During my visit to Melbourne in January I took myself on a self-guided tour of the city and I came across a backstreet covered in graffiti, where earlier in the year there was an original piece by Banksy.  

I asked a complete stranger to take my photo and it was exhilarating jumping up into the air!! There are a couple of, what I assume, homages to Banksy's piece just above me in the photo which I think is great - the piece lives on!!

Have a look at 'Jumping In Art Museums' blog where you will find my photo and many others from all over the world.  It is a great blog, really puts a smile on your face.  Visiting art galleries is not something you usually photograph yourself doing and so I think it is a great idea, as it creates a memory of this normally unrecorded experience and also adds fun to it! :)  

 

Check out this article, it explains what happened to the Banksy piece!!

 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/28/2884476.htm.  

Ah Melbourne, what a place. Full of surprises. St Kilda, the Pier with the penguins, Federation Square, Centre Pl, Street Art, live music on the streets, the weather! ...Loved the place.

Exploring the city on the first day I came across a great unused space that I would love to take over for a show. Small delicate pieces placed amidst this industrial space.

A great exhibition space :)

St Kilda Pier watching the penguins arrive!

After briefly exploring the city on the first day, we got the tram back to St Kilda where we were staying to watch the penguins arrive at the end of the pier. It was a memorable experience.

Sat in Federation Square at night

On one of the days, I went on a walking tour of the city where I discovered some of the wonderful back streets of Melbourne (pictured below).

On my walking tour

As you can see I've decided to use more photos than words as it is all too difficult to describe! I had a great time in Melbourne amidst the art, varied architecture and relaxed atmosphere.

Been thinking a lot about my work recently and about myself as an artist. I have had this strong desire to create work and tonight was the perfect night where I sat at my desk and busied away on some new small studies. It was so quiet and I had no interruptions :) I'm visiting Melbourne a week tomorrow and I am so excited about visiting a new city. I have heard great things and I am looking forward to walking round seeing a totally new place.

Working on my new pieces I have had many thoughts whirling around my head. The colours of this different landscape, the difference in nature – the trees, the flowers, the amount of wildlife around me, the architecture – everything I see! I hope to work with some of these thoughts when creating these new pieces. I am hoping to create a juxtaposition in each little study. A double image to create that feeling of confusion. The new (here) and the old (home).