The Clowns are coming!!!

Finally, the clown!! I have planned and worked this image for a long time and it's finally here!! The initial shoot didn't work the way I wanted it to, but it answered and solved its own issues. The re-shoot was a success and I am very pleased. I shot it Sunday, so I haven't had time to do much on it yet, but here's a sneak preview. I'm so excited about this image!!

I still have to re-shoot my deer image, but that's the last one. I'm slightly concerned about it and would prefer not to re-shoot, but when you must, you must. I'm scared that in fixing the few things that didn't work, I will not be able to make the rest work as it should in a new location. We shall see.

I am now really looking forward to having some time soon to just shoot. Images that do not have to fit in or belong anywhere, that can just be what they want as they are created. Though I dread the harsh reality of non university life, I can only assume that it will bring good things. Hopefully in a few years I can do go back and do my phd. Onwards and upwards.

And the Fat lady will sing

She will, but thankfully not for another couple of weeks. Which is very good news for me and the load of work I have left. Now that all my sculptures are done (minus hands, they're another story), I can start repairing them. Yep. They like breaking when I use them. I guess being dragged around just isn't their thing. Which is ok. Things break, people break, we mend, it's just how it goes. I think I actually like that they do. It somehow gives them more.. life, I guess.

So.. Final creature to this pack, The Bunny.

Painting fur... Easier said than done.

Working outside to enjoy some sunshine

Final touches, and tada... he's done. Meet Mr. Bunny. I like how his innocent appearance will contrast the images. And I'm crossing fingers that it will all work together to create something that is both humorous and horrid at the same time. A push and pull kind of effect.

Are you scared yet?

When it rains, it pours. How true. The past few months have been a rollercoaster in more ways than one. A race against time and money. With only a few more weeks to go a feeling of panic is rapidly descending upon me. So much to do, so little time and absolutely no money to do it with.

To add to the mix, I just got confirmation that I have a solo show at Bus Projects in Melbourne from the 19^th of January to the 5^th of February. I should be ecstatic. I should be jumping for joy. But I am terrified.  It will be the biggest thing I have ever tried to pull of as an artist. It will be my first ever solo show. It will cost a small fortune. It scares the bejesus out of me. Before that we have our final assessment for our honours degree the 16^th of November with a group show opening the following day. Stressed yet...?

The only thing I can do to keep from loosing my mind is keep working. I am looking for jobs every day to try and magically come up with the money, but so far it seems that a person with an arts degree just can’t find a job that doesn’t involve taking care of other peoples kids. Compared to trying to find a job like the ones I am applying for in Norway, it is ridiculous. Soon the Norwegian government will come knocking at my door with large bills to pay saying: So, you decided to become an artist and now you need to pay for it. Slam dunk. Check mate.

If I was religious I would probably be praying by now, but I’m not. As a non-religious, but yet spiritual person, I can only hope that some magical and mysterious force, event or fate, will pull me through.

Until then, there is much work to be done. I am hoping the rainy clouds I’m looking at will empty themselves and leave before nightfall so I can finally get some shooting done. I’ve finished making all my bunny outlines and an oversized costume; it’s all good to go. All I need now is a little luck with weather, light and model, and I’ll finally get some sleep.

So, when you don’t pray, I guess you just cross fingers.

x

mask making and other sticky things

Grasshopper mask, half done. First layer of paper mache on the mould.

A few layers later.... change of paper to a thicker, white. Harder to sculpt, but better for texture and base colour.

First layer of white paper. Before I get to this stage, the mask mould is made from paper, then it's covered in paper mache using news paper for about three layers and then two or three layers of this white paper.

Newest edition to the gang, and also the last one for this body of work. (I'll post images of all of them later at some stage.) This one is another head piece and still has a lot of work to do. I'm attaching fabric as sort of a veil that will function both to hide the eyes of whoever is wearing it, and give mr. bunny some clothes.

This week I'll be shooting my clown image. Finally, I should say. I'm still working on the costume and such, but it is more or less ready to go... this weekend I did a few tests to work out some rabbit outlines for the image. So far, this is what I've settled on. They will be placed around the clown in the landscape.

Todays heart...II

Claire Morgan's installation Fluid. Absolutely stunning.  (photos by Kris Heath)

More of Claire Morgan's work here

Todays heart...

I've started spending a couple of hours or more every morning 'art surfing'. It gives me time to consider the things I need to do to move further along with my work. And also allows me to just consume images, scan hundreds of them for something that catches my eye or makes me stop for some reason. I took me a while to decide what it was today. I wanted to find something new, something I hadn't seen before. Then I found this. Eye candy. Beautifully quirky.

Todays heart... Liz Wolfe. Her work is absolutely excellent and a good example of an image maker (as opposed to an image taker.) I guess you could say she's a small scale Sandy Skoglund, who is probably one of my favorite artists.  Without further ado:

Liz Wolfe

Bunnies in Blood, 2004 

Bunny with Candy, 2008

                                      

Butterflies on Branch, 2008 | Meat Tree, 2008

                                       

Chicken Feet with Lilies, 2004

                                       

Popsicle, 2008 | Cupcakes, 2008

                                       

Yellow Shoes and Sardines, 2004

All images © Liz Wolfe                 lizwolfe.com

Before bed, I heart... III

Norwegian photographer Simen Johan. (I'm allowing myself some old favorites. I can indulge.) He explores relationships between real and the artificial or imagined, and works with composites. As well as allowing for dialogues with narrative and fantasy, his images also questions the authenticity of photography in the digital era.  I love this guy. He rocks my socks off.

From the series "And Nothing Was To Be Trusted"

From the series "Evidence of Things Unseen"

All images © Simen Johan

simenjohan.com

In the morning, I heart...II

(nevermind that it's afternoon already) Joel-Peter Witkin. What an artist. I love his work, all day, every day. I heart you, Mr. Witkin.

                        All images © Joel-Peter Witkin

More images can be found here and here

Before bed, I heart... II

Czech photographer and artist Jan Saudek. I have been a fan of his for many years and never tire of his amazing images.

Catching the Breeze, 1984 © Jan Saudek

Czech Girl Singing, 1990 © Jan Saudek

The Saint, 1992 © Jan Saudek

All images courtesy of saudek.com

Excellent site

Sweet Station is a treat of a site to do some art surfing. I've spent a greater part of my morning finding some very, very good work here. Like this:

Zachary Zavislak (this reminds me a lot of my newest image, Anathema. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks sheep's heads make for good props.)

Ryan Schude

Daikichi Amano 

Roberto Kusterle

Ashkan Sahihi (from Cum series. Oh yeah. A series of photographs of people who have just been ejaculated on. haha. Love it.)

sweet-station.com

In the morning, I heart...

Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum.

The seed protectors, 1987

Sleeping Twins, 1987

Man Bitten by Snake, 1992

Dawn, 1990

All images courtesy of nerdrum.com

Before bed, I heart...

Jan von Holleben and his series Dreams of flying

The Superman © Jan von Holleben

The King Kong © Jan von Holleben (images from janvonholleben.com)