Quick peek

Finally, here's 3 or 4 images of sections of the last of the big drawings for 'Words emerge like birds'. Too big for a single shot, I had to lay them on the floor to take the photos. Enjoy.

Flick of the Wrist

Back today from a whirlwind visit to Nelson yesterday - and straight into work this morning so I'm feeling a little skitzoid zoid zoid.

Last night was a bit of fun, I was glammed up and shining like a rhinestone from another place (always good for a girls confidence).

Seriously, the work looked great in the gallery... the environment suited it so well.

Framed up in cream deep concave frames, glassless and mountless; there was nothing between the painting and the viewer and people really responded positively to that.
As a body of work, it viewed as an integrated whole, (my fears that it wouldn't were just dumb) with the new works mixing in seamlessly and quieter work supporting the smokey more complex ones. I received copious amounts of feedback for the boldness of the colours, the textures and the bravery of the mark making.

I met some lovely people - and made some new friends (connections connections, life is rich and wonderful) and I forsee a few welcome studio visits from them in the near future.

And happily, I sold some. Well... 5!!

There weren't that many Nelsonians there - but one in 5 bought a painting, so those that were went home happy and enthusuiastic. The local Grenough Chardonnay was delicious... and I left this morning happy as a sand boy.

I'll process the feedback and think on where to next (if anywhere) for this work.

Meantime Peter McLeavey downstairs from me is previewing Bill Hammonds new works tonight - so I'm about to poke my nose in and soak him up - 4 metres of unstretched glorious canvas.

Wow ! I just had to edit this post - Bill Hammond has added caves ! Eagles in caves, flying with brains (or are they hearts?) in their beaks back to their eeyrie. The new images are a nice new turn. I like it. Such a privilege having him downstairs.

Pebble in my Shoe

I've been thinking some more about that last post - specifically the emphasis on 'imperfections' in that quote ... and it pisses me off ! What was I thinking ?!

Reflecting on it today, Misters Bayles and Orland have rather a negative and myopic way of looking at potential growth, don't you think? (I'll leave the post up though, it may work like a pebble in a shoe for me - she says with chagrin)

I think maybe the key is 'unresolved'.
Taped beside me on the wall next to my drawing is a positive list of things I want to explore further. Much better.

Inspiration and dreams

”The seed of your next art work lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece. Such imperfections (or mistakes, if you’re feeling particularly depressed about them today) are your guides - valuable, reliable, objective, non-judgemental guides to matters you need to reconsider or develop further.” - David Bayles and Ted Orland.

This quote is so true. Today I'm thinking of the work I've made to date, what went well, what I've struggled to express, and where I want to take my work next this year.
Not just what I want to say... there are heaps of ideas around that, bubbling up all the time - but how BEST to express them and what path I want to take next.

I'm mentally reviewing the drawings and asking myself whether I've described the ideas well enough; if having two threads to this show 'Beyond Words' is fragmenting or distracting from the ideas I had originally, and if I should make ONE MORE large work and see if I can travel further with it.

I feel vulnerable about this work too - it's close to my heart and so it lays me bare a bit.

I've been thinking a bit about dreams recently - both kinds. Waking dreams, and sleeping dreams. I reread 'Longing' recently and I'm walking about with the mantle of it still over me. Such beautiful language - such brutal truth.
We each have a personal Patagonia - a place we imagine is our 'fresh start' we want to get to - as an artist it's the beginning of each new project.

I went to the Sleep Wake performance on the weekend. It was full of weird and wonderful imagery - dreamscapes made real in a minimalist setting with soft reduced colours for costumes and set, reminiscent of waking in the middle of the night and padding through a quiet house. I loved the images of water projected onto 3 surfaces... the swimmer sinking the depths and the huge heartbeat/white noise 'music' score that went with the frenetic nightmare dance piece.

It was inspiring. Why does dance excite me so much ? Something about muscles and taught sinews in motion, balance and counterbalance, the grace and daring of the dancer. Humans are just so beautiful in motion.

When I identify my next project - I'm sure you'll be the first to know.

minusland plus plus

Friday! Love it.

Not much to add this week, just that I've added two new blogs to the sidebar today - minusland and Mighty Mouse pronounced. Nice. Go check them out. It's nice to have you back Sam, and the other one's Vin's artwork, which is lovely to see all together.

I met some great creative folk today at Capital E, had a good conversation about what fires kids creativity and felt really energised by it. I'm looking forward to being in the studio this weekend.