I've been sick with the flu all week but started to feel better yesterday ...so finished Mariuca's Portrait..
I'll go on with Mariana's Portrait this week...so the two mini portraits should be ready to mail off by the end of August....


Charlotte (aka Madonna) with Alexander (aka Joker) and her cousins Olivia (aka Harlequin) and Michael (aka Peter Pan) at Charlotte's 18th Birthday Party (fancy dress) last weekend







Because August has gone by in a rush with birthdays and parties I have chosen this piece for Music Monday this week...

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.




PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

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I completed six fairy/ballerina panels last week and will be painting six more this week..
yesterday I took some photos of the ballet studios (still under construction)
the panels will be attached up high like a frieze around the walls ...


Music Monday

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this piece of music is very special and I would like to dedicate this to my son, Alexander, who is moving out today ...



Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

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nine days left to enter my June competition to win your own mini portrait

WIN YOUR OWN FREE MINI PORTRAIT

I'm offering my readers the opportunity to win a Free Mini Portrait this month..
# the Mini Portrait is 25cm x 25cm (10" x 10") - acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas..
# free postage
# value: $250 (au)
# one person/subject of the winner's choice
# winner will be selected from a random generator at the end of this month

What you can do:
1. leave a comment here =1 entry per comment
2. post about the competition at your blog with a link back to laketrees = 10 entries
3. RETWEET this post on twitter = 1 entry per tweet
4. Subscribe to laketrees by Email = 5 entries


I will announce the winner on the 1st July 2009 1st August 2009
Good luck everyone!!!

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It's my son's 19th birthday tomorrow so here are two of my favourite songs from one of his favourite groups... Queen...



latest progress on WIP of Alexander and Kelly

Best wishes to everyone for a safe and fun filled New Year celebration on Wednesday too!!!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

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A couple of months ago I took a series of photos of my son and his girlfriend...hoping to finish the never ending portrait of them...

so the other day I finally started on the portrait (again) I'm hoping to finish it by the end of January...

Oil on Belgian Linen

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5. Petra Voegtle

congratulations Petra...
YOU are the winner of 4,000 ECs

Thanks to everyone for leaving your comments on my last post...
I have listed everyone who participated and your name and numbers were entered into the random draw..
here is a screenshot of the result..click to zoom



1. Diane 2. Deborah 3. Frantic Home Cook 4. RennyBA 5. Petra Voegtle 6. Lynda 7. Amy 8. Guttu 9. Jailbird 10. John 11. Felix Noir 12. Sherry 13. BlueWorkhorse 14. Torasham 15. Karen(karooch from scraps of mind 16. Laurie b 17. Ankit Gupta 18. Speedy 19. Mariuca 20. Sassy Mama Bear 21. Sharron "Shez" Marshall 22. Cooper 23. Dr. Jarret Morrow 24. JMom 25. Jafabrit's Art 26. Lisa 27. Gurushabad 28. Brandi 29. Ivan 30. removed (spam) 31. Mekhismom 32. Jodith 33. ClinkscalesArts

It has been a busy week for me with a family re-union (relatives of 'The Barker Boys') and presentation of one of my works (see photos)

Lambert Barker's son Jack Barker with the work "The Last Train Home"


click on the images to zoom










I was also working on the portrait of Alexander and Kelly..I have painted over Alexander's face (3 times) as it wasn't quite right...so not much progress there..


DOBELL PRIZE FOR DRAWING
In instituting this annual prize, the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation wishes to encourage excellence in drawing and draughtsmanship.
Value: $20,000 (acquisitive)
Medium: Unique work on paper or other suitable support in any medium or combination of media. This includes those media and materials traditionally associated with the practice of drawing (pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, etc.) and those which are part of contemporary drawing practice, including pastel, watercolour, collage etc.
Other information: Applicants must have been born in Australia or hold Australian citizenship, and have been a resident in Australia for a period of 12 months prior to the closing date. Works are to be completed during the 12 months preceding the closing date.
Dobell Prize application form 2008 (PDF)


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COME BACK ANOTHER DAY!!!

A MESSAGE FOR ALL YOU SPAMMERS !!! DON'T BOTHER LEAVING A COMMENT AS I WILL DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY !!!! GO AWAY!!!

on a lighter note...
I have decided to add Kelly to the never ending portrait of Alexander...still a long way to go....
I'm hoping to finish by the end of August....
click on the images to view full size

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As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down... probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you have never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Author: Unknown photo: A Barker

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Win 1,0000 ECs !!!!
WOULD YOU JUMP IN A TANK WITH SHARKS ??
Leave a comment to go in the random draw!!!



My son Alexander and his girlfriend Kelly stayed in Sydney last week...
they were celebrating their 12 month anniversary...
while they were there they visited the Sydney Opera House and Taronga Park Zoo as well as finding the time to jump into a tank with sharks at Oceanworld Manly !!!
Here are some of the terrific photos that they took....

Unfortunately they had rainy weather but they still managed to take some great shots...
they are both considering photography as a career....

all images © Copyright Alexander Barker & Kelly Steele

Related Links:
Shark Dive Xtreme
Experience the opportunity of a lifetime if you've ever wanted to dive with sharks and other amazing marine creatures. You will get up close and personal with HUGE sharks, giant stingrays, sea turtles, wobbegong sharks and a vast array of marine life. Shark dives give you an amazing perspective of these fascinating creatures and are fantastic for first time and experienced divers. [more]
Quay West Suites Sydney
Quay West Suites Sydney is superbly situated in the historic Rocks area overlooking harbour. This beautifully appointed hotel is within easy walking distance of major tourist attractions such as the Opera House, transport services, shopping and the Central Business District. [more]
Luna Park
Luna Park Sydney (originally Luna Park Milsons Point) is a historical amusement park, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Luna Park is located at Milsons Point, on the northern shore of Sydney Harbour. The heritage-listed park first opened in 1935, although its 70-year history includes multiple closures, changes of ownership, legal battles, and community action in both support of and opposition to Luna Park's operation. [more]

7 Incredible and Bizarre Underwater Inventions and Feats

How to get on the cover of National Wildlife Magazine

Winner of Random Draw will be announced here next Wednesday

STATE OF ORIGIN 2008 – GAME TWO
SUNCORP STADIUM, BRISBANE – WEDNESDAY JUNE 11TH.
GO THE BLUES!!!!

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Lots of rain lately though I did manage to catch this rainbow the other day...


I have been doing a little work on Alexander's Portrait...hopefully I will finish it before the end of the year...




A very inspiring story !!!
Click on the image to read the full story...



Arte y pico Award



Corrine @ Jafabrit's Art received this award twice!!
one from Margaret at Mop Heads Unite,and one from Original Art by Lynette Clay

She kindly passed this beautiful award on to me ..thank you so much Corrine..
Other recipients: MadSilence, Casey Klahn, pollocksthebollocks,margot potter, and jean yates



Blog Travels

Creative Archive

Beyond Perfection

The ultimate social network!

I found this at Speedy's place ....

Did you know?

* Kind people are more likely than mean people to yawn when someone near them does.

* The most frequently shoplifted book in America is the Bible. [More]

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work in my studio is looking rather incomplete at the moment due to my "frozen shoulder".....I'm hoping to finish the portrait of Colin's daughter first...
and then go on with the African landscape if I can overcome my ambivalence for it !!
Alexander's portrait will go on the back burner for a while...
(click on the image to zoom)




This weeks lucky number is # 26 from the
Top 101 Artists' Blogs - Update 29/12/07

Laurelines
An avid painter and drawer featuring travel sketches, works in series, exploring different mediums and techniques....her drawings of faces are varied and she uses an amazing selection of different mediums...I loved the variety of sketches and the 101Faces, a 2007- 2008 project.


lucky # selected by Anita @ am-art check out her artistic journal...the drawings are simply sensational !!!

don't forget to leave your lucky # in the comment box and I will put it on my list

My Blog Travels

lines and colors
lines and colors is a blog about drawing, sketching, painting, comics, cartoons, webcomics, illustration, digital art, concept art, gallery art, artist tools and techniques, motion graphics, animation, sci-fi and fantasy illustration, paleo art, storyboards, matte painting and 3d graphics.

Two outstanding articles
How Not to Display Your Artwork on the Web
How to Display Your Art on the Web



John Martz is an illustrator and designer living in Toronto, Canada. His personal weblog is robotjohnny and he is also the editor of the illustration and comics blog Drawn! a collaborative weblog for illustrators, artists, cartoonists, and anyone who likes to draw.


Visit them daily for a dose of links and creative inspiration.

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