Build it and they will come

Rhody making paper with Darren Simpson- paper maker.

Creative Paper Tour, Makers Workshop Burnie, Tasmania

I've found the most beautiful handmade/recycled paper in Burnie, Tasmania, 'Creative Paper'. The Makers Workshop a new airy architectural gallery style building is home to 'Creative Paper' some of Burnie's local artists studio's the Paper Mache People which are just wonderful by artists Pam Thorne and Ruth Rees and home to the visitors information centre.

Rhody and I took a tour of Creative Paper, to see how it was made and also made our own paper. It's the edges that I am drawn to, uneven, worn and torn looking, so beautiful. My black and white blurry photographic prints integrated themselves well into the Artist Quality white paper, to make them look more like ink splotches which I was hoping for.
They have different gsm (thickness of paper). And now after trialling some photography prints. I'd like to next trial some thicker card to produce some postcards. I just have to find away of getting the thicker card through the printer. Maybe I will have to buy a special printer.

'Melbourne Marks' my photographic prints on Artist quality handmade paper from Creative Paper


Creative Paper started out as a government initiative to help local people gain skills and employment. It looks like it has really helped to turn the small town around. Tasmania has many of these council/government initiatives in small rural towns, whereby the community is encouraged to participate. They are often artistic in nature. Railton has Topiary gardens, the town has rallied together and Topiary figures are planted and maintained through out the town. You just have to get a map and drive around the town and look at peoples gardens, much like driving around looking at Christmas lights on Peoples houses. Sheffield is the mural town and Wilmot is the letter box town. As a tourist if it wasn't for these attractions I don't think I would have visited and spent my money in the local stores. It is really refreshing to see such community spirit. I'd love to come back to Railton in 10 years to see the well established Topiary gardens.

Paper Bundle wall, Creative Paper Studio

Creative Paper's dry studio area, front wall. I love this paper bundle wall

We drove around for 20 minutes looking for Creative paper and saw this in our travels. I love the text and missing letters.

Drawing tendrils and veins for new art work

pen drawing and graphic design by Candice Herne preliminary stages of new work

I've been working on new art work to go with my "Postcards from blogland" series. I'm not sure how this will fit in yet or if it is finished. Looking at it now I can see a trunk coming out of it????

Tendrils and veins have been a linking thread through my work for a few years now. If you click here there is some artwork I did last year for a exhibition I did at Brunswick St Gallery in Melbourne a painting titled "Reclaim Regrowth" covered in pink embroidered leaf veins. A series I started about Nurture verses nature looking at natural order and how it relates to life and popular culture. I remember framing my work at school with drawings of vines with flowers, it seemed so natural and easy, I just did it with no thought. I'm taken back remembering this about myself. As humans and/or artist do we eventually come full circle and unconsciously go back to what feels natural about ourselves?

Postcards from Blogland

Dear blog readers, visitors, facebook friends, friends and family

My family and I are preparing for a trip around Australia. As a little project to take on the road with me. I am starting 'Postcards from Blogland'. Basically it will be a series of postcards from my blog that will be printed as postcards, to sell out the front of our caravan, sell to shops, show galleries, giveaway, etc

What I am asking you kindly to do is:
' let me know which of my blog posts is your favourite or favourites. It could be image or text.

You can do this by commenting on this post and typing the name of the post you like or commenting on my facebook for all my facebook friends or emailing me at candyh@ihug.com.au

Please include the name of the post, so I know which one you like, so I can have it printed.
And as a way of saying thanks I'll send you a postcard from blogland.

Hoping to here from you. Candyxx

Favourite picks so far..................

please keep on sending your favourite picks in. Thanks everyone for taking the time to do this, I'm feeling a little self conscious, about asking for people to pick their favourite, however it is very helpful. As I am not very objective about my own work. This way the decision is out of my hands and the job gets done, and I can move onto a another project. love Candyxx

Volunteering - Gravatron (2)

Volunteering - Fun at the Fair (2)

Creative Urge - image (2)

Happy Birthday Suki June - Fairy Light (2)

Happy first birthday suki june - Black and white image (1)

Happy first birthdya suki june- Party Princess (1)

Head Dress (2008) - logo (1)

Ekka 2008- white wall with window and crows (1)

No Fish Though- Bird image (4)

No Fish though- Creek (2)

It's not you it's me - we hardly see each other anymore (3)

It's not you it's me - I hope you understand we just don't talk anymore (2)

Hold My Hand Miss Jane - image (1)

Flower arranging - (1)

Something is brewing, I'm just not sure - (1)

What am I on about - embrace change (2)

Sacred Space- girl in cupboard (1)