Really stoaked

I have a lot of painting coming up, all projects are my own and are for gifts for my friends. But I am so excited about it.

The only one I can talk about is Christmas cards. Sick of having to buy cards, or getting 'handycraft' cards, I decided that this year I am going to make handmade cards. It is going to be painted scenes, and festive colours mostly. Just something a little different.

It feels really personal if someone has done that. I also have a few winter photographs from last year I may use. Like of photos of the glen, like nice snowy pictures. Actually never been this excited about christmas cards, actually never been so excited about christmas so early. But I can't help it.

I have been stuck in this almighty rut all summer, and now I have the motivation to do something, I can't help but get excited. Whoooo!

Sue Says: Urban Art

Urban art is a newly added tag to what used to be known as street art, graffiti and the like. It is now common for the stylings to be called Urban, seeing as the style has worked its way into exhibitions and influence more traditional artists. I have been looking at a lot of this style, and I like the precision of it all.

Images, like the one above, is created by using stencils to get the desired effect. This is something that is very consuming and takes a lot of paitence and practice. One of the best practicioners of this art is, Brittish geurilla-artist, Banksy. First he was a nuisence, spray painting on walls with no warning. Banksy is annonymous, because what he does, no matter how much someone pays for it, is still an act of vandilism. So noone knows what he looks like, which for an artist is rare. He has a spokesperson who does all his dealings on his behalf.

Although Banky still deals with the same political ideals he always has, the publics reaction to him has changed. Once a scourged member of society, now he is a much loved figure in the art world. Like desipite it still being vandilism, it is accepted.

This change has lead to the graffiti style been used more regular within all branches of art. It has become attatched to music, with it being used within the punk rock and hip hop areas, which it was before, its just a lot more widespread.

I've Been Workin'

So been busy.

I'm at the point where I am half way through my website, which I am pretty pleased about. But I have been spending a lot of my holiday with friends and family, which is something I don't often get a chance to do. But with me not going to college next year, I am aiming to use all my free time during the day to work on websites and other projects.

Due to my financal status, I am planning on using the next few years to do small scale work and get my business plan in gear. I hope that by the time I am in a better situation, I will be getting more work through the door. Because at the moment, it is hard getting enough work to properly start my business.

Luckily I still have the evening job, so that has made the situation of earning through my work, not quite so bad. And it is also allowing me to take opportunities, such as working towards blog sponsorship (which is a possibility) in the coming months. I am also in a position, where I am working towards showing in an exhibition next year, which would be awesome.

So things are moving, and the next year or so will be deciding the best way to move further. Exciting times in the life of Sue.

FREEDOM

Freedom! What gives you that sense where you feel completely free?

For me, it's music. It is something that moves me so much. Whether I am listening to Tchaikovsky or N Dubz or Slayer, music is just so expressive.

Me and Gemma were talking about it yesterday. Because music is written from the heart and involves emotions, it easily effects other people emotionally. So because it's based on emotion, it should also be open to interpretation. Compared to how a person is feeling, or what they have been through, they may think differently about a song. And artists should be able to accept this.

If people expect their work to be accepted on an emotional level, then they should be aware that people may view it differently. But that's why I love music so much. It is all open to how I feel, not what others say its about.

Throughout history music has been used to voice opinion when people feel like they have no voice. In states which people feel as if their rights have been. taken away, they often rebel through art such as music. It is a way to get their voices heard. And this sense of unity, as the music brings people together, make the opinion louder.

With the UK on the cusp of becoming depressed under Tory rule, there is great expectations that the underground music scene will become more active again. With the unlimited amount of cutbacks getting pushed forward by government, people will feel jaded.

Because you can use music to describe anything, it will always have a sense of freedom, wherever the music itself comes from.

Plans for the summer

*Finish learning Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car on the guitar

*Get my website planned and built

*Get some more tshirts designed and up in the shop

*Try and learn some basic German

*Work some overtime

*Get myself highered as a designer

*Really get into scrapbooking again. I am doing things, it’s just a bit slow right now.

*Blog and Vlog my summer.

*Dye and re-cut my hair.

*Have some time off work, and relax a bit.

*Try and see friends whilst there is some free time.

——

On a good note, I am working on my sketchbook whilst I am at work, because drawing and doodling away, helps keep me more focused (sounds strange I know). Going to try and draw one thing each night. Maybe. Probably not, but I am going to TRY and do one thing a night in my sketch book. So lets see how that goes.

Back on track

Day 2 of operation 'Make myself Work'. And guess what?

I actually did some work. *does a victory dance*

Ok, I probably could have done more, but some work is better than no work, right? I did a bit of mixed media, which means me, bits of paper, glue and lots of coloured ink. Total good fun.

The 'mixed media' is for my Art & Design unit, which is self-expressive. Where I have to advertise 'Me' as I would any other product. Kind of had an idea of blogging and putting my blogs as  little progress reports through my project. I think that is good, as blogging is one of the most common ways I get my thoughts and feelings across. So because I include that as a big part of who I am, right now,  I think it would be a good idea to have blogs through my sketchbook. Unsure of whether it is a good idea or not. Not really talked to anyone else about it, other than myself, so don't know if it's going to be successful or not.

The 'Me' project is going to be messy, as I am a messy person in general. And it is also going to be a contrast to my Graded Unit, for which all the pages have been created digitally. I think that will be intresting, to have my two projects contrasting in that way. Besides, if I did them both digitally, I think I'd be pulling my hair out, as I am very arty and enjoy making my mess.

Digital work is something, I am having to force myself to do, as it does not come naturally. I am constantly being told, that it is good to get out of your comfort zone everyone in a while. I am getting better at using Photoshop and illustrator, but I still get a headache. Probably because I am infront of a PC all day at college, at my work (Sky) and again at home, when I am trying to finish things. So I'm not really suprized I like to spend some time off the computer.

The Search For Inspirado

I am so super distracted right now.

The money situation is getting no better, and I am just 'grr-ing' at everything. I'm just not getting anything done, and just banging my head of a brick wall. I am progressing slowly, though. Very slowly. So slowly, I may even start going backwards, just for the hell of it.

I seem to be using my financial  situation as an excuse for being so crap at the moment. But I need to get a grip, I can' t keep on blaming other things for my failure. Sooo *deep breath, I am forcing myself to get some drawings done. I know, I know, I should be doing college work, but I need to get a build-up of my drawing portfolio as well as doing my units. I haven't spent any time on art work for a while, and I feel that may be what is causing such an issue.

Soooo, in a bid to get started again, I am drawing a centaur (horse/person), as an attempt to get motivated. We'll see what comes from it, I guess

Picks of the bunch

I spend a lot of time on the internet, as you probably already know, so I thought I'd post my 'finds of the day'. Its basically a way for me to bookmark what I like, and what I may not like. It seems like a good idea, but I always find interesting things, then forget where I found them. This was an idea I thought of, on my way home from work, tonight.

Draw!

http://drawn.ca


This site features various types of illustrations and cartoons. It has been created as a collaboration blog, where more than one person can update the blog, and post things. A quick scroll down the main page shows the variety of the work on show here. The blog is updated, usually, every few days, and this keeps the site fresh and up to date. It is a good site for browsing through when you are looking for some much needed inspiration. As a person, who works both in traditional media, and digitally, I find the range of creations on this site very broad, and the site seems to have all bases covered. I highly recommend this site to anyone with an intrest in art.

Last FM

http://last.fm



LastFM is a site that I use a lot. It is a 'social music network', and I use it to find new music. You can use the site in a number of ways. The way I tend to use it, is by allowing last.fm to note what songs I listen to on either iTunes or Windows Media Player.  It does this using a technique called 'scrobbling'. It works by installing an 'add-on' to your music player of choice, and keeps a note of each song you listen to, and sends it to your page on the main site. This then creates a library of the artists you listen to, and the site recommends you some artists, which are similar to what you already listen too. The site also enables a user, to listen to 'radio stations' online (available via subscription in some countries). As well as having pages for listeners, bands and artists can create their own pages, where they can upload their own tracks and promote themselves. This is one of my favourite websites, mostly because it contains a lot of music, which is what I am personally interested in. I have discovered 9 bands in the last 2 days, and these are bands I would never have heard off (Russian Punk, anyone?). The site has seen a reccent rush of upgrades, as it made a deal with Microsoft, for the LastFM radio service to be available through its Xbox 360 console. This has opened the site up to a wider audience, and has proven to be very successful for the site.

The Casualties- We Are All We Have



A hardcore punk band from New York City, The Casualties are a huge influence on me. They have been one of my favourite bands for a few years now. I love the energy that they pile into every song, it blew me away the first time I heard them. They are one of the bands I haven't seen live yet. This is the type of music which influences me most.

Progress.....kinda

Well I am still writing this god forsaken essay on the history of Illustration. I know what it is I need to write, and what I want to say, but after 5 days, I have two paragraphs. So its getting there, but I think a snail has a faster pace than this essay.

Sooo, giving up for a bit to do the work on the artists. Because I think that will hold my attention more, as I have a thing about talking about artists. So hopefully that will go a bit better. *fingers crossed*

So the movement and artists. I am focusing on two artists per movement.

Art Nouveau- Henri Toulouse-Lautrec & Alphonse Mucha

Arts & Crafts - Eric Gill & Walter Crane

Bauhaus- Paul Klee & Wassily Kandinsky

Futurism- Wladimir Burliuk & Gino Severini

For my essay.
As I have already said, I am doing illustration. So first of all I am going to do the history of illustration, which I am currently working through. I need to mention two movements which were of importance to illustration. And then pick two artists from each movement, and why they I view them as important to illustration, and its progression through the ages.

Kind of confused with which I should do. So I'll do my artist work for my sketch book first. And then take it from there.
*crosses fingers*

Inspiration- artists

I am currently trying to drum together lots of things, which inspire me in work, and what I do. ]

I am going to look at all the artists, both graphic and traditional that inspire me.
The first one, is an artist I talk about frequently. Salvador Dali. I love his obscure images he created. The fact that he was so incentric and was amzing at attracting attention to himself and promoting his work. Which in any type of art, is necessary. You need to have the courage and belief to promote yourself and your work. And thats what I took from him.

I also admire Kat Von D. I know it sounds a bit 'off' naming her as an artist. But aside from the profile she has provided to the tattooing world, she also has an ever increasing portfolio of work, that she does, alongside the day job. She has a very good outlook on life, and I like that. Again she is another artist, who believes in endless self-promotion. But in a world where artists, no matter what the genre, have to do some self promotion, if they want to succeed. So if you cannot sell yourself, and your work, then there is no point in looking for an artistic career. She also takes a huge influence from music, which is one is my main influence in life in general. She also has a habit of overworking herself, which is something people are constantly telling me I do.

John Constable is another one of my favourite artists. I love how he came out against what was the trend at the time, which was a lot of drawing from imagination and things. He believed taht he had to take art from what was directly in front of him. He is noted as saying that 'beauty in the world, is noticing its imperfections, that in itself is perfection'. I think that is great, as not every leave you see is not identical and they are all different. Although his work was very upmarket, they are genuinely beautiful images.

Charlie Harper is another influencial artist. He is lead singer for a punk band called the UK Subs, and he also produces his own art work. I first saw his work two years ago at a punk festival, called Rebellion, which I go to every year. He shows a lot of urban. grunge style work, and his work comes across as if he is frustrated. Many strong emotions are shown in art. I love the idea that Charlie doesn't feel that just because he is succesful with music that he should stick with that, and he does well at art also.

Not so much fail as I thought

Well, despite all my whining I was doing before, I am not as bad off as I thought I was.
I am still motivated, so I have been doing a lot of drawings in my sketchbook and that. So I am still being creative. Just being a bit peeved I have to use MS Paint to scan anything in, which is just in inconvienience really. I mean Paint is pants.
I have been playing with Corel Painter, but you need a lot of practice to work it properly. I can make a good mess on it though

I did eventually get round to painting my hand (no, not that one), which I don't hate. I love watercolour, and its nice to be able to use it too let of some frustration.

I have an another attendance hearing at work. Oops, maybe I should cut down on the sicky days. I have tried, and its not my fault I had the flu. I mean I couldn't talk, so I couldn't do my job. Stupid work.

Anyway, I am enjoying my job more, and despite being more skint than I ever thought possible, I am generally quite happy.

Slightly anxious about the whole brother/army/Afghanistan thing, but I have already blogged my two cents about that http://riotgraphics.blogspot.com/2009/07/government-govern.html

But, for once in my life, I am chilled and happy.
Something tells me to make the best of it whilst I still can.

Oh, and because I have been listening to Black Flag and Anti-Flag all day and am in fact drawing a flag, its Flag Day. So happy flag day

Headache

Why the hell have I become so dependant on computer software. I mean I never used to use anything, just paint and draw. And now the software has gone tits up, I feel so lost.

I think I like the security that I can view pieces on my computer, before I post them. I have a hand I am going to paint, and then Im going to scan in my sketch book.  I'll get that all done tonight.

Its kinda nice to focus on painting and that. I mean I spent all afternoon yesterday sitting painting in the garden. Which was something I haven't done in forever.  And it felt so nice.

I have totally fell in love with art reccently, and it is such a stressbuster in my life, and I can't say how much I appreciate being able to do things like paint and draw. Its been such a major part in my whole life, and it always will be.

The best thing about coming back to my art, is that I am to see where I've improved. Like my portraits are slightly less alien-looking that what they used to be. And I can also see my own style developing with my draw, which I suppose is me showing the way I feel most comfortable.  I suppose I am quite a sketchy drawer, but I like looking at things like that as well.

I suppose it shows a lot of expression, and I like that in comparission to works which are strict and realistic. I mean of course that is beautiful, but to me it may not express me, personally. Which is why I got into art.

Summer of fail

Ok, now one of the main things I need to edit my paintings and drawings i have done is photoshop. And my Adobe CS3 has 'fatal errored' over the last two days, leading to me deinstalling the whole thing.

Pain.:S

I dont have a working copy at home. So I thought I could install the CS4 trial untill I could get CS3 back. But the stupid thing is refusing to install.

So before I had a dead CS3, and now i have an uninstallable cs4. And the Adobe website is useless in giving any support. The tool they give, can't even detect the photoshop files I'm having an issue with. So good help there, Adobe. Pat on the back for you.

I am giving it a break, I'm deleting it all and starting from square one tomorrow. Despite me whining a lot, this blog is to say that I am not gonna be uploading much in the next while (unless someone can give me my beloved cs3 back).

I may photograph my sketchbook, and paintings and the like. I have like 3 commissions that i cannot do, I am sending them photos of sketches and stuff, and its going ok so far. But I can't do anything digitally.

I feel like I've lost a limb. :(

Todays work (17/08)

To update my two pieces of work a day. These are what I have done today. A digital piece and a mixed media one.





As well as doing these, I also walked the seven miles from Inverkeithing to Dunfermline, in the rain. Not my brightest moment.

Todays work

Inspiration

Still in bed sick, so have been reading plenty of articles on many topics. From the issues of Google providing all services for free, to more stuff on advertising.  Trying to keep my brain active.

But the articles I enjoy reading the most, are the ones that give you a genuine insite to the artist, and lets you know what makes them tick. It gives any of their work you see, a whole new different level, because you may be able to understand where they are coming from.

I take a lot of my inspirtion from the world around me. Like when I was younger, I had this vivid imagination, which would almost paint the world around me. It was like everything was created in a way that i would connect it. Like I remember, there was a big paper mill near where I grew up. I used to picture it as a huge sculpture, and it used to amaze me. Whilst this building was hated in the town, mostly because of its massive size, I loved it. I think its because it was there, and no-one could stop it, despite what people said about it.

[caption id="attachment_69" align="alignnone" width="448" caption="papermill Near where i used to live"][/caption]

Unfortunately, the mill hasn't been used for many years, and its supposed to be getting knocked down to build houses on. This saddens me. This is a huge peice of local history, and I do think its beautiful. If I had the money I'd buy it and restore it. I mean It could be used for art space, it could document the paper industry and the impact it had on the local area. But no. The council can make more money from knocking it down, and build houses that only commuters from Edinburgh can afford. This old building has given a lot to the community, is it not time the community look after it, rather than make more indenti-kit houses.

That kind of thing makes my blood boil, rather than look after what we have already got, and make it usable, we erase everything and start again. Its disgraceful. But this is the kind of thing which motivates me. Because I hope, that maybe I can create something, which has an effect on someone, the way that old Mill effected me. If you can make one person think about something which wouldn't usually cross their mind, are you not doing your job as an artist. After all is that not what all designers, artists, actors, musicians, etc,  want? To be able to challenge thoughts, and start discussions.

I guess my attitude on art and things, is also shown by my taste of music. I am a major punk fan. I love the music, the style and the messages they convey. On the outside, people always see the punk movement as being very restrictive and monotonous. But when you become a part of the movement, or even see it up close, it is very motivational. The punk ethos is usually seen as doing things for yourself, and saying 'fuck you' to those who come against you. Which can be translated as saying, push yourself, despite what stands in your way.

The way I look at it is, that there is only one person in this world who can create your path in life, and its you. So you need to take responsibility and take your life where you want it to go. Too many people use excuses as to why they haven't done what they wanted in life. If you haven't tried your best at something, how can you complain that you are unsatisfied? If you haven't put in your all, how can you switch the blame onto someone else?

But that's what I like to surround myself with, things which make me motivated. As I want to give myself every chance at getting what I want out of life.

Kick start this

I am trying to motivate myself to do my college work, which has to be due in on Monday. That is a lot better as I have all weekend to concentrate on doing work. In an ideal world. I am planning to cut and die my hair tomorrow, going a lovely lime green. Ok, that is me just distracting myself again. If you have read any of my previous posts you'll know I'm very good.

Trying to get myself back into drawing and painting, hopefully this will help me regain my passion for art. Which is a huge part of my life loving. I need to practice drawing figures and that as well. Seeing as I havent drawn any since last year. I think sometimes that all the pressure of deadlines kill my inspiration. Just because the atmosphere can be so tense and I get myself worked up.

Arg.

Picture Post

[caption id="attachment_50" align="alignnone" width="212" caption="Advert for Create not hate"][/caption]

Getting somewhere, a bit late though

Erm, I spent yesterday typing up reports for the photography unit at the college. It would have been ok, if I hadn't spent all weekend on them to have my tutor say that she couldn't access them because the website was palying up. Technology sucks. It wasn't working on Saturday, and now, its playing up again. Grrr.

I spent all day today doing my graded unit. Which ended up ok, the design idea was quite cool. But the presentation to two tutors was absolute fail. I mean, I just talked rubbish for about 10 mins. I did manage to come back with an answer pretty quick sharp, when I was questioned on one of my designs. One of them is a pair of lips with what looks like they are stitched shut. The tutor asked, that if this project is supposed to be giving kids a voice, shouldn't the stitches be coming away? I said that the image is supposed to be of the kid with no way to voice themselves, and its supposed to be distorted and arty. Which it was.

That was good thinking for being on the spot. I dunno. I still feel bad about this whole fail of a college year.

Wanted: Paper

I wasn't in college today. So I have been emailing companies for  paper samples. This is something, which as a graphic designer, I have been advised is essential so that I can have a bit more knowlege on the final product. Its because the paper something is printed on, always effects the look of the design. And  if the wrong paper is used, then it can ruin a design rather than make it better. 

I have also been drawing up a new logo design for my company, which will be updated everywhere. And I have got some ideas together for the Devil's Angel artwork. Which is good.

Made no progress on college work though. Which is great, got a free day time tomorrow, so will head in then. Tonight its website update time