Friday, January 25, 2008

Name & Shame and Inspiration

Weekly Name and Shame: -600g

not much BUT it is negative (must remember to focus on the positives here)

Stuff:

well, it has been a busy week getting out some client reports, entertaining at the tennis - I was sorry to see Serena go out, general work stuff and a DAY OFF TODAY!!!

so, what did I do on my day off you ask.... no art work yet, but there are still some hours left to redress that problem. What I did do was a bit of online shopping at artchix (they have some very nice new products ladies), food shopping and clean up my yard - back and front. Weeding, mowing whippersnippering etc. Doesn't the backyard look great:

(this great chair was a roadside find!!!)

I also managed to break my old garden rake today - but it is SO COOL, that I am thinking I will keep it and turn it into something???? no idea what, so any suggestions gratefully received (it could come with me in my grab-bag for the demeng class....)


Part of the reason I undertook some power gardening today was that I am feeling a little un-inspired after a pretty frantic 4 days at work. I *know* that I have 2 baby cards to make (probably 3 but one is so late now that it might be embarrassing to send - I'll just have to do extra well on his 1st birthday card), but I don't really know what to do... I am just a bit listless today.

So, in a last ditch attempt at procrastination ... I thought I would whip around the house looking through a lens at "stuff" to see if it would inspire me.


I love the red in this one - this is a closeup of the badge on my old kelvinator (chardy) fridge, it is so emotive - so very 50's....


This is a chook made from wire that lives in my herb patch - she is finally starting to get that beautiful blue/green patina on her body from being weathered. Just love that colour, but have no idea how to reproduce it with paint.....

Last but not least we have this:


I bought some old auto parts on e-bay last year, and the biggest surprise was these metal "bins" they arrived in. They seem very WW2-esque to me with the stenciled numbers starting to come off, and the metal beginning to look extremely battered. I can imagine that they have been thrown around in the back of an American serviceman's jeep whilst he was racing across open ground under fire to repair a tank! I think I feel some stencilling coming on.

These baby cards will probably be the most unusual ones new parents have ever received. I never thought about WW2 in pastel shades before!

I will post them up once complete so that you can see where this journey is going.

4 comments:

Bellany said...

Yeah for 600g! A loss is a loss and gardening would burn up some kilos. Wow - you certainly have an 'eye'. I thought you and your friends may like these quotes. Your shots reminded me of the last quote by Whistler:
”When I judge art, I take my painting and put it next to a God made object like a tree or flower. If it clashes, it is not art.” -- Marc Chagall.
”What distinguishes a great artist from a weak one is first their sensibility and tenderness; second, their imagination, and third, their industry.” -- John Ruskin.
”Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” -- Picasso.
”An artist is not paid for his labour but for his vision.” --. James MacNeill Whistler.

LizzieA01 said...

Thanks Bee - I must say that the last one does appeal! I must try and use it on a piece!

Ev said...

If you are doing a class with Michael ask him to show you how to do that patina in paint...I am sure he would oblige. I did a class with him last year in Perth and he is just the nicest person going (did a class with Tim the year before in Perth and he is just so sweet too). I am looking forward to seeing what you do with that rake...looks like it could be some kind of crown.

LizzieA01 said...

Thanks Ev - I will ask on Sunday!