Black Dog Studio's Open Studio, SALA 2015

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Posted 2015-08-11 by Jo Harris ⇒ follow

Mon 10 Aug 2015 - Mon 31 Aug 2015

This is the third year that Julia Wakefield has opened her new studio for the South Australia Living Artists Festival (SALA) .

After working for years on kitchen tables, in print workshops and rented studios, Julia finally built her own light-filled space in her back yard at Christies Beach.

The studio is called 'Black Dog' after Julia's own dog, Portia, but when people ask her if it has any associations with having the blues, Julia is reassuring.

'My studio is so warm and friendly, it's a sheer delight to work in. Most people want to take it home with them!'

Julia is well known for her romantic rabbits, who hopped into her head while she was living in the UK and have adapted remarkably well to the Australian environment, appearing on cards, mugs, t-shirts and handmade relief prints.

The Black Dog also features in wood engravings and linocuts. An occasional flying pig finds its way into the studio, and other creatures you might encounter include a pair of musical camels and a spider that knits woollen scarves.

The studio is only 5 minutes' walk from Christies and O'Sullivan's beaches, where you can walk your dog without a leash all year round.

It's open to visitors on Sundays and Mondays from 11am – 4pm (except for Sunday August 23), until August 30, but the Studio will also open on Saturday August 22nd, 11am – 4pm.

Julia will be on hand during these times, and is happy to demonstrate her drawing, watercolour and printmaking techniques. She gives classes in beginners' drawing and also workshops in life drawing and watercolour at community centres all around Adelaide. She often experiments with different media, including digital art, to get herself 'out of the square'.

Julia is currently working on a series called 'Postcards for the Reef', which includes watercolours and prints in various media on the theme of the Great Barrier Reef.

'I got tired of signing petitions and decided to try and do something with my art to help the Reef, which is under direct threat from a very unpleasant coal mining project' said Julia.

'All profits from sales of the postcards and greetings cards that I have made from these artworks will be donated to the Fight for the Reef Fund '.

More information about the Postcards for the Reef can be found HERE and you can follow the progress of her postcards as she produces more images on her Facebook page.