Illustration Friday - Cultivate

Down the Rabbit Hole

Taking it's inspiration and title from the opening chapter in the classic topsy turvey novel Alice in Wonderland, the Down the Rabbit Hole exhibition explores themes and worlds where everyday things are not what they seem and even the sweetest, most childlike subjects can be dark and twisted. Curated by Jess Perlen, the show includes photographers Daniel Linnet, Otilee and Ron C. Moss and illustrators Brendan Ninness, Cally Bennett, Jane Reynolds, Jodee Taylah and Rhiannon Mowat, who have provided works that explore these themes.

If you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland or just like your art dark and a little twisted, you really should come along to the opening night of Down the Rabbit Hole at Brunswick Street Gallery on April 1st. I am so excited to be included in a show full of such talented photographers and illustrators. 

(If you end up locked in a cupboard because one of your friends played an April fools joke on you, don’t worry, the show is on till the 14^th April.)

These are two of my artworks that will be in the show:

Tea & Sympathy

The Lion & The Unicorn

Bob Boutique show

I have some work on the walls of Bob Boutique at the moment as part of their combined artists Christmas show! I looove this store, it's such an inspiring little place to be. It's full of art, jewellery, clothing and homewares, most of which are made by local artists and designers.

If you are near Bendigo you really should go have a look, the address is 17 Williamson Street (in the Shamrock Hotel building). Shop hours are Monday and Tuesday 11-3, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 11-5, Saturday and Sunday 11-3.

If you can't make it there, the website has an online store with lots and lots of pretty things.

The things you find

I think March was the last time I had some days spare to clean up, it's been a crazy creative year and I find myself happily exhausted and also surrounded by a mess of paper and books. These last few days I feel like I've done nothing but file away paper, putting things into folders and plastic pockets and trying to restore some sense of order.

In the midst of all the cleaning I found this drawing of mine that I haven't thought about in a while. It's not better or worse than anything else I have done, but to me it is very special and I would like to share it.

This was the drawing that started everything I am doing now. At the time it was the first drawing I had done in a while, there are a lot of reasons why I stopped but none of them matter now. Now I'm just grateful that I started again.

Tea & Sympathy

It's taken me a few days to figure out what to write about this. I've checked back about 10 times (probably more) to make sure that it's real. A little while ago I entered Tea & Sympathy (above) in the ACMI Tim Burton competition, and it has made the cut for the final 14!

It kind of feels like the Christmas morning when you open your presents and find that, this year, your parents actually got you exactly what you wanted. Just knowing that Tim Burton saw my picture and liked something about it makes me very happy. That might be silly, but right now I really don't care.

This image started with the names of the two characters. I was listening to one of my Split Enz cds while I was painting and the song Sugar and Spice was on. Tea and Sympathy is half of a line from the song, and this time when I heard it I thought to myself, I wonder what they would look like as characters. The result from that wondering is the painting you see before you now.

Exhibition set-up

The show is off and running. Here are some photo's taken just after it was all setup and straightened out and given a final polish.

Opening night was great, thank you to everyone who came along. So many opening nights happening at the same time gave the whole gallery an awesome atmosphere.

'The Sideshow Train'

I have become a bit of a hermit in the last few months, but with good reason. I have two exhibitions opening next week, and the opening nights are literally one after the other. One of these happens to be a solo show, and that is scary on a scale I cannot describe.

The Sideshow Train started off as a small idea, a bunch of characters that feel like they don't fit in, like they are the from the sideshow that sits at the edge of everything. I had some of the names sorted (Tea & Sympathy, Nonsense & Riddles) but that was all. Then my husband looked through my sketches and started writing stories to go with them, and the little idea I had has become a lot bigger.

So, on Friday 24th September we will be spending the day turning the black room at Brunswick Street Gallery into the sideshow room. By 6pm it will be ready to go, and all are welcome to join in the fun that opening nights always are.