A day off finally arrived after working for the last six days and I was determined that I was going to head out for the day to explore, relax and drift. I got on the bus to Coolangatta, a nearby seaside town 15 miles away. It was a place that I hadn't yet explored and it was great to be seeing somewhere new on my own. It is a beautiful little town, with some lovely beaches to explore and it was great to be on foot as I investigated! I walked up to Point Danger and watched out to sea at the surfers cruising over the waves. 

While I was up there I stumbled upon a fabulous little gallery showing work by local artists. The building that housed the gallery was a delight in itself! I then wandered back down to the main beach, Greenmount beach and sat for a while drawing.  Arriving home about 8pm, I felt relaxed and content! A good day was had :)

Ah what a week! It's been a busy seven days and it has continued to rain relentlessly!!  I had a good time over Christmas, even though it was non stop and away from home.  Been working on a couple of collages today, one is below.  I've combined images of Manchester with drawings I have done over here.  I really enjoyed the process of removing parts of my drawing from the composition, using a digital eraser instead of a real one! It feels good to have no inhibitions and no worries about destroying a piece.  Photography and drawing are really important aspects in my work but I have never combined them like this before.  I like that this small study has suggestions of the cellulose thinners effect, where images are transferred and scratched at.

I have made a pact to myself that I am going to write on this once a week. I constantly have thoughts running through my mind and I find it very theraputic to scribble it down somwhere and here is an ideal place! Visting Brisbane last week was really great, I felt so refreshed and inspired walking amongst the new unknown bulidings. It was good to be in a city again and it made me realise that I may actually miss Manchester!! Whilst in the city I visited South Bank which is a fantastic area, full of little cafes and bars and I also had a wander round Brisbane Art Gallery. Ahhh...it felt so peaceful walking round on my own where it was so tranquil and quiet. Bliss!

South Bank, Brisbane 

 I saw an exhibition in there that had interesting aspects to it. I loved the phrase 'Abstract Expressionist gone surfing' that was said to describe a series of paintings in the gallery. I love this loose, reckless way of working and the paintings had a lot of enegy to them. Whilst in the gallery I came across some inspiring quotes by other artists. I love this one, I can really relate to this idea and way of working and I feel I carry this thought in my own working style.

Brisbane at night

'I did not paint these works as a visitor to the landscape, but as one who lived in it and experienced it every day.' William Robinson, Australian artist.

Out on the balcony :)

I haven't wrote on here for a few weeks, but in that time I have had some valued thinking time and some quiet moments to get my pencils and paints out. It has taken me a few weeks to gather thoughts, settle here and feel confident to start working and I think I am just about ready to start playing with ideas. Being away from home, out of my studio has been quite daunting but it is also quite refreshing not knowing what form my work will take and what materials will be used. Being in a more relaxed and less hectic frame of mind has given me a chance to think about my work and the work I hope to create. Meeting up with a fellow artist last week was a great chance to talk about arty things, ideas I have got and also my feelings about my new environment. I have found, particularly since being here that my surroundings have a significant impact on my emotions and creative thoughts.  I seem to look at everything around me with intrigue, with an investagive eye – thoughts like 'how could I use that piece of text?', 'could I recreate those colours myself?'

Just as I write this I am organising myself a little arty space, in the corner of my bedroom. I really wanted to have my own table and wall space where I can stick things up and have a desk to do some drawing. Since arriving here and also during my short stay in Singapore I have been gathering bits of things to work on and work from. Being on a budget and determined to make use of found materials I have been keeping pieces of newspapers, leftover cardboard and also used envelopes. I really want to create work that is placed in that particular moment in time, giving my work a memory and a connection to that time in my life.

Every day, when I sit looking out from the balcony I still feel baffled and almost amused that I am sat looking out onto a beautiful waterway and surrounded by palm tress. The phrase 'A New Landscape' keeps going through my mind, a striking contrast to my home where I was 8 weeks ago! I still wake up everyday and wonder where I am! The colours around me are different – more vivid and crisp, the light streams into the room every morning, the sound of birds singing outside wakes you up...it definitely helps you rise in a morning :)

A quiet morning sketching :)

19 Karen Gallery - Exhibition Opening

On Saturday, I went to 19 Karen gallery for an exhibition opening. I have been reading about the gallery and their artists for a few months, before I had even arrived in Australia so I was quite excited about finally going to the gallery. Getting the bus, I had a hand written map to find the gallery and thankfully a man & his daughter got off the bus and unknowingly led me to the gallery! Mermaid Beach, where the gallery is located is an interesting little area. Getting off the bus at 6pm, the sun had almost set and so the light had an illuminating glow. Every neon light and sign seemed to glow around me, it felt artificial but magical too.

Mermaid Beach

Entering the gallery I was welcomed and offered a delightful glass of champagne! I met Katy Mitchell, a fellow artist who works at the gallery and also displays some of her ceramic pieces in the gallery. Being on my own I was able to explore the space and the artist's work at my own pace, whilst enjoying my first glass of wine on the Gold Coast! The atmosphere in the space was fantastic, live music, friendly people and great art work. I particularly liked the work by Dan O'Tool and also Jeremy Piert for his loose unfinished style. It was great to be amongst other creative people, enjoying the work and listening to each artist talk about their own work. I felt so relaxed, I didn't have a train to catch or no car to drive home – it felt great :)

Jeremy Piert & Ryan Preece

It was a really great night, I felt extremely welcome and the gallery totally exceeded my expectations.

Singapore at night! :)

Well..I've been here for only three days and it is like I have been here for weeks! I have got myself organised and I feel like I have done a lot! A 3-day stopover in Singapore really made the journey over here. Singapore – what a fascinating city and sooo hot!!  Arriving at Brisbane airport was slightly alarming as the sky was very grey and gloomy, it felt like we had landed back in the U.K! And the journey down the Gold Coast was even more disturbing as at the side of the rail tracks roads were flooded and cars were underwater! But since arriving, the weather has continued to improve and it has been quite a relief to be able to gradually adjust to the warmer weather. The area around where I live is fantastic, there is so much to see and appreciate. I feel like I am living in a permanent zoo, there is so much wildlife around here! Lizards are everywhere! Being next to Budds Beach is great as you only have to step out of the apartment and you are walking alongside a beautiful waterway with moored up yachts along it. The town (Surfers Paradise) is quite intense but is great as it is has everything you need and isn't too busy. I am looking forward to the 19 Karen gallery opening on Saturday, excited about meeting some other artists and experiencing some new art work. I feel that things are starting to settle down here now and my mind feels more open to creative thoughts. Each day is much more simpler and I feel quite relaxed. I am looking forward to the coming weeks as I get to know the area a little better and who knows what I will see scurrying across my front lawn!    

My portable studio :)

Only 5 days to go until I leave Manchester and head to Australia.  Over the past few days I have been getting myself organised and speaking to my close friends about the exciting few months ahead of me!! Up at my studio I have been gathering my materials together that I intend to take with me and have also been attempting to tidy my space!!
I'm feeling quite nervous about leaving but also very excited about seeing new places and making work in entirely new surroundings.  I have been making work at Woodend Mill since I graduated and it is a refreshing thought that for the next six to eight months I will be creating work whenever and wherever I can!

On October 6^th 2010 I am leaving the U.K to live in Australia for six months. I am hoping through this theraputic pouring of my thoughts that I will document a journey that happens physcially and also in my artistic practice. I also hope to create connections with other artists that can help and guide me on this artistic quest, a self-directed residency that I hope will be an amazing adventure.  I intend to regularly update this blog as the weeks and months unfold, sharing my experiences and my thoughts.  Wish me luck! :)