D'oh! 2012 Paul Guest Drawing Prize... fail.

Below are the two unsuccessful entries I submitted into the 2012 Paul Guest Drawing Prize.

(to see illustrations larger, just click on the image)

Today I got "the letter", you know, the "form" letter that says "Thank you for your entry"... (blah blah blah)... "We had lots of entries this year"... (blah blah blah)... "all of a high quality"...(blah blah blah)... "Unfortunately this year you were unsuccessful in being selected"... oooouch! (that's the sound of being metaphorically punched in the guts. It's the sound of rejection.)

But hey, rejection happens and when you think about it, it's kinda nice that the competition judges sent a letter as courtesy. It's an answer and I have closure. I can appreciate that.....(there's no denying that the rejection still kinda stinks though.)

So back to my sad and unloved entries for 2012. Let's be honest. They're not great. They're not amazing. However I do think they're quirky and original concepts. Sadly these pieces just aren't screaming wicked mad talent! This girl Lucy is ammmaaaaaaazing! ... and that's cool. That's fair. (Ha! Just wait until I am famous!)

The last entry I did for Paul Guest  in 2010, I worked my arse off on that piece. I put my heart, soul and failing eye sight into that piece of work. Hours upon hours of meticulous pencil work... Tragically also unsuccessful in being selected *sigh*. So I guess I kinda decided to go complete 'opposite' in terms of effort this year. Instead, this year I submitted two blue biro pen illustrations I'd conceived subconsciously while talking on the phone! Yay Joe effort!

I'll enter the Paul Guest Drawing Prize again, and next time my entry will be selected, I'm feeling pretty confident on that.

Just a last wee footnote though, the piece I slaved over for the 2010 competition was eventually acquired by the Bendigo Historical Society annnnnnd is currently the most viewed illustration in my flickr account. So not all bad. Not bad at all.

Woot!

Coloured caricature commission

CHECK-ME-OUT! Feelin a bit proud. Feelin a bit "I'm totes awesome". Feeling just too damn cocky to be honest. Yay me!

Below is a full colour commission I've just recently completed. Please bare in mind I'm still very VERY new to the world of digital illustration, so my skills are like that of a young child compared to the masters who do this professionally.

Still... I think what I've been able to achieve is still pretty great, and I can only go up from here. Go me! (Am now grinning like an idiot)

Conundrum In Deed : Band logo design

Conundrum In Deed is an exceptionally talented band based in the UK. Their (beautiful, insightful and exceptionally clever) lyrics are expressed in a musical styling that is a fusion of folk, progressive and psychedelia. So they approached me to design a logo that could concisely represent their music.

Initially I was inspired on the idea of an "impossible object" (cos that to me says "conundrum" right?). So I pitched the impossible cube shape - which they liked. Though their brief needed to include "psychedelia" with amorphous organic intertwining patterns (ie. vines, tentacles and bit o' paisley.)

Bandmate Greg Shields, inspired by the concept of an impossible object then suggested "An impossible cube rusting away in the middle of a psychedelic forest, with bare ground and in the middle of the cube a single 'Holy Flower'* wilting in the middle". *('Holy Flower' being the name of one of their songs).

Following that suggestion is a quick step by step look into how I came up with their final logo design...

Basic outline...

...followed by rough colour...

...FINAL LOGO!!

The band love the logo (WOOT and a pat on the back to moi!) 

Already a fan has commented on their new logo as being:

"The love child of Escher and a tripper at Woodstock" (Tee hee, awesome!) 

To hear some of their music, click here 

(My personal favorite song of theirs is "Laughing Man")

The reappearance of Crab Girl

Beautiful, mysterious and aloof, Crab Girl is famed for being one of the Sideshow's most complex, unusual and fascinating performers.

The art of unbelievable mind-blowing dramatic bending, flexing and twisting of the human body is what you'd expect from the most talented of contortionists right? And Crab Girl certainly does deliver...
in spades!

Though what makes her so very VERY unique to her contemporaries is the unavoidable fact she has a crab claw where her right hand should be;

"I was born this way. I dunno. And no I'm not related to that Lobster Man whatshisfaceguyman ok!"

"What? Yes I am left handed. Why? Huh? Why are you saying that it's lucky I'm left handed?!"

As interviews go she'll do few and far between, but I think that adds to her mystique. Though where she won't do interviews she will do performances, appearances and portrait sittings - if you care to note the preliminary canvas outline above (yes that's right preliminary as in NOT finished).

Previously she appeared in the Erotic Grotesque exhibition @ 696INK in July - Aug of 2010 and she is now due to make a new appearance as part of the Pin-Up Goils of the Sideshow exhibition running alongside The Sideshow @ For Walls Gallery later this year -  so keep your eyes and ears open for details on that one!

"I Love Crabby Women" and "Silly Fat Cow and Two-faced B****h"

Both will be appearing in the Pin-Up Goils of the Sideshow and The Sideshow later this year at For Walls Gallery

 
(click any of the pictures to view a larger image)

Australia day in Coogee 1 year on

Australia (Jan 26th) 2010, I was in Coogee (in Sydney) with a bunch of lovely people sharing a BBQ and Vanilla vodka under the stars. It was such a beautiful evening that it's permanently etched into my mind forever and naturally made me inspired to capture the moment on canvas.

Please note, these are only progress shots and the painting is still a long way from being complete.

To view larger, please click on any of the images below

This image below was my very first outline attempt, which I was very unhappy with. I felt it was too static and boring...
so I painted over it.

Cancer Council Victoria 2010 Arts Awards ‘Lost and Found’

Cancer Council Victoria has selected my painting of Mum for their 2010 Arts Awards. I’m really proud to be included in this exhibition for so many reasons, one of the biggest reasons is it’s a very personal, sentimental and emotional painting to me.

The exhibition will open on Sunday 11 July 3-5pm @ 120 Collins Street Melbourne and run until the Friday 30 July.

As part of the exhibition there is a people's choice award. For any of you who might like to show your support, please click here to vote. Voting finishes November 2010.

Thank you :)

Archibald Portrait Prize Submission - Mark Two!

One lesson learnt from last year's submission - paint someone actually known in the Arts, Letters and Sciences and NOT yourself (unless am actually known and highly regarded in one of those areas..... hmmm, obviously not quite yet).

Learning from my mistakes I chose to approach Richard Moore, Executive Director of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), who has been responsible for overseeing operations of Australia’s largest annual film festival from 2006 - 2010. Being a generous man and a man of good humour who indulges a good coffee, he agreed to sit for me.

In 2009 he authorized the screening of Jeff Daniels’ controversial documentary 10 Conditions of Love, a film about the Uyghur activist Rebiya Kadeer. The film was shown in the face of intense pressure from Han Chinese activists, including the Chinese Consulate.

My main motivation for approaching Richard Moore was I admired the way he stood his ground in the screening of 10 Conditions of Love despite pressure inside and outside Australia. Australia is a very privileged country to have the right of free speech and I think Australians should be reminded of this. I call the painting Speak Freely as in, "Permission to speak freely, Sir!" and as Australians.... we can!

Click on picture for a larger image

My entry into the Archibald for 2010 was unsuccessful. Which is only a shame because I so dearly wanted to share the painting's message to live and nation wide audience. I'll admit I'm a little disappointed at the outcome. I'm a little bruised and a little battered, but I'm all the more determined too.

Fingers crossed I may be selected for the Salon de Refusés aka. Hidden Faces of the Archibald.