miss holly

I know I'm pretty much preaching to the converted, but it just wouldn't be right to end the year without the gorgeous water colours by the equally gorgeous Holly Ward Bimba aka Golly Bard. I have no idea why it's taken me so long - silly me. With an enviable (self confessed!) obsession for intricate patterning, Holly takes us on a naturalist's journey of all things splendid - birds and feathers and snakes and mice and eggs and bats and insects and nests and flora and weather and kooky hybrids and pickled eyes - yes, you heard me correctly - I do love how she slips these works in. With warmth and humour she creates a radiant microcosm that is so beautifully balanced in composition and tone - reflecting an attentiveness to her surrounds and a vivacious imagination that grows without cease. There's nothing more we could possibly want for. xx

> Golly Bard's drawing room blog, Etsy shop, Flickr

the revenge of the christmas triangle

I'm very scared dear friends. I snapped this in the wee hours of the morning. It seems... that just like gremlins, or triffids, these guys are self spawning... and in the process, they've grown hair. Even scarier. Not sure if I'll be able to sleep tonight... should I set traps? If you don't hear from me again, please contact the appropriate authorities...

the christmas triangle

Very happy to have finally sent Xmas treats to my wonderful brother and sister inlaw who live interstate. Judy's working hard to finish her incredible drawings for an exhibition early in 2011. She's been a scientist all her life (as is he), and has recently retired to focus on being a full time artist. You can visit her website here for a taster. Still some shopping to do for the rest of the family, but thank goodness I have a small one, so it's not too crazy. I've always made Xmas cards every year - it's been 'my thing' since I was a kid, and this year I'm quite liking the christmas triangle with antlers! The gouache didn't take too well to the recycled card, so will have to work on that. Collage may be a better option. But I can see a nice range coming together for my Etsy shop next Xmas. I'm really hoping to have this open in the new year, firstly with small originals, then some prints, cards and other items that feel right as time goes on.

sketchbook project

It's official. I'm dumping the sketchbook project. There's a number of reasons:
1. I've fluffed around too much.
2. I don't know how to come up with that many new ideas for each spread.
3. I'm beginning to question whether I want to put that much energy into something that will essentially be lost amongst thousands of submissions (it is pretty crazy - 28833 artists are participating - phoof). I so love the premise, but I think it's got a bit too big. Goodbye entry fee.
4. I feel like what I've done sucks a boogie. Yes... I want it to be perfect!
Feeling pretty disappointed with myself, but a lovely entree at home of smoked salmon, blue cheese and quince paste - a pomegranate lime & orange cocktail - duck breast (yet to be cooked, I'm hoping it will be accompanied with a cranberry jus, but M thinks he'll experiment a bit) - a good New Zealand white wine - animation submissions playing in the background - makes it all ok.

paper birdy goodness

Ohhh my... Cheong-ah Hwang of papernoodle. How devine.

horse ties

Saleeh Oh

Camilla Engman

Andrew Schoultz

I've been thinking more about horses of late. I've never been a 'horsey' person, and for someone who was apparently born in the year of the horse, it carries no meaning for me. I guess it has something to do with their comparable human scale and the incredible relationship we've built with them - and the fact that during the process of admiring more and more work by fabulous individuals, more horses seemingly materialise and gallop off the page!!

And here... horses tied, playing with lines... legs engaged and restricted. It's an interesting link that has emerged from the work of these three brilliant artists. Despite an obvious love for intricacy and narrative, their style is very different - yet they have all used the Equus figure to depict a variation of a theme. From Saleeh's sweet sweet watery world, to the awkward candour of Camilla's string game friend, to Andrew's astounding war horses in all their glory. Intriguing psychological bindings to delight our senses.

> Saleeh's website, her blog, interview on Miss Onmi Media, video interview re 'breathing underwater' animated project
> Camilla's website, her beautiful book (loved by all and which happily sits amongst my book collection), Studio Violet, Camilla's wares at Third Drawer Down, Book By Its Cover sketchbook series
> Andrew's website, Andrew's wonderful book on his work (which is also on my bookshelf), Fecal Face interview
> Jonathan Levine Gallery - exhibitions re Saleeh and Andrew & other great folk

the collision of clouds

So much rain in ye ol' Melbourne town.

vera moller

Many moons ago I worked in a non commercial gallery and studio complex in Fitzroy, and one of the local studio artists at the time was the beautiful Vera Moller. Before immigrating to Australia in 1986 from Germany, she studied Biology, Microbiology and Theology with the intention of becoming a freelance biological illustrator (such a fabulous background) - which never eventuated. I was always intrigued with her artwork (at the time she was using striped stockings and knitting large striped constructions), but unfortunately I lost touch over time. It's only been more recently that I've rediscovered her online. With the eye and curiosity of a research scientist and an enduring propensity for stripes and spots (especially stripes), she has cultivated a distinct surrealist colony of flora 'specimens' that could easily flourish in the sea or on land. They are quirky and sensuous and rhythmic and incredibly detailed, and I could effortlessly spend days languishing in her magnificent imagined world.

> Vera's work at Sophie Gannon Gallery, Vera's work at Tim Olsen Gallery, 2005 interview

storm palette

If was an incredible evening, the sky rumbling with the threat of a serious storm (still yet to break), the contrast between the ominous dark scene from the front of my apartment with the glowing orange (reminiscent of fire storms) scene from the back of my apartment was quite startling.

friends come out to read

I'm so pleased these little friends have greeted my recent second hand book purchases with such enthusiasm! Besides an obvious natural affinity with the subject matter, they have become captivated with the ageing beauty of the covers and pages within. They agree as a whole (even the birds) that the first book, 'The Life Of Spiders' (1912) is indeed a special find. J.H. Fabre, scribes his research with a poet's prowess, and there is something about the tone of writing in this era that I personally love - and I'm sure they'll agree. The pages smell dusty and woody, and one feels drawn into the drama of an unfolding tale, as though we've been shrunk in size so as not to miss anything in this eight legged world. The second book 'An Australian Bird Book' by J.A. Leach (1923) is in contrast far more literal. Facts accompany colour and b/w plates, preparing us for a day of serious bird watching with binoculars, safari hat and a thermos of tea(!) in hand. Tally Ho!

> Ceramic spider: by Megan Bogonovich - her work is wonderful
> Yowie Birds: Once upon a time, Cadbury chocolate developed a product a bit like Kinder Surprise. I just happened to REALLY like the birds the most.

dingo study

... and the weird ghost image of the odd ink drawing on the other side of the page!

mark manders

Mark Manders has been a fave from way way back when I was completing my honours in sculpture. His ongoing project of over 20 years entitled 'Self-Portrait As A Building', reveals itself in installations of objects and drawings and maps/plans - 'fragments' of imaginary rooms built - fluid narratives abstracted - poetic placements - as an architect of sorts, he is forever rearranging his rooms.

I was in London late August, early Sept 2009, and I was kinda beside myself to find that he was exhibiting with a number of other artists at the Hayward Gallery at Southbank Centre. And lo and behold, one of my most favourite sculptures of all time (pictured above) was on display. I couldn't believe my luck. I'm sure this work heavily influenced my need to tie things together, and I fight not to directly copy this idea. Made in unfired clay, it's so very very beautiful - in my mind, a perfect impression. 'Black Bird, Dead Bird, Current Thought' (cover also pictured) is a second hand catalogue from a 1997 exhibition in Ireland, that I stumbled across ages ago - gotta love those finds!

> mark's website, hayward gallery exhibition, video interview at artforum, artdaily profile, contemporary art daily profile, mousse magazine interview, artist talk

volcano head and general explosions

It's just been that kind of day... so i pulled out this very apt drawing...



but then I found these next to it... which are considerably more calming!

allyson mellberg

Flourishing micro organisms cultivate on the skin, as vegetation and organic formations - moody dreamscapes unravel and entice - resting and compromised figures, forlorn and betrothed in tender sweet relations.

When I visited Allyson's Etsy shop recently, I became completely smitten with her paper cuts. I seem to have a thing for hairless androgynous figures at the moment - I have no idea what that's about(!!) - so it's no surprise that I was drawn to buying the top image. It's just beautiful. In contrast to these, her charismatic drawings/paintings are created with a soft palette made from natural pigments/washes such as walnut, spinach, organic paints from the Kremer series and egg tempura - which seems to very much reflect the lifestyle choices she and her artist husband Jeremey Taylor (they often collaborate) make. All incredibly inspiring.

> Allyson & Jeremy's blog, Allyson's flickr, Allyson's Etsy shop, Cinders Gallery profile page, nice interview on Readymade about painting naturally, interview on Concrete Hermit blog, Juxtapoz mag article, Gallery F.J. France, Kremer Pigments, Third Drawer Down tea towel

birds emerging at b flat

So where DID that profile image of mine come from?!
I stumbled across a fabulous image online from a vintage natural science mag (have unfortunately since misplaced the link), where a man was on his hands and knees in the forest with a bird helmut on, trying to be inconspicuous in the act of studying birds in the wild. Just brilliant! Not sure why these guys are pantless... it was just necessary I guess.