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Painting No. 35 – Title “On the Rails & The Business End of Celebrating Melbourne’s Racing Festival Season” Painted Jan/Feb 2009

A good part of my art therapy journey has involved taking photos, which are part of my visual diary process that I use for inspiration, to create my abstract paintings and abstract digital photo paintings.  During a of Melbourne – Australia’s  famous racing seasons, I had the good fortune to be able to attend my sister’s Derby Day marquee function at Flemington Race Course 2008.  Victoria Derby is a thoroughbred race and is the oldest classic race in Australia, it ran first in 1855 (Derby Day. 2014).  Melbourne, once again, turned on a beautiful day with a clear blue sky!  During this day, I took many photos of interesting people, in great outfits!

I took this photo below, of a lady enjoying herself in her work’s marquee which was located on “The Rails”. On “The Rails” is located right next to Flemington’s Race Track and is adjacent the finishing line where, if you are lucky enough to be there, you can see the horses close up and their jockeys in colourful silks.  This lady’s striking hat and pose made for a good photo. Her hat was a particular inspiration for me. It had been designed by one of Melbourne’s most famous hat designers – Peter Jago!

Lady in striking Peter Jago Hat Derby Day Flemington Racecourse 2008, Melbourne, Australia. Photo taken by Karen Robinson-Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

Below is the portrait abstract painting I did from the photo inspirations of that day.  It is one of four that I painted for the 2008 Melbourne Racing Carnival.  They consisted of this Painting No. 35 featured below and Paintings Nos. 32, 33, & 34 – please click here to view!

Painting No. 35 – Title “On the Rails & The Business End of Celebrating Melbourne’s Racing Festival Season” Jan/Feb 2009 Acrylic on Canvas – 60cms Length x 60cms Wide x 3cms Deep
– by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB:  All images are protected by copyright laws!

The below single digital photo painting is a digitally manipulated photo of the lady in the striking Peter Jaco Hat!

Digitally enhanced photo of lady in striking Peter Jago Hat Photo taken by Karen Robinson – Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

The below single digital photo painting is a digitally manipulated colour cropped photo of the lady in the striking Peter Jaco Hat!  I did a range of photos where I digitally enhanced the photos so that you only viewed part of the person’s face and I found these photos more interesting than a view of the whole face.  In this photo I love how the colours pop out, reds and pinks and how the eyes deepen, contrasting against the vivid white back ground.

Digitally enhanced and cropped colour photo Lady in the striking Peter Jago Hat taken by Karen Robinson-Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

The below single digital photo painting is a digitally manipulated black and white, cropped photo of the lady in the striking Peter Jaco Hat!  In making this photo black and white, I found it really changed the feel of the photo…

Digitally enhanced and cropped black & white photo Lady in the striking Peter Jago Hat taken by Karen Robinson-Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

The below single digital photo painting is a digitally manipulated and abstracted small view of the lady’s spotted dress.

Abstract Digital Photo Painting No. 2A – “Derby Day – Spotted Dress” 2008 by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

The below single digital photo painting is another version of a digitally manipulated and abstracted small view of the lady’s spotted dress.

Abstract Digital Photo Painting No. 2B “Derby Day – Spotted Dress” 2008 by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson NB: All images are protected by copyright laws!

Whilst you are here – please check out my home page!  My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson

Reference:  Victoria Derby. (2014). Victoria Derby History. Retrieved June 6, 2014 from http://www.victoriaderby.com.au/history/