a Better day

[noodle]

a Better day

Hi - at last

Hiya Beachbump, sorry for delay in reply - I can't remember where I post half the time, and that's sober! I've drawn and painted for ever, but only started studying last year as I felt frustrated it just wasn't going anywhere. I love olis and canvas, and I also love graffiti, and 3d, making dolls, sewing, textiles, embroidery, kniting and so on. For a fair few years I've painted and crafted just about everything with a box of wine at my side, which I'd gradually make my way through in a day, whilst my art work went downhill rapidly. At first I thought it could only release some 'creative expression' and that it would be fantastic as all my true feelings would be down on canvas. In fact, any creativity, I reckon, needs a lot of clarity, thought and wisdom, I don't think there's ANYTHING I've done whilst pissed that I'm happy with, which is scary considering how much I did whilst pissed. The stuff I've done in class, or somehow sober, I'm much happier with. It may not be any different to the outsider (the art world's a crazy place, seems you can sell anything if it's in the right place), but it was all far from anything I had in mind when I started off! I'm on day 9 today (yaya - double figures tomorrow!), and feel much more in control of my art projects already. I'm able to sit and doodle, working things out, instead of throwing paint around in wild abandon, which sounds exciting, but I just don't have the skill to do that, especially whilst plastered, just a waste of bleedin' paint.
I'm just about to start my next painting, but still planning - another new stratagy, called 'searching for you', which is all about finding myself, as I was, if you get what I mean, and I'm looking forward to doing every brush stroke sober.
What art do you do? Hope your having a lovely sober day! XXXX

[Beachbump]

a Better day

Hi Noodle,

Yes - I also thought that while intoxicated my inhibitions will be surpressed and that teh "true" me will come out - unfortunately it does'nt happen because the next day I had to paint over that rubbish! Only working with oils. Love oils on canvas and the smell of the oil mixed with terpentine. I don't know wheter I told you but my husband is actually a very good painter - in his genes - his father was a well known painter in SA as well all over the world (don't think in NZ though) - so he has a natural way of drawing. It is with his encouragement that I started painting and for a short while when we were still living in SA attend some art classes. The tutor told me at that stage that I have the most talent that she ever saw in any of her students. My husband also believe the same thing - BUT drawing does not come natural to me. I'm very good with colour and paint strokes. That I knw - but I don't think I'm that good. My work is impressionistic. I love the work of the older painters (not necessary old masters, but also them) - Dali, Matisse, Frida Kahlo and there is a lot to see of them in my work. I also normally paint things that are related to issues that I struggle with - like babies & fetus'e (i'm adopted) and booze. My paintings are ussally on very huge canvasses, lots of vibrant colours, flowers, womes with red hair (like mine) with a message of alcohol or something like that... Recently I started doing paintings of local social scenes where I live but battling with it because it doesn't come from "inside".

Maybe we must PM soem of our paintings to each other...

This new painting "searching for you" - will it be like a collage?

Also, I do a lot of crafts - have a little factory here with 2 Zimbawers making crafts like handbags and pants - very over the top and "arty". My daughter selling it in SA.

Hope to here from you soon.

[noodle]

a Better day

Hiya BB,
Yeah that sounds like a cool idea. Your factory sounds awesome! There's a fair trade shop near us and I love the fabrics and textiles, I'm a real magpie, the more colour and texture the better. I'll try and sort out some images to send you, not very computer liteate I'm afraid! If you get a message with no pictures, let me know!! Duh!
Hope you're doing o.k. xx

[Beachbump]

a Better day

Can't wait to see!!!