Just got back from our weekend away to London for our anniversary. It was great to have a splurge. The hotel was lovely, as was the restaurant at the hotel where we ate in the evening. I won't go into how costly it was, but put it this way, i had a champagne cocktail that didn't give much change from a tenner......
Two more things completed from the "Things to do before we die" book...... thats The London Eye and The Tate Modern ticked off!
Sunday, 25 February 2007
Tuesday, 20 February 2007
Letter writing revolution.....
Another thing that has struck me whilst clearing out the box of stuff is how much the art of letter writing is slipping away from us.... I have literally HUNDREDS of old letters and postcards that i have kept over the years from friends and family. It felt lovely looking through some of them, and I'm looking forward to a quiet Sunday afternoon with nothing to do where i can sit down with a coffee and immerse myself in them properly.
I know we all had more time when we were younger to write, but its sad that I don't get letters too often now. There is nothing like the excitiment of receiving a letter throught the post rather than just a pile of bills. I know emails are easier, but there is nothing quite like a letter. I'm going to make it my mission to send out as many letters and postcards to people i love this year! Can I start a "snail mail" revolution??
I know we all had more time when we were younger to write, but its sad that I don't get letters too often now. There is nothing like the excitiment of receiving a letter throught the post rather than just a pile of bills. I know emails are easier, but there is nothing quite like a letter. I'm going to make it my mission to send out as many letters and postcards to people i love this year! Can I start a "snail mail" revolution??
Monday, 19 February 2007
Reminiscence (or "clearing your clutter pt 2)
Today I have been over at Mums sorting out a big box of my stuff which has been stored at hers since she moved in. (All a part of my recent "life sorting" kick)
I have to say, I'm really glad i used to be a horder, because as well as a massive bunch of junk, I have also kept all the important stuff! SO! Today, I have mostly been......
*Feeling all nostalgic after sorting through a load of my beautiful dresses I just couldn't bear to part with..... and also feeling a little depressed at just how TINY some of them are. Was i ever a dress size 8 - 10????
*Feeling all fond of my 13/14 year old self as I read through my old diary..... ah! The pain of being a teenager!
*Loving looking at pictures of myself as a young 'un!
*Feeling relief and pure joy that i did not throw out a heap of nostalgia clothes that i thought i had junked! Highlights included..... my green shiney college shirt, my kiwi trousers, my MAYC hat and my tartan skirt (dammit! I want to wear it and its a size 12!!!)
*Looking at my old GCSE art coursework and realising that I dont draw enough. I am a bit scared of drawing as I have this fear that I am not very good at it, but looking back at my old work, its pretty darned good! Guess i had less fear factor then!
Memories!
I have to say, I'm really glad i used to be a horder, because as well as a massive bunch of junk, I have also kept all the important stuff! SO! Today, I have mostly been......
*Feeling all nostalgic after sorting through a load of my beautiful dresses I just couldn't bear to part with..... and also feeling a little depressed at just how TINY some of them are. Was i ever a dress size 8 - 10????
*Feeling all fond of my 13/14 year old self as I read through my old diary..... ah! The pain of being a teenager!
*Loving looking at pictures of myself as a young 'un!
*Feeling relief and pure joy that i did not throw out a heap of nostalgia clothes that i thought i had junked! Highlights included..... my green shiney college shirt, my kiwi trousers, my MAYC hat and my tartan skirt (dammit! I want to wear it and its a size 12!!!)
*Looking at my old GCSE art coursework and realising that I dont draw enough. I am a bit scared of drawing as I have this fear that I am not very good at it, but looking back at my old work, its pretty darned good! Guess i had less fear factor then!
Memories!
Saturday, 17 February 2007
Meanderings.....
Got sidetracked again thinking about blasts from the past, things that need exploring, things that make me smile and that i need more of in my life. So in no particular order, here are some people and things that are on my mind, and in no particular order..... Welcome to my world.....
Ivor Cutler, LFO, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Deep Forest, Charlie Chuck, Spaced,
Mark Heap, The Mighty Boosh,
Ivor Cutler, LFO, The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, Deep Forest, Charlie Chuck, Spaced,
Mark Heap, The Mighty Boosh,
Things to do when feeling bored....
1. Search for interesting things on YouTube.......
2. Consider all the arty things i could and should be doing
3. Look on Youtube some more.......
4. Post to Blog
5. Laugh...... a lot
6. Try and do arty things
Ok, so I'm having some trouble getting motivated today. Have nothing to do, no lists (wow!) and have an evening of freedom stretching out ahead of me! Dave is out for Matts Stag do tonight, so I'm all on my own. Looking forward to it, but am trying to make sure i don't fritter my time away by surfing the net, reading other peoples blogs (not a waste of time, but time consuming nevertheless!) and generally faffing! Im planning on a long bath, and then am going to sit down in my big armchair with a bunch of creative things and see what happens. Also, planning on trying to get a few paintings finished. SO..... enough of this procrastination, i will post something more when i have something of substance to actually put here!
Friday, 9 February 2007
Words of encouragement
I said i would write about any of the activities i had done from the "Living Out Loud" book. Well, this afternoon, i have done my first!
Activity - Words of encouragement (from "Living Out Loud" by Keri Smith)
One of my friends is an artist whose ideas usually inspire me to jump out of my chair and create. One of his ideas is putting speech bubbles on photos of famous people or of people he admires. The bubbles are filled with good tidings and words of encouragement. One day i ran home to try this technique, and it works! Its one of my favourite things to do and it always makes me giggle. Plus, its nice to hear positive feedback from people whom you most admire. Fill your wall! -:Keri Smith:-
Here is my first!
I carried a watermelon??
Dirty Dancing is 20 years old and that makes me feel rather old too!! I remember being seen as really cool by my friends, because on my 13th birthday, my Mum let us watch it at my party, and it was a 15 certificate! Instant street cred! I loved it then, i love it now. Yes, its cheesy. Yes, its a bit naff! And yes! I probably did fancy Patrick Swayze because of it, despite his terrible 80's hair!! But it will always remain up there as one of my all time favourite films
. Mind you, "Footloose" is also up there too......
. Mind you, "Footloose" is also up there too......
Basic Grey
Basic Grey....... as Dave said when I was looking at buying some, "Why do you want to buy grey paper?"
Probably the most rubbish name for perhaps the most sublime collection of scrapbooking papers in the world! Introduced to me by Laura. (who it has to be said is introducing me to much of the world of scrapbooking!) And I've just bought some! Hurrah! This isn't the most exciting post in the world, but I'm excited that these beautiful papers are winging their patterned loveliness my way as we speak! So..... perhaps my scrapbooking will then start in earnest? It has to be said that things are moving a bit in my creative world. Paintings that have been hanging around forever are starting to get finished. It will be fab to have them all done, then i can move on and start a whole new set of paintings, and also have more time to explore and experiment with scrapping. Big hurrah to that!
Probably the most rubbish name for perhaps the most sublime collection of scrapbooking papers in the world! Introduced to me by Laura. (who it has to be said is introducing me to much of the world of scrapbooking!) And I've just bought some! Hurrah! This isn't the most exciting post in the world, but I'm excited that these beautiful papers are winging their patterned loveliness my way as we speak! So..... perhaps my scrapbooking will then start in earnest? It has to be said that things are moving a bit in my creative world. Paintings that have been hanging around forever are starting to get finished. It will be fab to have them all done, then i can move on and start a whole new set of paintings, and also have more time to explore and experiment with scrapping. Big hurrah to that!
Monday, 5 February 2007
Clearing your clutter
Well..... not really in the artroom!
However! It is finally tidy, organised and ready for me to paint in! Hurrah!! I know that i have a rubbish job of finishing all my canvasses, but once that is done, I can begin on a brand new body of work. Also, I might be able to fit in a little scrapbooking, reading and journalling! FINALLY! Its feels quite exciting!
However! It is finally tidy, organised and ready for me to paint in! Hurrah!! I know that i have a rubbish job of finishing all my canvasses, but once that is done, I can begin on a brand new body of work. Also, I might be able to fit in a little scrapbooking, reading and journalling! FINALLY! Its feels quite exciting!
Thursday, 1 February 2007
Making a mess
There is something very liberating about making a mess when creating artwork. Anyone who has seen the inside of my studio knows that I am unable to be careful when I am painting, and my paint splattered carpet is testimony to that!
I was up to my arms in mod roc today, and ended up getting my trousers caked in dried plaser of paris, but this to me is part of the process. Whats the point in being precious about what you are wearing or the way you look while you are painting or creating? Thats not to say that all my clothes are covered in paint and materials, but its good to have a certain few clothes set aside purely for getting messy in. I LOVE walking aroung covered in paint. It singles me out as an artist, which in turn gives me a great sense of identiy. I know i am getting off topic a bit here, but i strugled with my identity as an artist for a long time. It felt fraudulent to call myself an artist when i never really felt like one. Now i have come to see tht it is one of the biggest things that defines me and what i want from my life........ its not necessarily claiming i am talented or any good (i think i will always struggle with that!) but its about recognising its importance in giving me me sense of self.
Anyway..... Im in danger of this turning into a pretentious ramble, so back on topic. I highly recommend getting messy! Create! Throw paint around! Set aside some comfy clothes that you don't mind trashing........ and then trash them! Trust me...... it feels good......
I was up to my arms in mod roc today, and ended up getting my trousers caked in dried plaser of paris, but this to me is part of the process. Whats the point in being precious about what you are wearing or the way you look while you are painting or creating? Thats not to say that all my clothes are covered in paint and materials, but its good to have a certain few clothes set aside purely for getting messy in. I LOVE walking aroung covered in paint. It singles me out as an artist, which in turn gives me a great sense of identiy. I know i am getting off topic a bit here, but i strugled with my identity as an artist for a long time. It felt fraudulent to call myself an artist when i never really felt like one. Now i have come to see tht it is one of the biggest things that defines me and what i want from my life........ its not necessarily claiming i am talented or any good (i think i will always struggle with that!) but its about recognising its importance in giving me me sense of self.
Anyway..... Im in danger of this turning into a pretentious ramble, so back on topic. I highly recommend getting messy! Create! Throw paint around! Set aside some comfy clothes that you don't mind trashing........ and then trash them! Trust me...... it feels good......
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