Fitting things in!

Apologies for not blogging last weekend: I got really rundown and sick, which was just in time for the busiest and funnest week that I have been anticipating for quite some time... Luckily I got through most of it!  Some more really busy weeks to come - I'm looking forward to a good rest in a few weeks.

Moonrise Kingdom, Illustration, Catwalks, Semi Permanent, After Parties, Beach escapes, popped my Sousaphone cherry, Long drives, Red Deer Beer Funnels, Diner En Blanc, white balloons, Ice cream cuddles, editing with tea in bed, breakfasts, exhibitions. 

MOONRISE KINGDOM!

I have been waiting to see this film for about a year now with such intense anticipation that I saw it twice.  It is heartfelt and playful. I love the flow of the shots, the pauses, the cuts, the play-like scripting. Everything about this film is so wonderful.   

Animations inspired by Suzy's books that she reads out loud on her adventure: 

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival

I was super excited to get the experience of taking some photos of the runway for The Weekend Edition.  It was a little intimidating next to all of the pros with my semi-pro equipment and amateur approach!  But it was so fun to play and experiment and so so exciting.


Kirra Jamison - Locomotor exhibition at Jan Murphy Gallery.

I have been very excited to see this exhibit and haven't had a chance to go yet. Make sure you check it out before September 22.

Semi Permanent Design Conference
Some of my favourite speakers for the day were Beci Orpin, Bec Winnel, Beastman and Andrew Quilty.

One common theme I noticed throughout the conference was that creatives are restless. They need variety. This restlessness drove the speakers to become multi-skilled, gave them a thirst for learning and experimenting and working on a range of projects. I think it is this restlessness that drives all creative's to seek an alternative lifestyle that opposes "the day job".

I also noticed that all of the speakers were obsessed with a particular theme and subject matter. The all developed distinctive and recognisable styles and it was amazing to see the transformation of their work before it reached this point.  It almost seemed like their work at a certain point suddenly blossomed into a style and into success. Maybe it's the consistent style and subject matter featured in each of these speakers bodies of work that makes them memorable and sought after.

 Just my thoughts.


Advice that I took from Beastman:
Thumb nail sketches!  DIY approach + collaborations. He organised his own exhibitions. (See Erin, organising an exhibition at your home is a great idea). Through collaborating with others he could get more opportunities and was able to be a mural painter.


Some advice from Beci Orpin.
1. Learn to design away from the computer
2. Get involved with things that you love. (ie. if you have 4 jobs - make sure they are all involved with things you love. She worked in a bookstore, did screen printing, freelance design etc etc)
3. In the start - say yes to everything. Do as much as you can. (Even if the pay isn't favourable)
4. Travel (and while you are there make an effort to spread your work internationally)
5. Get some business skills or advice (or marry someone who does)
6. Go above and beyond. (The more you work, the busier you are, the better your work will be)
7. Keep trying new things (Pretend to know how to do something you don't)
8. Be flexible, but stay true to yourself. (If you are flexible with your style and the type of work you do - you can get more work. )
9. Working from home can be a necessary evil. (Working from home means Beci can be around her children and work while they are at school or asleep at night)
10. Be Nice
11. Work Hard - often

Advice from Bec Winnel:
Submit your work online to all sorts of online communities, portfolio sites etc
Submit your work to competitions and exhibitions
Be an internet slut - all social media, blogs etc...  Get your work everywhere!
Ask others to look at your folio
Look for Role Models
Create dreams

Advice from Andrew Quilty:
Take your camera everywhere
Take photos/be present at events that you think will be notable  (ie. Andrew took his camera to the Cronulla Riots and captured amazing shots that he was able to sell to different publications)
It is your duty as a photographer to document events
Make meetings to show your work
He also inspired me to use film more!

Day trip to Noosa:

(Above: Barksdale Brass Band)

A little treat for myself !
Dawn Tan - Ice cream cushion love. It is very nice to cuddle and pretend to lick.

(Modelled by my sister Lucinda)  Icream Softies available at Dawn Tan's Online Shop.

I wish I had some drawings to show - but I have to keep them secret at the moment.


Also, Happy Fathers Day Dad!


Remember to keep the date free on September 26 for my exhibition! 

Haircut phases

Did you know that I am haircut superstitious? I will only get my hair cut at the end of one phase/ the beginning of a new phase. So for example: Finishing a semester of uni, leaving for or returning from a holiday, getting a new job, or making some kind of life change.  Recently I accidentally skipped a hair cut before the beginning of a new phase and now I am stuck in the middle of a new phase with hair that is out of control!!  Why can't I simply just get a hair cut?  I think that if I get a hair cut now - it wont look right. Or I will be thrown off track!  I think that it is bad luck to get a hair cut in the middle of a phase and very bad luck to get a hair cut during a period of bad luck - you should always wait until something good and new happens before getting a hair cut.

(Above: wearing my favourite Sunday Social dress)

This sounds crazy.

It is. 

Maybe I was scarred from 'The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe' as a child, when all of Aslan's power was taken away from him when the monkeys cut his mane. 

I'm not used to having hair this long - it gets tangled around my face and neck when I sleep, caught in zippers or in doors, stuck under my armpit, tangled in necklaces and earrings and gives me a headache when it's up in a bun. 

But I feel like a princess or a mermaid with long hair and it's not the right time to cut it just yet. 

Here is a little superstitious ditty that I found about cutting your hair:

Cut it on Monday to attain health.

Cut it on Tuesday to gain wealth.

Cut it on Wednesday to hear the news.

Cut it on Thursday to get a new pair of shoes.

Cut it on Friday and there will be sorrow.

Cut it on Saturday and you will see your true love tomorrow.

Cut your hair on Sunday and the devil will be with you all week. (Umm... what!?  Ok I'm not that crazy!) 

Recently I was extremely excited to win  a Dawn Tan print!!!  I am such a big fan of her work - such a talented and inspirational lady! I had followed this piece right throughout the process - knowing that I would love it!  Now I am a proud owner of my very own Seafoody painting and I've been dying to share it!! I'm yet to get a frame, but it will definitely be going somewhere in my studio so I can look at it while I work. I also loved the fish & chips postcard that came with it (very fitting) which is now up on my wall. You can find her Seafoody print available here. 

Dawn also has some gorgeous ice cream pillow cases that I am eyeing off at the moment... Icecream Pillow Cases available in Dawn Tan's shop. 
Don't forget to visit the Hand Made Love blog for lots more Dawn Tan goodness!

This weekend I visited:
An exhibition opening at the Ryan Renshaw gallery. I hadn't been there before, but it's a great little gallery space - I highly recommend popping in.  I think exhibition openings are underrated in Brisbane, there is much to be enjoyed from a glass of wine whilst pondering the local art scene. I also went to the Portrait of Spain opening night last weekend at QAG to take photos for The Weekend Edition and it was spectacular!

And yesterday I went to Junk Bar in Ashgrove for the first time, which was a nice treat - it would be a great local if I wasn't living on the other side of town!! 

Today I am doing a few tests on some OHP sheets - nothing special here yet, but I've at least got a better idea of the sort of paint to use and a nice soft brush helps too! Do you have any tips for painting on glass or OHP sheets?  

I love this window front painting by Lucas Grogan!  I had this in the back of my mind when I was playing with different techniques - but not quite haha)

And here is an illustration I did recently for a flyer for Creative Play Central - Imagination Creations Classes.  The classes are designed to prompt children to think outside the box and use their imaginations to create in new and original ways.

Finally, I am lusting after these tea dresses for spring/summer! I remember Naughty Shorts being featured in Frankie Magazine quite a long time ago for her gorgeous, custom-made tea dresses! I was browsing through the fabric library choosing my favourite fabrics for my to-be custom dress (as summer is on the way) and I noticed that she does custom brides maid dresses - how pretty would that look!? Then everyone could pick their own dress/ material and hopefully want to wear it again! 

So much want for summer and to wear a beautiful tea dress!

By the way - I recently updated my illustration portfolio for 2012: http://emilynelsonillustrator.blogspot.com.au/  You can view all of my work here while my website is in the process of being updated!