Creative Concoction

I ❤ VEGGIES!

2011-06-10T09:04:00.007+02:00

To soften the little bit of activism you're about to encounter I'd like to mention some music I recently connected with. In preparation for a family roadtrip I searched for kids' music that Paul and I could actually enjoy (as opposed to hurl from the car). Of the artists recommended in various blogs and websites I really like the music the following make for children: Elizabeth Mitchell, Lisa Loeb, Frances England, Laurie Berkner, Dan Zanes and Suzi Shelton. Also on the playlist were Ziggy Marley, Rick & Audrey and Recess Monkey. Paul really appreciated Medeski, Martin & Wood's 'Let's Go Everywhere', and was completely gutted that I had discovered but not yet bought the Johnny Cash Children's Album. A band called Fezcat is also great (although apparently the levels on the recording are a little off) - they perform a song called 'Eat Your Veggies'. Seems like a pretty standard song for little ones, until they hit the chorus, which states: "You'd better eat your veggies BEFORE THEY EAT YOU!" I like it. And think its an ironic introduction to the following little bit of blah blah blah...

Some time last year Paul and I watched 'Fast Food Nation' together. Well, I think my brain short-circuited halfway through the film, and I fell asleep seconds before the gruesome parts began. Having now read the abridged version of the original book - 'Cogs in the Great Machine' by Eric Schlosser - I fully support my brain's moment of cowardliness, as well as my choice to be a vegetarian. Sir Paul and I are all for 'Meat-free Mondays' (not to mention the remainder of the week)!

When I was a teenager I read medical mystery novels. Yeah - I know. But it's better than Mills & Boon or Sweet Valley High or all the vampire stuff that's flooding the market now. On holiday one December I read Robin Cook's Toxin. It's about e coli, hamburgers, and how the two got entangled and killed a whole bunch of people. That was definitely the beginning of the end-of-meat for me. Add to that the inhumanity of how animals are treated and killed for the sake of human consumption. And NOW I know in addition of (non-fiction) accounts of how people in the meatpacking industry are exploited, abused and indeed butchered. I have absolutely no regrets. Meat really is murder on so many levels.

And why do you have to endure my ranting and raving today? For the sake of art! Here's the deal: I'm reading a book a day from Penguin's 70 Year Anniversary set of 'Pocket Penguins'. Next up is Otherwise Pandemonium by Nick Hornby. Since Ben Folds and Mr. Hornby's musical collaboration - Lonely Avenue - was also on the roadtrip playlist I'm hoping to be tuned in...

I am IN CONTROL...

2011-06-08T12:07:00.005+02:00

You get shopping and you get shopping, right? Shopping out of necessity (we're talking bread, milk and loo-paper here) versus shopping for some other reason. Penguin's India Knight On Shopping presents the reader with accounts from either side of the fence, but it got me thinking about shopping as a technique of asserting control. Controlling your right to choose, controlling relationships and people, controlling emotions and responses, controlling circumstance - when, where and why, controlling yourself - even losing control is about control! So - controlling your right to control yourself?

This summation resolves many issues for me: Traditionally WOMEN SHOP (men shop too - just usually not as fervently and frequently, and often for much more expensive things) and MEN TAKE COMMAND OF THE REMOTE CONTROL AND REFUSE TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS (again not set in stone - I know a number of women who are undeniably in control of the remote control at any given moment, and a number of others who use the fact that they "don't know how to use" the Universal Remote to deviously control their partners). See - it's actually the same thing! Asserting control...

Okay - it's possible that I'm oversimplifying. The point is that in an environment where few people are completely in control, we seek out activities that allow us to feel that we are.

What does that have to do with my series of drawings? Hmm. I suppose I'm controlling how much I reveal at this point...

A New Beginning (again)

2011-06-07T17:57:00.003+02:00

So, it's been a while...

Just over a week ago some amazing Capetonians took my family to the Tretchikoff Exhibition at the IZIKO South African National Gallery in The Mother City. There's something magical about Tretchi's work - and the appeal of kitch in a society where Art is very much about politics is certainly unavoidable (for me, anyway). In addition to enjoying the collection of art from a visual and intellectual standpoint, I was inspired to shift. Does this qualify as a moment of enlightenment? If you consider the way Tretchikof convinces paint to be light in many of his painting I think my moment might just qualify...

I decided thus that I've had enough of this dabbling in all sorts of other things. I am an artist. I'm ready to show up. BRING IT!

So today my new series started. There will be seventy drawings - one a day - and the theme will be revealed in my next post. I'm excited. I'm on the threshold. I'm leaping...

Fell off wagon - APOLOGIES...

2008-11-29T22:38:00.002+02:00

Ouch!

Sorry.

Yes. I did fall of the proverbial wagon. BIG TIME! Will get back on when I am able. Will keep you posted.

Day 9:Mother Crane?

2008-10-07T10:41:00.005+02:00

I'm really excited that I get to see two of my favourite people this evening. AND I get to see Chantel's belly for the first time - BRILLIANT! As an ode to bellies I'm doing a drawing of a pregnant yoganista today. I had to giggle, because I thought of finding an image of a pregnant woman in the crane asana to work from. Then I realised what the crane asana entailed, and decided to abandon the search. Whilst searching for somehting else I actually found a picture of a very pregnant woman in the crane asana - I couldn't even do that in my unpregnant state!

Here's the picture:

Since you cant really see that she's pregnant I decided against using this as a resource. Please do check out the fabulous flickr.com page of Christy Scherrer who took this photograph.

Day 8:A Spoon Full of Sugar

2008-10-06T20:15:00.002+02:00

Did you know that refined sugar significantly lowers the efficiency of your immune system when you consume it at the start of or during illness? Damn Mary Poppins! A spoon full of sugar might make the medicine go down, but it ALSO basically renders it null and void!

My little one is a little sick (hence today's theme) so my creativity time is really limited. Nothing for you to look at today, but please hang in there!

Day 7:Bedtime Story

2008-10-05T19:43:00.003+02:00

I've discovered a hidden Mommy Talent - I am a fantastic Bedtime Story Reader! I'm not 100% certain whether I just have a fantastically boring reading voice, or whether all those 'Speech and Drama' lessons have finally paid off, but when I read to my daughter at night she drops off to sleep beautifully. My husband - incidentally - often joins her in the Land of Nod during these bedtime tales. If I want any time with him after the little one's bedtime I actually need to wake him up as I leave her room!

What I'd really like to do is read happy-dream-inspiring little stories to her - written especially for her by those who love her. Yeah. It's a rather blatant hint I'm dropping - you all know who you are. Tell you what - if you write them, I'll illustrate them. Deal?

I'll be posting bits of the next four drawings tomorrow. Until then, sleep tight...

Day 6:Marxist Society

2008-10-04T11:45:00.003+02:00

Reading the newspaper isn't something I enjoy doing, but when I DO read it I make sure it's a Mail & Guardian. This choice had an interesting impact on me today, since I actually found an art related article - something that seldom makes news because there's so much horrible nasty news around. I'm including a scan of the article below:

This article is important to me for a number of reasons:

I looked at Marx's work whilst I was busy with the first 6060 series, and was a little intimidated by the similarities, and his pending court case against BMW.

The drawing I made on Day 4 is made in a very similar technique, although it isn't an intentional copy of Marx's work.

I have to wonder whether - aside from the obvious financial gain and righteousness in terms of the fight against copyright infringement - this court case isn't clever publicity/marketing. ANY publicity is good publicity, no?

If this is the case (and let's not kid ourselves - it probably is) is that a good or a bad move on Marx's part? I mean - as an artist do you want to be known for your work, or your balls?

I think BMW blatently copied Marx's style, but in this Post-Modern society you cant really own a style, so is this case really all that valid and important? I made a drawing similar to Marx's without meaning to - I have no doubt that the process of making art would have lead me to this point whether I'd ever seen Marx's work or not. How does this impact the Marx vs. BMW case?

Despite the fact that I was quite excited about the technique it clearly need a lot more developing since it's too similar to Marx's and - if I'm really DOING this artist thing - I don't want to be Gerhard Marx any more than I want to be Kentridge. I want to be undoubtedly Janene Steenkamp.

Here are further resources relating to Gerhard Marx and this case:

The Times - Article by Laurice Taitz

ART THROB - Gerhard Marx Biography

What are your thoughts?

Day 5:For Whom the Bell Tolls

2008-10-03T12:24:00.003+02:00

Yowza! When I was a student I was quite familiar with making things (drawings or otherwise) that just didn't work. Thankfully I hadn't experienced this in the previous 6060 project, or this one - UNTIL NOW! Yesterday's drawing ended up taking in excess of four hours to complete - it just didn't work, and then half of it worked, so I cut the other half away, and THEN it demanded that I don't use my pen to draw at all! They call it feeding the Dragon. It pains you; you hate it. But you feed it anyway...

I'm not 100% certain i like the result, but Peekaboohoo took me to on an interesting creative journey. Through struggling with yesterday's dragon I think I'm closer to defining a technique that I'd like to carry forward to making films.

Also interesting is that the piece was about thought manifesting reality - the subject matter is a forlorn girl, and I ended up being a forlorn girl because of it!

As DEMANDED, here is a collage of bits of the first four drawings:

As for today's drawing? I'm about to begin. My starting point is a Nursery Rhyme: Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross.

Day 4:Peekaboohoo

2008-10-02T10:58:00.002+02:00

Today I reflected on the following Nursery Rhyme:

This is the farmer sowing his corn
That kept the cock that crowed in the morn
That waked the priest all shaven and shorn
That married the man all tattered and torn
That kissed the maiden all forlorn
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn
That tossed the dog that worried the cat
That killed the rat that ate the malt
That lay in the house that Jack built!

(the entire rhyme builds line for line from the last line upwards)

According to Albert Jack's book - Pop Goes the Weasel - the rhyme pinpoints the fact that every action has a consequence.

Last night I was pointed to a passage in a book (Karma and Reincarnation: Transcending Your Past, Transforming Your Future ) about how when we think hateful/angry/negative thoughts we're immediately creating bad karma, and and also blocking goodness and light. There's a connection in there somewhere.

I'll be posting some images for you tomorrow...

Day 3:Marshland

2008-10-01T15:53:00.002+02:00

I realized today that glue dries faster in warm weather. I do feel a bit silly confessing this, since it does make perfect sense. The fact is I got used to leaving the glue uncapped during the chillier months, and when I did the same today I tried to stick something down, and the glue was more gummy than sticky. I felt like a kid who'd been bust by the teacher for being irresponsible with stationery. What's more - I'm trying to teach my daughter to put the caps back on koki's and such-like things, so now i have to deal with the guilt of doing the opposite! Not really. Guilt is a useless emotion.

Being stuck in a marsh has nothing to do with the glue, though it is a funny coincidence that 'stuckness' is what's on my mind today...

A quick question for you: Would you like to see bits and pieces of my drawings as with the last series?

Day 2:HOPE (tadasana)

2008-09-30T14:49:00.002+02:00

If you know what tadasana is, then I'm sure you're a little confused as to how that relates to hope directly.Hmm. I guess you'll have to see through the remaining 58 days and check out the exhibition to understand!

Just in case you ARE into yoga, here's a little YouTube video explaining tadasana:

Tadasana is how you start the Sun Salutation.

DAY 1:The Angel Speaks

2008-09-29T11:03:00.003+02:00

Success is intimidating - particularly when it's your own.

Today is officially day one of this - my second - 60 days 60 drawings project. I'm probably about a third of the way through this first drawing, so decided to write my first blog entry and lay down the law (for myself):

one collage-drawing every day for 60 consecutive days

a square format on card or paper

subject matter derived from the juncture between nursery rhymes and personal journeys

a preparation for my first film

meditation and channelling

I recently finished reading a book by one of my favourite authors - Paulo Coelho - 'The Valkyries.' As with most of Coelho's books this one was sent to me at the right time, and hence struck a true chord within me. From it I gleaned an insight as to my spiritual path, and my current co-ordinates on this path. I think this realization will inform much of the subject matter in this series.

Ah. The return of the self-portrait. then again - isn't all art self-portraiture?

COUNTDOWN'til Monday...

2008-09-18T08:52:00.002+02:00

I've never been much of an historian. In particular I've never been particularly interested in the Royal Families of the UK and all their shenanigans. Yet I suddenly find myself in the midst of researching The Tudors... And what a nasty bunch of beings (human or not) they were! Henry and all his wives, and his creation of a religious avenue for the sole purpose of having so many wives. Mary and her bloodshed. Liz and her suspect virginity. Oi! Suddenly dear old Prince Charles seems rather tame and innocent.

That's as much information as you're getting for now. I will say that the plot has been plotted, and is thickening with the blood of Burma and Tibet...

And Another Thing:Remember Remember...

2008-09-11T13:54:00.008+02:00

On Day 48 of the first series I made a drawing of New York City (before the disaster that is remembered today).

The relevant rhyme goes:
Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot.
Change the dates at will...

To view all the drawings please visit my 60 Days 60 Drawings site.

Countdown:10 Days to go...

2008-09-11T10:40:00.004+02:00

Yes - the new project will start in 10 days. Having said that, I actually think it's started already - I'm already researching and planning. Is that cheating? Well, I'll think about it, and let you know... Maybe it will start sooner, then.

In the meantime, here's a little ditty for you:

	Frank Zappa - Muffin Man

	Found at bee mp3 search engine

It's dedicated to Paul and his beautiful daughter, who made some fantastic muffins during the wee hours of this morning.

Day 56:Olly Olly Oxen Free?

2008-08-31T22:40:00.000+02:00

I've been hard at work trying to balance all the aspects of my life PLUS organize an exhibition. Three more drawing days to go, and 5 and a bit days 'til the show...

Here's a fun 'mosaic' style slideshow of a couple of drawings from what I'm hailing 'The Last Trimester' of this project:

Thanks for playing. It's been fun.

Let's meet again on the 6th September - either at http://60days60drawings.blogspot.com after 4PM C.A.T. OR (if you know where I live) at our house for the real deal between 6PM and 10PM.

Day 46: Yup. My butt needs a good KICK!

2008-08-20T20:48:00.004+02:00

Okay okay! I know... I've let you down. It's been well over a week since my last confession - I mean post. I hope I haven't lost you. I've just had my hands really full.

As a reward I'm showing you one of my absolute favourite drawings yet:
(CLUE: The related rhyme has something to do with the number of shoes in this drawing.)

Sheesh! I know honesty is the best policy, so now I'm really going to confess: I'm two drawings behind. I lost them somewhere between my little one being at home with me during the holidays and an 'Ouma's 80th Birthday Celebration' weekend. I assure you that during mini-me's nap tomorrow I'll be catching up, and then posting some more drawings tomorrow evening. Until then...

Day 33: They're called Peter & Anonymous

2008-08-07T20:40:00.001+02:00

I really like today's drawing. It's illustrative, yet not at all realistic because seeing two 'Brown Shrikes' together is virtually unheard of.

In Afrikaans a Shrike is a Laksman. The direct translation is executioner. The body of the Fiscal Shrike who regularly visited me in our garden was discovered by our daughter yesterday. Amidst my immediate feelings of loss, I was struck by the irony of the death of the executioner.

In 2006 Chris Chameleon released an album of songs derived from the poetry of Ingrid Jonker. It is amazing. Here is one of the most beautiful poems I've ever encountered. It's in Afrikaans - apologies to those of you who don't understand it.

Die Lied van die Gebreekte Riete

Die wind uit die Torwana-berge
het haar skoot vol mos
Sy dra ’n slapende kind
sy siteer die sterre
met die stem van breë waters
teen die wit gebeente van die dag

Die wind uit die Torwana-berge
oewerloos sonder horison sonder seisoene
het die gesig van alle mense
het die aalwyn van die wêreld voor haar bors
het die lam van alle vreugde oor haar skouer
en die laksman van elke dagbreek in haar oë

Die wind uit die Torwana-berge
met haar skoot vol mos
dra ’n slapende kind
dra ’n nag van distels
dra ’n dood sonder duisterheid

en waai deur die gebreekte riete

Ingrid Jonker (1933-1965)

My Fiscal Shrike - I thank you for keeping watch over me. You were never my executioner, but a silent friend and guardian. Hambagaghle.

Day 32: Meet Toby Tall

2008-08-07T12:16:00.000+02:00

My drawing and 'Toby Tall' are dedicated to nasty high-flying bitches everywhere. You know the type. Those women who sit in their Corporate Ivory Towers, exposing their fat bottoms so that the rest of the world may deliver their slobbery kisses upon them. You want me to kiss YOUR butt? Here's what I have to say to that:

Okay - I'm sorry. My ego needed some sort of retribution...

Today I discovered 'Pop Goes the Weasel: The Secret Meanings of Nursery Rhymes' by Albert Jack. Well, I only discovered the existence of the book, actually, but IT WILL BE MINE! Jack also penned 'Loch Ness Monsters and Raining Frogs: The World's Most Puzzling Mysteries Solved' and 'Phantom Hitchhikers and Decoy Ducks: The Strange Stories Behind the Urban Legends We Can't Stop Telling Each Other' - they both look fabulous. Click HERE to visit Mr Jack's website. And here's a soundclip:

Days 30 & 31: Spicy Fruit Streusel, anyone?

2008-08-05T22:30:00.002+02:00

Past the halfway mark!

Part of the xealll dealll is examining your issues with relation to money/finances. Like most people I have issues aplenty! One thing that I pinpointed a while back is my addiction to little luxuries, like magazines, nougat, vida e coffee and cheesecake. The cost incurred by theses little luxuries builds and builds very surreptitiously, and before I know it the budget is shot and I'm broke! No money for art. BAM!

So I've cut down. It's like a little luxuries diet. I drink less vida-e coffee - it hurts, but I can see why it's good (most of the time... I have many moments of weakness, I assure you). I eat less nougat and cheesecake - good for the pocket AND the thighs. Instead of buying all 8 of my favourite magazines as soon as they're on the shelves I now only buy my favourite two - VISI and Real Simple.

Further more, I was a brownie when I was young. Very wholesome and a little nerdy, but true. And I loved it. The brownies advocate thriftiness. I've never been too good at it, but in the last two months have made a real effort. You see, in addition to the very old Atlas, I also use magazine pages for the collage element of my drawings. The paper used by both VISI and Real Simple is beautiful - matt in finish and heavier than most magazines use. Perfect. See - (some) magazines are good for my creativity!

Okay - now for some drawings!

The first is another riddle. Here is the sound-clip:

As I went through the garden gap, Who should I meet but Dick Red-cap! A stick in his hand, a stone in his throat. If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a groat.

According to Wikipedia a groat is "the traditional name of an English silver coin worth four English pennies, and also a Scottish coin originally worth fourpence, with later issues being valued at eightpence and a shilling." If you DO guess I'm not really going to give you one of these. Will you settle for a virtual pat on the back?

To figure out what today's drawing is of you'll have to take a peek into your spice drawer...

Once you've guessed BOTH of these reward yourself with a virtual dessert at epicurious. Yum! (If you haven't guessed them, then this dessert will give you a further clue)

Thanks for your comments and guesses - I'm really enjoying hearing from you.

Days 26, 27, 28 & 29: Brainstorms and a Teacup

2008-08-04T00:02:00.006+02:00

Don't panic. I am up to date - just haven't had a chance to blog.

Today's drawing was inspired by a Nursery Rhyme Riddle. The catch is that it's a 'Spoken Word' riddle - if you read it it's either too obvious, or misspelled. Click the sound thingy below to hear the riddle...

Here's the drawing (it's a bit of a clue):

Any thoughts?

I did a fairly complex drawing yesterday (meaning it took quite a bit longer than the time I've committed to). That's okay, though. Saturdays are meant to include a 1-hour Creative Concoction session. I've technically been splitting that into 5 weekday sessions up to now, but it was great to spend over and hour drawing today.

I also took the collage element to a different level with today's drawing. This was as a result of having more time to really look at the drawing, I think. And also the fact that the drawing part was quite big compared to most others. I misjudged the collage, and then when the drawing was finished it didn't quite fit together. So i went back into collage-mode. It works well visually. I am pleased. What do you think?

My previous two drawings were simpler. I dedicate the red one to my sister, Jacqi (AKA Nando's Dynamo) and the yellow one to Winnie the Pooh's purple-grey friend. That's ass much as you're getting in terms of clues!

Day 25:Anthropology and Vitruvius

2008-07-31T00:26:00.001+02:00

Sho. I almost had a wobbly today. I didn't feel like drawing, and put it off a number of times, and tried to convince myself that it would be okay to do it tomorrow. Manyana. Manyana. Luckily I caught myself just in time, and as a homage to my almost-laziness I drew an ant.

It seems that ants are actually rather uncommon in Nursery Rhymes, but I did find a great one. "The Ants go marching two by two..." Do you know any other antsy Nursery Rhymes?

Whilst drawing this ant I was thinking about how I'm enjoying drawing animals quite a bit, and how - because they're not portraits - it's not vital that they look like the resource I'm using. I then started wondering whether somebody would in fact notice if the ant's legs were too long or something. Is there an ideal body-type for a creature such as an ant? Or a fly? Or a bee? So now - in my mind's eye - I have this little cartoon of a little ant splayed inside a circle and a square like Leonardo's drawing of Vitruvius's ideal man. It's quite funny, though a little sadistic. Poor ant. He's clearly uncomfortable...

Days 22, 23 & 24:All Things Bright and Beautiful?

2008-07-29T13:58:00.003+02:00

Art isn't about pretty. I suppose this is one of those big things that people just don't understand about what it is that I do, and what it is that I want to be. I get so very frustrated when people expect me to paint things that match with curtains and couches and make them feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I mean, firstly I don't paint. I've never liked painting, and probably never will in the conventional, expected sense. Secondly I'm not about warm and fuzzy. I'm not the cutesy cheerleader with rosy cheeks and a million-dollar smile, or the yummy-house-wife-mummy who bakes muffins and brownies and apple pies, and wears pastel chenille tracksuits with matching sneakers. I don't giggle. I don't have any Tupperware. I don't get a little tipsy at "Ladies' Night". I don't GO to "Ladies' Night"! I don't molly-coddle or sugar coat. I don't suck up or kiss ass. I get very angry and don't try to hide it. Why would I make art that's consistently feel-good?

Which takes me right back to the Nursery Rhymes I've been exploring. They're not nice, either. Some of them are rather gruesome and cruel, actually...

Here are the drawings from the last 3 days.

No prizes for guessing what the subject matter is here! Can you guess the rhymes though?

Day 21:Strange and Unusual

2008-07-28T09:08:00.003+02:00

The drawings are going fine - all on track and looking great. My blogging skipped a day or two, however... This is fine though, since the blog is a bit like journaling and isn't part of the deal, really. I am really loving it though. And am enjoying your comments a LOT!

Here is Saturday's drawing.
I think it's easy to see this one. What do you think?

Day 20:A third of the way!

2008-07-25T21:27:00.004+02:00

I did another challenging drawing today...

Parts of it are good, but I'm not certain that you can actually see what it's meant to be. I think I chose pretty tough subject matter. You win some... Today you can have the whole thing - I'm figuring it's hard enough to see what it is without it being sliced up! Any takers?

I also checked out what the pics look like in frames (hence this representation). I've used very simple black frames with a white matt (about an inch border). I like it. Frames definitely enhance 2D works. I wonder if I can Woolies to just GIVE me 60 of these? Mind you - in that case they can just as well cater the exhibition, too. Hmm. I'll work on that, methinks...

Day 19:Feeling Blue-ish

2008-07-24T11:32:00.001+02:00

It's been one of those rough as a cowboy's stubble kind of days. And it's only eleven thirty. It can (an will) only get better.

My drawing went really fast today. The subject matter was simple, but I'd anticipated it taking more time anyway.

Can you see what it is, today?

I am itching to start the four portraits I've been planning. They're to be a 'large scale (by comparison) addition to the 60. I haven't quite caught up work-wise since the setback last week, so my portraits may have to wait until next weekend.

Nellie - if you're reading this I'm thinking of you and your family today, and am sending you all the love you can receive...

Days 15, 16, 17 & 18:'Cowboy Stew' and then some rambling...

2008-07-23T15:49:00.006+02:00

Right! I am now on top of things. Up to date. Sorted.

Here's the next installment.A 'Cowboy Stew' and a 'Mengelmoes' (Afrikaans) are in essence the same thing - when you have lots of different things all mixed together on your plate. What's on this plate?

I've been thinking a lot about art, and where I (and this series of drawings) fit in to it all. I mean, I haven't made anything even vaguely arty for about three years, and prior to that my musings were sparse since leaving Art School in 1998. I felt I'd found a technique and feel that really fitted with who I am in mid 2005, but have been limited in terms of time and materials since then (yeah - bad quantum physics on my part).

Now I'm drawing every day, which is a step in the right direction. I'm quite liking the outcomes (drawings) and am really enjoying the collage technique. The drawing style is a but academic/illustrative, but I'm okay with that for the moment. I suppose there's a part of me that wants to prove that I CAN draw, before going back to something a little more expressive.

On that point, I'm a little scared that I'm feeling intimidated by some of the art I've been looking at on the web. There's some really amazing stuff out there. Brilliant illustrators. Incredible film-makers. 'More superlatives paired up with skill-sets'... It makes me wonder whether I'm good enough, although I really shouldn't be wondering that at all. No - I'm not fishing for praise. Really. I'm not. I'm more interested in opening up a debate around who I (we) am in competition with in the big scheme of things.

Back to the drawings and where I'm at... I'm realising now that many of my my influences (in terms of artists) are showing through (albeit vaguely) in this drawing series. William Kentridge. Pablo Picasso. Henri Matisse. David Salle. Larry Rivers. Robert Rauschenberg. Giorgio De Chirico. Rene' Magritte. Simon Stone. Hmm. I'm sharing this with you despite the fact that Albert Einstein has taught me that "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."

Via thinking about influences I've also revisited other artists on my influence radar that may not be linked to these drawings as directly. They include Eva Hesse, Julians Schanbel, Alberto Giacometti, Mark Rothko, David Smith, Donald Judd, Egon Schiele, Richard Long, Robert Smithsom, Strijdom van der Merwe , Michelangelo Buonarroti and Richard Serra. I'm quite enjoying this Art History journey, but am also acutely aware of the fact that I'm not aware of more contemporary artists. I must make a point of getting out more...

That's quite enough for today, methinks. Leave your thoughts on all this (and more) for me in the comments section, please.

Days 11, 12, 13 & 14:'Mengelmoes'

2008-07-22T17:14:00.003+02:00

It happens to everyone... A hiccup. We fall off the preverbial wagon. And it's not always (directly) our own fault.

I got a stomach bug, so have had to play catch-up in terms of my drawings. Here is a composite image of the ones for days 11 to 14.

Any guesses?

It's been a rough week, and getting back into drawing has proved to be challenging. It's weird how something you love doing so much seems like such a chore when you're even a little out of practice... My habit forming is beginning at square one - luckily I have 60 days!

Drawing Day 10:Mauve China

2008-07-15T11:12:00.002+02:00

I had a bit of a rough night, so doing my drawing today took a great deal of effort. Getting started did, anyway. Once I'm in a drawing I feel better.

This segment is pretty abstract, so I'll be really impressed if you guess what it is, and even more impressed if you've followed the 'train of thought' of this + the previous 5 drawings... Any thoughts?

I'm getting a little frustrated with the scale I'm working on. In the past Ive worked on really large surface, and 6 x 4 inches is really small. It's a great challenge though - i hope that once I'm back to drawing BIG I'll be able to apply the attention to detail skills I'm having to use here.

Through this blogging process i have also added a new skill to my all-round repertoire: I can now write a little bit of my own HTML code! This is mostly due to the fact that blogger's 'New post' function suddenly doesn't have the easy 'Add Image' or text formatting functions, so I've had to learn how to do that. As Anakin Skywalker said in Episode 1: "It's working! It's working!"

Drawing Day 9:The Yellow Submarine

2008-07-14T11:38:00.001+02:00

Okay - I'm not always sure what to title my posts without totally giving the subject matter of the drawings away. So 'The Yellow Submarine' it is...

I enjoyed making this drawing. It got me thinking about good times and history and blue and black VW Beetles and beginnings and Kaap se Hoop. I like those memories.

I've been thinking about exploring dry-point etching. I think that I could make some really great works using the same mixed media technique, but then with the an etching over instead of the ballpoint pen drawing. At the same time, I really love sketching in pen - it's very different to working with dry-point. Right now I don't have the resources to do etching anyway, but an idea has been conceived...

This drawing's for YOU, my Anonymous Suitor. You'll definitely recognize it (especially given the clues in the text above). I'd love your comments, and look forward to seeing what everyone else has to say. Do YOU know who/what this is?

Drawing Days 7 & 8: ...and xealll dealll week 4 already!

2008-07-14T09:23:00.004+02:00

Drawing the moon is difficult. I didn't think it would be, but it most definitely is. Especially on a fairly small scale.

This is week four of my xealll dealll. We've got time to really focus on our creative concoctions, so I think I'm going to put some time and thought into the exhibition's logistics. I've had some interesting ideas with regards display and concept that I'd like to embroider on.

Do YOU have nay ideas with regards theme, concept and so on that you think I need to reflect on, too?

Drawing Day 6: Have a cow, man.

2008-07-11T23:41:00.004+02:00

Sho! It's been one mean day. Strangely, that doesn't mean it's been bad. Some stuff went down, and I handled it pretty well, and the emotional fallout was minimal. To quote one weird little man with a hectic voice and even more hectic hairpieces: "I feel good!"

I'm not saying it's the result of this adventure. Actually, that's exactly what I'm saying... the xealll dealll, in combination with some spiritual learning via 'The Summit Lighthouse' Publications (Elizabeth Clare Prophet) and a hell of a lot of higher support. And of course the love of my husband and baby. Oh dear, I'm getting mushy... I'm just really grateful for the good things. The blessings.

IN OTHER NEWS:

I cleared my studio today! This is no small feat, as anyone who's seen it will testify. But I did it. I even washed the floor! Truthfully - since this Jozi Winter has turned fiercy chilly in the last couple of days - I wont be working in there until I get hold of a heater and some curtains, but I feel really great about finally taking action.
The xealll dealll is going well. I am puting a great deal of focus on my drawings, but there are other things coming out of this journey, too. What's been important for me this week is looking at my own views on what an artist is, and how I fit into that picture. The manner in which I'm tackling the drawings for this project supports not overworking things - something that I've been guilty of BIG TIME in the past.

I know you can see it's a cow! But do you know where in the world this cow IS?

Drawing Day 5:Tickled Pink

2008-07-10T13:13:00.005+02:00

New glue was needed this morning. I drove up to the grocery store, and planned to grab a cup of coffee whilst doing my drawing for today away from my usual environment.

Two things of note happened:

I usually use Bostik Glue Stick, but they didn't have any. So I went for the other well known brand thinking that it would be good quality, too. This was not the case... I will NOT be making that mistake again. VIVA BOSTIK VIVA!
The resulting drawing isn't bad, but I think my environment is reflected therein. It's scratchy and loud. Not cohesive (a bit like the new glue). My conclusion is that my drawings should be about my energy - not arbitrary passers-by. If I'm drawing out-and-about, I really need to be more selective venue-wise.

It's rather difficult for me NOT to recognize the subject matter of the drawing instantly, but I don't know whether that's because I already know what it is. It has nothing to do with farming. Hazard a guess?

Drawing Day 4:Polly wants a WHAT?!

2008-07-09T22:48:00.006+02:00

Whilst doing my drawing today I had to remind myself numerous times that this isn't about creating 60 masterpieces. I honestly hope that it's about starting something much bigger and greater than that within me.

I want to form the habit of exercising my drawing muscles daily. They say that if you do something mindfully for 16 to 21 days you will have created a habit.

Do YOU believe that? I hope it works...

I had some good guesses for the previous 2 drawings I posted. This one came with a clue - maybe I'm making it too easy for you. Any takers?

Drawing Day 1retrospective:Southern Rhodesia

2008-07-09T11:53:00.006+02:00

Here's another little tidbit for you - albeit in the wrong order. Any guesses? I have taken a rather abstract segment again, but it's not THAT tough...

I've taken apart a very old atlas for this drawing series - so old that it uses derogatory racial terminology willy-nilly, and still calls Zimbabwe 'Rhodesia' and Namibia 'South West Africa'.

Where did terms like 'tidbits' and willy-nilly' come from anyway?

PS: Thanks for my 'Anonymous' comment on yesterdays post...

Drawing Day 3:You get only a little sneak peek...

2008-07-09T00:28:00.010+02:00

I made an executive decision that I need to keep some element of surprise, whilst still maintaining a record of my journey. My conclusion was that I'd attempt to post little bits - micro-views if you will - of my daily drawings. My very own 'Teaser Campaign'!

So here is the second installment (you got a full view of Day 2, and Day 1 will be slotted in tomorrow).

Think you know what it is?

6th September Exhibition:The Excitement is ALREADY mounting!

2008-07-08T15:45:00.010+02:00

I sent out the mail (pictured in my previous blog entry) 2 days ago to about 45 people. The response has been fantastic! I'm so excited, and still have 57 days (and 57 drawings) to go.

I'm including one here (on the right). It's working title is 'Baa Baa Black Head'. I was reading about Nursery Rhymes today, and stumbled upon a parody of 'I'm a Little Teapot.' This got me thinking about the titles of my work - I had been working with 'warped' Nursery Rhyme titles for the first couple of drawings, but now I'm considering getting a couple of my Poet friends to write their own parodies of Nursery Rhymes, and use those as titles. It'd be a collaboration of sorts. Then I could have a Poetry Reading bit at the exhibition, showcasing the guys who've written for me.

What do you think?

xealll dealll: The Conception of My Creative Concoction

2008-07-06T21:15:00.005+02:00

I've reached Day 12 - I'm two weeks in now. It's been good - I can feel many things shifting around in my life. I'm moving to a much better spiritual place, and - having finalised my concept for my xealll dealll Creative Concoction - I'm committed to doing at least one drawing a day. These are both really good things for me - I'm feeling on track in terms of my 'path' and motivated to continue treading it...

More about the Creative Concoction: 'My Creative Concoction exists to channel my gift into a tangible outcome through meditative action.' A mouthful, AND I really struggled to get it down to 15 words!

Basically my plan is to do at least one twenty-minute drawing (no smaller than 6 x 4 inches) every day from now until the end of this xealll dealll adventure. That's 60 drawings in 60 days. And a couple extra since I started this week, and I'll have a week or so left of my xealll dealll after the 60 days are up.

I've comitted to having a little exhibition of these drawings, and made this prelude-to-an-invitation as such:

So, here I go! I'm feeling fantastic!

xealll dealll: The First Report

2008-07-02T20:00:00.005+02:00

I've just finished Day 9 of the xealll dealll Creativity Adventure. It's going well. My plan is to document the journey.

I AM one of the Architects of the xealll Republic, but I don't think that diminishes my experience of the xealll dealll. I'm in - hook, line and sinker! Warts and all!

I'm part of the third group to be taking the 72 day journey.

It's interesting for me because - having written some of the content - I'm trying really hard to see it all with virgin eyes, and experience it as such. I've had success thus far, and have managed not to edit anything (except Day 7 - I couldn't resist).

I'm hearing a question making its way through the ether... "So, what is this xealll dealll thing?" rings faintly in my ears...

In the words of Tom Robbins, "We are in this life to enlarge the soul, liberate the spirit, and light up the brain." For more, check out www.xealll.com .

The rest of my xealll blogs will follow my xealll dealll journey, with an occasional alluring extract slipped in to tempt you.

Just one last punt (just in case you want to join me):

www.xealll.com