UNDER
Ilona Abou-Zolof - Under The Sea
DOWN UNDERartists
Australia and New Zealand
Welcome to our first Spring edition for 2025 of Artists Down Under.
I cannot believe it is Spring already, all the blossoms are out, the birds are busy picking up twigs for their nests & the tissue sales are through the roof ... yes hayfever season is here also. Spring is such a beautiful season, still cool at nights for sleeping but the days are simply glorious with the blue skies and temps in the high teens for most of our states anyway
Our artists have had a very busy month preparing all their art for you. Quite a few of our artists have had great success in competitions and have also been busy with exhibitions. Congratulations to you all.
We have all of our favourite segments to share with you along with two very talented artists, Christina Brunton and Trish Hoskin, who have been busy putting together a series of artwork for you all.
I hope you enjoy this edition as much as I did putting it together for you.
Please take care and be kind to each other.
Pam Henderson
Christina Brunton - Fox
Julie Powell - Andrew’s Sacred Kingfisher
Backgrounds: Foxy Squirrel Laitha’s Designs - Jai Johnson - White Lane Studio Copyright 2017 © Artists
www.behance.net/colinkillick
https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/colin-killick/
DENISE HUNTER LOGAN ( AUSTRALIA )
https://www.sandradimagery.com/
https://www.artofwoman.art
https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/margaret-kalms/
artists Achievements monthly down under
artists down under facebook page
The Artists Down Under Public Facebook page has been set up to allow the artists in the group to showcase their work and to enable them to share promotional information about themselves, e.g. exhibitions, awards etc...
You can find the Artists Down Under Public Facebook page at this address; https://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistsDownUnder/
So, if you are an artist in the group, don’t forget to regularly share your work and information here, and to let your friends and family know about the page if they are interested in viewing the latest art and news from the group.
If you are a reader of the magazine who does not have access to the page, please click the link above and request to join. When you request to join you will be asked to answer three simple questions that will allow us to determine if you are an eligible artist who may wish to join the group and therefore be able to post on the page, or a member of the public who can view, comment and like the work on the page. It’s a great place to see some great art from this vibrant group every day!
Three ADU members receive a special gift
Our very good Awake friends Teddi Rutschman of Foxey Squirrel and Diane Stafford from WhiteLaneStudio continue to give gifts as a reward for members of the Artists Down Under group who contribute to the ADU Facebook page by regularly posting their artworks and supporting other members with their comments.
Teddi, from Virginia, USA, is well known for her fantastic sets of digital designer backgrounds, masks and all kinds of wonderful elements ready for designers to add to or build a wondrous creation.
Teddi Rutschman can be found at http://www.oscraps.com/shop/Foxeysquirrel
One artist will receive a Foxey Squirrel Kit
Diane Stafford from Chester, UK, designs Photoshop textures and overlays for photo artists and photographers to use in their digital artworks. Diane has created another special kit just for Artists Down Under for the month of SEPTEMBER.
Two artists will receive a Diane kit each. Diane Stafford can be found at https://whitelanestudio.co.uk/biolinks
The SEPTEMBER lucky winners are
Foxey Squirrel Kit
- Lynette Paul
Diane Stafford (WhiteLaneStudio) Texture & Overlay Kit
- Janelle Hassall
- Kye Thompson
https://shiftart.com/shift-art-photoshop-challenge-results-august-2025/
LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE
https://issuu.com/thephotoartisticlife/docs/living_the_photo_artistic_life_-_issue_no._126?fr=sYzM0ZTg0NDE1MDQ
Congratulations to the following artists for having their images chosen to appear in the international magazine “Living The Photo Artistic Life”.
Sandra Dann
- Midnight Wanderings
Rosa Perry
- Timeless Transport
Meaghan Pryor
- She Be Little
- Fairy Dust
Christina Brunton
- Majestic Guardian
Maureen Maxwell
- It’s A Tough Life
Louise Smith
- Heather
Ilona Abou-Zolof
- Life’s Passion
- Orchid Elegance
Helen McLeod
- When Butterflies Gather
Denise Hunter Logan
- Cupcake Genie
- Dance With Me
Sue Masterson
- Meeting Place
- Wonderland Game
Kim Ricci
- Whispers Beneath The Surface
Penny de Jong
- Identity Crisis
- From The Earth
Christina Brunton - Majestic Guardian
Rosa Perry - Timeless Transport
Meaghan Pryor - Fairy Dust
Kim Ricci - Whispers Beneath The Surface
Louise Smith - Heather
Ilona Abou-Zolof - Life’s Passion
Sandra Dann - Midnight Wanderings
LIVING THE PHOTO ARTISTIC LIFE
Denise Hunter Logan - Dance With Me
Maureen Maxwell - It’s A Tough Life
Sue Masterson - Wonderland Game
Helen McLeod - When Butterflies Gather
Ilona Abou-Zolof - Orchid Elegance
Penny de Jong - From The Earth
Sue Masterson - Meeting Place
Denise Hunter Logan - Cupcake Genie
Meaghan Pryor - She Be Little
Penny de Jong - Identity Crisis
Whats on
Meraki Artists
held their recent successful exhibition
Christina Brunton
Rodeos and Cowboys
Creating art is a profound journey that transcends mere process, often serving as a powerful meditation. Through my photography, I have captured the vibrant essence of rodeos, highlighting the dynamic interplay between horses and cowboys. Each art piece tells a story, transforming moments into expressive art that reflects my experiences.
I’m excited to unveil a rodeo series in this exhibition, inviting you to explore the richness of rodeo culture and the emotions of these cowboys and their magnificent steeds. This collection offers a fresh perspective on the drama and artistry of rodeos.
Raw Power Dust Storm
Wild Heart
Storm Rider
Full Throttle Trail Blazer
Ilona Abou-Zolof
Echoes in Red
My work explores memory, emotion, and the delicate intensity of childhood. Each piece captures a moment, filled with atmosphere and deep feeling. The images are digitally drawn in soft charcoal tones, with a vivid red element acting as the emotional anchor.
The red, whether in a dress, balloon, bike, or bench, represents presence, courage, longing, or joy. The characters, mainly children, are depicted from behind or in moments of stillness, symbolising anyone on the verge of something new.
This collection began with a sketch of a girl on a bicycle in a garden of oversized flowers, where the addition of the red dress transformed the series.
Each piece follows a similar emotional narrative. These drawings capture lingering moments within us, inviting viewers to feel the heartbeat of each piece.
Floral Fade
Joyful Dash
Paused Childhood
Red Journey
Red Play Umbrella Steps
First Pedals Park Quiet
Blossom Path
Crimson Watch
whats on
37th Sutherland Shire
National Exhibition of Photography (SSNEP)
2025
whats on Marsden Art Group present EPHEMERAL
Ephemeral
Artists from Marsden Art Group
Barbara van der Linden, Marilyn Hutchinson, Val Gee, Ian Baird, Julie Delves, Liz Dovey, Margaret Gordon, Michael Felgenhaur, Susan Hey, Margaret Kalms
Opening - 2 September 6 - 7pm. 2025 Ephemeral runs until 28 September
Smith’s Alternative: open midday to late 7 days a week 76 Alinga St, Canberra
Artwork: Margaret Kalms
Our skilled and diverse artists express ideas about ‘Ephemeral’ in different ways.
Gee highlights the impermanent nature of advertising and fantasy incorporating found objects into collages. Felgenhaur and Baird have created commentaries about short-lived packaging, the detritus of our throw-away life-style that literally ends up in the gutter. A snapshot of what is happening at a global scale. Gordon and Kalms are inspired by the human form and emotion, revealing the fragility of life and expressing transitory feelings.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/88165766@N05/
https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/karen-waalwyk/
JANE TOVEY ( AUSTRALIA )
INSPIRED DOWN UNDER
http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/penny-de-jong/
AL BAMASS ( AUSTRALIA )
SHE MOVES
QUIET BLOOM
art by CHRISTINA BRUNTON
PETAL GLOW
NIGHT BLOOM
ROSE QUARTZ
PASTEL PINK
PETAL WIND
https://www.2-galleries.com/
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/bev-terawskyj/
http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/maureen-maxwell/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rosa_perry https://rosa-perry.myportfolio.com/artwork
DENISE CAUCHI ( AUSTRALIA )
TIN BIRDS ON A SHELF
artists
DOWN UNDER
Australia and New Zealand
SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION
VARIANCE SLIDER (POINT COLOR)
By Andrew Haysom
Back in November 2023 I wrote about the Point Color feature that was added to Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw. Point Color allows you to easily select and refine a colour range in your image and then make changes to the hue, saturation and luminance of the selected colour range.
It is perhaps the most precise and flexible way to select and adjust colours in Lightroom and Photoshop, you can go back to that article in the November 2023 issue of the magazine or find it on my website.
In the latest version of Adobe Camera Raw a new slider has been added called Variance (see figure 1). This slider allows you to change the colour variance of the selected colour range, moving the slider to the left will push all the colours in the selected colour range towards the original selected colour (decreasing the colour contrast). Moving the slider to the right will push all the colours in the selected colour range away from the original selected colour (increasing the colour contrast).
[Fig 1 – The new Variance slider in Point Color in Adobe Camera Raw]
SOME PHOTOSHOP INSPIRATION (CONT .....)
Please note that this new feature is only in Adobe Camera Raw at the moment as an Early Release feature (meaning Adobe are seeking feedback). I imagine it will be included in Lightroom when it becomes a production feature.
It is a great feature for adjusting the colour contrasts in your landscapes (in either direction) and also does a great job of smoothing out skin colours in portraiture. I’ve shown two examples in Figure 2.
[Fig 2 – Examples using the new Variance slider]
This is a useful addition to one of Adobes best colour adjustment features, so go check it out.
ILONA ABOU-ZOLOF ( AUSTRALIA )
BRICK FLICK
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/sue-masterson/
JENNY DAVIDSON ( AUSTRALIA )
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/kevin-sims/ www.kevinsims.co.nz
‘COFFEE and PIXELS’
by Maureen Maxwell
THIS MONTHS CHALLENGE THEME IS A New World with your Vehicle of Choice
‘Our challenge for this month was ‘A NEW WORLD WITH YOUR VEHICLE OF CHOICE’. This certainly brought out the creative side of our participants. The variety of images indicates how we all approach these challenges in a multitude of ways. We hope you enjoy seeing our results as much as we enjoy creating them.’
Penny de Jong - Arriving At The Domed Frontier - Signed
Karen Waalwyk - A New World
Maureen Maxwell - Let’s Start Again
Ilona Abou-Zolof - Elder Flight
Bev Terawskyj - New World Transport
Prue Wright - My Own New World
Rosa Perry -Timeless Transport
Christina Brunton - My Futuristic World
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-4/sharon-rankmore/
https://andrewhaysom.myportfolio.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/andrew-haysom/
http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/george-koncz/ http://georgekonczphotography.com/
DOWN artistsUNDER
Australia and New Zealand
DIGITAL ARTISTS GROUP
STAGE 1 STAGE 2
Maureen started the Collab this month with a few simple elements, but as we know a few simple elements is not always easy to put together into an image, but I managed to create a secret rendezvous point in the countryside. It was alot of fun to do.
Maureen Maxwell
Pam Henderson
Pam Henderson
art by TRISH HOSKIN
FLORAL STAMPS
FLOWERS ON THE WALL
ROYAL EXCHANGE, GLASGOW
CHAOTIC THOUGHTS
FLORAL LACE
GLASGOW
HIGHLAND HERO
MARINA HOBBS ( AUSTRALIA )
SWIMMING WITH PENGUINS
DANCING WITH PENGUINS IN A FAIRYTALE SEA
https://photos.kogekar.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/hemant-kogekar/
http://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-4/pam-henderson/
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-3/lynsey-stirland-mitchell/
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/dennis-rickard/
CLOUDY DAY
POWELL ( AUSTRALIA )
https://www.juliepowellphoto.com/ https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-2/julie-powell/
TOMMY TOUCAN
DOWN artistsUNDER
Australia and New Zealand
A COLLABORATIVE GROUP OF PHOTO ARTISTS
QUOTE CHALLENGE by the Art Buddies
A bit of background first:
In our Art Buddies group, we’re a vibrant mix of ADU members from across Australia, each contributing individual talents and viewpoints. Our team includes Christina Brunton, Denise Cauchi, Ilona Abou-Zolof, Marie Helyar, Marina Hobbs, and Robyn McLauchlan. We gather regularly on Zoom, taking turns to set our creative challenges.
Quote:
This month, Denise Cauchi chose three words for the challenge.
The Three Words were: Aviation, Summer and Windmill
Our Art Creations:
We’ve each crafted a variety of art pieces inspired by the same three word above. We hope our creations motivate you to share your own interpretation on the Artists Down Under Facebook page. Your artistic expression matters to us, and we are excited to see what you create!
Christina Brunton - Aviation
Denise Cauchi - Summer Windmill Aviation
Ilona Abou-Zolof - Wings Over Summer Fields
Marie Helyar - Aviation Windmill Summer
Robyn McLauchlan - Crop Dusting
Marina Hobbs - Mustering Cattle
https://colincampbell.myportfolio.com
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artists-1/colin-campbell/
https://artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/kim-ricci/
https://www.artistsdownunder.com.au/artist-3/mick-rooney/
artists photographic challenge theme: monthly artistic down under BOOKS
Karen Waalwyk - Balancing The Books
Robyn McLauchlan - Adventure By The Page
Bev Terawskyj - Adventure Thru Books
Christina Brunton - Winny’s Books
Pam Henderson - Storytelling
Maureen Maxwell - An Adventure For Life
Penny de Jong - I Love My Books
Andrew Haysom - The Library
Ilona Abou-Zolof - Books, Brews, Blis
Colin Campbell - Book Of Derivatives
Jenny Davidson - Reading By Lamplight
Denise Hunter Logan - Choose Your Own Adventure
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