SPHINX BUS

Blue Skies & Narcissus Flowers

Taking advantage of the crisp clear blue skies here, I thought I would continue with the painting of the bus & keep some of those skies here!

Blue Skies on the Upper Deck

The man portrayed below is representative of Narcissus from Greek Mythology, with a bit of a twist… instead of falling in love with his own reflection, he sees the symbol of Universal Love reflected back at him.

Symbology from the Indian Kundalini have also been incorporated here. Man’s secret body, the coiling of the serpent force within the subtle body; the opposing solar & lunar energy channels, Pingala & Ida, spiraling round the central neutral channel, Sushumna, and the seven chakras (not all shown).

Narcissus Flowers

Narcissus with the symbol of Universal Love

Narcissus Flowers

There are a few different versions of Narcissus’ story, in all of them he was renowned for his beauty, was exceptionally proud and he rejected all who fell in love with him. The goddess Nemesis seeing this, drew Narcissus to a secluded spring and arranged for him to fall in love with his own reflection. In his obsession, he was unable to leave the beauty of his reflection. He refused to leave the pool to eat, nor would he disturb his image to drink, and so died of thirst, hunger and unrequited self-love.

All stories give origin to the narcissus flower, which grew where Narcissus died.

And so... will our Narcissus be unable to leave the reflection of Universal Love? Shall he die here?

SPHINX Details

Office / art space organized in ‘Upper Saloon’… 

Some more artwork hung & fine details added… 

...A green butterfly...

...and some nice bright strips of colour :D

Narcissus Flowers

Some prep-work done on the Upper Deck

He's so unbeleivably bright & CLEAN looking now!

Some exciting news :: Gareth Deakin, an amazing landscape artist I’ve met through the Serpentine Gallery, has agreed to come spend a day painting the bus with me!

Check out photos of Gareth Lindsay Deakin's work on FB or http://www.serpentinearts.org/artists/gareth-lindsay-deakin

...gone again

After enjoying a wonderful warm week back in Mr.Rainbow, he's decided to take another break...

Mr. Rainbow is back!

Mr. Rainbow is back on the road... feeling refreshed & re-energized with a new battery, tire, head gaskets & a repaired head. Am stoked, looking forward to some more adventuring!

Cabarita Beach, Northern NSW Coast

Have already sussed out a couple of beaches today, Kingscliff & Cabarita, will definitely be making my way back to both of them with Mr.R :D

Kingscliff, Northern NSW Coast

'SCARLET' an Erotic Art Exhibition

Serpentine Community Gallery, Lismore, Northern NSW

The First Salon, www.serpentinearts.org

Attended, helped host, set up and hang the 'Scarlet' Exhibit at the Serpentine Community Art Gallery where I have been volunteering my time this past month or so… Am super stoked to have been a part of this group show, it's the first time I've had a body of work hanging in a gallery! 

My 'Wall' in the First Salon

I had really been looking forward to this, afterall what could be a better description of half my work!? "Exploration of the senses…sensual & erotic…" 

Front Window Display

 It was such a different experience than that first solo show I organised in Sydney 2008, An Afternoon Art Affair... equally fun, just without all the extra stress & financial costs.

"The Scarlet Woman"

Caspar Batchelor

Acrylic on Plywood

"Two of Cups"

Corinne Batt-Rawden

Ceramic

Unknown Title & Artist

Opening night went really well; five artworks sold (one of them mine!), the Gallery raised a good number of funds through raffle ticket & drink sales, I got in some pretty amazing conversations & lots of positive feedback for my art, the event AND the Gallery.  There were even a few fun & interactive pieces...

"First Impressions"

Jessica Crawford

Paper Clay, Fibre Rope

"Art School Confidential"

Matt black

Mixed, Interactive Sculpture

 

We had music, art, street performances and a lot of fun & very fashionable art patrons. It was a night to dress up, so you can believe I went all out!  Hence the 'Scarlet' Expresssions.

If you missed the opening night & live inthe area, the exhibition runs until the 27th of June. I'm there every Thursday! 

Really wish all my family & friends in Canada could've been here for it... have posted more photos on Facebook - and YES even if you are not on FB you can still view these pics! 

Jennifer Harnett

Blessing in Disguise?

Disaster or a blessing in disguise? Mr.Rainbow conked out on me a few nights ago...

Am hoping all will be well, as there was no major 'crash-bang-boom' when I pulled over thinking that something just wasn't quite right... He’s currently getting looked at by some heavy duty mechanics... so PLEASE send all the good energy you have so I can get him back on the road AFFORDABLY. Thx!

So that’s the disaster, where are the blessings you ask?

i. Got an AWESOME tow truck driver who came & saved me from the side of the road.

Rod, Owner of Murwillumbh Towing

 ii. Forced to be on foot, had a beautiful walk through the sugar cane fields near Murwillumbah.

iii. Spent a couple of nights at Paul’s (always lovely), where I enjoyed the opportunity of getting to know Jonny, Sand & their little one better.

iv. And the last, and probably the most unexpected blessing of all is my new move into the ‘Upper Saloon’ of the Sphinx Bus!

Have been giving it quite the creative constructive overhaul the last couple of days...

Ripped a number of nasty timber panels off the walls, which were growing mould, gathering dust & cobwebs, hiding various critters & nests… If anybody had been home, I’m sure they would’ve gotten a good laugh as there were a few good shrieks out of me… especially when a particularly large, fast and very hairy looking spider scuttled out! 

But now that the saloon has been ‘Jenny-fied’ it’s quite lush & habitable, looking & smelling beautiful, I truly enjoyed waking up in the sky among the trees this morning :D

SPHINX BUS...continued

I LOVE this Pheonix painting of Sam's

So much so that I have decided to incorporate it into the painting! Was originally thinking that I would paint two of them, one male & one female facing each other as sentinels or guardians of the land. But the bus isn't symmetrical... so maybe paint them on the back of the bus? Not really enough room...hmmm...

She's still incomplete, but looking pretty gorgeous so far!

Decided to paint her in flight, soaring over the land :D

I also followed through on the idea of the low lying mists... 

 ...really feel as though it helps soften & pull the scene together.

Another butterfly added :D

Aiming to have a bunch of butterflies, at least one of every colour of the rainbow!