Lost Aussie on the loose

Artful Blogging & Stuff

Well after having spent the last three days hiding under the covers, coughing, sneezing and feeling thoroughly miserable I've finally been handed just the right sort of inspiration to get my mind off my sniffles and my feet back into my slippers!

The postie delivered my copy of Artful Blogging on Tuesday and I'm tickled pink that "Lost Aussie on the Loose" is featured in this issue, as are a number of my artpals, Susan and Karen, among others.
Congratulations to Staci Dumoski on a very fine publication indeed!

From there I guess I need to backtrack a little...
DH and I did our little Black Tie Gala thingy at the Waldorf Astoria last weekend and what a fine night that was.  Apparently Mr Jackman was 'elsewhere' but we did get to share the same airspace as tadaaaa....Nicole Kidman and the lovely Keith Urban and I even got to rub shoulders with a few famous faces on the dance floor later in the night! No pictures, sorry, it's not quite the 'done' thing!

On Sunday I was back in the City again, this time to play hostess to a long distance friend by the name of Dale Copeland, an assemblage artist and the organiser of the annual International Collage Exhibition & Exchange. Dale is over here from New Zealand to take a collage class or two as well as - it seems- catch up with as many of her art friends as she possibly can.  We had a great day together, visited the Met, poured over books at the Strand and shopped for some brushes for her artist husband at PEARL.  Amazing how much we crammed into the day!

Sucker for punishment or just call me keen to get outdoors, I headed into town again on Monday, this time to meet up with Karen and a bunch of other Blog-girls from NY, NJ and PA.  We all met up at Penn Station and spent the morning exploring a few art and junk metal stores before heading down to Mott Street to check out the hustle and bustle ringing in the New Chinese Year.
We had planned to lunch on Dim Sum down there, but with all the dragon dancing, drum rolling and crazy goings-on we opted for a slightly quiter crowd in Soho!

Great day girls...and it was lovely to meet you all!

Wow What a Ride..

Well a busy day yesterday and today catching up with the ONE WORLD ONE HEART Giveaway.  Thanks to everyone who has commented so far......not too late....comments are open on the post until 12th Feb....so jump in...why not?
It is so much fun bloghopping and seeing what everyone else has to share and finding exciting and new destinations for my browser in the coming year!

I've meant for ages to post a pic for David...of his dog "Precious"...
She was gifted with this name when we got her from the shelter over 10 years ago and even though she is now an aging grande dame, she is none the less wonderful, loving, "Precious"...and a terrific watch-dog to boot.
She is a Husky/Retriever blend and consequently LOVES the snow! And apparently the camera too!

This weekend when DH and I were in the City we stopped at J&R Electronics to peruse new camera lenses.  I've been hankering for something to expand the 'view point' of my camera for some time and was lucky enough to come away with a nice new zoom lens for my Nikon and a fab macro lens for my Cannon.  Both wonderful birthday treats from DH and the boys....thank you Darling!
And on that subject, I must apologise to all my Facebook buddies.  My birthday is not until Tuesday, but when I signed up for FB, I just put a generic date in there to please the formfilling machine! Apologies for the false start! but thanks nonetheless for all the good wishes.

I've always felt lucky to have a birthdate that is right after Australia Day.  Normally I am at home and get to enjoy a wowza fireworks show and a long walk on the beach.  This year since we are in New York, we are attending the Australia Day Gala Event at the Waldorf Astoria instead.  A fancy schmancy red carpet do with Baz Luhrmann and Hugh Jackman there tonight as honored guests.....I sure hope I get to say hello....maybe I'll even ask Hughey boy for a dance?  Wouldn't it be a laugh if he said yes?

OK well I am off to primp and prune and see if I can't get the gesso and acrylic out from under my fingernails....doesn't go to well with the silk and beaded gown or the high heeled shoes!

Best wishes to all the AUSSIES out there...have a wonderful long weekend!  Hope you are enjoying the Australian Open!

One World One Heart Giveaway

Well, it's that time of year again....The GREAT ONE WORLD ONE HEART GIVEAWAY....when the BLOG WORLD comes together to spoil and share, we get to visit new blogs, make new friends and who knows....even garner a treat or two along the way-  if you are lucky enough! 
Last year I had so much fun doing this and made a number of new friends who have become definite keepers along the way!

This year I have a few tasty treats to throw into the pot.  Two new little encaustic pieces and five sets of FIVE notecards created with my original photographs.

As usual, the Giveaway closes at midnight on Feb.12th 2009.  You need to leave a comment on my blog with an email address that is valid (so I can contact you if you win!)

7 Winners will be drawn using a random number generator with comments being assigned a number in the order which they arrive.

Appetite whet?  Ok here's the pics of the pieces......GOOD LUCK and happy browsing at all the other entries!

Illio Friday - Pale

I've missed taking up the challenge of participating in Illustration Friday for some time now, but it's back on my list of "Things to Do" for 2009

It's always a good creative prod to craft a piece of art to fit certain specifications...a bit like a commission really.

Anyway, this week's challenge is PALE and I borrowed one of Julia Margaret Cameron's lovely old photos to interpret in my own way.

Enjoy!

Snowy Ch(TH)rills

Seems like for days now the temperatures have been in the twenties and teens...and in 'my language' that's just WAY below ZERO and "bleeping" COLD!

The addition of 4 inches of snow today at least provided the opportunity for a little outdoor workout!..

Somewhat more interesting that a jog on the treadmill, but I'd still rather be skiing on the stuff!

Buzz Love

I came across this little gem whilst surfing the 'net tonight and could not resist sharing....
if you click on the LINK, you can create your own lovely little BEE!

Not only are the graphics on the site TOTALLY awesome but now there's another good reason to eat more Haagen Dazs!

Hello Dolly #2

Sometimes there's just the urge to create something tactile and painterly!..and if you know me, then dolls spring to mind!

I've a few 'post Christmas' gifts that need to be sent - so I spent today assembling a couple of whimsical creatures that will soon find their way into a postbox and onto faraway destinations.

I made the first prototype of this doll for a class in Australia and I have her hanging on my wall in the Studio.  Doll #2 is of a similar pattern, but as you well know, if you are a mixed media artist, the second one only sort of resembles the first...and I daresay #3 will have it's own personality, colour and tones!

Putting Pen to Tablet

It seems such a long time since I was able to sit myself down at the desk, fire up the Photoshop and just get lost in my pictures and work away.....
I'm pleased to say though, that I'm almost there!  The house is FINALLY back to where it was before we were inundated with guests - well more or less!  The animals have all calmed down and crawled out from under our bed and are once again littering my studio or the vacant arm chairs in the front room.
Loads of sheets and towels have been duly washed and stowed away in the linen closet, the house has been "de-chritsmased" AND my darling and ever so patient Husband is once again back at the office!

In conjunction with restoring domestic status quo I took the opportunity to re-organise my Studio and am pleased with the extra space I have managed to engineer and who knows...it may now get put to use!

As I've submissions for another book due in a couple of weeks I've passed the last two nights messing around with some different digital ideas.  I will no doubt fiddle away a lot more before the deadline arrives...but for now with a large coating of snowy white stuff sitting outside my door, "Reaching for the Sky" and "Spring's Dream" seem quite appealing!

ciao for now

Back Tracking A Little

I haven't shared too many snaps of the passed Holiday Season - my bad..but it has been pretty hectic around here until about 24hrs ago, when the last lot of guests departed and life has resumed it's somewhat 'normal' pace!

We did however, have the good fortune to spend a couple of days around New Year's Eve in a friend's apartment in New York City.  81 floors up the Trump World Plaza...and well, the view was worth...how many Millions?  It was almost as if you could reach out and touch the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings with one good stretch!  The view was fantastic and appreciated by one and all!

I woke up on New Year's Morning and sipped my coffee with the same view, and although I admired it, could not really see myself living quite THAT far up in the sky on a full time basis....a bit too scary for me! I like my landfall and room for the kitties to come and go!

New Year & New Energy

Firstly let me start by wishing EACH and EVERY ONE of YOU a HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the health, peace and prosperity that you can imagine!  May 2009 be just the BEST!!

This Holiday Season has left me gasping for breath!  Not only have the boys been here from Australia but so has my Sister, her husband, son, daughter and new son-in-law!  So the house has been literally bursting at the seams!

We have had a great time together but I confess I am about at the point where I want to bury myself in the Studio, lock the door and never cook another group meal....for just about forever!  How bad is that????

As the "Relatives" are all off chasing down the President in Washington DC today and the boys are now winging their way back to Australia I've managed to snag a few quiet hours in the Studio to "play"!
Lots of ideas burbling in the back of my mind for the past few weeks have finally made their way onto paper...and well...It's been fun...I have to admit!

I'm working on a new series based on alternative printmaking processes and who knows, with a bit of luck it may turn into a Class that will be teachable!  What a fun thought!

Given the dearth of Polaroid Film, these two pieces were created using the 'faux' approach..not bad really and the emulsion seems to work just like it used to!

Transferred and "Transtastic" the above two pictures are straight off film and onto paper!  Who could ask for a better image transfer?

The next one is a composite piece, run through a press..and no, not the uber expensive one!

AND...last but not least.... is a little bit of "left over" - actually the image before it made the emulsion transfer..but who is quibbling?