Melting Flowers Update

This painting is coming along in leaps and bounds.  As with most of my other paintings, music usually helps me focus; and this is no exception.  I do love to paint, however my paintings take so long because I like to have the colours at such a vibrancy they look as good dry as they do wet...

Knit, Knit, Knitting!

It's been such a long time since I got into knitting a scarf... and the way I'm knitting one is a fun way of doing it.  The one thing is that I didn't know it would grow so fast; or look so nice.  The colours I've used all work well with each other and - even though they are so very different from each other - they are just beautiful.  here are the photos of the scarf currently.  I'll get a full measurement of the scarf once I'm close to finishing it.  

Now, remember to put in your posts for how long you think it'll be to win my patchwork scarf... or scrap scarf.  I'll be adding in tassels and making it look good too.  If it doesn't get raffled off, I'll be keeping it as a part of my wardrobe. 

Afternoon Knitting Session

In the afternoons, I've been getting into my knitting again.  Usually at this time of the year, I don't as it's too hot; but here in Queensland, we've been having a very cool Summer, so I've picked up my needles again and been able to knit.

Recently, I have found that I have a lot of leftover wool from finished scarves.  So, I thought to make a long, skinny scarf out of the wool and see how long I can make it - just for the fun of it.  Right now, it's a little over a metre long and I've gone through three colours; with more being found as I hunt through my two knitting bags.  

If you'd like to lay bets on how long this scarf is going to be once it's finished, I'll finish it up with tassels and post it off to you when I finish it up.  And seeing how fast it's taking shape, it shouldn't take that long to do.  I'll keep you all posted about how it's doing over the next week or so... keep your lengths coming.  

I'm working with size 4mm needles, it's 17 stitches wide and I'm using a Moss Stitch; so it'll be nice and cosy when you wear it anywhere in the world.  Until my next post, keep creating!

Whatever Gets You Through The Night!

I love that Beatles song... it's so full of energy and power.  I love it.  I have it on vinyl and play it when I need to get rid of excess energy and need to get to sleep at night; true story.  However, I also play music to help me paint.  

Whether it's at the very beginning or to finish off the detailing, I play a series of vinyls to help me focus on my work.  And it's been proven by scientists that certain composers are fantastic in assisting students with their studies; there are certain musicians that can also help artists with their work as well.

When I watched the show on Jean-Michel Basquiat, they interviewed some of his friends who said that they noticed he couldn't focus without a lot of noise around him - he even worked when he was hosting a noisy party with people milling around him.  Mainly, though he'd have on Ravel's Bolero all day; driving some of his neighbours nuts as that's all he'd play.  He'd also have the television on at the same time and books open that he be reading while he walked past to get something to eat at the kitchen.  He had to keep his mind extremely active while he was working on his art.  I found this fascinating; but I would have found all of this very distracting if it was me.  I guess we all have our own ways of working.

I like to work in the afternoons - as the light is at its best then in my house.  I usually pick out fast music if I'm starting a piece - like The Red Hot Chili Peppers - and all my music is usually on vinyl as the digital affects on music dulls what I like about it.  I love the old-fashioned style of vinyls as I was brought up around them when I was young and it's what I love to collect as well; and this gives me a chance to play them as well.

If I'm doing a background, I love to play anything live by Santana.  The solo drum mixes usually get me into a focused trance and they are brilliant up loud; along with the roar of the audience.  By the time the song is over, I'm on my feet walking around my piece with the brush in one hand and the palate in the other.  It's great... my feet are sore and I've gotten further along than I usually would without the music otherwise.

When I'm doing detailing work, I usually just listen to the radio... or my iTouch and pick out Lenny Kravitz... he's got a great voice and guitar riffs that really calm down my brush strokes.  Besides, he's a hot guy... what can I say, he's got a beautiful voice and - visually - gets better with age.  This is the only time I don't use a vinyl.  Or if I do, I put on some Mozart; a piano concerto or two and I finish up my work.  Now, as I mentioned earlier, scientists have proven that some composers have proven to help with focusing with students.  Mozart, Beethoven and Bach are the three main ones who assist with this.  These three composers are also the main three who brought in a new section in the orchestras:  Woodwind.  This section used to be better known as Percussion (which was bigger than it is now).  

So, who helps you focus on your work?  Is it a musician or a comedian?  Do you have the television going or a dvd going?  Do you work in complete silence?  Let us know, and until my next post, keep creating.

Melting Flowers Revamp

Since I've handed in my application for an exhibition at the Logan Art Gallery, I've been on pins and needles waiting for a reply; which I'll most probably hear about next month.  How nerve-raking!  

However, that doesn't mean I just sit around and do nothing in the artistic side of things.  I keep working on my work that will go into the exhibition I want to get in there.  And this is the painting which will be going into the exhibition - and next to the two drooping flowers further down the page.  This is the original painting which sparked off my thoughts for the retrospective of these flowers in the first place.

I have been kinda stuck with the close-up of these flowers; so I though to start fixing up this painting today.  I grabbed some music and turned it up loud.  In this heat, it was great to listen to 'Moonflower' by Santana on vinyl.  All that drumming was brilliant for my concentration... and the background looks fantastic, don't you think?

Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Genius Child

Tonight, I was perusing the television times for something - anything - to watch during this very boring time of the year of school holidays when I happened upon an art program about this wonderful late artist from the 1980's.  

Jean-Michel's very name brought back the memory of my older brother bringing home a video of the movie 'Basquait' about his life of art, growing up on the streets and his brilliantly busy and colourful career of art, galleries and arty friends; such as Andy Warhole.

This recent television review of his life covered the full spectrum of his friends, art curators, people he went to school with, past girlfriends and anyone he socialised with.  It was a very interesting show that covered a lot more than the movie did (as I remember it because it's been over a decade since I last saw it).  

I found this hour and a half show a great tribute to a great artist who interpreted his world - and other artist's works from our past - in the most wonderful and colourful ways.  I do recommend you find this show on dvd or youtube.  Otherwise, go and google his name and check out his work; it's brilliant, colourful and fantastic.  It's something we should all be aiming for... our own style.  I've also just put his official website on the sidebar; it's well worth checking out.  Until my next post, keep creating!