IF Topic: "Rejection"
Watercolour and Ink
I found this topic harder then the past. In the end i knew i could never beat my brother Lucas's entry (see: Whybin... too good) so i just thought about what it feels like when i have felt rejection before.
Stripped bare, burning skin, dropped to the bottom of the ocean, tangled.
Lux Et Noir. Rejection.
Wednesday 20 June 2007
Lux et Noir
Posted by Lux Valentine at 3:01 pm 17 comments
Labels: art, Illustration_Friday
Friday 15 June 2007
my first restraining order
In the Polaroid, the Polaroid develops as you take it. You see it, and you put it down and I make another and make another.
David Hockney
Posted by Lux Valentine at 1:04 pm 0 comments
Labels: photographs, shopping
Wednesday 13 June 2007
sanguine in temperament
i said i was going to do it and i did. Swap-bot now is my new obsession. My first swap was for Frida Kahlo ATC's. (Thats Artist Trading Cards). I had a lot of fun doing these , Kahlo is one of my favourite artists. When approaching the idea of the swap, i thought a lot about what her art work means to me. i rememberd the first time i saw a print of one of her paintings when i was 10, and it just blew my mind. At the time i was buying books on Dali, Magritte and Ernst with my pocket money. Although not a surrealist her work impressed on me, a passion and a strength that reviled any of my male artist loves.
Thinking of that, I wanted to concentrate more on Frida the woman and not her work. I took three of my favourite quotes that she said, and one about her art and took it from there. I am not displeased with the way they turned out.
Weekly Unconscious Mutterings:
XLV
Posted by Lux Valentine at 1:49 pm 2 comments
Labels: art, ATC, swapbot, Unconcious_mutterings
Tuesday 12 June 2007
“This is not an exit”
IF Topic: "Suit"
Paper Collage with patterns from magazine advertisments. And lots of glue. (if you cant tell)
Not done very neatly this week, but i have an excuse! i've got a shocking cold and have alot to do so quickly cut and pasted this in a total of.. yes 10mins!
This topic reminded me of American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis. A wonderfully written if horrible and disturbing book. Written from the point of view of the killer, Ellis fills pages with anal-retentive attention to clothing to signify how obsessed and insane the killer really is. (At one stage he contemplates a horrific murder when a friend/associate has businesscards made out of better paper then his.) I read an interview with the author once who said that, if you looked up every single piece of clothing described and put together the outfits you would see how horrible these men are actually dressed. Clashing patterns and materials - even for the 80s! So when i was picking patterns for the suit, i kept that in mind.
He’s wearing a linen suit by Canali Milano, a cotton shirt by Ike Behar, a silk tie by Bill Blass and cap-toed leather lace-ups from Brook Brothers. I’m wearing a lightweight linen suit with pleated trousers, a cotton shirt, a dotted silk tie, all by Valentine Couturem and perforated cap-toe leather shoes by Allen-Edmonds. Van Patten is wearing a double-breasted wool and silk sport coat, button-fly wool and silk trousers with inverted pleats by Mario Velntino, a cotton shirt by Gitman Brothers, a polka-dot silk tie by Bill Blass and leather shoes from Brooks Brothers. McDermott is wearing a woven-linen suit with pleated trousers, a button-down cotton and linen shirt by Basile, a silk tie by Joseph Abboud and ostrich loafers from Susan Bennis Warren Edwards."
American Psycho - Brett Easton Ellis
x
Posted by Lux Valentine at 3:40 pm 4 comments
Labels: art, Illustration_Friday
Thursday 7 June 2007
Theres a guiding star
Lux Valentine: Lover of kitsch online activites.
Have signed up for Post Crossing. Basically it's like penpals without the letters or the need to respond! All you do is ask for an address and your job is to send a postcard that way! I never know what to write on postcards so I'm just going to do little collages I think.
You can send up to 5 at a time. My first five are going to the following places:
+ Pohjankuru, Finland
+ Maebashi Gumma, Japan
+ Michigan, USA
+ Viimsi Vald, Estonia
+ Izmir, Turkey
The best bit... finding cheesy retro looking postcards with kangaroos surfing!
Next activity to sign up for... Swap-Bot!
Posted by Lux Valentine at 4:52 pm 1 Comment
Labels: Postcards, Postcrossing
Wednesday 6 June 2007
Paradise Lost
IF Topic: "Your Paradise"
Collage with ink and water colour drawn images, manipulated photos and magazines.
The Meaning of the images in "Paradise Lost"
Bathtub: Anyone who knows me, Knows about my record breaking baths. I could stay in the bath all day if I could. The bath truly is my paradise and my sanctuary. Locked away surrounded by tiles I can hide and I can imagine.
Music Score: I have a soundtrack to my life. I have music playing constantly and songs remind me of places and people in time. The music I used in the collage is "In My Life" by The Beatles. My favourite Beatles song.
Longboat: Vikings and Norse Mythology is a passion of mine. I'm happy when I'm reading and learning about the viking age and the Gods.
Bird Of Paradise: We have had a massive plant of these out the front of our house for as long as I can remember. They always remind me of coming home. Plus, My father, who use to make stained glass windows, made our bathroom mirrors with a Bird of paradise design. The bathroom again!!
Woman: She reminds me of my grandmother. I don't see her as much as I use to, or would like to. She would always be in my paradise. She is such a classy lady.
Angkor Temple: It's not easy to see hidden behind there, but this is a black and white print out of a photo I took overseas. Seeing the Angkor Temples was a dream come true. First time I felt like I was in paradise. That and Luang Prabang, Laos.
Rainbow: Who doesn't smile when they see a rainbow?
Lotus Flower: Again, another reminder of Asia. My father and I were amazed by the sight of rice paddys surrounded by lotus flowers. So much that we both got a tattoo of a lotus.
Harrison the Kitty: That's my little shadow (or a very rough sketch of her anyway). She would come to work with me if she could. She too enjoys a good bath.
Marcel Proust and Quote: One of my favourite quotes from one of my favourite writers. I am an avid reader and in my paradise that would not change. I devour books... regardless of topic. Two of my favourites can also be seen. Lolita and Nineteen eighty-four
Hand: In paradise my nails would always be clean, long and painted a bright red.
Birds and Open Birdcage: Cause I'm as free as a bird now... My favourite song would be every second song played in my paradise. Lynyrd Skynyrd are amazing. The little bird porcelain figure reminds me of being younger and collecting cat figures.
So this is it. My Paradise.
XLV
Posted by Lux Valentine at 11:26 pm 4 comments
Labels: art, Illustration_Friday
In Omnia Paratus
Weekend was my younger brother Lucas's 22nd birthday. I was in charge of the dessert so set my mind to make little cupcake versions of my mums chocolate cake recipe and a Honey and Ginger roll.
Of course whenever I am in the kitchen it ends up a disaster zone and this time was no different. The cupcakes were trouble as soon as it came time to cook. The first batch exploded and ended with a tray shaped chocolate cake (which tasted damn yummy). Got there in the end and they were good.
The honey and ginger roll proved a little less troublesome but still... rolling those things up is hard!
Sunday was a fun day, With the entire family and a few friends joining us in wishing Pook a happy birthday. My baby boy Seth was the star (after Lucas of course) with his new found knowledge of body parts. He also seems to have a french accent pronuncing Hello as "elo" and Achoo as "acheww". Bless his little socks.
Happy Birthday Pookie!
(yes i put makeup on him)
Weekly Unconscious Mutterings:
Posted by Lux Valentine at 9:14 pm 0 comments
Labels: Family, Unconcious_mutterings
Thursday 31 May 2007
and the harlot...
In the original story, the Medusa was a beautiful woman who held a very positive role.
Tragedy fell upon her when she was confronted with endless hardships brought upon by male actions. Medusa was a beautiful woman who was raped, killed and beheaded by various gods.
However even in the face of tragedy and disgrace, the Medusa was portrayed as meaningful. Following the moment her head was removed, a Pegasus flew out of her body, representing the birth of beauty.
Posted by Lux Valentine at 1:01 pm 0 comments
Labels: sketchbook