I think my camera got freaked out by these sketches, poor thing. Hence the fuzzy shot.

 

Heres my baby! and it has this magnet flap, and a blue ribbon inside and an extra pocket inside for any loose sheets......
I need to get out more..lol

back to my first love....

 

After a cold winter hiatus, I spent a magical weekend in the sun (yes, it really was magical) with a beautiful notebook I recieved as a xmas present from a dear friend. With this I became unexpectedly inspired by my first love: poetry.
I hadn't written in soo long, that I was beginning to think it was only ever meant to be a brief creative fling. But with a little bedtime poetry reading as well as my cycles of drawing and not drawing, i suddenly found I couldnt stop writing!
Being motivated and inspired really does miracles for me. I become a very happy little bunny.By the way, this was the magical book by Ruth Padel. Shes a wonderful critic and poet herself. A useful book for those who are poetry virgins or like me, need abit of encouragement to get back to writing again. Having a gorgeous notebook does wonders too.

First sketch of 2008

 

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I have to get out of this artistic wasteland and do something in my little studio NOW! Art can be inspired by life but it can also be put to one side by it too. The latter heavily applies to me. Teaching, and saving money bY having lunch at home rather than going out, organising my finances has all left me feeling a little out of sync with my creative efforts.
I need to paint! will squeeze in a visit to my local artshop and get a lovely blank canvas. That should get me going again.
In the meantime i thought i would share the insanely creative antics of Suziblu. Shes an artist who posts videoblogs on youtube of all her artjournals. Shes a little kooky but i couldnt help admiring her for her self confidence and commitment towards creating things.

I loved reading this little insight into how people experience museums and galleries. People watching instead of whats on the walls doesnt seem to be such a terrible thing after all. I think people have a fascination towards themselves and others, and museums are spaces designed purely for this: to look. Its funny how people often use their mobiles to take photos of art work, and how quickly people move on to the next piece without really looking. But at the same time, looking at ourselves through others never fails to fascinate us.Even I do it, bus stops, cafes, libraries. Especially since Its still difficult for me to understand alot of Portuguese. Instead, I find that i remember gestures people makes towards each other and Im always attentive towards the way people react when I try to speak Portuguese. If they're not smiling then its not a good sign!

Books and art. Fascinating work by Tom Phillips. Takes illustration and text to a completely new level. Love it. Oh and if you havent noticed already, I have finally figured out the linking thing. Hurrah!

Busy doing everything but painting....

I haven't been particularly inspired recently. My oil paints and brushes look very sad and lonely these days. I'm still keen on exploring the circus/blokes wearing lipstick theme, not sure why but I feel very drawn towards the art of masquerade.
In the meantime, heres a moment of visual inspiration by Tacita Dean. The idea and execution drew me in completely. Still no clue about this linking business but will get on to it when I can....Go to www.moma.org to find out more about her.

 

These cold streets...

 

Ive stared at this piece for far too long now. Never thought roof tiles could look so beautiful. The magic of Scheille.

 

 

Happy New Year

Suffering from a case of artists block, blogstipated would be the best way to describe it. Trying to finish a piece as we speak. Will post it when I've convinced myself that its slightly more than a big pile of artistic poo. But I shall persevere in my little felt tip absurdities on paper....

 

 

 

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A sketch I started this morning with very very cold hands. Inspired by the french artist Bernard Buffet.

Abstinence (a poem I wrote about a year ago)

Last night when we sat and talked
Something watched us with a mischievous plan.

It sat waiting in the corners of your smile,
Camped out deep in the crevice of collar bone,
Covered in a delicate sheet of your skin.

It slipped into the darkness of our conversation,
Crawled through the tunnels between momentary glances,
Shrouded in a mist of unspoken feeling.

Even though you didn’t sense it I did,
It began tying up my family of thoughts into knots
Before plying them with this inebriated idea
Of mulled skin against skin.

And with the trajectory of your heart mapped out
I became unsteady
With its toxicity

I nearly gave in.

Last night I drank too much of it
And my tongue is still red with warm thoughts.
But hanging over me now
Is the abstinence from being held close.

A dull ache I can’t bear feeling this morning.

Revisiting an old friend

 

This has been a project of mine since August and Ive 'finished' it a million times. I decided to finish it once and for all. Antonio didnt want me to touch it because he liked it before but i think theres nothing more frustrating than seeing so many flaws that noone else can really see. I like it now, kinda like a medieval city on LSD..lol
p.s sorry for the wonky pic. I was not trying to be arty!

Finished Portraits

 

 

Harlequim seated in a cafe

An early self portrait by Pablo Picasso. When we spend so much time wearing all sorts of social masks, its a relief to sit down and have only your thoughts to keep you company. Despite never quite knowing how to leave those masks behind.

Charcoal Studies

 

Its my first time sketching nudes so be nice!. I bought a collection of nude photographs by Taschen. Its a fascinating insight on what was considered artistic or offensive from the mid nineteenth century to the late thirties. I used the photographs as a guiding tool for my sketches (plus it doesnt get the neighbours gossiping) Charcoal is so versatile and easy to use despite all the dust. I always avoided it because I didnt think it worked well for adding details and clean lines. But there are so many charcoal pencils to choose from and a variety of simple techniques, that you can create much more than simply a big dusty black mess.
I did these sketches within about 45 minutes. They arent perfect by all means, but I wanted to post them to declare my newfound friendship for the humble charcoal :)

 

 

 

My desk/mess

 

Fdlm Priority Box project

 

i recieved a package containing peace yesterday :) Its an interesting idea created by the artist Franck De las Mercedes. He creates the boxes himself painting them and filling them with a variety of things such as peace, love and hope. All you need to do is go to his website www.fdlmstudio.com where you can find out about this great project as well as his great artwork.
p.s I have no clue on all this linking business and clicking on names for another page blah blah blah... will get round to figuring it out oneday...
In the meantime..Peace to all you people out there reading my blog. (even though its only about 12 not including my boyfriend..lol)

Amrita Sher Gil

I wish I had seen the exhibition at the Tate of the Indian artist Amrita Sher Gil. Her work is simply beautiful and as a British born South Asian, Im drawn to her rich cultural identity and its effect on her work. Take a look at past exhibitions on the Tate Modern website for a chance to see some of her paintings.

 

The Electric Artist

Self Portrait

I enjoyed getting my hands dirty for this one. Inspired by Willem De Kooning