When I was away, I took the time to seek out some air drying modelling clay and actually allow myself to have an unadulterated play. No sketches, no preconceptions, no over thinking... it was just a matter of grabbing a chunk of goo and seeing what happened (although somehow, I think I may have been channelling 'The Lost Thing', or maybe Benconservato!). I haven't done this for such a long time, and it was so damn enjoyable. They were made quite quickly, detailed with a bit of yellow water colour, and then placed out in public (in corners, on stairs, on shelves). To my delight, they all disappeared. I saw one guy pick one up, check to see no-one was looking, then pop it in his pocket. A perfect outcome!
Most splendid greetings! It has been such a long time, so it’s great to be back. I’ve recently returned from a trip overseas where I presented two Australian animation programs at OFAFA in Krakow, Poland. The festival principally screens Polish animation, but has slowly been branching out to include a number of highlight sessions from different countries/festivals in its programming. Contemporary Polish animation is absolutely flourishing after what has been difficult times, so we’re thrilled to be screening 2-3 focus programs in MIAF this year.
On my way back to Australia, I spent a few days in London. Due to exceptional timing, my colleague from LIAF invited me to attend a Women in Film and TV panel discussion with three uber talented animators/directors currently working in the UK – Suzanne Deakin, Elizabeth Hobbs and Magdalena Osinska (now working at Aardman). The session made me realise how irregularly these type of events are held - straight forward Q&As with creatives simply chatting about their processes, influences, techniques, work spaces, families, beginnings etc. Wonderfully honest and enlightening stuff. It reminded me of being back in uni, and got me thinking about what could be organised here in Melbourne.
A screening of everyone’s work preceded the talks, and it was just so good to be reminded how brilliant they all are. But for me personally, it was the joy of seeing Elizabeth’s outstanding work, one after another on a big screen – a pure treat. Lithe brush strokes and dobs, rich in pigment, bead and ensue – while intelligent writing and stunning narration – most often by Liz herself - draw us deep into her watery world. It’s unfortunately just not possible to appreciate her fluid textures on the internet.
She described her studio - a spare bathroom where she works over the bath itself – the image was so compelling in my mind that it’s made me seriously review the excuses I make regarding the shortcomings of my own work space! Time to make better use of what I have.
> Liz's website, her YouTube page, her fabulous blog: news from the bog
> Suzanne's work profiled on Slinky Pic's website
> Magdalena's work on Vimeo
It's great when at the last moment you can whip up a birthday card for a friend so as not turn up empty handed, but not so great when you write 'happy 40th' when they are only turning 37. Apologies dear Andy! It's just that I've been waiting so loooong for some of my friends to turn 40 - I thought this was her year! Doh!
It's been such a long time since I made coloured paper collage cards, and I have to question why, as this was an absolute joy to create in the 30 minute window of time I had - I get the feeling deadlines are a good thing for me!
Since my fingers seem to be incapable of drawing, I found myself in an impromtu moment (15 minutes before leaving for the Yarra Valley wine region for our anniversary!!) capturing a few circles. It was uber fun, despite terrible lighting. Here's a list of what you're looking at (left to right).
1. My absolute fave, the kitchen door knob. Looks like a paper mache planet!
2. A good ol vegemite lid. For those you unaware of Australia's favourite spread (certainly not mine, can't stand the stuff!), it's a thick dark brown gooey smelly yeasty sludge that folk slather on their toast, on crackers or in sandwiches. Yuk!
3. This type of wafer with cracked pepper or herbs has taken off here in a big way recently. They were always available in good delicatessens, but every single company out there seems to be producing them. Very fabulous with Tasmanian smoked salmon, Maggie Beer pear paste (South Australian) and King Island (a brilliant foodie island between Victoria & Tasmania) blue vein cheese.
4. Just to add a bit of colour. We do all love a container of coloured paper clips!
5. One of three beautifully crafted hand held wooden percussion objects brought home from the Bauhaus Museum in Berlin many years ago. Wish I had remembered to write down who made them. The ball in the middle rotates, and the whole thing is kinda representative of a wooden flying saucer. Nice.
6. Died paper twine left over from Xmas. Perfect for all matter of things.
7. The top of the head of a set of babushka dolls of Russian presidents. Guess who this one might be?!
8. An inside peek of a glass candle holder. I do like a captured bubble in the sun.
9. Jelly! Mango & pears.
10. One of those castor cups to put under your chair/couch to avoid scratching the floor. Never used because they were too big. This one comes complete with a hair.
11. Candle in a glass. Lucky you can't see the charred pantry moths in the bottom. Silly bastards, do they not know that flame & wax = impending horrid death?
12. There's not a lot of these left around the neighbourhood. A metal garbage bin survives the wheely bins. Goes exceptionally well with a Hills Hoist.
13. An Aerogard lid. Yet another Australian iconic product, to help keep the mozzies (mosquitoes) from sucking your blood dry! More than happy to spray myself with this stuff and reduce my life span, than to be bitten by these opportunistic little critters (just like pantry moths) - as they come from far & wide for my blood.
14. M's new plunger juicer - fresh orange juice for brekky.
15. A rather disgusting (now that I look at it this closely) kitchen sink plug. The texture here looks a little like a mushroom - though definitely more rubbery and devoid of flavour.
Where are my manners... (and where has January disappeared to)? Not sure why everything has been so difficult this month, all I've wanted to do is sleep at every possible opportunity. So the best way to get back on track is to share two works I recently bought from two gorgeous Australian artists, who I got to know late last year through ye ol' blogosphere.
Sydney artist Sandra Winkworth held an exhibition of her stunning painted bird studies (inspired by the 19th century collection at the Uni of Sydney’s Macleay Museum) with deconstructed books and discarded ephemera (frayed & aged with hues of brown & hints of mould), in November last year at Hand Held Gallery in Melbourne. Since we had engaged in a number of online exchanges, I was uber excited to hear she'd be here for her opening. I popped in to this great little gallery and shop (located on the upper level of a small city plaza - well done Megan - it's a fabulous project!) and before long found myself faced with the difficult task of choosing a piece - because... welll.. I just had to! Her delicate assemblages enticed the viewer closer with their detail, and once they held your attention in this way, often surprised and always delighted. I was tossing up between a few pieces, when finally, I of course, took home the more kooky one - with spotted birdies flying the loop the loop. I'm so predictable sometimes!
I was also thrilled that Melbourne based artist/designer Sandra Eterovic arrived. I've been a fan of her body of work since it appeared on Etsy and at Craft Victoria. Beautiful hand sewn scarves, painted plywood sculptures, 'make your own man' cubes (hilarious!), knitted delights, handpainted mirrors with pipes & hats & hairdo's & lips & beards, vertical hand clocks (so wonderfully innovative), illustrated paper goods... mmmm. Her quirky, unique, illustrative style carries a surrealist folk aesthetic, with a charismatic eastern European twist - and will often make you chuckle aloud, or smile with recognition. But it was when the newly created tattooed sailor appeared on her blog, that I knew we had to share a life together. So once delectable muffins filled with her mum's pineapple (and ginger?) marmalade were consumed with chats (in amongst a vast collection of splendid objects) about the woes of perfectionism, the chap and I headed home... very, very, very contented... and a couple more muffins in hand. And here we are, rosie cheeked, breathless, gazing at each other across the desk. (I think I need some help coming up with a name for him... suggestions welcome!)
Sandra Eterovic: blog, etsy, flickr, Craft Victoria, The Design Files profile
Sandra Winkworth: blog, Hand Held Gallery
... hello everyone! I think I've finally managed to pull myself out of the Xmas / New Year spiralling vortex! Most of the food has been finally consumed (we had monstrous amounts to get through!!), I'm half way through a novel (a rare event in itself), I'm several kg's heavier (so NOT good), I have a temp job for the next month, and I'm ready for a truly brilliant year.
For Xmas I gave my partner the 'Best Friend Monster Mooks' (pictured above) figurine by Kim of ilovegreyskies - check out her wonderful Etsy shop. I fell in love with her anatomical Mooks ages ago, but when I saw these guys, I just knew where they belonged. The masks are removable, so M has been changing their position just a little every couple of days. If they are representative of us... I'm not sure who is who?!
And finally... thank you all so much for taking the time to follow this blog and leaving such encouraging and heart felt comments. It's been an absolute delight. Wishing you all a sensationally fabulous 2011 (I'm going to start counting how many of the following words I use throughout the next 12 months: fabulous, lovely, sensational, gorgeous, wonderful, brilliant, marvellous, devine, incredible, beautiful!) - and I can't wait to endulge in a year of creations and posts from you all. Happy days.
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...
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.
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.
Saleeh Oh
Camilla Engman
Andrew SchoultzI'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
So much rain in ye ol' Melbourne town.
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.
