Thursday, August 27, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Design for Fabric of New Painting...
The scanner gave in after 2 scans, so this looks awful, but this is the gist of the idea. The colours aren't quite right - the background is going to be more of a mustard yellow than yellow ochre and the reds are supposed to be one red and one orange. I'll play around with the greens.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Time for Change!
I thought it might be appropriate to select this blue template - not only have I tried just about every other template, but it seems to match my current "blue" phase. Ok, I think my blue phase is lasting way longer than picasso's - everytime I work on canvas the predominant hues are all blue!!!
So, it's time for a change. I've been doing more drawing than writing and the last couple of days have seen me develop and idea for printing on fabric. I had the idea of making this fabric and designing bags, then I thought - why just bags? these could be effective T-shirts. Then I thought, what about little books for small girls - very basic stuff, since the design you'll see is really basic...
The name started off as "girlbuddies inc", but after saying it a few times, it just didn't seem right, so all the girls in the family were in our lounge last night and we were discussing this and we came up with: "mimi & sisi inc".
Unfortunately, I can only load the images over the weekend, so you'll have to wait with baited breath til then!
So, it's time for a change. I've been doing more drawing than writing and the last couple of days have seen me develop and idea for printing on fabric. I had the idea of making this fabric and designing bags, then I thought - why just bags? these could be effective T-shirts. Then I thought, what about little books for small girls - very basic stuff, since the design you'll see is really basic...
The name started off as "girlbuddies inc", but after saying it a few times, it just didn't seem right, so all the girls in the family were in our lounge last night and we were discussing this and we came up with: "mimi & sisi inc".
Unfortunately, I can only load the images over the weekend, so you'll have to wait with baited breath til then!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Danger Pay
This morning dropping the children off at school, I recognised the need for some sort of danger pay as a parent dropping kids off with other crazy parents who drive like lunatics. My brother has lived in the US and England and the first thing he said when he came back to South Africa was how badly we drive. I have to agree with him. I think it must have something to do with the country's mentality or mindset about authority: 'authority? sorry? what was that? a new brand of washing powder? sounds a bit long and pompous for washing powder, don't you think?'
Not only do people ignore stop streets and traffic lights (which south africans affectionately refer to as robots), but I have seen drivers ride on sidewalks, swerve from the right hand lane - across three lanes - to the left turning lane, drive up a one way street and then reverse back out of it.
So, I'm thinking - I wonder when insurance companies are going to catch onto this whole thing and start charging higher premiums for parents driving within a 5m radius of schools.
You should see what these people do!! This morning I sat behind a person who had stopped dead in the middle of the road - not even bothering to pull to the side a little bit and guess what? It was a little grade one - so you can imagine the goodbye happening inside the car... eventually after about 5 minutes, the child stumbles out of the car with a suitcase almost as big as she is, and she clambers up onto the sidewalk. In the mean time, a couple of cars in the parking bays, are waiting with their reverse lights on while this twit is blocking their exit.
So, we drive a little further and hit the pedestrian crossing guards. No, not literally - although I did wonder to myself if the school ever had a really over zealous crossing guard who swung the stop sign and accidentally smashed someone's windscreen. I guess that's why they have the whistles...
By the time we arrive at the grade 6 entrance, there's a real genius who has pulled up onto the parking spots, but is parked horizontally instead of vertically, taking up 3 parking bays in the process... oh my goodness! I think I need a camera with me when I drive around - you wouldn't believe some of the things I've seen!
Everyone in PE is paranoid about swine flu at the moment - whether it's gastric flu or just plain flu, you can be guaranteed the chemist is going to tell you to get yourself tested just in case! I was listening to someone speaking about the concern if this hits the townships - poverty is so rife and HIV is already a pendemic, so if swine flu gets in there we're looking at a mammoth catastrophe. Apparently 15 people have already died in one area of India and since the health management in our country probably isn't a whole lot better, we'd be looking at this mortality rate and higher once it hits the ground.
Not only do people ignore stop streets and traffic lights (which south africans affectionately refer to as robots), but I have seen drivers ride on sidewalks, swerve from the right hand lane - across three lanes - to the left turning lane, drive up a one way street and then reverse back out of it.
So, I'm thinking - I wonder when insurance companies are going to catch onto this whole thing and start charging higher premiums for parents driving within a 5m radius of schools.
You should see what these people do!! This morning I sat behind a person who had stopped dead in the middle of the road - not even bothering to pull to the side a little bit and guess what? It was a little grade one - so you can imagine the goodbye happening inside the car... eventually after about 5 minutes, the child stumbles out of the car with a suitcase almost as big as she is, and she clambers up onto the sidewalk. In the mean time, a couple of cars in the parking bays, are waiting with their reverse lights on while this twit is blocking their exit.
So, we drive a little further and hit the pedestrian crossing guards. No, not literally - although I did wonder to myself if the school ever had a really over zealous crossing guard who swung the stop sign and accidentally smashed someone's windscreen. I guess that's why they have the whistles...
By the time we arrive at the grade 6 entrance, there's a real genius who has pulled up onto the parking spots, but is parked horizontally instead of vertically, taking up 3 parking bays in the process... oh my goodness! I think I need a camera with me when I drive around - you wouldn't believe some of the things I've seen!
Everyone in PE is paranoid about swine flu at the moment - whether it's gastric flu or just plain flu, you can be guaranteed the chemist is going to tell you to get yourself tested just in case! I was listening to someone speaking about the concern if this hits the townships - poverty is so rife and HIV is already a pendemic, so if swine flu gets in there we're looking at a mammoth catastrophe. Apparently 15 people have already died in one area of India and since the health management in our country probably isn't a whole lot better, we'd be looking at this mortality rate and higher once it hits the ground.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Artist Quandry
I wonder if it's normal to go for months and months at a time without picking up a brush? I don't think it is actually - I think that's probably the difference between artists appearing on Top Billing and artists tenaciously slogging away at an objective of some sort!
Whatever the case, I finally picked up the paintbrush yesterday. I did some finishing touches to my last two works and then spent the rest of the night hounding publishers via email. My next objective is to sand down some canvases and start producing some acrylic work in a different genre.
Halfway through my email list, I wondered if this action was actually going to bare any fruit - I mentioned my doubts to Richard who proceeded to give me a lecture on doing something completely different... (And now, for something completely different...) and that's when I was reminded that really - men and women are communicating on vastly different levels. Or maybe it's creative people vs non creative people??
Rachel sauntered over while I was busy and helped herself to a brush and water. She then proceeded to paint water in an old dictionary the girls had in their book shelf. It takes so little to make her blissfully happy. The creative vibe became contagious - Rebecca and Emma got stuck into their fabric painting to recover the cushions. They're looking really good. I had suggested we make covers for the lounge cushions because they're looking a little worse for wear. At first I watched them and thought... Hmm, maybe we'll just cover those old cushions at the back of the linen cupboard and keep them there until their 21st birthdays.... But now they're looking quite good! Mine are taking forever - but I am inclined to go a bit overboard with detail.
Whatever the case, I finally picked up the paintbrush yesterday. I did some finishing touches to my last two works and then spent the rest of the night hounding publishers via email. My next objective is to sand down some canvases and start producing some acrylic work in a different genre.
Halfway through my email list, I wondered if this action was actually going to bare any fruit - I mentioned my doubts to Richard who proceeded to give me a lecture on doing something completely different... (And now, for something completely different...) and that's when I was reminded that really - men and women are communicating on vastly different levels. Or maybe it's creative people vs non creative people??
Rachel sauntered over while I was busy and helped herself to a brush and water. She then proceeded to paint water in an old dictionary the girls had in their book shelf. It takes so little to make her blissfully happy. The creative vibe became contagious - Rebecca and Emma got stuck into their fabric painting to recover the cushions. They're looking really good. I had suggested we make covers for the lounge cushions because they're looking a little worse for wear. At first I watched them and thought... Hmm, maybe we'll just cover those old cushions at the back of the linen cupboard and keep them there until their 21st birthdays.... But now they're looking quite good! Mine are taking forever - but I am inclined to go a bit overboard with detail.
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Universe has a Sense of Humour
Last night Rachel was restless and sounded as though she wanted to vomit again, so I stayed up until about 1am to make sure she was ok.
So, we're rushing to get ready this morning and have the usual bickering between Emma and Rebecca and the usual yelling from mom threatening the next person who opens their mouth is doomed to ONE WEEK OF KITTY LITTER DUTY!!! TRY ME, GO ON!!!
Nostrils flare and smoke escapes my ears and I think the surrounding neighbours close their windows and doors - but that's ok, cos someone around us has an alarm that starts at 4am and finishes at 6am. Just wait until I get my hands on that poor sod...
So, we're all done and we race downstairs to get into the car and as I lift Rachel to put her in the car seat, I hear that warning cough...
Emma yells, "Get her out the car, Mom, QUICK!'
I grab her and aim her mouth away from the general direction of the car and her clothes when suddenly it rains baby porridge. Well, I pat myself figuratively on the back - that was a good save! Only, Rachel's not done yet - in fact, she goes and sticks her hand in her mouth when the next batch of porridge makes it's speedy exit... Sigh...
By this stage, Emma and Rebecca are hiding in the car, making noises like eyeww! and gross! I grab the keys, run back upstairs with Rachel who is staring at her gooey hand and muttering about how yuck it is and how she'd very much like to have that washed right now if you don't mind...
I managed to take 4 minutes to clean up and get back in the car and back on the road! I think that's a record!
After being down about the career and up again after realising it's not so bad, someone who was at Technikon with me was on TV last night. He is a BRILLIANT ceramic artist - I adore his work, but I can't help feeling the universe has a sense of humour that I'm not finding at all funny right now!
So, we're rushing to get ready this morning and have the usual bickering between Emma and Rebecca and the usual yelling from mom threatening the next person who opens their mouth is doomed to ONE WEEK OF KITTY LITTER DUTY!!! TRY ME, GO ON!!!
Nostrils flare and smoke escapes my ears and I think the surrounding neighbours close their windows and doors - but that's ok, cos someone around us has an alarm that starts at 4am and finishes at 6am. Just wait until I get my hands on that poor sod...
So, we're all done and we race downstairs to get into the car and as I lift Rachel to put her in the car seat, I hear that warning cough...
Emma yells, "Get her out the car, Mom, QUICK!'
I grab her and aim her mouth away from the general direction of the car and her clothes when suddenly it rains baby porridge. Well, I pat myself figuratively on the back - that was a good save! Only, Rachel's not done yet - in fact, she goes and sticks her hand in her mouth when the next batch of porridge makes it's speedy exit... Sigh...
By this stage, Emma and Rebecca are hiding in the car, making noises like eyeww! and gross! I grab the keys, run back upstairs with Rachel who is staring at her gooey hand and muttering about how yuck it is and how she'd very much like to have that washed right now if you don't mind...
I managed to take 4 minutes to clean up and get back in the car and back on the road! I think that's a record!
After being down about the career and up again after realising it's not so bad, someone who was at Technikon with me was on TV last night. He is a BRILLIANT ceramic artist - I adore his work, but I can't help feeling the universe has a sense of humour that I'm not finding at all funny right now!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Humble Pie
I remember reading a quote that said something to the effect of: never compare yourself to others, there will always be greater and lesser people and you will either be inclined to think more or less of yourself because of it.
Well, Sunday gave me a real lesson in humility.
For a couple of weeks now, I've been moping around feeling miserable and hard done by, wondering how long my creative genius (ha ha ha ha ha ha) will continue to be stifled and suppressed as I subject myself to the suburban necessity of income generating work. I met a lady from Zimbabwe on Sunday and she told me a little bit about herself and her family.
I'm in awe of her and people like her - people who sacrifice and who face trials but never become bitter or angry and who calmly face whatever comes along with cheerfulness and unwavering faith. She reminded me that although things are really rough, there are people who are worse off - and no, that doesn't remove the problems I face - but it does somehow make it a little more manageable. And for some or other unknown reason, it gave me back a little bit of hope which I've seriously been lacking after so many disappointing rejections.
Even Rachel keeping me up all night didn't deter my more positive outlook!
P.S. Can toddlers who don't talk please come with a mini computer that when they're crying miserably at 01h30 you can identify why exactly they're yelling at you??
Well, Sunday gave me a real lesson in humility.
For a couple of weeks now, I've been moping around feeling miserable and hard done by, wondering how long my creative genius (ha ha ha ha ha ha) will continue to be stifled and suppressed as I subject myself to the suburban necessity of income generating work. I met a lady from Zimbabwe on Sunday and she told me a little bit about herself and her family.
I'm in awe of her and people like her - people who sacrifice and who face trials but never become bitter or angry and who calmly face whatever comes along with cheerfulness and unwavering faith. She reminded me that although things are really rough, there are people who are worse off - and no, that doesn't remove the problems I face - but it does somehow make it a little more manageable. And for some or other unknown reason, it gave me back a little bit of hope which I've seriously been lacking after so many disappointing rejections.
Even Rachel keeping me up all night didn't deter my more positive outlook!
P.S. Can toddlers who don't talk please come with a mini computer that when they're crying miserably at 01h30 you can identify why exactly they're yelling at you??
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