Inspiring Prints

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I'm currently on the lookout for an inspirational print to hang in my art area. Something to inspire me, and keep me working when it gets a bit tough. 

I find that the right quote (when paired with the right design and the right colours) has the power to change my attitude and reinvigorate me! I'm very much a visual person, it's got to be visually inspiring as well as emotionally inspiring.

I might be getting my own little art room soon (fingers crossed!) and I'm already decorating and organising it in my head! At the moment I'm literally working on my bed, which is fine, but I'm still really excited at the possibility of having a separate space. I've been exploring pinterest for organisation and decor ideas on a budget and I can't wait to get started!

Flowers & Art for a Rainy Day

Today it's snowing, hailing, and raining. It's supposed to be Spring, but clearly Dunedin misplaced that memo. I had a feeling last week that this nice weather was too good to last! 

Weather like this makes me a little bit more lazy restful, and so I've been spending a bit of time on Pinterest. This site is a major guilty pleasure of mine. There's just so many lovely things to look at! So while I was browsing one of my favourite boards All Things Floral I was reminded of this art series that I pinned a while back called Exploded Flowers, by artist Qi Wei. They're just so beautiful, I had to share.

"Flowers are indeed one of the most beautiful and complex structures found in nature, specifically designed to achieve the purpose of reproduction."

"The act of disassembly... lays bare the various shapes and textures of the flowers, and what is interesting to me is how much more expanded some flowers can get when they are disassembled – the relative surface area to size of a rose is so much greater compared to a larger flower like the sunflower."

"As a medium that captures a moment in time – which was made clear when I noticed dried gerbera petals after only a single night – the use of photography captures the beauty and intricacies of nature’s flowers in the moment of full bloom, and at the same time let you have a different appreciation of their beauty"

Lovely, right? 

P.S. Are you on Pinterest? Leave me your link in the comments so I can check out your boards!

Studio Peek: The Shoebox

I decided at the start of this year that if I was to continue my career as an artist, then I needed to let the space I had dictate my work. Meaning that if I had heaps of space, I could feel free to create giant art works, and if I had space the size of a shoebox to work with, then I have to create teeny tiny work (and if the only space I have is to work is on my bed, then I'm not allowed to use paint).

I realised that my art was never going to happen if I kept waiting for my 'perfect' studio. In fact, I don't see myself having my own lovely space for my art for at least the next four years (we plan on doing a lot of traveling, and I plan on keeping my art up!).

So today I thought I would share my studio space - it's nothing fancy, and I am working out of a shoebox (literally! It actually works quite well for me). It's because of my limited space that I decided to create a line of jewellery (more about that later!)

The shoebox is where I keep all my tools and materials that I'm currently using. Only the necessary things are in here. It's a handy little system - I just take the shoebox over to the little round dining table and bring out what I need. When I'm done, I pack the box up.

Here's a little overview of my shoebox:

1. Nail polish for painting

2. A container of painted pull tabs - underneath is a little of washers and a little box of plastic bread tags

3. Threads

4. Fabric scraps

5. Fabric scissors, pliers, double-sided sticky tape, wire.

6. A small pouch with all my findings - chain, jump rings in various sizes, earring hooks, parrot clasps.

I also have a box of fabric scraps (leftover from my graduate art collection) which is stored under my husband's desk. It is packed to the brim, to the point where the lid JUST fits on. Whenever I want some fabric I just open the lid a teeny bit, shove my hand in and quickly pull something out. Seriously, it's like a lucky dip for hoarders.

To be honest, I'd love more space. But I'm choosing to focus on what I do have, rather than what I don't have. I'm limited to this space at least until December - so instead of being all, 'oh woe is me, I have no space to do my art,' I'm figuring out what I can do with what I've got.

I think that's a life mantra or something. Be content with what you have!

How do you make do with the space you have?

Copycat RTW Exhibition & Opening

Last week was the exhibition of my artwork Copycat RTW as a part of iD Dunedin Fashion Week. The exhibition ran from the 27th - 31st March, and I had a small opening on Tuesday evening.

        

I exhibited at an awesome little boutique that stocks 'nearly new' clothing - there are so many pieces there that I just fell in love with. Particularly those studded heels holding my promo postcards! 

Collectibles was an awesome place to exhibit; the women there were so helpful and accommodating and my bags looked really awesome sitting in the shop window at the feet of the mannequins.

This was my very first solo exhibition and it was very exciting and nerve-wracking! I was nervous, but it all went well. During the opening, my husband actually stood outside the shop and talked to people that passed by about my artwork and what it was about. He's officially my PR person, as well as being my official photographer :)

And of course, the biggest decision of the day was what I was going to wear! :P

I clashed prints and colours and went with a striped orange dress, and a floral blue scarf. And I got to wear my grey heeled boots! They're 5", so at the moment I only wear them to places that don't involve much walking - I'm not that co-ordinated yet.

If you managed to see the exhibition, I'd love to hear what you thought about it!