Too Long

Its been too long since my last blog. Time has been rushing passed me again and before I knew it another week was over.

Went on a photo shoot with Julia on Thursday to Port Adelaide. It's one of my favourite places. The building are old and it evokes feelings of a bygone era when life was tough and men were tougher. I once went on a night tour of Port Adelaide and heard about the history and what it was like to live in those times and I have of course romanticised it in my mind even more. Its magical to me for other reasons too. My dad used to take me to the port for Sunday drives and longingly look at the ships that were in port especially the ocean liners. I think he never lost his homesickness for Germany even though he lived in Australia longer. Its that whole believing you belong to a culture that migrants never quite get in their new homes. My favourite building is still standing but not for much longer...redevelopment grr. Its going to be knocked down to build those ugly concrete multi storey apartment blocks. Its fashionable to live in the port now so the yuppies are taking it over and ruining the whole look of the place, just like the foreshore in Glenelg. Showing my age here a bit hehehe. Anyway I got heaps of photos of the old building and I suppose I'll just have to be content with that.

After my usual market trip yesterday I went to a few art shops and bought a few more supplies. I bought half a dozen canvases (one very large one and the others reasonably large) some more gel medium and a few conte crayons. Next to one of the art shops is an antique shop and I bought a couple of small boxes for some assemblage art. So now I have canvases to paint and collage, some board books to alter and some assemblage art to create. Why am I still here typing then? Bye

So Much To Do

My daughter took photos of my work yesterday so I can put better quality images onto my Red Bubble site. http://www.redbubble.com/people/utam Julia is a professional photographer so her camera is so much better than my point and shoot. The better the quality the images the more variety of reproductions can be sold on Red Bubble. Anyway now I have to crop all the photos and enhance the brightness/contrast etc. on photoshop and then put all the new images onto Red Bubble. Still haven't finished a painting that's been sitting on my easel for some time now, have to work on my exhibition invitations, start altering the board books I bought the other day, buy a new canvas for the painting that's swimming around in my head and above all I must do the washing today. Luckily I cooked up a large pot of chicken vegetable soup yesterday so dinner is taken care of. Means I can work right through. Only stopping to eat and watch Sunday Arts on tv this afternoon.
You can see Julia's work on http://www.redbubble.com/people/jewelstorm

Date With Myself

Yesterday I took myself out. Went to the Lion's Club Garage Sale. Haven't been in awhile so I thought I would have a look if I could find any treasures. Walked out empty handed. Then went op shopping and bought myself a very nice scarf. The weather is getting colder and there's nothing like a scarf to compliment your outfit and keep you warm.

It was soon lunchtime so I swung passed the supermarket and bought a crusty wholemeal roll with poppy seeds on top, some roast turkey and a tin of tomato soup. Haven't had tinned tomato soup in years. Took my supplies home and added some milk into the tomato soup as I was heating it. Makes it extra creamy. I watched Golden Compass while I had my leisurely lunch.

After my very big lunch I went out again in search of children's board books. I'm sanding them back and then will use them to do some of my artwork in. Maybe some collages, paintings and photos. I had to buy new ones because all the second hand ones were too well loved with worn edges and creases in their pages. I do really love artist's books and its been on my "to do" list for a long time. I'm finally getting around to it.

In the middle of my design for the invitations for my exhibition, still need to finish off a painting I started over a week ago, want to start on the board books and I have an idea for a new painting swimming around in my head. Looks like a huge creative time coming up.

Pulled back a little from my art work this week. I felt I needed some time off to refill my well and feel all the better for it.

Sisters

I received a chain letter by email recently and I usually ignore them. However this one was so nice I thought I would share it with all of you. I cut the "chain" part of it.

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter 'Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. 'They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them.''Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women... your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. 'You'll need other women. Women always do. 'What a funny piece of advice!' the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!' But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life. After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned, this says it all: Time passes. Life happens. Distance separates. Children grow up. Jobs come and go. Love waxes and wanes. Men don't do what they're supposed to do. Hearts break. Parents die. Colleagues forget favours. Careers end. BUT.........Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach. When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening onyour behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end. Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out. Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life! The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Lady Morgaine

Balancing Act

This morning, while thinking of the day ahead, I realised that I'm balancing the things in my life a whole lot better. I used to get all enthusiastic about my art and then do nothing but art and then I would get enthusiastic about exercise and concentrate on nothing but eating correctly and going to gym. Everything else used to slide and fall by the way side and only the thing I was focusing on would matter. Now finally I've seen the light. I'm managing to balance these things a whole lot better so they all fit into my life. Its a much calmer existence and I'm not feeling guilty about letting things slide. Now all I have to do is fit the house work into that equation and all will be right in my little corner of the world. Oh bother, wish I had a cleaning lady.

Busy Doing Nothing

Busy weekend not doing anything. Its funny how that happens. The whole weekend just goes and it feels like you were busy but nothing really got accomplished.

Julia and I joined a digital photography meetup group. We meet once a month and discuss the basics which is probably too basic for Julia seeing she majored in photography at uni. At the moment we are exploring how to use our camera on manual and choosing the settings to achieve the type of image we want rather than just pointing and shooting and hoping for the best. I really enjoyed our first meeting last Wednesday night. Its good to get out and do some different things. My camera isn't a real good one. Nowhere near professional standard but its not bad for a point and shoot. Its good enough for my needs now. In the future I might want to upgrade but I'll cross that bridge when and if I come to it.

Started working on the invitation for my exhibition opening in August. Its just a bit of playing around at the moment because I'm not really sure what I want or how I want it to look. Its hard trying to represent yourself in a small invitation. The exhibition is called Listen With Your Eyes so maybe I'll use an image of eyes ???? Who knows at this stage. I'm just playing around, enjoying the process and we'll see what happens. If all else fails I can always use an image of one of my works. Still have plenty of time so I'm not in a panic.

Apart from that I have made it a rule to work on my art every day. If the other things in my life don't allow for big blocks of time spent in my art corner I just do a little everyday. Just a little done daily adds up to quite a lot.

Day at Callington

Hartley Methodist Church 1865-1895

Oops forgot which church this is but I just loved the window and pink rendered wall.


This old wagon is at the entrance of a coffee shop.



Old door and window in an old Cornish Miner's cottage. Its being done up yay!


Old bank with sign still in the window.



I love the old Cornish Miner's cottages.



Wonder if this used to be a shop.



1939 Chevy being lovingly brought back to working condition.

The rear of the Chevy

Look at the texture of the paint.

And the colours.

Would love to achieve this look on my artwork.

This well loved ute is now used to store the firewood.

If you want to know more about Callington go to http://www.postcards.sa.com.au/features/callington.html

Busy Day

I'm feeling a lot better thank goodness. I hate being sick. It feels like a waste of time even though its a good opportunity to rest.

I'm off to my sister's today. She's going to help me to design my exhibition invitations on publisher. I've not used publisher before and I'm eager to learn. I always find it easier if someone shows me how and then I go and try it on my own. Computer stuff doesn't come naturally to me. Didn't grow up with them and so it takes awhile to sink in. Quite happy with my progress though. I have my own blog running, I'm in a group blog The Artist's Way Journey and I've recently put my work onto RedBubble which is an online art gallery and community. http://www.redbubble.com/people/utam I haven't made any of my work for sale as I'm just not up to that stage yet.

Better stop rambling and be on my way.
p.s. Will post pics of Callington trip soon.

Sick

I'm sick and feeling sorry for myself and its market day, groan. Its only a head cold, runny nose, sore throat and headache. I rarely get sick so I shouldn't complain. Will post some pics from my trip to Callington when I feel better.

My Friend is in Town

My friend Kris is in town. Don't see her often so its good to catch up. She's in town for the whole week and tomorrow we are going to visit Kris' sister who lives near Callington. The main reason for the visit is to take photos. Kris' sister has an old 1939 Chevvy with broken headlights and smashed rear window. They will make great images for my collages.
Callington is a really old town in Australian standards and some of the old cottages have lovely old doors with peeling paint. Of course my camera will be running hot and I'll have some nice new images to post on my blog as well.

And the title is ...

Finally came up with a title for piece below "The Harvest".

The Pears With No Name

This work is so new it hasn't even got a title yet. I usually know what it's called long before its finished but with this piece nothing came to mind. Its quite a large canvas and I thoroughly enjoyed the process. There was a stressful moment when I couldn't go on with it for fear of ruining it but I got over that thank goodness. No collage on this piece whatsoever. I've even allowed some canvas to show through which was very difficult for my German heart to allow.

*no title as yet*

acrylic paint and conte on canvas

91 x91cm (36"x36")

Friday is for Shopping

Another week has gone by and its Friday again. That means market day and time to buy the provisions for the nest week. The market always brings out the hunter gatherer instincts in me. Very grounding and good for the soul I reckon.

Foggy Morning

Since my son, Troy has come back to roost with us I have been driving him to work in the morning. This morning the hills were covered in fog with just a hazy outline showing where they are and the occasional light twinkling through. I love the fog. Its like a protective layer and makes me feel safe like a chick under its mother's wing. Drove home the back way. I wanted to enjoy the falling autumn leaves, grey skies and wet shiny footpaths without all the traffic. It rained all the way. I do love summer and the outdoor lifestyle that goes with it but when the seasons change its such a relief. Will be wanting summer back before too long. I will get sick of the wet but at the moment I'm enjoying every minute of it.

Not much art work was accomplished yesterday. A lot of fiddling and indecision without much productivity. I really like the effect I've achieved and its taken me so long to get it that now I don't want to ruin it. Oh yes I can hear the words "have faith in your abilities" and "just enjoy the process" but they're not really helping. I did do some drawing onto the surface yesterday and have a hint of some pears coming through. I know I want to stamp some text on too but not sure which word or words to use. Nourish? Nurture? Impression? Nah, none of them are right. Not sure if I want any collage on the surface. I do want to draw more and define some of marks made by the paint but which ones. This is worse than white canvas syndrome hehehe. Today I will push forward on it. No more pussy footing around. I'm just going to do it!