Creativity

New York!

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I’m very excited to be able to announce that my work has been accepted for the huge licensing show Surtex, in New York this May! ArtSHINE will be taking my work and a small group of other very talented Australian artists to this massive licensing expo. We’ll be the only Aussie’s there flying the flag for the land down under and we’re all hoping to make a big impact in the USA.

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that my art work impresses companies working in the sectors I’m interested in. It would be amazing to see my art printed on EVERYTHING!!! There are no guarantees of course, but it feels like a massive achievement just to be selected for this opportunity and have started this new journey.

I’ve ordered some sample designs for my Surtex display.

and been playing around with so much more. Here’s a sneak peek.

And Til Next Time,

Keep Sharing the Love!

Exhibition Opening

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It’s been a lot of hard work creating the paintings for my latest exhibition, “Abundance”  This is the third year in a row that I’ve done a major exhibition and I can’t count the number of group shows and art prizes I’ve entered over the same period.

The opening was a fantastic success! Lots of friends and family and a growing number of new faces supporting my artistic journey. It was also wonderful that some pieces were  snapped up on the opening night! Love and thanks to everyone.

Abundance is on until the 7th of December at Gallery 503, 503 Balmain Rd Lilyfield.

Gallery Hours: Tues – Fri 9-5pm  Saturday 9-3pm and Sunday 10am -2pm

Please pop in!

Till Next Time

Keep Sharing the Love. xxx

Cindy Emel and Abundance

SOLD!

Inner Strength SOLD

SOLD!

Group Shot 3Great Fiona MeGroup Shot 4Paul LeanneGroup Shot

Come to “Abundance”

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Ebb and Flow Acrylic on Fabric 91cm x 91cm $2400

Ebb and Flow 91cm x 91 cm

“Abundance” at Gallery 503, 503 Balmain Rd Lilyfield, is my first solo painting exhibition in a commercial gallery, so I’m pretty excited!  The show runs from Thursday the 23rd of November till December 7th, with the official opening on Saturday the 25th of November from 4.00pm – 6.00pm.
For those of you who don’t know me, I attended Sydney College of the Arts and since graduating I’ve worked across a variety of creative disciplines including: Painting, Ceramic sculpture, Jewellery design and manufacture and large scale public mosaic murals. In addition to my own creative practice I have worked for more than 25 years in the not-for-profit sector. In my various roles, such  as  Team Leader of Child, Youth and Family Services and as a group facilitator for a many different organisations, I have provided support and creative/therapeutic programs to women and children escaping domestic violence, refugees, homeless youth and families, the frail aged and many more vulnerable individuals and communities. It is the gift of this work and the unique perspective it has given me on what is really of value in life, that informs my art practice and has helped me create the paintings in “Abundance”.
The collection of acrylic paintings in “Abundance” are a reminder of what is truly life sustaining and freely available to nurture hope and carry us through our lives. My paintings are a response to the insanity of our times. A layered, colourful NO! to popular culture, the media and world politics that would have us live in fear and competition with each other. The work emphatically disagrees with the popular notion that we are never enough, we never have enough and that in life, human beings either succeed or fail dependent on the amount of “stuff” they accumulate.
The abundance my exhibition celebrates is first seen in the use of vibrant colour and pattern. The pattern of the fabrics peeking through each painting are a metaphor for the fabric of the universe, building blocks uniting and connecting all things. I see all creation as divine in nature, with this energy expressing itself in endless combinations through us, the natural world and our lived moments. My paintings delight in the abundance of the natural world, expressed through lush foliage and exotic flowers symbolising the endless cycle of life. So too, we are part of this abundance, the many faces seen in my work represent the endless opportunity we offer ourselves and each other. The abundant gift of ourselves for growth, laughter, kindness, love and connection and the ability we have to give, receive and share. I hope “Abundance” is an opportunity to pause and be reminded of all we have within and around us and gently challenge the notion of not having, or being enough.
To see more of Emel’s work go to:
http://www.emeljurd.com
Instagram @emeljurd
Facebook Emel Jurd Artist

I hope to see you at my opening on Saturday the 25th!

Till then, keep Sharing the love!

Emel

Group Show!

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Hello gorgeous people. I’m part of a beautiful group show, The Collective at Gallery 503, Balmain Rd Lilyfield. The show comprises works from artists who exhibited at the gallery over the last year. It’s an eclectic collection, but as one guest at the opening commented: ” It’s such a warm space, it feels like you’re all friends”

The show has been extended till the end of May, so pop in and catch​​ an inspiring mix of paintings and photography. Here’s a sneak peak!​

​

​​Till next time,

Keep sharing the LOVE ! (We all need it)

Emel​

Getting Back To It

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It’s always tricky juggling life and family commitments with the need to create. I find it hardest in the long Christmas school holidays. I love my kids to bits and really enjoy the more relaxed holiday mode, but by the end of six weeks of entertaining and endlessly feeding and cleaning I really miss painting!

By the time the holidays are done, I’m so out of my creative routine that it takes a concerted effort to get back into gear. There’s really no other way to do it other than just jump in and work. It doesn’t matter if what I’m creating is not my best work, it’s just important to get started, to get back into the flow and discipline of painting.

It’s stinking hot here in Sydney, (AGAIN) way too hot to be in the studio, so I’ve moved indoors with the aircon. Hallelujah!!!! 

Here’s what I’m working on at the moment.

Till Next Time,

Keep Sharing the LOVE !

(Lord knows the world needs it😜)

The Immanence Gallery is Complete

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Merry Christmas to you all! I hope love and kindness have been gifted to you this year and that you continue to share these gifts with others in the New Year.

Christmas shenanigans and school holidays have conspired against me, but despite these distractions I have completed a gallery page for my recent exhiition “Immanence”

I am proud of these  beautiful paintings both for their success in exploring my theme of the existence of the divine in all things and also for the progress in my painting practice that they showcase.

Please click on the menu on my home page to select the Immanence Gallery page.

solitude

Solitude SOLD

Immanence Photos

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I’m working on posting all of my paintings from  my latest exhibition “Immanence” in a new gallery on this website. I’m not done yet, so I thought I’d post a few pieces here on my blog. The show was a huge success in so many ways. There are some pieces still available and I’d be happy to provide prints too if you’re interested.

Apart from the themes I explored in this body of work, that I have already mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been working on developing the way I depict my faces. I’ve always been obsessed with eyes in particular and faces in general. I cant tell you how many times during my schooling I had teachers swoop down on me, tearing pages from my hands and accusing me of not listening! The funny thing was I always was listening and could tell them exactly what they had been waffling on about. Even in a work environment I would always draw during meetings and training sessions. Far from distracting me, it seemed to be the only way I could stay focused!

I’m really happy with the way my work is developing. I have no interest in depicting people or objects in a realistic style, but I did want to add more depth and texture to my work and on that front I think my work is coming along nicely.

gratitude

Gratitude By Emel Jurd 760mm x 760mm $1200

envelop

Envelop By Emel Jurd 300mm x 300mm SOLD

glow

Glow By Emel Jurd 300mm x 300mm SOLD

Till Next Time, (especially if I don’t post again before the Christmas holiday season)

Share The Love!

hindsight

Hindsight By Emel Jurd  410mm x 510mm SOLD

Immanence

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I have an upcoming exhibition with fellow artist Lynore Avery. The show is entitled “immanence” which in a nut shell is the existence of the Devine in all things. My paintings in the show are on fabric on canvas collected from my travels overseas in the last few years. Fabric seemed to be the perfect metaphor for exploring the interconnection between all things; the fabric of the universe. The works are layered and vibrant,  as is my way and reveal more of the themselves the longer you look. I love how shadows or glimpses of Thai or Indonesian fabric can be seen, but are mostly obscured by layers of paint, colour and line. Faces rest in reflection, or gaze directly at the viewer hinting at hidden emotions. Plants from my yard also plays a prominent role, some true to form and others altered to create skeletal structures, through which other layers of colour and design can be seen.

Opening night is the 19th of November from 6-8pm. Details are on the invitation below.please come along, I’d love to see your lovely faces.

Till next time,

Share the Love

Emel

Layered Creations

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I’ve been creating videos again! I’ve been posting my layered creations on a variety of social media platforms and had some requests to show my process. I always love to encourage others to create, so I’m in the process of making a series of videos that show some of the steps to creating my layered colourful creations.

This is part 2 in the series, you can see part one on my You Tube channel Emel Jurd.

Hope you’re inspired.

and as always,

Til Next Time,

Share the LOVE!

2016: Keep Creating

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It’s a bit late, but what the heck! I like to keep my New Years resolutions simple so I can reapply them every time I fall off the resolution wagon. This year’s is no different and follows the extremely successful resolution of 2015, which was CREATE! In 2016 my resolution is KEEP CREATING! 

I know it sounds like I’m cheating, just rehashing last year’s resolution, but it’s truely not. One of the challenges of being a creative person is that you can’t stop. I mean obviously you can, but if you do, it’s so hard to get going again. So while 2015 was a great year, with my paintings being exhibited in Rome, having a successful exhibition at the Gauge Gallery, winning second place in an art prize and having my work shown in another 8 or more group shows, I really need to keep building on that momentum.

  
Wild  Mixed media on paper

Keeping on track can be hard. It can often feel like the world is conspiring against you. Everything starts to look like it’s just as important as everything else. Kids, house, work, exhibitions, projects, the fact that the bathroom needs renovating before it falls apart……….all of it begging for immediate attention. I find making a plan is good. I make lists most days and tick things off as I go and if I get distracted, I go back to my list. So simple, yet so effective! I also create a collaged vision board  with all my major goals for the year on it. I put it next to my bed, so it encourages (or taunts) me every morning. All this discipline, lists and the like sounds very un- arty, but it’s actually really helpful. It keeps me on track and stops the innumerable distractions of life from hijaking the day and wasting energy that could be channeled into the big life plan. You know, the “why I’m really here” plan. We all have them and they’re as varied as we are and they need to be on the top of the list! 

  Underwater Romance  Mixed media on paper.
Anyway, before I start preaching, if you’re struggling with staying on track, or even getting started on something that really matters to you, give some of these ideas a go. Make a space in life for the big plan, whatever yours is, work toward it in some way, every day and KEEP CREATING! 

Til next time,

Share the LOVE!