also available mounted and ready to frame-in small,approx A5 size print $60.00 ($95.00 framed) Medium -approx A4 size print $90.00 or($160.00 framed)and large-approx A3 size print $130.00 or ($195.00 framed) Orders taken - email me on gtavener@tpg.com.au - I do not take credit card and direct payments into a bank account is the best way to pay - once payment has been received, the prints will be sent promptly.

HEATHCOTE WINERY EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION AT HEATHCOTE WINERY - 185 HIGH STREET, HEATHCOTE NOW ON FROM 1ST.NOVEMBER UNTIL 31ST JANUARY 2013. An exhibition of original watercolours of varied subjects and Limited Edition Art Prints and Photographs of Australian birds, flowers, seascapes, landscapes etc. Lots of the art prints and photographs are available in a "mounted/ready to frame" format and make gorgeous gifts for the person looking for something totally unique and collectable. Heathcote Winery is a lovely place and right on the main street, drop in for wine tasting or a coffee any day 10am to 5pm.

BLUE WRENS IN SPIKEY HAKEA - WATERCOLOUR. This is one of a pair of Blue Wren watercolours available at Heathcote Winery - the lovely little pairs of prints are either framed or unframed and are sold as a pair only. The original paintings are available at my Studio and would make the perfect gift at $480.00 for the framed pair. I have lots of lovely bird originals including The Kookaburra, Australian Magpies, blue wrens, parrots and Tawny Frogmouth. Some of these images are back on the blog archive - feel free to have a look.

EXHIBITION - "SPRING TIME"

BLUE WRENS & ORCHIDS - Watercolour - showing my brush and hand- putting finishing touches to the painting. This particular image will be available on limited edition prints too. A4 size $95 A3 size $120 mounted, backed and ready to frame. KOOKABURRA - Watercolour. The finished piece with the Kooka sitting in a gum tree just over the road from my house. This image will also be available as a limited edition print. A4 $95 A3 $120, mounted, backed and ready to frame.

BLUE WRENS

BLUE WRENS AND FUCHSIAS NO.1 AND NO.2 These deliciously small watercolour paintings were recently exhibited at St. John of God annual art show in Bendigo. They both sold on opening night. More wrens and other birds are now being painted, so watch this space for more Australian Birds and animals coming soon. Please contact me on gtavener@tpg.com.au for information on how to purchase a painting from this blog site.

BLUE WRENS

PROBUS GROUP VISIT THE STUDIO

A LOVELY HAPPY PROBUS GROUP visited my Studio last week. The local ladies and one gentleman spent an hour or so looking at the artworks, chatting and wandering in the garden. It was a cold but sunny day and everyone had a lovely time. If you have a small group who would like to visit the studio, please phone me on (03) 5442 4006 to arrange a time for your visit. I can take groups up to 20 (with 10 inside the gallery and 10 outside in the garden) We do not have toilet facilites for visitors to the studio, so please arrange to take care of that situation prior to your visit. We love having people come and manage to give everyone a bit of a laugh as well as an artistic experience.

MORE ABOUT THE TRAMSI

I was recently approached by Jane Curtis of ABC open and she asked if I would agree to a small feature on the ABC web "Now & then" segment. Jane and I met and re-photographed some of my original photographs from 1972 with the "Now" backgrounds of Bendigo streets. This turned out to be an interesting experience with the old and new intermixed. This picture above is one of the pieces to be re-photographed. One of the others has been published on Jane's "Now and Then" web page. Go to http://open.abc.net.au/posts/former-tram-capital-of-the-southern-hemisphere-82cv8px Another web address you can see is http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/04/16/3478533.htm Also a short video regarding my new "Faces of Bendigo" cards - go to http://open.abc.net.au/posts/finding-the-faces-95fi9wh I hope you enjoy having a look.

SCENTED BLOOMSS

SCENTED BLOOMS - Oil - approximately 24" x 18" (60cm x 50cm) This painting is beautifully framed and ready to grace someones wall - Price: $650.00

BENDIGO TRAMS - 40th ANNIVERSARY - BENDIGO TRAMS

HISTORIC AND NOSTALGIC - This 40th. Anniversary of Bendigo Trams ceasing to run as a passenger service can be seen in the many gorgeous images that I took in 1972. THEY SHOW THE VERY ESSENCE OF BENDIGO AT THAT TIME - THE TRAMS, THE CARS, THE PEOPLE AND THE STREETSCAPE WHICH HAS CHANGED SO MUCH. I WILL BE POSTING MORE IMAGES SOON showing the "Now and Then" views of our wonderful streetscape, so do keep watching this space. Please feel free to comment back to my email if you wish on: gtavener@tpg.com.au

HISTORIC - NOSTALGIC - THE END OF AN ERA .....THESE ARE WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHS- Perfect for Collectors or those who remember - THIS WAS BENDIGO in 1972. NEW CARDS AND JOURNALS NOW AVAILABLE: Yes I have just reproduced images onto beautiful "blank" cards with coloured envelopes and handmade journals for that extra special Tram Buff in your life at just $24.00 each (CARDS AND JOURNALS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE TRAM DEPOT).


BENDIGO TRAMS....THIS IS THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF AN ERA. ON 16th. APRIL, 1972 THE FINAL TRAM MADE IT'S WAY TO THE DEPOT AFTER THE STATE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION DECIDED TO STOP SERVICES APPARENTLY DUE TO FINANCIAL REASONS. I was lucky to be able to take a series of photographs both colour and black and white images one week before the trams stopped and now the collection has been reproduced for people to see and enjoy. All photographs can be purchased in several different sizes so that you can own a piece of Bendigo History and enjoy it forever. THE COMPLETE COLLECTION is available for viewing at my Art Studio at 76 Emmett Street, Golden Square (Please phone for a viewing and/or purchase of a print (03) 5442 4006) PRICES: 6" x 8" print $45.00 10" x 8" print $65.00 12" x 8" print $95.00 Very large prints on canvas $350.00 and extra large print on canvas $550.00. THESE ARE ALL COLLECTORS PIECES and come mounted and backed with acid free mounting along with Certificate of Authenticity. They are all numbered and signed by myself. YOU CAN ALSO VIEW MUCH OF THE COLLECTION AT THE NEW RETAIL SHOP AT THE BENDIGO TRAMWAYS DEPOT, Tramways Place, Bendigo. All images are at Studio prices at the depot and the friendly staff would love to help you with your purchase.

MORE IMAGES CAN BE SEEN ON PREVIOUS BLOGS FROM AUGUST, SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 2011 - Check them out.
You can also look up www.bob.net.au/gallery where you may find other pics from my exhibition "The Last Days of Bendigo Trams - 1972" which was at Bob Boutique and Gallery, Williamson Street, Bendigo last year.
MY EMAIL CONTACT IS: gtavener@tpg.com.au

EASTER EXHIBITION 2012 (MORE PICS)

A FEW MORE PICTURES FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT - Taken at home during my Easter Exhibition. May and Den in the Courtyard checking out some paintings. Pam and Ray on rainy Monday when we had to rearrange all outside areas so that nothing got wet. A couple of photos taken of me in the outside undercover area we set up especially for the Easter weekend. Thank heavens we have a lovely gallery room which is now full to the brim with lovely paintings. Another picture of our gorgeous dragon flag in the garden and some of Kev's Quirky Birds. Lots to see always - do make the effort if in Bendigo or if you are local, I am only minutes away from you so please phone me to make a time to come along. (03) 5442 4006

EASTER EXHIBITION 2012

2012 EASTER EXHIBITION
THIS WILL BE THE LAST TIME I HAVE MY ANNUAL EASTER EXHIBITION. I have had 18 Exhibitions here at home over the past
26 years (obviously there were a few times where it was not possible to exhibit for one reason or another) however, it has always been a pleasure to have so many wonderful people come to the studio and enjoy the ambience and artworks. THE STUDIO WILL STILL BE OPEN AT ANY TIME UPON REQUEST - JUST PHONE ME ON (03) 5442 4006 OR EMAIL ME ON:- gtavener@tpg.com.au to ask any questions - thank you. I just don't have the energy to do all the setting up work required
any more.
This year the blog is useful to show some of the lovely people who have attended on Saturday - children xavier and Orlando who were fascinated with Kevins sculpture - Ken and his grandchildren relaxing in the garden, Craig from Bendigo in the gallery, Des and Rhonda from Bendigo in the courtyard and Jan and Doug from Melbourne in the gallery. Some of Kev's sculpture and a couple of quick shots of the outside areas of the exhibition as well - come along and enjoy.

STUDIO OPEN AGAIN

"FACES OF BENDIGO" I will be launching these new gorgeous cards at my Easter Exhibition 2012. The idea has been brewing since I first thought of it in 1966 - yes- that is correct 46 years ago. The digital age has helped me to finally get my act together and publish photos, many of which were taken originally in the 1960's. I have also taken many others to get the collection together. The series of cards still have the last few to be completed, but I can offer 18 different designs to get you out there hunting for these elusive faces. Each card has a particular area to hunt (i.e. Rosalind Park, The Law Courts etc) Terrific cards showcasing Bendigo in a slightly different way, ideal to collect, to send and/or to use to hunt down the faces - great fun for the whole family. There are four in the series of faces at my Art studio, come and find them too - we'd love to see you. Simply phone me first (03) 5442 4006 to make a time or contact me on gtavener@tpg.com.au for more information. These cards are also available at Bendigo Visitor Information Centre.

MORNING COFFEE AT EL BESO

THIS BEAUTIFUL GIRL IN THE CAFE was inspired by my lovely daughter. El Beso Cafe in View Street, Bendigo is a favourite haunt of ours for a coffee, breakfast or lunch - the fabulous fresh food and excellent coffee is hard to resist. "Morning Coffee at El Beso" is the name of the painting. It is a pastel and is $595.00 and is beautifully custom framed. Now available at the Studio.

SMALL NEW WORKS

SUNFLOWERS IN OUR GARDEN

GORGEOUS SUNFLOWERS are now coming out in our garden - they will surely inspire a couple of new paintings if I have time in the next couple of weeks. We have a large clump of them and they are all about 5ft high at the moment. The bees are loving them too.

THE CAPITAL-A TERRIFIC VENUE

THE CAPITAL - I quick pic of me standing in front of a few of my paintings at the beautiful Capital Theatre in View Street, Bendigo. The Tawny Frogmouth Trio was a feature piece, a large watercolour ($1,695.00) and is now available on Limited Edition Prints- A3 size @ $120.00 each -mounted/unframed. Many paintings from this exhibition are still available, come to the studio to have a peep. Please phone first to make a time - thank you.