New Merchandise Available

I am very excited to announce the launch of a collection of products featuring my artwork. In case you are looking for gifts, mugs, blankets, pillows, prints, bags and cases, you can find a wide collection at https://auswildlifeart.com/collections/matteo-grilli

Photos from the Birds in Watercolour Workshop

     

We had such a great experience exploring all the secrets of watercolour painting last weekend. Huge thanks to the Queensland Wildlife Artists Society for organising the workshop and to all the fifteen artists who were very dedicated and keen to paint birds. Most photos here are from the attendees.

Personally, I had heaps of fun, it was a great pleasure and honour to share my skills with others. 

I hope we'll do it again soon!

For now, I offer private, one to one tuition on weekends on drawing and watercolour painting on any natural subject, birds in particular in Brisbane.

Send me an email if you are interested at matteogrilliart@gmail.com

My few and very trusted tools and my own work in progress for one of our subjects, the Crested Pigeon, which allowed us to explore the practice of choosing and mixing colours, building up layers of washes, blending, iridescence and fine detail.

Australia Wild 2018 Exhibition

Australia Wild 2018  exhibition has been a great success, we had many visitors and it was such a pleasure to meet other artists, share their processes as well as meeting the public and answering all their questions. I was told more than once how my work was an inspiration to some, which I found flattering and I felt very thankful for it.

The Pale-headed Rosella watercolour was awarded the People's Choice Award and all but one of my paintings sold. 

I had lots of fun while demonstrating, here is an unfinished Mulga Parrot.

Thank you to the Queensland Wildlife Artists Society members and volunteers and to all the visitors from the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

Exhibition Update

Gondwana Morning Rain - Highly Commended award

Some photos from the opening night for the International Nature in Art 2018 exhibition, I was glad to see Gondwana Morning Rain (second from the top) receiving a Highly Commended award.

I will be back at the gallery after Easter, every Saturday for the live demonstrations 10-4 until 28/4

at Logan Art Gallery, Cnr Wembley Road & Jacaranda Avenue Logan Central Q 4114 Gallery Hours 10am -5pm Tuesday to Saturday

Upcoming Exhibition: International Nature in Art 2018

I am very excited to present my work during this upcoming exhibition. It is my first exhibition and there will be many other artists from the Queensland Wildlife Artists Society Inc, a society I recently joined as an exhibiting member.

I will be exhibiting eight of my original and framed watercolours and they will be for sale. I will be there at the opening night, see details below, and also on another date in April (to be confirmed) to give a live demonstration.

I hope to see you there!

Follow the link to book for the opening night before the 14th of March.

Orange Bushbrown Butterfly

Orange Bushbrown, Mycalesis terminus, handmade watercolours on Fabriano paper, 15 x 18 cm, © Matteo Grilli

This small painting came after my visit to tropical north Queensland, a birding trip, although all other wildlife was just as interesting.

Double-eyed Fig-parrots on the Daintree River

Double-eyed Fig-parrots, handmade watercolour on Fabriano paper, 24 x 24 cm, © Matteo Grilli

This painting resulted after my trip to tropical north Queensland, the parrots are Double-eyed Fig-parrots, race macleayana and the river is the Daintree. I have composed this artwork putting together a number of photos. The bird on the left is the male, the female is on the right.

This image is available as a greeting card.

Red-necked Wallabies Watercolour

Red-necked Wallabies Macropus rufogriseus, handmade watercolours on Fabriano coloured paper, 22 x 24 cm, © Matteo Grilli

This watercolour painting is also available as a greeting card.

Detail

Work in progress

Ringed Xenica Butterfly, a book and framed works at Coastal Artisans

 Ringed Xenica Geitoneura acantha, walnut ink and handmade watercolours on Fabriano paper, 15 x 15 cm, © Matteo Grilli

 American-Australian writer Geraldine M. North recently published her book Butcher Bird, a collection of short stories from rural Australia. The book is a pleasure to read and features some illustrations of mine. It is available on Amazon 

At Coastal Artisans in Peregian Beach, there are some newly framed works and some Giclee prints of mine among the stunning showcase of other artists and artisans:

Here is a photo of the beautiful beach at Peregian:

Season's Greetings

At this time of the year I always feel the need to thank all the people who have been supporting my art throughout the year. 2014 has been a year full of positive events, lots of art, and encouraging prospects for the future. My most sincere gratitude goes to all those who decided to make my art part of their daily lives. All your contributions not only allowed me to keep making art, they also allowed me to contribute in turn, to some charities I have been supporting for a while like Birdlife Australia, Birds Queensland, ANTaR (Australians for National Title and Reconciliation) and the Queensland Wader Study Group. 

This is a female Hardhead Duck, Aythya australis, from the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. Hardhead ducks do not have bright colours as many other species of ducks but looking closer I could see very interesting and subtle variations of iridescent purple, orange and brown red.

 I'm very excited to attend the Brisbane book launch for the childrens' book 'Poss in Boots' written by Lindsay Owen and illustrated by myself. The book launch will take place in the beautiful location of The Talking Circle, State Library of Queensland, Southbank, Brisbane on Thursday, January 15 at 11am. As music is part of the book's story there will be live folk music as well as light refreshments. It is a free event for which we have to thank the State Library of Queensland for supporting local creativity. Children of any age are very welcome. The State Library of Queensland Shop is currently selling the books.

  Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year,

MG