My evil plan...

I've had a clean out / make over of the lounge room this week.  The corner that has the desk / computer and my work desk was starting to look a little crowded and led to a 'workplace' accident when my husband was trying to work his way to the computer.  His yelling / swearing convinced me that the timing was right for the make over and in the process I managed to gain a little more space!  They don't realise it yet but one day this room will be mine, all mine (imagine evil cackling in here and you'll get the general idea).

I am nearly up to date with posting all my previous articles - only one or two more now.  This one I thought would cause some local controversy but no-one commented which either means they agreed with what I said or didn't read it and either way it is all good.  I am speeding ahead with my preparations for the West End Markets (coming up on Saturday 16 April) and I am really, really hoping to manage to get some non-book art done before then just for fun.  Cheers!

The Pilbara Echo, 22 January 2011

Art Supplies in Hedland

When artists and creative types first come to Hedland one of the things they need to know is where can you get art supplies.  Chatting to other artists is one way of getting this information but here is an overview of what I know is out there.

Kmart has a fabulous range of scrapbooking and kids craft supplies.  It also has a limited range of art supplies but sometimes the basics are enough to tide you over or if you are a beginner they are a great place to start.  As with most things Kmart is also pretty cost effective.

Hedland Emporium has a good range of art, craft and scrapbooking supplies.  It might not have everything in stock you want but generally it has something close.  However, it can be on the costly side, so if making your art supply dollar go as far as possible is a priority for you then you might want to shop around some more.

Jacksons Drawing Supplies are based everywhere but Hedland.  Well this is a big exaggeration of course but they have several shops in Perth, one in the more major towns from Geraldton heading south, and recently they have opened shops in Darwin and Alice Springs. 

They used to have a wonderful website where you could see all the stock and prices but they are updating their website so now ordering involves a bit more guess work until the new site is ready.  In the meantime they have lovely staff who are prepared to talk you through orders on the phone or email you answers to any questions and trust me when I say they are very patient. 

One thing that is confusing about Jacksons is that they have a few different price lists – schools for example get catalogues and if you manage to get your hands on one of these and you are busy drooling your way through it just remember that the prices in there are not the prices you will pay if you are an individual ordering over the phone.  Because I am buying on an ongoing basis I have actually set up an account with them and it is all too easy – just a quick email, the stuff comes in the post ASAP and then I just have to remember to pay the bill the following month. 

There are plenty of other art supplies websites out there as well and the one or two I have ordered stuff through have been fine.  An issue with any online shopping is the postage delay which can be extremely frustrating if you are halfway through something and also if what you receive isn’t really what you are after – it always pays to check the return policy before making the purchase.  

Australia Post occasionally have some good art supplies – recently all the TAFE people were stocking up on mini easels that Australia Post were selling at bargain rates.

Finally one of my favourite places, The Courthouse Gallery, doesn’t stock art supplies but it does have a really good range of art books so if you have someone who can’t work out what to get you for a present just hint towards a voucher and you could be buying gorgeous art books (or gorgeous bags, jewellery etc!) before running over to The Silver Star for coffee (another one of my favourite places – are we lucky to live in Hedland or what?).

By the way – if you have another art supply source please let us know.  Hedland has a really great art scene going and if we can promote and extend this in any way that would be brilliant.

How do you play with time?

First of all you speed it up by getting really stuck into printing as in gee a whole week has gone by since I last blogged and why?  Because I haven't come up for air since printing, then scanning, then photoshopping etc. 

Then, you slow it right down by reading a book recommended by a school mum friend called Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.  Absolutely amazing stuff that certainly boggled my mind and, well, I was about to say got me thinking but that is about the opposite of what it got me doing so lets just say it got me. 

So while I continue to contemplate life from a whole different perspective I'll pop an article in here that was published in The Pilbara Echo sometime recently...I don't have the date (so now I've lost time as well!).  This one was on Frida Kahlo - a woman who spins me out in a really, really good way.  Rather than hoping you have a good day I hope you are in a really good space...

The woman behind Casa Azul

Frida Kahlo is an artist who has always fascinated me.  She was born in Mexico at a time of great discontent with massive changes about to happen.  Then  the richer were getting richer and the poor, poorer.  When Frida was a toddler the Mexican Revolution started and this was also the time of World War One and then the Great Depression. 

Prior to these events Mexicans had looked to Europe for artistic, fashion and style direction.  However after the Revolution there was developing pride in Mexico and recognition of the value of traditional art.  Mexican artists moved away from European styles and concentrated on their own back yard – the good and the bad.  Diego Rivera, who Frida later married, was one of the most important artists of this time.

Frida came from an affluent family and had a very traditional catholic upbringing.  At 6 she was diagnosed with polio.  When she was 18 she nearly died in a trolley accident resulting in her being fully confined for 3 months with full recovery taking 2 years.  It was then she started painting to help her parents pay her medical expenses. 

After marrying Diego and Frida went to USA, living and working in different cities.  There they got into trouble with their observations on the divide between rich and poor.  They were also sympathetic to communist ideals and Leon Trotsky and his wife stayed with Frida and Diego after they had returned to Mexico.  At this time Diego had an affair with Frida’s sister and they separated.  They eventually got back together but divorced and then remarried again. 

She became an art teacher and after her health worsened she spent most of her time at home in Casa Azul (the now famous Blue House).  She required further surgery and ended up addicted to alcohol and pain relieving drugs.  She remained proactive about her beliefs and against medical advice attended a political rally in 1954 where she got pneumonia and then died. 

Frida’s art was influenced by Mexican folk art and daily Mexican life.  She also had a great love of animals and they featured heavily in her work.  Whilst others considered Frida’s artwork of the Surreal style she did not.  Frida thought that her artwork reflected her life and it was of a personal nature.  Her paintings, particularly her self portraits, are full of emotion and the physical and emotional pain she experiences in her life is there for all to see. 

After her death it took 20 years for her artwork to become well known and now her work is associated with the women’s movement.  Her life story is an inspirational one - she lived with great pain and overcame many hurdles (physical, emotional, historical etc) and made a success out of painting where not many others had managed to.  Throughout this she also managed to live life with pizzazz and seemed to stay true to what she believed in.  Now, not only does her artwork sell for millions but she has had plays and movies made about her. 

Zoom - just one look and then my heart went boom...

There is nothing like a deadline to get me moving.  The Westend Markets are rapidly approaching and I had decided some time ago that I would have Blue ready to go by then.  So yesterday with a husband at work, a child in school and a child in day care I could get down to the serious business of doing some printing. 

Usually during my 'arty' time I listen to a bit of Nora or a bit of Billie and sometimes even a bit of Carla Bruni.  But recently the previously mentioned husband happened to ask what my favourite song was.  I immediately replied Zoom.  He just kind of looked at me so I was forced to sing some lines from this excellent, brilliant, wonderful 80's song.  I explained that it was popular just when I had been given a clock radio for christmas and I used to lie awake for all hours listening to the Top 40.  I know I am showing my age a bit here but I just remember it so well and I have always loved that song. 

Before I knew it the previously mentioned fabulous husband had looked up and found Zoom on you tube so guess what I got to listen to yesterday the whole time I was printing?  There is such a thing as bliss and it was happening right here in my very own studio space (also known as the kitchen when the husband and kids come home).

TAFE studies 2011...

Howdy - still trying to catch up after an unexpected but totally gorgeous weekend away at 80 Mile Beach.  Every time I go there it just reinforces why I love living in the North West - just a pity we didn't have time to keep driving to Broome!

My TAFE course has recommenced for 2011 and this semester I am studying sculpture.  It reminds me quite a bit of all the pottery I did at high school, and attempted to do after high school, but I am a lot more confident at trying to attempt human forms nowadays.  Not better at it mind you - still have to practice a bit.  But I'm not as worried about what people will think so if I make something that is NQR I understand that the world does not end!

Following is my article that appeared this week. 

The Pilbara Echo, 12 March 2011

Sculpture Class

It is the time of the year to be a little contemplative I think.  The kids have settled back into school, the holidays are over and some of us are revisiting our new year’s resolution to get our mind going, or to find a new hobby or even just to find something to do that gets us out of the house on a regular basis. 

If you are looking for something fun to do that is stress free and doesn’t cost a bomb may I suggest the sculpture unit that is part of the Visual Arts Certificate at Hedland TAFE. 

So many people say to me that they would love to study art but that they aren’t creative or that they couldn’t handle the pressures of study.

To these people I say everybody is creative.  Without fail when you start asking them what they do in their spare time or what interests them it turns out to be something creative.  You don’t have to want to paint a masterpiece to be creative – you just have to find something you enjoy and do it.  It may also be that you haven’t found your creative medium yet and this is why a course through the TAFE can be so brilliant – you get to try so many different things. 

This leads me on to the second thing people say about the pressures of study.  Guess how many assignments I have do for the sculpture unit?  None.  Essays?  None.  Exams?  None.  Let me tell you what I do have to do.

I have to undertake 10 experiments in creating sculptures taking 15 minutes to 1 hour for each experiment.  So far I have used some modelling clay to create a very weird looking little woman, experimented with plaster bandage, undertaken some paper mache, chiseled away at some hebel block and created some paper mache clay I found a recipe for on the internet. 

After this I have to produce three small sculptural pieces related by a common concept.  I have decided to make paper mache clay sculptures of the characters out of my books, another student made little people out of telephone pages. 

Then I have the option of creating a 3D artwork from a sculpture kit or creating a piece of assemblage art which is the option I am going for.  I have decided to steal my kids’ toys and try and make a Transformer out of them.  Of course eventually I will give them back but not until I get to show off my sculpture and the bonus will be less mess in their bedrooms until then.

It is a requirement of the unit that I do some research about sculpture and my artworks but this really is as simple as having a look on the internet, thinking about what I want to do, talking to other artists, students and teachers and being inspired by the world around me.  After this I put down my thoughts and notes on my work into my visual diary and I am ready to go.

So for the bargain price of $162.40 I get out one night a week to have a great time in a stress free environment in the guise of studying sculpture.  No wonder I am thrilled about it. 

Perth Writers Festival...

I was so panicky before I got to Perth about going to the Writers Festival - questioning myself again and again whether it was something I should do, or perhaps more to the point, whether it was somewhere I should be.  My first point of call was the A-Z of Publishing seminar held on Friday 4 March. 

I got there early and wandered around the beautiful grounds of UWA for awhile - I love the sunken garden so much.  I actually thought it was called the secret garden and I kind of prefer this name to tell the truth.  I made sure I knew where everything was and then of course I noticed all the people sitting around waiting to go in.  You know what?  They looked pretty normal.  There were men and woman, young and old people, well dressed, trendy dressed and normally dressed people.  I calmed down after that - I mean I am a woman and I was dressed so really I fitted right in.

After we went inside I watched with amazement as the place filled up - from all reports 200 people were there.  So in Perth there were 200 people who went to this seminar - and really there must have been stacks more that couldn't go for whatever reason.  That is a whole lot of people out there who are writing.  As the seminar kicked off this really became apparent and fast - there are a WHOLE lot of people out there writing.  For whatever reason, not all of them can get from the writing stage to being the proud published author stage that so many of us really want to be. 

I listened and I listened hard as publishers, an agent, a manuscript assessor, an editor and a publicist gave us a whirlwind tour of the facts, figures and reality of the publishing world.  I wrote notes and wondered, and was happy with the fact that there were plenty of audience questions, some of which answered my questions.  I hadn't slept well the night before and I'm more used to chasing kids that sitting in the one spot all day but everything was so interesting that I was disappointed when it was time to leave.

The next day I went to a workshop on writing children's books with Ursula Dubosarsky.  The session was a whole lot more intimate with about 20 people there and a whole lot more confronting because we had to do some writing exercises which I hadn't been expecting.  I was very relieved when Ursula explained that if people wanted to share their writing with the class they were welcome but it wasn't something she could ever do.  She also talked about how creative writing classes worked for lots of people but not everyone.  I was an instant fan - I love people reading what I have written but when I am ready. 

There were lots of questions for Ursula from all of us and some of it was repeating what had been covered the day before but it was incredibly interesting to discuss it with a real life author who was extensively published in the area we were all writing in.  Similar to the day before I found the general conversations between audience members really enlightening - so many of them have so much experience in this area and have been hard at it for years.  Some of the stories they tell of rejection are heart wrenching but there were stories of people who haven't given up hope and who are battling on, and others who have simply found a different way of going about things with great success.

So what did it all mean to me?  I have always loved writing and have long harboured a secret desire to be published but I have never done anything about it until now.  I have also developed such a huge love of printmaking and if someone said to me you have to pick between those two things I don't think I could.  That is why I was so thrilled to be writing, illustrating and making my own books and absolutely so astonished to find out that self-publishing like what I am doing can actually be detrimental to your chances of getting published.  I think at the end of the day if what you have written is good enough and magical enough then someone will want to read it.  If enough people will want to read it you'll get published no matter what.  So I am going to send Red off soon and we'll see what happens. 

Front page news...

I am feeling completely vague today and not at all in the mood for work.  I figured once I started writing I would be fine so here it goes!

The Pilbara Echo had an article of mine in it this week and the gorgeous photos by Samantha Bell from the Courthouse Gallery provided meant that it made the front page - very exciting!  I've got a link to the Pilbara Echo in my faves and here is a copy of the article.  Time for lunch and then for the write up on the Writers Festival...

The Pilbara Echo, 5 March 2011

52 Weeks On: A Pilbara Project Exhibition

On Friday 11 February a brilliant exhibition opened at the Courthouse Gallery which I was fortunate enough to attend.  The concept behind this exhibition was fascinating to me and I think to many more as well because the opening was attended by a broad range of people. 

As part of The Pilbara Project five artists toured the Pilbara for 52 weeks, creating visual stories through photography and film.  That’s right – for 52 weeks these artists got out there, looked, discovered, felt and interpreted.  Then they put it all together so that the rest of us could look at it too.

They created visual stories through photography and film that captured the reality of contemporary life, the rhythms of large scale industry and the enduring Pilbara landscape.  The resulting works are stunning, huge and full of impact. 

Some of the images felt familiar – stuff we see every day and I was hoping to recognise the people who were in there.  Other images took a new perspective on stuff I still see every day but it took a surveyor (I happened to have one on hand) to point out the what and where.  The aerial landscape images, particularly of the water, made me see even more depth and beauty in a landscape that I already love.  But the images of the community elders moved me to tears and made me wish that I could offer them my respect in person.

The actual exhibition is a dual exhibition, running in both the Courthouse Gallery here in Hedland and the FORM Gallery in Perth.  The artists featured are Dr Les Walking, Tony Hewitt, Christian Fletcher, Michael Fletcher and Peter Eastway.  The exhibition was curated by William L Fox, Director of the Art + Environment at the Nevada Museum of Art.  Along with The Pilbara Project the exhibition was designed and delivered by FORM with the principal partner being BHP Billiton Iron Ore. 

The Pilbara Project itself is really interesting.  It is a long term project documenting, mapping, illustrating and celebrating the diverse characteristics of the Pilbara with outcomes including this exhibition, a published book, an event program and a dedicated website.  The project is driven by FORM in partnership with BHP Billiton Iron Ore, with the aim of getting people thinking differently about the Pilbara and what goes on here, recognising industry but also everything else the Pilbara has to offer to so many people on so many fronts.  If you want to know more about The Pilbara Project head to www.thepilbaraproject.com and why not contribute to the blog while you are there.

Every Hedland art lover I know will make it to this exhibition before it shuts on 7 April 2011, but maybe if you don’t normally get into the Gallery at 16 Edgar Street, Port Hedland, you should make a special trip in.  This exhibition is about art but it is also about the Pilbara and us – something we can experience and be part of. 

Monday's new finds...

Hi everyone - on my return home from Perth yesterday there was a lovely email from madeit.com.au telling me that I'd been listed as one of Monday's new finds!  I feel very special - if you want to check it out go to:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs078/1102437359584/archive/1104741007870.html

I will go into a lot more detail about the Perth Writers Festival tomorrow but today because I am short of time I can condense it down to:

• there are a lot of writers out there who want to get published
• only 5% of manuscripts submitted turn into published books
• children's books can be the hardest to write - they either work or they don't and editing won't really help if they don't

I had a brilliant time and can only recommend that any writer who wants to be published goes along next year.  More news tomorrow...

Perth Writers Festival...

Sometimes you need someone close to you to point out the obvious.  My partner was recently reading through the weekend paper when he alerted me to the Perth Writers Festival.  To be honest I didn't pay much attention - it being in Perth and me being in Port Hedland.  But he insisted I have a look and quite rightly pointed out that if this is really what I want to do then I should be going to things like this festival.

Now being a mum to a 3 year old and 5 year old I really don't need that much encouragement to have a weekend away by myself.  But I really did struggle with the idea of going to a writers festival because there would be, like, real authors there, and real publishers, and real...people who write things. 

I did start to have a good look at the festival outline though and sure enough, there was a workshop on children's books and another on how to get published (one of my next big goals).  So I am going this weekend and although a bit nervous I am really looking forward to it.  If it isn't right for me then I will have the hard job of consoling myself by visiting the gallery and going shopping with perhaps a coffee or two thrown in.  If it is - well it will be one more step on this very exciting journey!

I'm in pain...

I've got two problems I am dealing with right now.  The first is rejection.  The second is my hand is killing me.  I shall deal with the rejection first.

I mentioned last week that I had finally dropped samples of my books to some local spots.  One of them came back with a yes in an email and I was over the moon - I told everybody and was doing a little happy dance every time I thought about it.  But then yesterday when I rang them to discuss it further with a different person the answer was a straight out no.  Well I'm not sure I reacted that well to be honest - with a rather stilted, cold voice I asked why.  I didn't agree with the answer I received so I then fired up a bit.  I guess I was just defending my creations but I know I could have handled it better.  After I got off the phone I was angry about how they had handled it by saying yes then no but underlying that I was hurting and it was time to face the fact that I, and my work, had been rejected. 

Now me being the sort of person I am I needed some time to reason it through in my head.  Then I discussed it with my partner and after that I did a quick bit of research on the internet.  It turns out that rejection is good for you - it helps you grow as a person.  There are also several steps you can take to deal with rejection - one of which was writing about it (a blog entry was suggested!) and another was to do something you enjoy (leading to my hand pain...I will explain soon!).  I also have a strong tendency to put everything in perspective - yes I am not feeling crash hot about this but come on now - in terms of world peace and natural disasters this isn't even a blip on the scale.  So I have levelled off a bit but I am also coming to the realisation that this new arty lifestyle of mine will come with fabulous highs but also some horrible lows.

Moving right along to my hand now.  For about two weeks I have been concentrating on making books, doing blogs and webpages and basically getting my books out there.  This is all well and good because if I don't sell some more of them I will have to find another source of income!  However, book number three has been ignored during the last two weeks as a consequence.  But after yesterday's call all I wanted to do was get carving and today luckily enough was a kid free work day so I could indulge.  I have just finished a lino in one short sitting and I do feel so much better (so the wikiHow article was totally right) but my hand is just so sore.  Recently I wrote an article about Ezy Carve lino and how it meant you could complete a lino in one sitting...I am reconsidering that statement now!  Here is that article below.  Have a great day. 

The Pilbara Echo, 12 February 2011

Printmaking made easier

It wasn’t that long ago that I started studying printmaking and I still find now that people tend to fall into three categories when you mention that you are into linocuts. 

The first category has no idea at all what printmaking is (me two years ago).  To bring these people up to speed printmaking is an art form consisting of the production of images, usually on paper but occasionally on fabric, plastic etc, by various techniques of multiplication.  Linocuts in particular are kind of like a stamp principle – take a design, carve it out, ink it up and print it on paper, repeating if desired. 

Back to the categories of people though, the second category straight away reminisce about their linocut high school experiences and how they loved the outcomes but how hard the lino was to work with, and isn’t it crazy that students were trusted with those carving tools in the first place. 

Then there is the third, and by far in the minority group, who just nod and say ‘Ezy Carve’.

Now I didn’t get to do linocuts in high school and I am pretty sure it wasn’t because of the carving tools as we had plenty of weapons available to us in woodworks.  However, the first time I studied printmaking at the TAFE it was with lino.  So even though I was a tertiary student I can echo what every secondary school student thought – this sucks.  I don’t know how many times I cut myself and I could never take corners in the right way so rather than smooth cuts I had some pretty serious gouges.  Besides this there was the terrible ache in my wrists – linocuts are hard work.

Then one day when I was browsing in Hedland Emporium I came across a strange looking substance sitting next to the lino in the art section.  It was the same size as the lino, same shape, same thickness but it was rubbery.  I had no idea what it was but I thought I’ve got nothing to lose (my wrists were still sore at that point) so I bought a sheet and took it home. 

Oh my goodness.  The joy, the relief, the absolute pleasure at just having the carving tools wiz around the surface, going in the direction that I want them too with so little effort that I can carve a whole sheet in one sitting.  I had discovered Ezy Carve.

I did try and research Ezy Carve for this article because I am aware that I sound like an advert and Ezy Carve must be a brand after all.  However my trusty information source (Google!) didn’t turn up much information at all.  Perhaps it is enough just to know that Ezy Carve is out there (at any reputable art supplies store for between $7 - $10 for a sheet 30 x 30cm in size) just waiting for future printmakers to find it and treasure it as I now do.  Then they too will fall into that third, and may I suggest exclusive group, who are out there trying to make the world a better place, one print at a time.