f l o c k e d ....

Typical....
As i start to get my head around this week, I'm treading through the inspirations, thoughts and events that happened last week. There were many inspiring moments and creative energies that I am taking with me into this week as I start to focus on all my new projects...
On the weekend I caught the brilliant Australian movie, The Waiting City, which I LOVED!! The colours and textures of India are always great source of wonder and delight to me; so seeing this movie on the big screen let the senses go wild... and I was a pig in mud!

The second event would have to be my trip out to Cockatoo Island and the many images I took out there last Monday... Many of which you have seen in the last few posts! One recurring feature that I was drawn too was the wallpapers on the walls of some of the old cottages on the hill...I had not seen them on my last trip out there, so I was so excited to find so many great examples of 19th and 20th c. prints.

This was a beautiful room...which was originally a room for one of the daughters of a guard on the island way back when.... The pink was so intense and a little garish... But you know me... too much colour is barely enough!

Clash!

This was in a small cottage where the work of New Zealand artist Yvonne Todd was displayed for the Biennale... Yvonne exhibited photographs right on top of all these prints, and again it was a little hard to see for the trees... I was drawn to the house and not the artwork! Oh dear...

Love it!

The green strip at the end of the roll is perfect!

It is truly like a op art mural on the wall...

I loved this...

It's the pattern of the wallpaper being stripped off the walls...

Looks like a tropical plant motif!?

Well to me anyway...

After all of this I had to explore the suppliers to see what I could buy in the way of pattern...

And by a stoke of luck these amazing flocked papers were on sale at Oxford art supplies on Victoria Avenue in Chatswood! So I had to make a sneaky purchase...

They are beautiful... are they not?

Have NO idea what I will use them for but ill keep you posted...

getting serious.

Anyone else noticing how fast this week is truckin??? Absolute madness...

I know that Ive been busier than usual by picking up some casual shifts at Sabbia Gallery and then trying to squeeze in studio time, but this is ridiculous... with a capital R! I have to admit, I have enjoyed my time at Sabbia, working with some old work colleagues, surrounded by beautiful works of glass and ceramic! That I cannot fault... It's just that it has left me alittle short on energy - physically and mentally - which I know you all can understand!! These days we all seem to be pushing the boat out just alittle too far...

So I'm happy with the wee contributions I've done to move along my work at Primrose. A couple of days ago I made it into Parkers Art Supplies, in preparation for the commencement of some large canvas works, which was exciting. Well, it was exciting to add to my collection of oil paints but my wallet wasn't too thrilled! {ahh... it'll get over it}

But a trip to Parkers in the Rocks IS like going to Mecca for artists... Its filled from top to toe with the most delicious art supplies from all over the world,and there is just no other place to go in Sydney for such a range of products. And advice! All the staff are all practicing artists, so they really do give great help....

Was a lovely hour or so, I must say....

Then I completed another mid size drawing and felt like it was time to get moving and hit the big time...! Large scale paintings!!!

Scary but exciting all at the same time...

There is no easy way to start a canvas that is larger than you! You just have to take a deep breath and go for it. No fear. Star slowly and feel your way through the white space that is staring back at you, safe in the knowledge that with these types of works you an keep refining and reworking until you are happy with it.
{did I sound convincing!!}

So that's where you will find me over the next few months.

Knee deep in oil paint trying not to drown!

But ill definitely have the music playing loudly and at the moment its all about jazz...

I hope you have some theme music for your week??

x

dummy...

Another day another adventure...

Two days in a row!

Thankfully I still had my camera in my bag though, as this one was a surprise!

This morning I had to meet up with residency administration and my studio buddy Angela for a quick debrief as we had all kept missing each other over the Chrissy/new year period.

And it was good catch up with everyone, but funnily enough, it soon turned into a road trip for art supplies with Angela as we jumped in the car and went to Reverse Garbage to have a sticky beak!

Now...

I didn't go mad this time; it was too hot inside the building.

I rustled up some wood to paint on but then I found this display of mangled dummies!

And I just had to shoot them...

Why? I have no idea!

Don't they look sad?

Very post-Christmas!

S t u f f. . . . . . .

Every once in a while you have that feeling... for a change of scene, of inspiration, of routine.... And that day came for me yesterday....

For after I had woken up + had breakfast I knew immediately that I wanted to go to Marrickville, and more specifically, Reverse Garbage.

Reverse Garbage is an old haunt of mine. Mainly from my uni days when I would go out to this place of wonder and trawl through stuff in order to collect materials for art projects. I always used to have fun - mainly because I am a bonafide hoarder! But also because I love rummaging, sorting, searching... through different materials, textures, objects. It is a place to let the imagination run wild and let the inner child come out and play....

So yesterday was alittle like strolling down memory lane and seeing what the place was like after my years of absence. And all I can say is...nothing has changed! There is stuff and more stuff...odds and ends from factories, off cuts from industrial sites, odds and ends from promotions that never took off + old bits of furniture from schools and homes that have long since left this city...

And what did I find to tempt me?
In the end all that came home with me were old clothing patterns, a few yellow envelopes and a couple of beautiful bits of plywood for painting... But more interestingly, while I was out there, I found myself snapping rather than rummaging! I couldn't stop taking photos...From all the colours, to the signs + chairs lined up, it had to be captured!


SO.....
I hope you'll indulge me and enjoy this little photo essay of the magnificent Reverse Garbage.

My favourite shot... love all the rolls of pink elastic!

Beautiful soft pinks + greys....

Wood baby!!

Fun....

Today's story in colour....

As it turns from blue to grey outside I thought id just share a few things with you that I have picked up today...

Which all begin withthe letter C....
{What a surpise I hear you say!}

We start with this beautiful image of the Gulabi Gang ( pink army) of freedom fighters from the village of Banda in Northern India...

.....then go through to have a look at the foyer flags in the MCA, signalling the start of the Spring season of Australian-themed exhibitions ...which ill talk about soon....

....then we go on to purchase amazing new art materials and a pot of pure pigment from one of my favourite artstores Parker's Art Supplies in The Rocks....

.......and then to finish....

....we stop off in the studio and rediscover of some tiny sketches !

They are all about energy, movement, the blurring and then re-focusing of the line..... and of course.... colour!!

Enjoy the afternoon...wherever you may be.... and I hope there is alittle colour!