Feels like home

My favourite part of a magazine is looking at the homebody pages, where creative people show off their home and the possessions they love within it.  I'm hoping one day I can have a home with pretty things that I love just as much as the ones in the pages of magazines such as Frankie and Russh.  Despite my low budget I do manage to make the lovely four bedroom home I currently occupy look less like a blank canvas and with a few nice op-shop finds, arty posters and childhood treasures.  I will remember my time in Sandy's house very fondly, as it is when I lived alone for the first time, entertained guests and found some independence. 

Open Night

^ Imagine on the walls of the Cairns Regional Gallery

Last night was the opening of the Cairns Regional Gallery Open Exhibition put on by the Cairns Art Society.  The night was alive with the excited hum of the crowd, the bubbling of free champagne and the opinion sharing about the diverse artworks.  With Ashton as my sidekick we took on the night fashionably five minutes late due to a ridiculous lack of parking. We arrived just in time for the exciting part of the night, the announcement of the winning artworks. I was up for Category 4- The Cairns Post award for an abstract artwork of any medium.  I did not win the $2000 prize, however I was highly commended by the Judge Mr Ron McBurnie, the highly regarded artist of FNQ, University lecturer for JCU, avid Vinyl collector and lover of Blonde bimbos.  After the awards were presented I had a chance to have a chat with Ron and he offered me some valuable advice for where he believes I should go with my art.  Ron suggested, pushing the textile stuff even further and more chaotic, sticking with themes and narratives that are important to me and working in larger canvas sizes. 

Overall I was very happy to be recognized amongst artists who are far older and more established and experienced than I am.  I have been feeling a bit embarrassed about my age in the last few months and avoid drawing attention to it, but after doing all this I can see that my age is an asset.  I am starting young and therefore have plenty of years to experiment, find my signature style and build a name for myself, which I feel very grateful for.  So anyway, here's to many more exhibitions in the not so distant future I hope xx.  

^ Ashton and I infront of my artwork

^ You had me at free champagne

^ Cindy Lane (local artist & friend), Ron McBurnie (Judge, Artist and JCU Lecturer) and myself (hopeful artist)

^ Artworks from the Abstract Category

^ Elevator love! Art Gallery Elevator scared face photo #2

"Hands in the air for supergirl"

You're doing it your own way

Walking with your own sway

Smiling into a cloudy day

And I want you to know

How you helped me to grow

I just wanted to say

You're okay

- Kate Miller Heidke

xx I really mean it

Semi-Permanent 2009

The next thing on my artistic agenda is to enter Semi-Permanent, an Australian art initiative that publishes a book every year celebrating young contemporary art and design.  I am hoping to contribute some images that represent my latest move towards, slightly more grown up, slightly sexual, slightly sinister designs utilizing watercolour, paint and textile mediums.  The next works will feature rabbit hats, mink coats and of coarse the female form in all its glory.  Look forward to sharing them with you xx.

Artists of the North

On Friday Night I attended the Artists of the North exhibition displayed at The Tanks, where two of my artworks are on display.  I have to say the standard of artwork from artists in North Queensland is very high.  I noticed the subject matter is very much inspired by the environment and wildlife around the Cairns area.  My own work, I feel is a bit removed from the 'Tropical North Queensland' style, however I do feel very inspired by the intensity of colour within the area.  I am really starting to find peace in the concept of becoming an artist as my career path. I was always worried that there wouldn't be a future in art for me but the more I immerse myself in the art world, the more I find that the art world in Australia is alive and thriving, and profitable even!

Right about now

So party people, it is all happening for me right now, applying for uni, finding a place to live in Brisvegas, having my artwork in the Cairns Regional Gallery, lovely people in my actually existing social life and a new home with a pool. What more could I ask for?  Its scary knowing that my biggest life decisions are before me right now, but with a little help from my friends and my ever growing independence I should get through it all. Cheers to the future xx.

Regina

So good news folks.  "Imagine" has been selected for the exhibition by the Cairns Art Society being displayed at the Cairns Regional Gallery.  This means I will lose my artwork being displayed in an art gallery virginity.  Exhibition opens on Friday night the 31st of October and finishes 7th of December 2008.  What a lovely way to end the year hey!  Hope to see you there xx.

Just my imagination

So I have been working non stop on the artwork you see above, it is my submission for the open Cairns Regional Gallery exhibition, which I shall submit tomorrow.  I'm not really sure where it came from, I haven't really done anything like it before, but in hindsight it makes a lot of sense, it is a way for me to mix my love of crochet with portraiture painting/drawing.  The concept was inspired by the 'drunken monkey' as Buddhists use as a metaphor for the mind.  Hundreds of thoughts enter my mind within a minute I feel sometimes, and it probably isn't that good for me.  Having said that, as I often think about, often the thought of something is the most exciting part, anticipating a great event.  This is where this girl is at, it is her aura if you like.  Wish me luck in getting this piece picked xx. 

Things that make me happy

• Looking at photos of my childhood
• Receiving lovely letters/text messages in my mail box
• Looking at pictures that remind me of a time and a place
• Redecorating my room
• Pretty red things
• A lovely new dress
• Concerts at the Tanks
• Lunch at the Lilipad Cafe
• Sweet dates
• A warm cup of vanilla tea
• A long chat with Ash and the funny things that she says like "Chay" & "true dat!" in context of coarse
• The sun
• A friendly black cat
• Socks on my feet (don't ask)
• Listening to music with sentiment
• Pretty vintage finds
• My envelope necklace from Melbourne
• Late night cuddles
• Campfires with marshmellows

Hot Wax

I just thought I would share my latest artwork from my painting class.  It is executed in encaustic style (pigments with hot wax), which is a medium I have never worked with before.  At first it looked very silly with the skin looking more like a mud mask, and so I scraped off my first layer of wax and created a motley mess of coloured wax. From here I carved lines into it of my original composition - a portrait of Selma Blair (she'd be horrified!) and finally rubbed some oil colours onto the then dry wax to make the composition more obvious.  Its funny because I swore I would never try this medium again and that I hated it, but I recieved so many compliments about it that my opinion is starting to sway about it. Maybe with more control over my colour choices and more interesting composition this medium could really work for me! Hey its just a thought xx.

One Two Three Four

... tell me that you love me more xx. 

Challenges of the Unknown

So what happens next? I have to start again, and truthfully I probably should have months ago now.  I have gotten too comfortable and I haven't been progressing in my work.  Just as some wonderful things have been happening for me- the markets and new persons in my life,  I have a setback.  Well isn't this familiar?  To be honest it is both liberating and scary, but hey it is just a page in my story.  Almost ready to turn a new chapter, and maybe even start a whole new book in the not so distant future xx.

Carnival on Collins

Down to the Market

So today with my partner in crime (Miss Ashton Rigg) at the "top of the morning" otherwise known as 5:30am we packed the car full of colourful handmade goodness made by yours truely, including beanies, cards, wrist cuffs, cuppie-cakes and some of our preloved jewellery, clothing and CD's for the punters, who were lovely enough to show up.  Overall the day was pretty miserable due to unwelcomed rain and impressive competition, but honestly I loved it, and should be marketing much more.  I sold lots of cards, clothes, shoes, jewellery and two artworks, which makes me one very happy girly.  Gotta love those tanks xx. 

Amateur

Learning to photograph things quickly, slowly and cleverly xx. 

Liquid Salvation

Yes indeed myself and my partner in crime and all things good Ash attended timeout.  My highlights would have to be Faker's 'This Heart Attack' where we jumped up and down with a crowd of thousands in perfect unison, best feeling ever! I loved Blue King Brown, some talented folk, especially for the funky beats of 'water'.  Finally, the band I have liked the longest out of those who performed, Kisschasy who I had listened to whilst road tripping down the east coast to Byron Bay performed the ubber fun 'Do-oh's and wo-oh's'.  But mostly we indulged in a healthy amount of people watching- the clothes, the hair, the body language and the uninhibited dancing. 

Umbrella-ella-eh

I liked the studio lights in my Photography class so much that I decided to include them in my compositions xx. 

Oil Glazing

I am pleased to announce that I am learning a new techinique of painting, which I very much like: Oil glazing.  This is the photographic evidence of me at uni learning skills, courtesy of Cindy xx.

New Semester

Yes that is right folks I have started university again for the semester, and am doing far more interesting subjects.  I am studying effective photography, painting techniques and art/pop culture and history.  Here is some happy snaps from my first week. As I learn new things you will have the pleasure of learning them with me along this journey of a new semester, all in hope of getting into a Bachelor of Design at Griffith for 2009.  Cross your fingers and toes kids xx. 

Unfolding Florence

Very soon my dears, I will have some loverly genuine Florence Broadhurst wallpaper to decorate my walls with.  The pieces may only be small but it is the meaning that is important and the inspiration that it will provide.  

We Dared to Believe

"I Guess I was wondering what you... were doing on the weekend, I've got tickets to the show..."

Since you asked, I was attending the concert of one of Australia's best musical acts.  Clare Bowditch is pure class and undeniable talent.  What stood out to me most about her performance however, is her humility.  She was not up there doing her darnedest to shine in the limelight of her fame, but rather to celebrate music, and give as much praise to the musicians she kindly shared the stage with, including the witty 2 out 5 of the Hot Little Hands.  Listening to her now makes me want to cry with joy, it feels so good for the soul.  Oh and myself and Ash got the opportunity to share the stage with her. It felt amazing, to be up there in front of all those people, and simply to share a well known tune with her.  I am proud of myself for getting up there, I could have wished forever that I had but I won't because I did! 

I got two messages from that night:

"From little things big things grow"

This could easily become my mantra for life.  Especially being so young, there is so much growing still to do.  It is like from small beginnings, life will flourish.  

"We are all that we hoped we'd be because this time, we dared to believe"

Without belief in yourself, and conviction backing your choices there is no way you could reach your full potential.