Getting My Art On

It's hard to avoid art when you live down the road from a gallery... and spend most days in it's cafe.

I'm taking an avid interest in print making since I attended a weekend course at NERAM with Basil Hall of BHE. He's a superstar teacher and print maker doing lots of work in Aboriginal communities and running courses in places like Greece.

It was my first experience of etching on tin and using acid baths, aqua tinting and a printing press.
Here are tin plates soaking in acid solution. Eating away the design to create an indent that the ink will fill.

I loved discovering this process!
However with my innate self-criticism and perfectionism which truly comes out when I'm learning a new thing... I was pretty grumpy as I created some 'art' and found myself quite disappointed with my weekend's work.

But I kept telling myself "I'm learning and the outcome isn't important". (ie shut up brain).

In the last few hours of the weekend I grabbed a fresh plate of tin and a needle and quickly scraped this picture on to it. It's based on a photo I took of myself sitting on a beach in Exmouth, WA.

Far better than the hours of work I'd done previously, so I have one thing I'm happy to share.

Still, I felt a bit sad after my course because I am actually disappointed by my level of skill. I realised that I've always felt mediocore with art despite considering myself an artist... to be perfectly honest!

I can do the occassion impressive thing but ultimately my work is far from the talent of artists I respect. And that's a frustrating thing, to know what is good art and be unable to create it.

But someone said to me "Isn't it a case of practicing?" And I said, "well, with a bunch of talent too!"
But then I thought that without the practice, how would you know if the talent wasn't laying in there, just a bit dormant, just a bit hidden by lack of skill?

This caused me to feel hope and a drive to really practice.

I grabbed a piece of lino in the afternoon sun yesterday and sketched a bunch of pencils and an old leaf.

Then I sliced out parts pretty swiftly, seizing the moment of inspiration. I painted it and squashed it on paper...

and today I took a sketch pad on a walk around Blue Hole, the incredible gorge that lies just ten minutes out of Armidale. I sketched what I saw when we stopped.

So I'm researching, collecting, looking, playing. I can stop criticising myself.

I can simply be pleased that I am practicing, regularly. Giving my talent a chance to be discovered. (TBC).

[current mood] Crunchie Bars & Falling Water

30 Ties and No Occasion

This is the third participant in The Occasion project that I started in Armidale, NSW. I only managed to get through 3 people in my week as artist in residence at NERAM. But I will continue on as I travel around Australia... starting conversations about why we hang on to objects and ideas and fantasies and helping people seize the day and USE their things for a photoshoot.

I loved working with Hadley. He's one of my fantastic new friends in Armidale. Hadley has 30 ties he's been imagining wearing when he becomes a 'professional'. Years later, those ties haven't seen the fluorescent light of a day in the office.

Donating his ties to the occasion project was certainly a PROCESS as much as an outcome, as Hadley explains in the video piece below.

The Occasion: with Hadley from Neram on Vimeo.

Hands up if you want to take part if you're in Perth, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Armidale or Melbourne! I'll be in those parts over the next two months and I'd love for you to find an object that you are saving for a special occasion and use it in an everyday or unique way.

Got something? Email me.

[current mood] Old Funk & Cherries

The Occasion project: Lauren

Lauren Upjohn for The Occasion project.

I've been given the opportunity to be an artist in residence at NERAM in Armidale, NSW.

Heard of Neram? It's the absolutely under-rated New England Regional Art Museum which has the most impressive collection of Heidelberg era art in a regional area. It also runs education projects as well as touring and selling exhibitions. And not to mention the incredibly delicious and gourmet café I could LIVE IN! Neram Harvest.

As part of my residency I'm doing a project called The Occasion. And I'm setting up this blog for other artists to do residencies!

I've been thinking about this Occasion concept for a while. I think nearly everybody has some object they hang on to for a special occasion. We often buy these objects with a future fantasy story attached to them.

And it sits there, being un-lived. A tangible expression of not being present. Not seizing the day!

For example I bought this 60s swirly dress from an op shop for this fantasy party I might attend where I need to dress retro... 3 years on, no such party has occured. So if I were part of this project, I would pop on this dress and just head out for the day, do my shopping and enjoy the dress in the everyday occasion. I do the same thing with tea cups, stationery and shoes...

My first photographic subject is the horse riding country gal, Lauren Upjohn.

 

Here is the video I made of Lauren's Occasion.

The Occasion: with Lauren from Neram on Vimeo.

[current mood] Croissants & Camomile Tea with New Arty Friends on Squeeky Chairs

I'll take a photo of your teapot, for your teapot.

I love shooting things that I love. Such as this artwork 'Tea Brake' by Kim Schoenberger.

It seems I only shoot things I love... 

such as delicious food, photographed so well I want to eat it.

and old men, with their faces of wrinkles and hearts all melty. I just want to cuddle their quirky selves.

and then, of course, love ceremonies... where the beauty of the occasion inspires me with every shot.

and then, there is art!

Art that when I photograph it, I get so excited, I want it!

I had the privilege of taking photographs of Kim Schoenberger's assemblages. She makes them from discarded materials she finds in dumpsters and such places. The way they come together is some sort of magic. Unsuspecting pieces just fit into each other, Kim tells me. She seems to always find what she needs. And the pieces form, in many ways, themselves.

I set up my 'mobile studio' in her studio. Using a white table as a reflector. That's why they "pay me the big bucks". ah ha....

Keeping Afloat. You can see Kim uses clay with her metal pieces, to bring that earthy feel into form.

Domestic Duties - I saw this as a little robo-maid.

Be Love, Love Me.

I love this one too. Reminds me of an indigenous symbol - Wandjina. Or something of ancient, biblical symbolism. Those are clay-made bones, sticking out.

I met Kim through the ABC Open project Artist by Artist. You can watch this short film made on her, by children's book author Pat Flynn.

I did the cinematography and editing. Pat wrote the script and directed the piece.

Kim by Pat from ABC Open Sunshine Coast on Vimeo.

I HEART Kim and her work!

And what I find most excellent is the swapping of things for things - as opposed to money for things.

I chose the teapot as a little barter for a discount.

Now I need to find some fresh vegetables and some kind of shelter to photograph. That way I can really survive on this barter economy!

[current mood] home made muesli bars & kookaburras

Notes to Self

First press PLAY

Tomorrow (feat. Pom Pom) by Natalija Brunovs

It was one of those nights where you go to a party, someone tells you they play keyboard, you tell him you want to play keyboard, so you go to his room and start making some sweet music. In the real sense. Playing with loops on a M-Audio Oxygen 49. Now you will buy a keyboard and practice for sweet jamming!

This can be your soundtrack for this post.

 I made a magnetic chalkboard. I've kept it on my wall with this to-do list from a few weeks ago.

Even though I did this AGES ago it felt good to keep it up on the wall.

Wondering what the heck 'make a bone' is all about? Here you go:

It was a thank you from Oscar to Aaron who looked after him. Oscar kinda wanted it for himself.

I was talking to someone about TO DO lists and she envied my very short list on my chalkboard. I said it really works to just pick 3-4 things for the board and when you've done that you can choose another 3-4. Long lists often get completely overlooked by me!

But I thought an even better TO DO list would be one which is sort of inevitably going to be done.

I managed most of this today. But never did make that nap... too full of beans! (coffee beans)

So what about a TO DO list of things already done? Yes! Now that is what I call FEEL GOOD. We don't spend enough time soaking in the glory of things done before we move on to the next task.

Yes, I did all these today, look at those ticks! good on ME.

Here is some proof.... I squeezed out this painting:

It was inspired by the light coming through the Magnolia leaves.

And so what is on my chalkboard now?

A quote from ME to ME. A reminder of what TO DO.

[current mood] Connecting Chit Chat in Unsuspecting Places & Seductive Semolina Pudding

Artist by Artist by Artist

I'm producing a project for ABC Open in the Sunshine Coast called Artist by Artist.

It's the brainchild of myself and Solua Middleton in the Gold Coast. We're teaming artists together to make a documentary on each other. We're training them and collaborating with them to take them through the process and into a 3-5 minute finished film.

Besides being a radical experience for us and the artists.... (the challenges of collaboration, learning to the max, sticking with timelines and thinking outside of the box....) I have loved going into the homes of each of these artists. Besides prepping the scripts and storyboards, overseeing the interviews and shooting the footage, I've managed to make some time to shoot my favourite details of their places (with my iphone).

The more I spend time with these artists the more I acknowledge myself as an artist too.
It's artist by artist by artist!

I'm presenting you two of the artists today and more soon!

Here is Peter Carnavas. Children's book author.

Pete found a banana tree in the backyard and shared his lady fingers. This was SO welcome, with the price of bananas at the moment.

The first thing I saw was his hand drawn welcome sign.

Next to his desk was this illustration that looks like his family to me. All of them, the great love, he carries.

For the film he created this sign for his room. Hand drawn props rock!
Christine Elcoate is directing the film on Pete. Her idea is to have him illustrate the scenes that come to life.

Pete presents as a quiet man but he comes into his fullest self when presenting his illustrations and stories to children. They actively listen and he feels heard.

This is Kim Schoenberger. A discarded object sculptor and ceramic artist.

This is Kim's self portrait. (the one on the left)

Kim rummages through skip bins to find the objects for her stunningly awesome work.

I saw this on her desk. She told me I could have it. LOVE!!

Kim's house is full of objects that make me yearn to create. Macrame hangings in the loo inspire me!

This is Christine's gloved hand playing with one of Kim's works. She helped us record sound at the shoot. Kim's film is being directed by Pat Flynn, a children's book writer.

Kim's houses of discarded objects show us how beauty can be found in what we consider 'junk'. Her pieces speak to me, in ways I can't articulate. Their creation has been a healing process for Kim who feels she has been discarded too, in life. Kim describes the synchronisity of how her art comes together as magical, because you can't control what you find or how it turns into something before your eyes.

[current mood] Red Wine for Warmth & Ceramic Wind Chimes

Japanese Hearts

When I heard of the thousands of Japanese lives washed away in the recent earthquake-induced tsunami, I pictures the bodies being carried through the waves of water. I thought of those individual lives, each one a beating, real, full life of dreams and hopes and complexity, such as my own.

Often events overseas pale to our own daily lives, we're so caught up in our heads and can't empathise with the suffering of others.

I painted each heart. For each heart deserves its honour. Each warm, blooming, love-filled heart.
And then, like those hearts, I washed my art away.

Today's moody, misty and rainy morning started with the objective 'to do nothing'. I tried, but something always ends up being done. This was it.

[current mood] Fresh Juice & Aimee Mann

The best craft day ever

I often contemplate being an arty crafty teacher and when I tell people about it they often say I should avoid the school system and just do it in my own way. This seems a tad daunting to me and I end up action-paralysed for fear of floppery.

BUT! I took a baby step and asked my young neighbour if she'd like to come over weekly for a craft afternoon. A great idea in theory and then I realise I really needed to have some solid ideas and get home early from work...

So of course I got her started on the giant pom pom...I had to keep her going with food. Sort of part of the deal with this one, as it felt a bit like enforced craft-labour.

and once that was done.. mmm, I ran out of ideas. oh...

But before the plate was clean I recalled my teenage love of paper-making and out came the kit and I sent her off to collect flower petals.

Whilst I made a haphazard attempt at pink dye using beetroots (and ultimately many drops of red food colouring).

Then we put the soaked paper into the blender with stacks of water, the pulp went into the sink of more water so we could slip our deckle in and out...

And yet it still came out cardboard-thick! And so the paper sat on my coffee table for a few weeks...

Until I was called over to her house for a Christmas craft session. Apparently it was 'sad' that I didn't have any decorations. Not a bauble in sight at my house. And so, my god, I actually think I've made something kind of original. It's the ubiquitous christmas lantern but USING our homemade thick paper with petals.

I'm absolutely in love with these. I get a rush of endorphins when I look at it.

The food dye drops we put on the paper and the dried petals create gorgeous tints of colour.

And so I went to my old sheets of paper that I made when I was 14. (And had kept ever since...) and I found me a little Monday afternoon craft... just for me.

I think I've hit my peak with craft days...

[current mood] The National & Greek Table Wine (in Red)

Art House

I always love an artist's house.

Every corner is an unintentional artistic expression.

This artist also makes hoola hoops. He lives in an old cottage in Kenilworth.
His name is Matthew O'Callaghan.

His gallery is out the back of his house overlooking a gorgeous creek and luscious greenery.

Matt is also playing with creating 3D images which you view with old people glasses.
Like a magic eye puzzle, once you get it, it's freaking awesome!

Even his pillows are a colour palette that inspires.

I like details. Not for anyone else but himself. A stunning flower from the garden, an opshop lamp. You can't buy this kind of eclectic, seemingly effortless style and often you can't explain it.

Matt played guitar with my friend Sean and so I went into the garden to make a contribution...

It's xmas after all...

Little did I know that Sean was picking me a xmas present out the back...
So I made him a little video of one of the tricks I learnt I can do with my very own hoola hoop.

Hoola Hoop Gift from Natalija Brunovs on Vimeo.

[current mood] The Meters & Cherries

The Mapleton List

I live in Mapleton. People come to visit.

They're often here for just a couple of days. There is too much to do.

Every time someone comes here we get all creatively inspired and develop at least 20 fun project ideas and must-dos. From impromptu dance performances and pompom installations to harmonica songwriting and funny photography projects.

And usually not one is done because the time flies between the sleeping, the eating and the talking.

But this time my brother and I developed 'The Mapleton List'... (previously titled the Mapleton Bucket List).

It's Dave's last night tonight and although we haven't written the 'trail walking song' or painted a chess board using originally themed painted pebbles as pieces or even visited the beach...
today we painted.

Just an hour on the balcony today and look what we did! We can tick something off the list.

I remembered how much I love painting and that I should make time for it. So guests are especially good for that. And now I have a hard-copy memory of Dave's visit, as does he.

[current mood] Pink Liqueur in Champagne & Crickets at 7pm