Articles - Yvonne's Artwork

Paint Your Pet Workshop July 2024

Well another successful pet portrait workshop completed.. I love doing these workshops, everyone produces such great artwork. It reminds me of why I paint in watercolours this way, and why I teach others my technique and colour theory. Everyone interprets this lesson differently, and everyone creates wonderful artwork, and it’s a delight to see them go home with wonderful images. Some come to my workshop unsure if they can draw, or having never painted before. In the workshop they are taught the advantages of using a grid to enlarge the chosen photograph, this makes the first part so much easier. It is a simple, yet valuable tool. You can draw any image to any size you want, even reduce it, if you want to. The hardest part is definitely getting their heads around the colours they will be using over the next day and a half. The background gives the students a chance to experience the colours and how they mix, or in some cases, how you don’t want them to mix. (Bengal rose and greens don’t make a nice colour, browns and blues will go grey) but used in the right order the colours will blend beautifully.I demonstrate using a black and white subject if I can, in these portraits the colours can go totally against the grain. For example, black is made of blue, green, pink, purple and indigo. For tan, or brown colourings, I demonstrate with the individuals portrait, using Australian red gold, burnt sienna, pinks and purples and the beautiful quinacridone sienna. The workshop is held over two days, first is drawing and background, second is painting the subject. Towards the end of the second day there is a section where I cover eyes and noses, as there is a special way to tackle the eyes to get that reflective, glassy look, and noses can be tackled in a series of layers. Finally the ink penwork and final whitework, (dots in eyes, highlights on the nose, whiskers etc) all done in the last 10 minutes. Here are 5 portraits, my demo piece of Shadow and Charlotte is last. If you would like to be included in one of my workshops, drop me a message. I hold around 4 a year. Space is limited as I only take 6 students at a time.

For Wilma

For Wilma, a beautiful senior Greyhound who touched my heart . In 2015 I was developing my watercolour style and my Rainbow colouring palette. I was producing a painting for a friend in New Zealand, Tracey, who had a Greyhound called Wilma. Wilma had been rescued as a senior and was afraid of everything, but with Tracey’s help Wilma slowly began to trust. I had just adopted Daisy so we had greyhounds in common, we were both new to Greyhound rescue and were discovering more and more about the Greyhound racing industry and these amazing dogs. Tracey, appalled at how Wilma had been abused, dedicated her time to uncovering the murky truth behind the Greyhound racing industry, and found that the abuse and mistreatment, drugging and killing of greyhounds was rife throughout the industry. Tracey opened a Facebook page Called “Saving Wilma. – slow, broken, old, Greyhound Racing’s dirty little secrets” and held fundraisers, raising money and awareness for Greyhound rescues. I painted portraits of Wilma for auction, and gave away portrait vouchers to raffle. The fundraisers were huge with a world wide following. I was following a page by Paul Croes,who is based in Belgium and has produced some amazing animal photography. Paul Croes- Behind eyes- animal photography in studio He photographed sighthounds in the most exquisite poses, and I asked If I could paint one of these poses, a white Galgo, as a subject for a fundraiser. He very graciously said yes! I started this portrait as a prize for the auction, and while painting got the awful news that Wilma had died. This was such sad news, she was the gentlest dog and had only just begun to have her own sweet life. I decided to name the painting after Wilma, and hinted at wings in the background. This has been one of my most popular images, and is available as a print from Print Art NZ https://www.artcollective.co.nz/product/for-wilma/ I was delighted at the response from the public regarding this painting. In my heart it was for all the fallen Greyhounds, but it will always be a reminder of a sweet old girl from New Zealand called Wilma, who became a well known name in the rescue of Greyhounds, and in whos name, thousands of dollars were raised to help other rescues around the world. Since painting this portrait, I have donated portrait vouchers to many rescues and fundraisers, and had the delightful task of painting some amazing animals over the past years. I hear some sad stories, stories of triumph over adversity, and hear of heartbreak as a beloved pet dies. I love painting these portraits for you, it is such an honour to be asked to create a memory, even a sad one, and tears are the best compliment I can be given, it means I got it right.

“It’s Time.” Goodnight Daisy

“It’s Time” Goodnight Daisy. Daisy was my introduction to the wonderful world of rescued greyhounds. I adopted her through GAP, Perth, when she was just a little over 3 years old, she was tiny, weighing just 19kg.Her story to this point had its ups and downs, she had raced 4 times and didn’t place as she didn’t like getting bumped, so she ran wide. Daisy went into the GAP rehoming program, and was part of the Greyhound Prison Rehabilitation program, where inmates train and help the greyhounds get ready for adoption. Daisy was adopted by a couple, but unfortunately, was not treated well. This sweet little Greyhound was very emaciated, very withdrawn and covered in fleas, they dumped her back with GAP saying they “Couldn’t be doing with her.”Daisy went on to a couple of foster homes, but was reactive to cats, rabbits, chickens and birds. I had just lost Max, a Border Collie cross, and was looking for a companion for our Labrador Cross, Harvey. I took Daisy as a foster. This poor little girl was so tiny, I nicknamed her my “little bird,” as she felt so fragile. She was beautiful but had the worst breath imaginable. Her teeth were so rotten, her gums terribly infected and ulcerated, and she must have been in terrible pain when eating. I asked GAP, “What do we do about her teeth?” I was told “Nothing until she’s adopted! “I was horrified, how long had this sweet girl been in such discomfort? This was so cruel! I adopted her there and then, and took her straight to the vet. She took 6 weeks of treatment, steroids and antibiotics, before they could do any dental work, and slowly, over the years, her teeth were all removed, bar 1. If I had known then what I knew after all her teeth were out, that she could eat really well, I’d have done it sooner. As a direct result of her terrible dental care in early life, Daisy developed severe cardiac problems. Daisy was a happy girl, very easygoing, dainty and quiet. I was lucky enough to be in her life for 11 and a half years. Daisy and Otis, my other Greyhound, were seen at greyhound adoption meetings, and were a brilliant ambassador for the breed. I loved their elegance, the way the ran for fun, their crazy zoomies around the garden, and hours of couch surfing. Daisy became my muse. Several paintings of her graced my walls, she was dainty, sleek, a stunning subject. Through Daisy I became involved with several Greyhound and dog rescues, donating artwork for Auctions. My commissioned art work became popular within the greyhound, and Sighthound groups. I didn’t realise when I fell in love with Greyhounds that I had joined a cult. Daisy died at 14 years 4 months. Longer than ever expected considering her severe heart failure. She surprised us and out lived Otis by 10 months. Once again my heart was broken, but we did give her the BEST life we could, and she repaid us tenfold. I painted “It’s Time” before she died, when she was quite ill and it was obvious time was no longer on our side. I knew that once Daisy died I wouldn’t be able to paint her. I chose to paint her this final time, depicting the moment she leaves for the Rainbow Bridge. Her face alert and intrigued, her body just starting to disappear into the light. And just like that….She has gone….. Daisy, my “Little bird,” run swift and free sweetheart, you were so beautiful. We walked some happy and amazing miles together. Between Hello and Goodbye there was so much love.

Molly’s Story

This is the story of how were adopted by a beautiful white Boxer dog, and how she loved life and everyone in it. Years ago, we were having dinner with a family that friends knew, who lived in a big posh house with flashy, very expensive possessions, which they liked to brag about, and who owned a white boxer puppy, her name was Sassy. We found out later that she was a Christmas gift for their very spoilt daughter, who had got bored when she was no longer a cute little toy. There was no indication that a dog even lived in this house, no dog bed, bowl, toys, nothing, so I asked the host where this dog was, as I had never seen a white boxer before. She led me outside to the garden and by the shed was a 9 month old dog, certainly not white, more brown and filthy, on a 1 meter chain so tight it was starting to embed into her neck, and sitting in the doorway of the shed, she had obviously been there for a long time as the 1m space around the doorway was absolutely disgusting, faeces everywhere, old urine stains and stench, and a half empty filthy bucket of water. Her story was that “she’s a digger” and to be taught a lesson was tied up in disgrace! No! she was a 9-month-old puppy who was being neglected and abused. She was absolutely delighted to see someone …anyone… and jumped up as far as her chain would allow, her tail wagging furiously, covering me in old faeces and urine, my heart broke. I went inside so angry with how this dog was being treated, and said that we were leaving. On the way home I cried and told Jeff, my late husband, about this poor dog. Early the next day we had a phone call from our friends, this family were going to have Sassy put to sleep unless someone took her. Were they honestly hoping someone would just knock on the door and see if they had a dog they didn’t want? We had just lost Spike our 4-year-old Rottie to Meningitis a couple of weeks before, so were still getting over that loss when this request came in. Our friend asked if we could take her and at least find her a good home. Jeff hadn’t seen her so asked what she was like. I said she has a face only a mother could love but there was something beautiful about her, a very sweet puppy who obviously didn’t cost enough for this family to feel she was worthy. He went to collect her. As soon as Jeff saw her, he was so angry he couldn’t speak, he just picked up the dog and carried her gently, to our van. As he left the family tried to say goodbye, they were told in no uncertain terms that they were lucky to not be reported to the RSPCA. It took 3 baths to get her clean. And a few more weeks for the smell to leave the van. We gave her a new life and a new name, Molly, AKA Moo Moos She was adorable, playful and very, very loving, she just loved being in our company. She loved to play, chased balls and sticks, ran like the wind and loved everyone. Molly lived until she was 13 and died of splenetic cancer. She was buried in our garden in Harvey under a blanket of flowers. She is missed and boy, was she loved. Between hello and goodbye there was so much love.

Textile workshop for Recovery and Regrowth exhibition

Recovery and Regrowth a community project

On January 7th, 2016 a bushfire was out of control in the hills surrounding Waroona, Yarloop and Harvey. It had started as a lightning strike the previous day, where hot dry winds had helped to fuel the blaze, its starting point was hard to get to by Bushfire brigades, so it became uncontrollable very quickly. That morning in Harvey, A quiet rural town in the Southwest of Western Australia, I was gathering in washing at 10 am, it was a clear, hot day with temperatures promised of 42 degrees Celsius. Within 20 minutes the sky went dark brown, and embers started to fall in my garden. The wind had changed direction and suddenly we were in the pathway of the fire. The mobile phone rang and my landline, when I answered it was a recorded emergency alert, telling me to leave immediately or prepare to stay and defend. I decided that I would leave and then couldn’t think straight at all.. panic… 5 minutes later my friend rocked up in her car all packed up with dogs and kids, I realised I had to get my act together, and quick. Throwing my freshly washed clothes in the car with my 2 dogs , big bag of dog food, dog beds and bowls I left. I forgot my toothbrush, hairbrush, and toiletries but I did pack my quilt ” Carousel” that was in the construction phase for the AQC challenge. Obviously my brain was a bit addled! We evacuated our homes. It was awful, we weren’t sure what we would return to, if anything. That night I was staying at a strangers home in Australind, Harry and Kim, now friends, took in a tired and shocked woman, with an eclectic array of belongs and two dogs. We stayed for 5 days. That night Yarloop was destroyed, 181 properties in total, claimed by the inferno, and tragically two people lost their lives. The rumours flooded the evacuation centre, the meetings held were sombre and quiet as we waited for updates. Some rumours were that Harvey had gone too, that the street behind me had gone, that the fire was going to hit my house and street by the end of the meeting. None of it was true. 5 days later I returned to my home, on high alert and in constant fear of having to evacuate again. The big waterbomber “Elvis” the Erikson helicopter flew over my house for days, shaking everything in the house. It was comforting. It refuelled over the road from my house was was an impressive site. The fire burned for 12 days, burnt 69,000 ha of land and claimed hundreds of animals, livestock, domestic pets and wildlife. It was heart-breaking. It left a lot of people homeless. Two years on.. The Shire of Harvey decided to create an exhibition titled “Recovery and Regrowth” for January 2018, the second anniversary of the fire, which would be the end result of 5 workshops held in Harvey, for the communities affected by the fire. Workshops were free and held over a 3 month period, with the exhibition being the showcase of the collective works. It was also open to the public from the Waroona, Yarloop and Harvey towns to created artwork depicting regrowth and recovery. The workshops were; Art, Textile, Youth, mosaic and Sculpture. I was asked to lead the Textile Workshop. Around the blacked and burnt landscape yarn bombers were attaching Mandalas to the trees, to bring a bit of colour to the landscape. I decided that the Textile project would centre around a Mandala, I had no idea other than that at this stage. Over the next 3 months the community created Mandalas, Knitted, crocheted, patchwork and felt, at the Harvey Districts Creative Arts Centre where we gathered over 130 of them in all different sizes . As we lay them out on a large pinning table they morphed into the shape of a leaf, the shire emblem at the time was a leaf so we went with the theme. This leaf of beautiful, bright, happy, creative Mandalas was HUGE! A spectacular result. This HUGE mandala leaf was going to be the centrepiece of the exhibition, it was as large as a king size sheet, and now I had the task of quilting it. My poor little Janome with a 12 inch throat was really put through its paces, the quilt was heavy and kept jerking under the machine as I tried to quilt circles in the background, but it did it… it took a few days but it was finished. It now hangs in the Yarloop Town Hall/ Community Resource Centre. The community of Yarloop is rebuilding and reinventing itself. It has a different feel as so much was lost, historic buildings, including The Pub and the Iconic Yarloop Workshops. It took around 30 minutes to destroy the town that fateful night, and its taken over 8 years to recover and regrow.

“When the working day is done”

A painting for the Cossack Art Awards 2024 “When the working day is done” Cruise and Diamond Pilbara Working Dogs. This is my watercolour entry for the 2024 Cossack Art Awards. I usually paint the native flora and fauna, but decided this year to do what I do best, domestic animals, and so I went looking for an image, I found one on the “Pilbara Working Dogs” Facebook page and was drawn to this image, as its colours were great to reproduce with my own interpretation. I asked for, and obtained, permission to paint this image and found the dogs names were Diamond and Cruise. I loved the simplicity of the image along with the classic red dirt of the West Australian outback. The sketch was drawn using a grid of 4cm square, so made to fit a large frame, I wasn’t sure if I should use white or black framing at this point. I put in as much detail as I can then very carefully rub out the grid. the background is in my classic style, using all the beautiful pindan colours of the outback. Australian Red gold (Art spectrum), Quinacridone Sienna (Daniel Smith,) and Dioxazine Purple (Windsor and Newton,) Lemon Yellow (Art Spectrum,) and Cadmium Yellow (Art Spectrum.) painted in large brush strokes then splattered with the paints to blend, and finally water to produce the lighter areas in the colour blocks. Making a start on Diamond and Cruise I loved the image as it has a definite warm and cool side, so I started with my blues and purples for the cool side first, Phthalo Blue (Art Spectrum), Dioxazine Purple (Windsor and Newton), Indigo ( Art Spectrum), are the main colours used, then as I moved to the warmer side I used Quinacridone Purple (Daniel Smith) with my Quinacridone Sienna and Australian red gold to make a warmer brown tone, the lighter areas had a touch of the yellows in too. I block in the areas first with quite bold strokes allowing the paint to bleed and soften, gradually building up a couple of layers until there is definite soft structure to the dog, this is done using wet on wet, but not soaked paper. that I can follow with my next layers. The lighter areas are just more dilute layers of colour. Once the first dog is blocked in I work on the second dog, same colours, same technique, leaving the eyes until last on the first dog… I always do the eyes last, it’s just a personal preference. Finishing Touches In this close up (Click the image to see an enlarged image) you can see the brush strokes and the different colours used, Some of the Quinacridone Purple is mixed with a little white gouache, and in some of the cooler light areas I have used a Light Cobalt (Windsor and Newton), and had to put in the Bengal Rose gouache (Windsor and Newton) these can be lightened with a little white, the Quinacridone Purple with the Light Cobalt make a nice blue that will cover and blend the colours underneath, as the Light Cobalt is opaque when only slightly diluted. I use a fine Liner brush (or Rigger) number 1 or 2. In the warmer areas I use the liner brush with the yellows, the Red gold, and the Quinacridone Sienna, to blend. The eyes are completed last, I paint a layer of the Iris in the Australian Red Gold, then lift a little for the highlight area, repeat another layer and then make a deeper brown, (by adding purple to my Red Gold) to paint the shading in the Iris. The Pupil is painted with almost neat indigo, leaving a small area for the highlight, which I paint with a mix of Phthalo Blue and purple mixed, then lift a bit off the blue/purple mix to leave a glassy eye look. A dot of white gouache, and an outline of indigo and the eye is complete. TIP: Mixing the Australian Red Gold, or the Quinacridone Sienna with the Dioxazine Purple, (or the Quinacridone Purple) make beautiful browns, more purple – the deeper the brown. With both dogs completed I used my background colours mixed with a tiny bit of white Gouache to make details on the ground and to stop the dogs from “Floating” in the painting, adding directional strokes helps. There is a little bit of Daniel Smith Phthalo Yellow Green in there too. Click the image to see and enlarged image. Final touch is a splash, quite literally, of Gold Alcohol Ink. I did use my draughtsman pen too, just to add some directional hair strokes. Wish me luck!

Paint your pet Workshop March 2024

Day One Paint your Pet workshop for march 2024 was another successful weekend, with 4 students all creating wonderful pieces of artwork. My studio is a great space for workshop’s. A maximum of 8 people can sit in a quiet room with great light, the smaller group size means there is more time to spend with each student. The first step is drawing the image, I prefer to use a grid system for my student teaching as it creates a well proportioned image. It is easy to use and can be used to enlarge or reduce the image sizes, plus work out the best placement for the final image. This workshop was a Rainbow workshop, using my signature bright coloured backgrounds. This is how the first stage of painting looks at the end of day 1. Day two With the backgrounds dry and completed we now work on the subjects. I demonstrate various smaller images to show how to paint White, Brown and Black subjects, this helps to explain how my colour theory of warm and cool colours can be used, also the mixing of colours. The students final work always amazes me, they step out of their comfort zone and experiment with colours they wouldn’t normally dream of. Each finished piece has their individual style, I find now, most of my students are returning for other workshops, As you can see each piece is wonderful! the final stages are adding the “Whitework” using a white gouache, and some penwork, some prefer no penwork , I prefer the pen as I am more of an illustrator in style, and I like my images to stand out a bit more. I use a Rotoring draughtsman pen for all my pen work. My Demonstration piece This is “Mr Buttons”, A commissioned portrait that I used to demonstrate my Black animal subjects. As you can see there is no black but a mix of blues, greens, magentas and purples. I use purple under a coat of Indigo for my “Blackest” parts. Happy faces! Show and tell , not everyone likes to be in photos, but I am always so proud of the work the students produce. These workshops are relaxed, social events with a huge amount of learning, the fact that my students come back for more means I must be doing something right! Look out for my workshops, they are advertised on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/YvonnesArtwork The next one is a day workshop for the basics of watercolours, suitable for beginners or those already painting, and for people interested in wishing to take up watercolour painting but don’t know where to start. It will cover paper choices, paints, brushes, stretching paper, drawing, mixing colours using my warm and cool palette. Date: April 13th 2024 Please contact me for more information.

Painting Chrome and Paintwork

Making a motorcycle come to life I love the challenge of painting chrome and paintwork. So many reflections, so much detail, I love the challenge of realistic painting, it has to be done over time, carefully, examining the photos for every detail. This was my husbands bike, a Harley Davidson Ultra Limited, this painting was his Christmas present and was painted over a 6 month period. It is Acrylic on canvas block. It is a large painting, and even though canvases are primed when you buy them, I do prefer to add a couple of extra coats of gesso primer before I start. Making a start Once the sketch is completed I start blocking in the backgrounds. I use 3 colours for this one, that will compliment the bike, an Atelier red-black, burnt sienna and Atelier brown-black. I begin by blocking in the chrome parts of the bike with a couple of colours that will form the main reflections, Australian sky blue and unbleached titanium for the pavement reflections. By doing this it gives me the areas to focus on first as they are the most complicated, and require the most concentration. I have to keep reminding myself, “paint what you see, not what you think you see!” The headlights, driving lights and tops of the forks are starting to take shape, I add more detail and depth into the reflections, plus just a touch of colour for the indicators. Slowly the images start to take shape, at least with Acrylic it is easier to correct if you go wrong. I can now start to work down the bike to the forks and front fender. I have airbrushed in the windshield for now, and then I can make a start on the mid section of the bike, the engine guard, foot boards and highway pegs. Basic blocking in helps to map out the areas of chrome, refining and adjusting depth of reflection. It is starting to get complicated Now the fun really starts, the engine bay is mostly black with some chrome, but there are nuts and bolts and chrome reflections that seem to melt into each other. I don’t use “Black,” I use a mix of Blue-Black and Burnt Umber, maybe a tiny bit of Prussian blue. It takes a lot of concentration and patience to paint this part. The air cleaner took nearly 4 hours alone, and the engine guard with the highway peg took about the same! I did block in some colour for the paintwork to see how the colours looked against the chrome, as its easier to adjust my palette now, rather than later. I continue working on the exhaust system and the chrome at the back of the bike. Wheels are my least favourite part to do as there is so much detail to paint, and so much that can look wrong. At Least this bike isn’t like mine, a HD Softail Deluxe which has spokes! Adding colour is always fun. I was worried that I would have trouble getting the paint colouring correct, the bike’s colour changed at various times of the day. It was a mix of Permanent Orange, Red gold, Yellow, crimson, burnt Sienna and Red-Black. The paintwork has a gold fleck in the paint which was very yellow in the photographs. I paid great attention to detail in the shading and shapes formed by reflections on the paint, it was hard getting a smooth finish with just a brush, but by working in several layers in managed to get the look I was after. Almost finished, the end is in sight! The seat and passenger seat are painted in blue black and Australian sky blue mixed. Highlights of white are added to the Australian sky blue to create a sheen, with hints of white for the glossy highlights on the seams and edges. The tyres are painted using a warm grey, mixed from Blue-black, a hint of burnt umber and unbleached titanium. And there you have it! One finished painting of a beautiful machine. The floor under the bike was airbrushed using orange and a bit of yellow, with an ellipse of brown black under the tyre for shadow. Once the paint has cured It is varnished with two coats of Atelier Gloss varnish.

Australia's Bouquet Textile art by Yvonne Chapman-Brooks

Textile artwork “Australia’s Bouquet”

Making a quilt to represent Australia This quilt was made for the Australian Quilt Challenge, theme was Made in Australia, Flora and Fauna, talk about right up my street! Animals and free motion sewing, what more could I ask for. I had several ideas for this one but the main one was Where do I start, what do I leave out and what do I put in? so many choices so I had to narrow it down somehow, so I settled on the fauna and flora emblems for each state of Australia. Several hours of research for the right image lead to some fantastic images, which were drawn, a pattern made using the acetate pattern Trace and Place method I have used in my previous quilts, then material resourcing. If I can, I like to use my own hand dyed fabrics, that way I can create colours to suit the project. The thread is the most important thing as the thread painting, to me, is what the quilt is all about. It is also the most time consuming. I use a large selection of machine embroidery threads, as the lustre and colours are fabulous in the final piece, I also use cottons and even really cheap threads, Its all about the colour and texture. Construction As for the previous Quilts I have shown on here, True Blue Mates, and Saving Magic the construction is the same, pieces of fabric placed onto calico and bonded with Vliesofix, a heat bonded webbing, then thread painted in the direction of the fur, this makes a realistic finished image. This is the cut out, and attached or overlaid onto other pieces to form a small panel. easier to work with, and finally these panels are sewn and overlaid together. Any extra bulk on the back where panels have overlaid is cut away to make the quilt easier to manage. Composition is important Now that I had all the animals and birds in place I can see where I need to full in the spaces. Luckily I need Golden Wattle, gum flowers plus kangaroo paws and Pink Health, so I can fill in these gaps with those. It takes quite a lot of fiddling and moving the individual images to create the finished look, I photograph them and look at the overall aesthetic shape, is it balanced, how does the eye work around the final composition? which way the images face, inwards or out, taking your eye to other pieces, size, shape, colour. At this point I still didn’t know what I was going to end up with, I decided to make the whole thing look like a bouquet for the viewer, so I had to build symmetry. Finishing the Quilt I thought about several different colours for the background, Black, Dark Blue, Green, even Aboriginal print fabric, but the patterned fabric were way too busy and detracted form the final image, therefore it was a toss up between black and deep green. I settled for black making the colours really POP! It was quilted with footprints of the emus, Kangaroos and wombat. Flora and Fauna depicted Western Australia: Black Swan, Numbat, Kangaroo Paw South Australia: Hairy nosed wombat, Magpie (Pippin Strike) Sturts Desert Pea Australian Capital Territory: Royal Bluebell, (No animal emblem) Gang-Gang Cockatoo New South Wales: Waratah, Platypus, Kookaburra Victoria: Pink Heath, Leadbeaters possum, Helmeted yellow Wattlebird Tasmania: Blue Gum, Tasmanian Devil, Yellow wattlebird Northern Territory: Wedge tailed Eagle, Kangaroo, Sturts Desert Rose Queensland: Brolga, Cooktown Orchid, Koala Additions Emu and Golden wattle from the Australian Coat of arms. The quilt was selected to be judged at the Australian Quilt Challenge in Melbourne in 2017, and went on tour around Australia, and on display on Mexico, representing Australia. It went to the Mancuso World if Quilts in New Hampshire USA for 2018, the judges comment was that “the thread painting was an excellent example but perhaps a different colour for the black background”. This quilt took 10 months to make.

Yvonne’s Artwork

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