Kittys Drawings

And it was awesome! YAY.

We went to +39 Pizzeria on Lt Bourke and nommed on pizzas (what else)….Audrey was really really lovely – even though I felt awkward as usual. She did a drawing for me on my napkin – which is now in a photoframe on my desk.

Sooo…..I drew something quick just before – inspired by the lady herself – but not as good of course. And looks crappier than the sketch I did. Oh well – I’m really not that good at linework on Painter….Bah!

Here are some terrible photos of the night. Jonny’s ones are better.

Yaaay!

and here’s my cruddy drawing

Better work next time I promise.

Hii!!

Omg omg prepare for some serious fan-girl gushing…

Now when it comes to celebrities and famous people in general, I’m not really the gushy type…However – with artists I admire it’s quite the opposite. So it is with some trepidation and much elation that I look forward to the coming exhibition at Outre Gallery – the one and only Audrey Kawasaki showing her latest work, a collection called Tangled – starting Friday Oct. 22nd (next week!)

So this post is my attempt at scoring a dinner with the artist and the awesome Outre crew
I’m not gonna lie – I want stuff. Not like this blog is filled with ads and sponsored posts anyway So I hope everyone’s okay with me yabbering on about ART for a bit.

I shall begin with giving props to everyone at Outre – Jonny’s been taking photos for them for a little while now – and they’ve always been our first port of call when choosing something to hang on our walls.  All the staff are super friendly and it’s hard to leave the place without wanting to buy almost everything in-store! Not to mention they have the BEST artists. Angelique Houtkamp and Tara McPherson being two other favourites whose opening nights/signings we went to…Jonny took photos – I stood around completely stars-struck and speechless. Pathetic really

So – about Audrey ….Well I can’t remember when I first discovered her work. It must have been either through Outre or via the web somewhere. I became an immediate fan – Everything about her art is perfect to my eyes. Her linework especially is so immaculate and clean – everything flows so neatly and the shapes just sit right. It’s kind of a hard thing to put into words – but the lines capture form and weight so effortlessly. And the hair – oh gosh! If I could draw hair half as well!
I particularly like how in some of her more recent stuff she seems to be loosening up a degree – most noted in the backgrounds which are more textural and abstract. They remind me of the visual static at the edges of dreams – kind of like that hazy soft memory after you’ve woken and can’t quite remember all the details.

See

So delicate and intricate. I love how she renders eyes – sultry and languid and kind of cunning. Awesome.

The other thing we are to write about for this competition, is what we’d suggest Audrey would enjoy in Melbourne. Where do I begin? Melbourne is a fantastic city – I’ve been here 7 years now and there’s always something new to discover. When I first arrived here on a short visit in 2003, it was the first time I’d truly felt at home. And this came to me on the drive into Richmond from the airport! Entirely unusual for someone who’s lived in two countries and both sides of Australia, to come to a foreign city and immediately feel more comfortable than any place before it.
Anyway – Melbs is a haven for the artist – we have more things to entertain the creative mind than you can poke a pencil at. It goes without saying, you can lose yourself for hours in the city’s lane-ways. Almost every seemingly scummy, bin-lined alley has a restaurant, cafe or boutique tucked away if you just look.  Some of my favourite hangouts when in the CBD would be around Degraves St of course. It’s the domain of the posing Hipster but it’s a good spot to have a coffee (Degraves Espresso is your best bet in this area) and just people-watch.  There’s a whole bunch of cute shops around there selling everything from cupcakes to (tasteful) lingerie. I love Kinki Gerlinki and there’s a fabulous jewelry store (Gazelle) just inside Centre Place right next to Shag
Shag gets touted for it’s vintage goodies but it’s laden with too much 80′s for my tastes….If you’re after pretties, there’s a new shop just on the corner of Swanston St & Flinders Lane in that building called Harry Wagg (I think!) which sells “new” clothes made from vintage fabrics. Very pretty! Oh and you MUST stop at Zomp for their gorgeous shoes…..If you’re into Australian designers, Green With Envy have a stunning selection of dresses which is just opposite Zomp.
From Flinders Lane to Collins/Little Collins St – More laneways – The Block Arcade for chocolate, cafes and shoes. Royal Arcade has one of the best chocolate shops in Melbourne – Koko Black – delicious!

Now you couldn’t come to Melbourne without a trip out to Fitzroy. Gertrude St and Brunswick St have too many treasures to mention. The new Seven Seeds cafe De Clieu at 187 Gertrude opened today! - You can always count on these guys to serve up some of the best coffee in town (I don’t say THE best because we have that many really excellent coffee spots). And Circa Vintage for real vintage.
Industria is on Gertrude as well – Full of industrial (der) goodies for your home – think bowls made from butane gas tanks, those big hospital theater lighting rigs, antique dentists cabinets and much scientific paraphernalia like beakers and test tubes. Awesome! I could spend hours in that shop.
Up Brunswick St you can have a beer at the Little Creatures Dining Hall – and there are so many jewelry stores and independent fashion boutiques. Oh! And the best choc in town (better than Koko Black) – Shocolate. Sumptuous desserts and chocolate yum!

(some pics for distraction)

I could go on – Writing up a huge guide on Melbourne…St Kilda is great too but a little too touristy – There’s an art market there on Sundays along the Esplanade. And numerous cake shops – which I think look better than they taste. It’s fun just to ogle at the cakes. If you want sweets, better head to Il Fornaio where it’s said they do fantastic desserts. I’ve only had breakfast there – which was ace. Also there are fab pastries to be had at Baker D Chirico.

I really hope Audrey enjoys her trip – I’m not sure if I like exactly the same things she likes – I can only go by how I like to spend my time. We’re in the city and inner suburbs every weekend – It’s a beautiful place just to wander in, the architecture being so diverse…from the ultra modern Fed Square to the stunning Manchester Unity Building – or the Gothic bank on Queen/Collins St.

OH! And I mustn’t forget the graffiti – there’s some fantastic street art EVERYWHERE. Hosier Lane is excellent and there’s quite a few spots in Fitzroy too.

Blabber blabber blabber. I love Melbourne! Should wind this up huh. If you’re still reading – please come along to the exhibition at Outre – It runs til the 10th of November. If you’re in Sydney – dates are the 29th Oct to 15th Nov. Don’t miss it! I honestly think Audrey is one of the most talented and accomplished artists alive today. Without a doubt, my favourite (that’s a big call I know – but I’ve thought about this okay ).

Umm…see – gushy.

Shuddup Esz.

Signing off….

*crosses fingers*

(all images belong to Audrey of course)

Okay so I’ve been gone a while…and still don’t have much content for you….

But my big news from the other day was that I was going to take part in Melbourne Spring Fashion Week as a model for Super Kawaii Mama’s Vintage Glamour presentations. Woo, what a mouthful! But WOW was it fun! Not too many photos as yet so I’ll wait to post the big write-up when we all get the professional pics through.

More info (and a much better & more timely post than this) over at Super Kawaii Mama

Should be able to FINALLY finish the drawing I’m working on tomorrow so YES, I will have some art up here eventually. Raaar I SUCK!!

Hi everyone!

Wow two posts in a week! And colours too. Omg what is the world coming to? Hehe

So what’s got me so excited as to be posting twice – and even doing a drawing to fit? Macarons of course. Who can resist these little delicacies? They seem to be all the rage right now, quickly taking over cupcakes in the trendy sweet stakes.

Claire of Melbourne Gastronome fame recently did a post about all about them and how those in the know can have access to the best macarons in Melbourne – those created by Duncan of Syrup and Tang. All you needed to do was put your name down on his website and hang out for that special email telling you when you can get your hands on a few. If you’re quick enough that is Being a complete sucker for treats, I was all over it. Eagerly I awaited any news….

And yesterday that news came. It took me all of 2 minutes to shoot off a reply saying “WANT PLZ” and my quick typing meant I was in line to receive my goodies. Following instructions for my pickup I landed these babies this afternoon…Salted caramel flavour and one test Seville orange marmalade which is to sit in the fridge for another day or so as they were apparently a FAIL, with a too crunchy shell. No matter. I was stoked.
So here are my photos – I nom’d one just to show you the insides….this was before dinner too…see what I do for this blog?

And let me tell you, these were DELICIOUS. I could eat 100. Bestest ever. Not too sweet, with that dash of salt, but gooey with a delicate, crisp outer. Mmmmm….sooo good!

Here’s my commemorative drawing. Broke out the Wacom and everything. Really need to get back to digital!

Until next time peeps, seeya!

This Sunday I finally caught up with the Melbourne Gra-Fight Club (cool name) – the weekly sketch meet with the peeps from ConceptArt.org (from here-on in referred to as CA cos I can’t be bothered typing it).  The usual routine, an arvo of sketching people passing by and practicing your speed and accuracy. We meet on the steps of the GPO and weather permitting, hang about there or move on to other locations.

I managed to spot Harbour-Master as she waited for a tram and because she’s always dressed impeccably, I had to draw her. Its always the clothes that attracts me to sketch a person – you’ll see that trend in the other drawings I did that day Its a bit of a dodgy sketch cos I was still warming up. Eerrrggh. The one next to it is some more warm ups just of faces.

Gettin the hang of things…

This chick had the weirdest outfit….Shiny black leather/vinyl jacket – biker style….with a long, pale blue tie-dye skirt and weird sandal type things that were like sandals from the ankle down and boots from the ankle up. ODD.

The fat dude at the bottom – well he wasn’t fat. He was just wearing an enormous all weather jacket with equally enormous cargo shorts and then these tiny skinny legs sticking out the bottom.

Some more:

Now to the final drawings which are quite a bit better. Shows how much you can improve just by warming up. Just like a sports star! Hahahaa.
First…A hipster. Wearing faded double denim that looked vintage. White flappy shirt and t-shirt hanging out…..skinny skinny pants on skinny skinny legs and scuffed boots with white ankle socks (and ankles) showing. Hunched over suitably as befitting a hipster of his pedigree
And a very sharp looking old gentleman leaning against a pole listening to the folk band that was playing in front of us. He had a cool shape for drawing and was standing very still hehe. I completely FAILed on his face though ha. The chick is a woman that dashed by and I liked her hair but only had seconds to memorise her profile.

These are: a dude in a huge blue chambray shirt with skinny legs poking out from underneath. People with weird proportions are interesting – particularly when those proportions are entirely a result of the clothes they’re wearing.
There was also a little Aboriginal boy who was watching the band. He was holding a football and had his jumper draped and tied over his shoulder like one of those across body bags.
The girl was really pretty and had dyed orange hair and a side ponytail. I wish she had stayed longer because I liked her face – would have been good to get it down more accurately. The others are just more odd proportions.

That was it for the sketching that day. We headed down to see the Ron Mueck exhibition when it started to rain. Fantastic exhibition – if you’re in Melbourne I urge you to get to the NGV before the 18th of April and see it. Only $15 entry. If you don’t know who Ron Mueck is, here is a sample of what we saw:

Phew!! Such a massive post!
Seeya all again soon – oh and my life drawing starts on the 12th of April not the 21st so it’s sooner than I thought! YAY!
Bya!

Hiiii!!

Today I have for you a little something different from the usual….But first some sketches.

Just a few things from the train. Nothing exciting. CHOW post for you all tomorrow though once again I’m severely underwhelmed by my effort. Meh.

Onto the fun stuff…..
Yesterday (being Sunday) I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with the finest of Melbourne’s vintage bloggers. We enjoyed a very fancy pants (my current favourite phrase so excuse me hehe) high tea at the Park Hyatt hotel. It was all very plush and the food on offer was scrumptious. There was plenty of it too, I didn’t leave feeling hungry that’s for sure. Everyone’s outfits were simply incredible – Almost all of us wore dresses and there was pretty much an entire rainbow of colours. Yay! I was in serious hair envy of the ladies who have the skillz to create wicked curls and whatnot. Awesome.
Since I am a pretty lame blogger when it comes to photos, only one pic is deemed worthy of showing to the public – and I didn’t even take it!

From left to right: Me, Marianne @ Esme and the Laneway, Carly (new employee at Circa Vintage and a teacher at the Lindy Charm School), Julie from Ballarat Vintage Style, Claire from HarbourMaster, Maria from Vintage Suburbia, Super Kawaii Mama, Nicole from Circa Vintage, Fiona (burlesque performer and employee at Circa) and Jules from Poppet Vintage.

A HUGE thanks to Nicole for organising the meet and Marianne who’s idea it was I think (though it could have been a joint effort). I have a whole heap of new blogs to add to my reader and I look forward to more meets in the future. Yay!

Signing off til tomorrow….Bye peeps!

Just a quick post today to say…I WON SOMETHING!!!!!

Eeeeeeee!!!

A lovely blog that I read, by Twila at The Mysterious Life of a Metropolitan Housewife recently had a competition to celebrate her first blogging anniversary. The prize was a gorgeous aqua repro 50′s dress by Shristi Studio on Etsy. And as with many contests, I enter and then promptly forget about it….but today I saw on Twila’s blog that I had WON. Woooo!!!

So without furher ado, here is my prize…picture courtesty of Twila & Shristi Studio of course.

I can’t wait for it to arrive. Yay!! SO HAPPY!