whalesong

I was absolutely thrilled to hear that two of my works have been accepted to show as part of the Lovely Hearts exhibition at the Artstream Gallery. This one; "Whalesong serenade" and "Buzz" (from a few weeks back) have both been accepted! (and will be available to buy, I think they're on sale online too)

The exhibition is about love in all its forms, and is raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, so I'm delighted to be part of it.

Artstream Gallery is at 56 North Main Street, Rochester, New Hampshire. And the exhibition opens on the 10th Feb and runs through all of February. Obviously I can't make it, but if any of you do go, please send me a pic :)

man face

I was so excited to receive my face from Leah yesterday (from the face swap), and even happier to see I got a boy! Like an expectant mother I was saying that I didn't mind if I got a boy or a girl, but secretly all along I was hoping for a boy.



Leah calls him ‘Cosby Sweater Man’. I love the colours and the swirly lines, especially his nose! Thanks Leah.

red

My Illustration Friday attempt for "red".

Red was what people used to call me at high school. However this isn't a painting of me. It's a face for Leah's 100 faces postcard swap, so tomorrow this little lady is heading off on a journey to Pennsylvania.

just a bunch of stuff

I missed out on doing something for Illustration Friday last week, I've been busy. I'm in the process of making a website for an author, I've still got a long way to go, but it's launching at the end of Feburary and it's all going well so far. I am having such a great time working from home :D Although I am missing the air conditioning of the office.

I've been sketching out ideas for the face swap with leah, so I thought I'd share one of my sketches instead (to make up for the lack of illo). I'm happy with this one, I always like my stuff better when it's loose and a bit messy. Having said that Leah will be getting a different face, one that's a little more finished looking. I wish I could work out a way to use this style and turn it into something with a more finished look. Anyways, I'll keep at it, I might get there eventually.

____________

So Happy Australia Day for yesterday everyone! We had a good day, I did a bit of gardening, watched the final episode of Pride and Prejudice (BBC Version with Colin Firth - aarrrrhhhhggg) and headed down to the park to relive the yummy African food, peppy Oz-As cover bands, and spazzy firework joy of last year. This year the firework people roped off a larger area so the ash wasn't dropping directly into our eyes as we looked up, and there was a bit more rhythm this year too. We came away mostly unscathed, I say mostly because Mr You got clocked on the head with what we think was one of the firework caps, so he came away with a lump on his noggin, but still laughing.

We’ve become quite partial to a dangerous firework display. You know, it’s just not the same these days unless you’re ducking and weaving for your own safety. Then when we got home, because we felt so extreme, we watched Jackass (I usually hate that with a passion, but last night, for some reason, I was in the mood).

____________

And lastly, I wanted to give a big happy shout-out. Again lately I've been pondering on how much kindness, generosity, support and friendship our colourful little corner of world wide web shares.

I’m beaming at how thoughtful you guys are, and how you're so willingly share kindness and support.

Beth has recently been sending me endless emails of advice and answering all my queries on her experience with printing her beautiful artwork. I can’t thank-you enough Beth.

Lovely Love Squalor sent me a song! She thought I might like a new singer she’s discovered, so she just went ahead and emailed it to me. How cool is that?!

Hugs to all you guys for sharing my rage the other day. I was ashamed about my anger after publishing that post, but you guys made me realise anger is okay in some instances.

Thanks for all of your comments, all the time! I don’t have to say, because I know you all feel the same about getting nice comments, but it’s so great isn’t it? Thank-you. And thanks too if you come by just to read and never comment, (I’m not sure there is anyone), but if there is, thanks.

gigantic rant, be warned

I’m polite. I like to think I’m considerate. And I follow the mantra that if someone wrongs me, karma will do the dealing and it’s my place to be understanding not judgemental.
However… (and be warned, this is going to be one hell of a rant, so tune out now if you’re not in the mood)

Australia is undergoing the longest drought in history. I read the other day that Sydney will be the first global city to face a water crisis if the drought doesn’t break, we have approx. 600 days of water supply left. We’re on water restrictions, have been for years, and the government is desperately scrambling to engineer and build renewable water supplies. We use grey water to keep our garden alive and to wash our car, and lots of other little things to contribute. As are many many others.

So when I just passed a man hosing the concrete footpath I had to say something. I’m so so freakin’ sick of that generation (or people who share that mindset) that they are more entitled than anyone else. Those who don’t have any environmental responsibility or consciousness. The ones who think all this talk of greenhouse gasses, climate change, etc is some new fandangle speak that the young folk are into.

What is it with them?!!! People who have become so used to their own modern conveniences, the thought of being slightly uncomfortable or disordered offends them. Despite in many cases having survived the depression, many wars, being witness to the people power of the 60’s, the very real tragedy of Chernobyl; their sense of social and global obligation has vanished.

I don’t care, buy all the houses, spend your children’s inheritance… good on you, it’s your business, I think it’s fine, I really don’t care. But be responsible, give a damn about more than your own yard, make an effort.

I’m no hippy, I don’t chain myself to trees, don’t join protests, don’t live in a tent, am not carbon neutral. I understand that I too contribute to the hurting of the Earth, but I try to do what I can, alter my life in small ways to help, to contribute to the good. Listen. Learn. Alter.

Why are so many of “them” the same? An ex-client responsible for a so called “green product” who told us that “consumers don’t recycle anyway” and after I said I do, in the same breath she replied “yeah well there’s too much stuff being recycled, the recycle plants can’t keep up, they just through it all away anyway”. Contradiction!
My parents, for example, move into a new house and the first thing they do is cut down all the trees and pull out all the bushes, because it looks untidy, then they lay turf and can’t keep it from being sunburnt. My Uncle is boasting about wanting to poison a neighbours tree, (which not to mention being highly illegal is horrible), all because it drops a few small leaves in his yard and one day there may be root damage. They’re leaves right, not cluster bombs.

Toowoomba a town in Queensland Australia is about to run out of water. The city held a vote last year to start a water recycling plant (I know this sounds gross, but it’s advanced technology, perfectly safe, and is used in London. Yes, London’s water supply is predominantly recycled, has been for decades. I’ve drunk water in London and didn’t notice anything different at all. It’s an excellent solution). The town voted No. Why? One of the lobbyists claimed that the hormones women pee out would be so strong, couldn’t be filtered out, and would make men grow boobs! How’s that for creative propaganda? My guess is this old codger already has them anyway!

And I’m not even going to begin talking about our politicians…

So when I came upon the man hosing the concrete the conversation went thusly:
Me: “Gee, you’re brave”
Him: “Why’s that?”
Me: “Well, doing that under water restrictions” (pointing towards the flow of water down the footpath and gutter, implying the hefty fines for water miss-use)
Him: “Well, when there’s a mess, it’s got to be cleaned”
Me: “Have you heard of a broom?”

finishing 5 things

Here I am, catching up, finishing the 5 Things meme from below thanks to Rayne and Leah...

4) Rayne asked...
"Here is a question for you- What is the scariest/bravest thing you have ever done?"

Ooo, good one. Ummm. I’d say the bravest thing that affected the outcome of my life the most was when I moved out of home and put myself through the final year of high school and then onto University, without any financial assistance from my parents.
My Mum’s partner was going through a bad patch in his life when we moved in with him. He didn’t know how to deal with stuff and ended up becoming a violent, angry, abusive, drunken man. It took me a few years but eventually I found a way out. One of my biggest regrets is that I couldn’t take my 12 year old sister with me.

He has since learned the error of his ways, he's reformed, kind, loving, and he and my Mum are very happy. For a long time I felt very bad things about my Mum for this, but now I believe she showed a great sense of trust, love and honour in him, to see beyond all the hurtful things and all that fury. From her I learnt to show defiance, vigilance, strength and push for what you believe is true.

5) Leah asked...
"Hm, ok, question for you...what is your dream for yourself and your life?"

Geez, that’s a really hard one. This is going to sound so cheesy, but…

I guess the bigger picture dream is happiness, a sense of satisfaction, trying to be proud of how I live and what I make of things, being surrounded by people and things I love.

In terms of a 5 year plan… I’ve never been able to do one of those, I'm so bad at making decisions, but I’ve also always just liked the idea of having faith that I’ll go the way I’m suppose to. But now I’m 30 the next 5 years will probably need some planning at some point (if you catch my gist).

Thank you so much Rayne and Leah, I couldn’t have done it without you! :D
Oh, and Rayne, no we don't have air conditioning :(

Now, who to tag…
Leah from Creative Everyday (have you done this before?)
Isay From Meaningful Undertakings
Regina from Creative Kismet
Sandra from The Mighty Sally
Victoria from Dear Megan

bunches of bogainvillea

Tomorrow, this little lady is off to London to deliver her flowers to my dear friend Vette and wish her a Happy Birthday.

billow

It's been hot here, really hot; sleep on top of the sheets with a fan on you all night kind of hot. So this weekend Mr You and I constructed a shade cloth kind of thing to give our exterior wall a bit of respite from the sun, and prevent our loungeroom heating up like a woodfire oven. Okay, at this point I'll admit it was my idea (not to take the glory, but to relinquish Mr You of any responsibility for such a non-sturdy plan). You see I bought the cloth for $3, it's very thin, non-woven ... well it's a giant tissue really. I little stronger, but essentially a giant tissue. We strung it up along our side courtyard, and within a few hours one of the corners had already torn off.

But it’s beautiful! Really beautiful. I spent a good part of the weekend in the back garden (which opens up past the bushy tree you can see at the end there) on the grass under the tree, watching my giant tissue billow gracefully and silently in the wind.
It’s mesmerising, and looks as though it belongs in a film. It has torn in a few more spots, but is still up and basically in the right shape… and still billowing.

I didn’t go for a walk yet thismorning as it’s still very hot, I think I’ll go swimming instead a little later. However, I wanted to show you a few of the pics I took on my walks last week…

Grown things:

A pink boganvillia and some hollow green hairy... well I won't say what they reminded me of, but they were strange.

Built things:


Folk I met along the way:

The first one is a dinosaur bush; there is a house with amazing topiary hedges in their front garden. There are dinosaurs with eyes, claws and teeth, birds with beaks and they all watch you as you pass by.

boomerang

The lovely Leslie from Onegirl has tagged me with the "5 things" meme. I was so excited to be tagged that I forgot I’ve already done this one, it's boomeranged and come back at me. I still want to do it but the only things I can think of to expose are not very juicy…

1) I’ve just sent an email in the hope of being able to get in on Leah’s 100 Faces postcard swap. Check it out, it’s such a cute idea, you might like to be part of it too.

2) I’m up to the final week of The Artists Way, however I’ve been paused now for about 3 weeks. If I’m reading a book that I really enjoy I sometimes pause on the last chapter for ages just to prolong the book. Mind you I think this time it’s more a defence mechanism. What if I finish the whole Artists Way and I’m still no better than I was before????

3) I started a new regime last week and went for an hour long walk every morning; for fitness and for motivation in the mornings (a weak point for me). I took photos along my walk to prove it (evidence that I didn’t just walk around the corner and lie down under a shady tree for an hour – hee).

I can’t think of anything else to tell you…
How about for numbers 4 and 5 you ask me something? I don’t know, is there anything you want to know about me but have been too afraid to ask? Now’s your chance. You’ll be helping me to finish this wee meme, go ooooon.

80's

My Illustration Friday attempt for "80's".

Nevermind the Bollocks! Up Yours! Piss, cigarettes and all that shite. Argggghh.
(teehehehe, that kinda felt good)

I didn't have much time this week, so here's a quick sketchy one. (Jeans inspired by those amazing Os Gemeos boys)

letterbox loot, day four

Are you getting sick of hearing about my endless haul yet? Well brace yourself...

Another package arrived today, technically I cheated a bit with this one as it's from Thumbtack Press instead of Etsy, but these are artists I've wanted works by for aaaages.

"Sirius" (the pale lady and friendly wolf) is by Lilly Piri.

And the long skinny print of the strange landscape with odd fish-monsters, or "Migration" as it is titled, is by Jamie Zollars.

I love love love them both sooo much. The only complaint I have about these is that the spot where a signature is usually found has been replaced by "thumbtackpress.com" in red. The artists name or title of the work is nowhere to be found on either of the prints, which I think is most unfortunate. I wouldn't normally Tssk people as it's rather rude, but Tssk Tssk Thumbtack Press, Tssk Tssk. (On the other hand, thank-you for the super-sturdy packaging :D )

letterbox loot, day three

Day three and another package arrived. Hip Hip Hooray! This time it was a tiny owl, a sweet quirky note telling me I was "super super fun" which put a smile on my face, and the actual purchase: a totally cool guy with awesome hands, wearing a tiger mask.
It's simple in parts, detailed in others and I can't stop looking at it.

This bunch is from the self confessed luv-lover Matt M Cipov.
Check out his site here...
And his Etsy store here...
(Thanks Matt!)

I can't tell you how much fun this is!!! Can you imagine getting a package every single day?! (I am already starting to worry about the nasty withdrawal symptoms when this is all over)

After a while I realised I was buying a whole lot of art of single girls. I confess I do like those very much, I even make a whole lot of lonely lady art myself. In fact loads of ladies (single or spoken-for) do. I’m sure there’s a Psychology thesis about this phenomenon out there somewhere, but I started to wonder what a house full of lonely lady art would look like... Wonderful to me, but kinda creepy to others.
That's where this little tiger-faced man comes in. He’s going to be representing the menfolk on my cluster art wall. Boy is he gunna score or what?! Actually I just realised he’s already undressed and ready for action! Heee.

letterbox loot, day 2

Day two and another wonderful package arrived! Just as I was coming through the gate a van pulled up and a man handed me a package from Beth Berst. I bought one of her delicious prints from her Etsy store as part of my shopping spree. You may have seen this one on IF when the theme was "clear", I remembered it right away as it was one of the ones I liked best that week.

I really love Beth's textured style and her excellent colours, and use of pattern. I liked this one especially, because to me it captures only a moment so gracefully; a simple moment of beauty that didn't go un-noticed.

Lucky me also got some goodies! I love goodies! Who doesn't love goodies!
I got a kissy-fish postcard, a small honey bear card, some cherrylicious fun dip and a sweet little birdie that I managed to pry off the front of the envelope. Thank-you sooo much Beth, I love love love it all.

If you are not yet acquainted with Beth, go have a peek. Beth's Etsy. Beth's Blog. You won't regret it.
(I wish those woodies were in store last week, I would have got one of those too!)

shopping spree

For Christmas Mr You gave me a homemade gift voucher for a shopping spree on Etsy!!!! (or Esty as he likes to call it)

I took a few weeks to decide which lovely things to get, then at the beginning of last week I went through and hit those "buy" buttons with great enuthiasm. I just went nuts and bought a whole stack of prints (and one cushion). So not only did I get exactly what I wanted for Christmas, I'm also going to be able to have one of those walls absolutely filled with a cluster of framed art! I've always wanted one of those. I just have to get framing now.

Today the first item arrived:

It's a gorgeous print of a ninja girl by Dan-Ah Kim. The original looks like it's been painted on plywood, so it has a yummy warm feel to it. I love it!
I've just noticed there are new prints in Dan-Ah's shop and they are super lovely too! Check them out here!

I expect my letterbox will bring me great joy over the next 2 weeks, so stay tuned. And big thanks and hugs and stuff to my lovely Mr You!

buzz

My Illustration Friday attempt for "buzz".

You know the saying "he/she loves me warts and all"? Well Katie didn't have any warts but there was a constant buzz which bothered some folk. Jack, on the other hand, always thought it was completely charming.

the thinker

Because I’m procrastinating and also can’t think of anything to write about, I’m going to do another comment on a comment post.

Rayne said (about my phoenix illustration):
"...I like how she is sitting, how her body is bent and you can't really tell if she is levering herself up or going to lay back down..."

Thanks Rayne, I’m really glad you noticed that.

There are two things I learnt during all those years at school (and still remember), that I try to apply to my illustrations.

One was tension. Introducing a sense of tension adds interest. So instead of having the girl simply sit or stand, she is half way between 2 poses, giving a sense of movement, weight and tension (meaning something has just happened, or is about to happen).

Two was the reason “The Thinker”, by Rodin, looks like he is thinking hard about something, and not just sitting, bored, and waiting for the bus. His body is twisted. He is leaning his elbow on the opposite knee, giving his body a slight twist (adding tension). I learnt that the viewer subconsciously relates a certain feeling to the way a figure is posed. It’s all in the body language. A wordless language common to us all.


Thank goodness you guys comment, otherwise I’d have nothing to write about. :D

plume of smoke

Ariel said...
… *i dont understand it.. but really nice painting :)

I had to have a bit of a chuckle at a couple of the comments from my illustration this week. Not because of what they said, more a chuckle of discomfort about what they must have thought.

Honestly Ariel, I’m not sure I understand it either. I go into a drawing with one idea, and I come to at the other end with a painting in my hand, scratching my head, thinking “where the hell did this come from?”

louie said...
… the drawing tells a really great story. …

eeeek, I’d hate to think what story it tells (a half-naked Vegas showgirl alone in a field), in this case I seriously doubt it’s the one I set out with. I swear I'm honestly not that perverse. I HATED Eyes Wide Shut!

Ellis Nadler said...
Very nice idea...Can't wait for the movie of this

Scene 1: [Starts with macro close up of a feather, pristine sky blue colour, twitching slightly as it is caught by a playful breeze.
Camera pans out to reveal more feathers, a whole pile of them.
Shot continues to pan out slowly, further revealing the feathers are attached to a costume worn by a young woman. The woman is waking up from a deep sleep, she is pretty but dishabilled by sleep, make-up worn off and sleep puffed face. She is unharmed, but curiously she is topless, and is wearing a vivid and delicate facemask of a bird beak; a modern interpretation of those worn during the Venice Carnivale in times gone by.

Camera continuing to pan out reveals she is in the middle of a field, miles from anywhere. Other than a few small unremarkable hills on the horizon there are no distinguishable landmarks. A plume of smoke (from a fire that has almost gone out) reaches into the sky from behind one of the hills.

The temperature in the air and the light in the sky give no clues; is it early morning, or late evening? As the woman raises herself off the ground you realise she has no idea where she is or how she got there. She is not frightened, the landscape shows kindness and forgiving, and the story begins somewhere near the end.]


Nope, I can safely assure you this is not the idea I had in my head when I started the illustration this week.

phoenix

My Illustration Friday attempt for "phoenix".

a single line

I can't believe I didn't take my camera to the Modest Mouse gig last night . I don't usually take it to gigs because for most of the time my view is usually the back of someone’s sweaty neck, or a very intimate elbow experience. But last night I had the best photo taking position and was regretting not bringing my camera all night, especially each time they all picked up a totally new instrument to play. However, this did leave me free to enjoy the music.

At first there was a bass player, a guitarist, the lead singer/2nd guitar, a guy on keyboards and two drummers on different kits playing in unison. Then the rest of the night it was like watching a game of musical chairs but with instruments; there were endless guitar changes and swaps, a trumpet, a double bass, bongos, banjo, piano accordion, and one of those thingies where you blow into a tube which is attached to a mini keyboard. It was great!

(wouldn't a photo slot in so well right here?)

Anyway, one of my favourite song lines is from a Modest Mouse song:
"My thoughts are so loud I can't hear my mouth"

I've always been impressed by great song lyrics, but I especially love when a single line captures a mountain worth of meaning (or humour).

Some of my favourites (that I can think of right now) are:
"Judge the miracle by feel not size" - Badly Drawn Boy

"Winter weather is not my soul" - Smog

"I had to yell just to get my voice back" - Smog

"If I could f#*k a mountain, Lord I would f#*k a mountain" - Palace (this makes me laugh every time)

"I am not Jesus, but I have the same initials" - Pulp

and my favourite at the moment is:
"Well I guess everybody has their own thing that they yell into a well. I gave it a couple of hoots, a hello, and a fuckallyall" - Smog

Lyrics by Bright Eyes always floor me, I could never pick out a single line.
Do you have any favourites? What are they?

the real deal

Happy New Year to you all!



One of the biggest highlights for me last week was when Mr You's Mum showed me her biscuit tin filled with buttons that she has accumulated over the years. Telling me that she'd gathered most of them to make clothes for her children back when they were young, but now they're all grown up and over 30 years old. The buttons had been long forgotten and were left unlikely to be used.

She presented me with the tin of buttons and a big empty glass jar and told me I could take which ever ones I liked!!!!!

I was so thrilled, I carefully looked through them all and selected the ones I loved the most (trying not to take all of them, I still managed to fill my glass jar and barely put a dint in the collection from the biscuit tin).

The ones above are only a few of the many excellent buttons that now live with me. Real vintage buttons; 20 to 30 years old and filled with charm.