L.S.H Winter Update
HELLO WINTER!!!!!
Brrrr can you feel the cold??!? I have to remind myself to not be a pussy and harden up. I have been in Auckland for a year now and I have to remind myself that cold winters days here were like hot Autumn days in Christchurch.. Oh the years of living in student flats where you never had crisp paper and you would burn anything for warmth.
Not to mention sleeping with a
sheepskin underlay
a blanket
flannelette sheets (thats just the bottom)…
Another sheet
sleeping bag
old duvet inner
winter duvet
and a blanket.
And sleeping in your
down jacket
with your hoodie on and up
and also a beanie.
Clutching as many hot water bottles that you could afford.
And wearing every pair of socks you owned.
Auckland you are def not that BRRRRRRRRRRR.
Since it has been awhile since I did a post I thought I would just bunch them all together in a winter update…
First up..
UNI
It’s no secret that I have been struggling with this. Mainly due to lack of self esteem. Silly really and I know I will be kicking myself soon! But I have been making work and making stuff that I am really proud of. We had crits last weekish and I had a really good time listening to my group questioning my work. They asked some really interesting questions of my work and provided me with a lot of options so I am really excited to try some of them out ahead of my mid year submission.
Here are my images I put up for my crit (Sorry about the quality, these are snaps off my phone)
And because I have a few curious friends out there.. here is the room where all the magic happens, the colour darkroom. YAY!
Next up..
Collecting and Idea Hunting
It’s not a major secret to most of my nearest and dearest but aside from photography I love to make things. I have always been a hoarder of any kind of accessories and also making them but lately this has turned into something bigger. I have started to love fashion blogs, spesh DIY ones and they have inspired me to make MORE to potentially turn it into something.. You know like a label or a nice weee earner. Who knows. The only down side to this is I suppose it is eating away at all of my uni resources haha!
Here are my lastest purchase from the lovely Katie at Sweet Lama Suplies all the way from Argentina!
and I also added to my stash a selection of huge washers and nutts. I have always loved industrial looking things mixed with pretty and colourful things
Lastly, I did my first attempt at dip dying or in this case dip bleaching… A few more goes and I should have it down!
And last but not least..
FUTURE THOUGHTS
As much as I am loving have this time to be able to get stuck into my art, I can’t help but feel that I am still going no where. I have all these awesome people around me that are getting stuck into a career. I want that. Buuuut the career I want is a little harder to crack. Its also the $$ side of things. Being a student in Auckland is HARD! So one side of me is wanting to get back to earning (which means less time for art) and the other side of me wants to either finish off my masters or go onto studying something else maybe secondary or primary teaching or graphic design… so many OR’s on that side of me!!!! But I have a little time on my side to decide what I think is best. At the end of the day, you gotta live you life they way you think you can get the most out of it, so I suppose thats where I need to start.
When I read back at these kind of blog posts I can hear the tone in my voice not be so enthusiastic as it usually is. WHAT THE HELL!!!??! I pretty much have nothing to be a sad sack about. Just gotta wrap up, eat up and live it up. Winter, we have never really been friends. I can hear summer calling my name already!
Come onnnnnnnn
I am craving a little (I am actually spoilt for love, but a little more is always AWESOME!)
Love
lots of WARM
Sunshine
and oodles of
Happiness!
Now go get and have yourself an awesome long weekend.
xHx
The 2012 Visual Diary – Taking a Stab in the Dark – 4/5/12
WOW what is this WordPress thing?! It’s been a while since I contributed to the blogesphere so since I feel like I am finally making some head way rather than feeling sorry for my uneducated ass.. That may sound a little harsh but still a little how I feel.
So in my last VD post I told you all that I was rather excited to take on a new idea.. And that idea is what I have in my hot little hands.. Or in your case is what you will see in a sec.
Last week was a little nuts and with Anzac Day in the middle it chucked a 3 day spanner in the works. So this week I started a fresh, had finished making stencils and cut outs and off to the darkroom I went to play around with the age old art of photograms.
I feel a tad stupid since my brain didn’t alert me to this earlier.. Maybe it was Anzac Day playing games with my head.. But I was cutting stencils on to opaque paper.. This was the result..
The opaque piece is the one on the left.. What happens in the darkroom people? Light goes through translucent things. DUH!
On a side note -
This image did provide me with some information.. With also saving my bacon by cutting out plain paper images as well I discovered that the ink from the images came through when put under the light.
Now not to give away too many secrets, this was the final image I made
LAYERS!!!!!!!! I love LAYERS!!!!!!!!
I am so so so so excited! And this is what happens in the darkroom.
A few hours of playing around, a little imagination and thinking outside the box, a hint of problem solving and you have something that you are really proud of.
Take THAT Mr PHOTOSHOP!
I have always be a photographer that believes in the art of photography. And this is what I am talking about.
Using the techniques of old to create something new.
Passion, love and art all in one!
I am all booked in for the colour darkroom for next week so that is when (pardon my French) SHIT is gonna get CRAZY!
I cannot wait to mess around with expired papers, expose paper myself and see what happens when these techniques are translated into colour.
AMPED as!!!!
Hope you are all set for a lovely weekend.
I have discovered how poor I am, so off to work ALL weekend I go :( But oh well these are the breaks of a student living in Auckland.
I am also working ALOT on a side project that I have been dreaming off for ages.. I might just have to up the anti and blog twice today hehehe
Anyways over and out
Stay warm all you lovely people
And don’t forget to EMBRACE the
SUNSHINE
as it brings us
HAPPINESS
on brrrr-ey coldish Autum days like this
and wrap yourself up with the ones you
LOVE
Brrrr-ey season is the best time to get your snuggle on!
xHx
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for The 2012 Visual Diary
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Anzac Day 2012
Me and Anzac Day have always had a close bond. I have always been fond of history, the factors that help us lead our lives as we do today and of course my family makeup.
My fathers side is straight from the UK, fresh off the boat just in time for him to be born. In tow on their adventure to NZ my Grandfather had with him his war medals. These are something that I have forever cherished and have forever been fascinated by. Me and Dad used to try our best to go to dawn service’s every year, and through that I understood although there is sadness on this day to remember those that have fallen and the fight that they fought, it also is a time to remember the friendships forged and to continue to keep these going for many a year even once he had passed. We used to turn up and all his old friends from the RSA would recognise and remember his medals. They would share fond memories of him with my Dad which I know warmed his heart.
This friendship factor is something I now see all so close to home. My nearest and dearest, my fantastic other half is in military now and I could imagine how much a day like Anzac Day would mean to him, to be able to rekindal those friendships and in many cases forge new ones. I really truly had a great time on Anzac day, and to see this tradition in a different light and see old traditions still be carried on is something my Grandfather would be proud to know I was apart of.
I managed to take my camera to the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial and here is a moment that summed up the morning very well.
Mother and child watching their husband/father march. Magical tear in her eye as the light of the day begins to appear.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
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Easter Adventure – The Mount + The Little Big Market
It was the long weekend, so what better way to spend it than a quick getaway. This time I was treated to two-ish days in The Mount and I was also treated to good food, fantastic people, awesome games and pretty things. Everything you need to make a weekend getaway just right. OOOHHH and SUNSHINE!! There was so much SUNSHINE!!! While I was there I stopped in at The Little Big Markets, check out the cute bits and pieces that caught my attention. Some were very hard to resist so I played the responsible person (so hard at ANY market!) and decided to get their business cards instead for future shopping…
HAPPY SNAPS FROM EASTER 2012
Pretty bunting flags lining the rows of stalls at The Little Big Markets.
Amazing range of cards, prints and tee’s
@ Alice Berry Quirky Design
Pretty upcycled bags, wallets and cushions by
NZ FINCH
Other than getting my market on, we also popped down the beach and made millions of pizza’s.. So yummy!
And it all finished off with a taster of L&P Ice Cream in Paeroa
It is not very often that we get to head away so it was definitely something that we were really excited to do. Although it was short, it was sweet and was filled will LOADS of…
LOVE
SUNSHINE
and
HAPPINESS
Hope you all had a great weekend and don’t fell too sick from the chocolate overload.
The weather sounds like it was magic all over the country so fingers crossed you all had a great time.
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The 2012 Visual Diary – Quarter One DONE!
WOW already on our first set of holidays.. Not that it is a break but more of a refresher, time to read up, get some writing underway and also just get out there and take photographs.
I am have been a little lack luster on the posts as of lately, I just haven’t felt so ‘Love Sunshine and Happinessey’, but time to kick that like I said in my last post and just enjoy this beautiful life!
I thought I should recap what has gone down over the first chunk of my postgrad studies and look at setting myself some goals for mid year.
Here’s a few snippets from my REAL LIFE visual diary..
Over the break I would like to…
Read, fill out my VD more, make stuff for me (get CRAFTY!), get into a better rhythm and study/life balance, redo my proposal, complete all ethics paper work, start writing towards my final essay.
Goals to be achieved by July 2012..
Series of finished images that are exhibit-able, mastered the study/life balance, be proud of what I have made, continue to write towards my final essay, smash out my next crit.
CLICK HERE
for The 2012 Visual Diary
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KONY 2012. Watch and HELP!
**Please take the time to watch this incredibly important video. If there is one thing you do today it is that.**
WOW.. Nothing like the power of social media/internet to get such a much needed story out there. I cried. You will too. PLEASE SHARE!!!
And don’t forget to pledge your support also. >>>>>>> http://s3.amazonaws.com/kony2012/kony-4.html
Along with it being such an incredible story and cause, it is also put together so well and is beautiful to watch (minus some of the content). Jason Russel, this is beautifully heart breaking.
This will change you and make you appreciate going to sleep and knowing that when you wake up in the morning, you can LIVE your LIFE as full as you can, and doing what you want (hopefully). Life is so precious so please watch, help and change the lives of the Invisible Children.
Please SHARE, RE-BLOG and SHARE again.
Together lets..
MAKE KONY FAMOUS.
KONY 2012.
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My Art Room – The Final Instalment
With my start date for Elam being less than a week away (EEEEEEEE/EEEEKKKK!) I think it is the perfect time to finish off this series of posts.
This time I am very basically going to look at aesthetics/composition, which are both very changeable things. As much as I might like them now, things may change tomorrow. But for the past couple of weeks I have been captivated by these..
I have been throwing around the idea of more documentary/voyeuristic photographs in my head for a while now..
Watch out mean streets of Auckland, you might be seeing something CRAZZZZY(er) soon!
Following on from the last set of images. I am still in love with my last series from my degree.
I am in love with black as it hides the shadows allowing for a hyperreal visual experience.
I am really obsessed with making people think WTF?? and when I hear “Is that photoshopped??” I know I have done good.
That is one thing I will maintain.
Creating images just by thinking out of the box, using a little problem solving and your creative noggin, you can make a lot of cool things without hitting control/command+c.
To me if I can’t make the image I want with creativity and the camera, I have not thought hard enough to TAKE and MAKE a photograph.
Lastly.. For the third time ( I am clearly LOVING this ATM)
Robert Frank = AMAZING
This man makes me want to get back in the darkroom.
The text, the multiple images. the layering. YUM
Elam have a COLOUR DARKROOM!
I am so excited to experiment and learn and put it all down to CHANCE.
I hope they let me…
6 days and counting until my life changes and I get to be walking the same halls as some of the most amazing people from the New Zealand contemporary art world
Artgasm 3000.
Block your eyes.. But the Artgasm will be the next phase.
They are the moments when art just makes you go ZOMGWOW.
Happy Wednesday!
Love.
Sunshine.
Happiness.
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
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Compliments
I am the worst person at taking compliments EVER.
No matter how much people tell me lovely things about things related to me, I always think they are saying a whole pile of B.S.Maybe put it down to the bullying, mean taunts and masses of sarcasm from my childhood/teenage days that have me questioning peoples lovely comments.
Over the weekend I had so many compliments about the same things over and over again within the space of a short amount of time. To be honest it was great. And it was a massive ego boost haha.
It made me think back to all the lovely things that people have been saying to me lately and I am so grateful and happy to know that what I am doing is right and you truly mean it!I am so sorry if I didn’t believe it the first time but I do now.
I also put the compliments down to my shake up and redevelopment of Hayley.
Last year things got pretty tough but I gave myself some new life rules, got rid of some bad people, changed my working situation and had me seeking nothing but love sunshine and happiness.Those three things are all I really need in life.
LOVE
SUNSHINE
HAPPINESS
Because of these three little things I feel that I now attract those three lovely things and send out those three great things.
What a gift!
Thank you from the bottom of heart all you magic people that stuck by me, supported me and made me feel like I was worth something.
You are the reason I am here loving this life and enjoying everything that I now find coming my way.
Without the hardships I would of not be able to learn what I have about myself.
And become a better me.
Thank you so much.
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My Art Room – The 2012 Visual Diary
With the AWESOME news about where my 2012 is taking me I feel it is only right for me to share my wee online visual diary of ideas and things that have caught my attention as of lately. Some things are my own – ideas that I had forgotten about, things I used to love AND the others will be of things that inspire me at this exact point in time.
Before we kick things off…
I just have to put it out there that I have been so surprised, happy and humbled to receive everyone’s well wishes and support about me heading to Elam for postgrad. I am so stoked. You have no idea.
If you want to be the best you have to surround yourself with the best and be taught by the best and Elam is the best that this country has to offer. I am so stoked. SO STOKED. STOKE IT UP! (Lame-o Nelson insert right there!).
It was definitely a hard decision to stray away from the comforts of what I already knew and to leave people that supported me right through my degree. But hey, I want to do something with what I love, and do it right and do it really, really well.
Being pushed and taken out of that comfort zone will no doubt take some adjusting but I think it will end up giving me the right direction, skills and success that I know can be achieved in this industry.
Things I had forgotten about and things I used to love..
Manipulation. Darkroom. FILM.
When I was home in Nelson I went through a whole pile of boxes and found these from my first year work.
Although it’s first year, we were turning out pretty decent projects ever week. So I tried to mix it up as much as possible each week.
Janet block your eyes – BUT I did most of mine in 24 hours. Opps! #studentlife
Taken for a portrait assignment.
Used masking, painting with developer, scratching, multiple exposure, OHT layers, negative flip.
For a documentary assignment.
Used OHT layers.
SIDE NOTE: This is now a slice of history.
Taken of the lovely ”Book-Selling Grannie” Sarah Power from the iconic Smiths Book Shop on Manchester Street in Christchurch.
Self directed brief from second year.
Self portrait, medium layer – print, coat, peel – left with thin transparent layer with ink.
My favorite thing I have made. Period. This took me two days straight with four hours sleep.. Worth it!
I have an obsession with layering. It is always in my work.
It may be added at the end in editing or the image my just be built up on so many layers. It’s just one of the aesthetic things that I clearly enjoy.
Artists that currently inspire me..
Boyd Webb b.1947 
Still tickling my fancy.
Large constructed realities with basic, inexpensive props.
Robert Frank b. 1924
Text. Darkroom. Film. Multiple images.
Christine Webster b. 1958
All about the costumes and masks and things that shouldn’t really go together.
As I write up and put together this post more and more things come to mind. I am loving this process and getting my mind all arty again. Just thinking art is inspiring. Life is good.
Next time I think I will look into composition and aesthetics. I think I now have a research topic sussed, but think a little more investigating needs to be done before I even let out that kind of guff…
I am really excited about my old class mates wanting to help me out so guys feel free to give me your input! Art class will not be the same without you but having your words, support, ideas and critique means HEAPS to me.
Still gotta post about the weekend but that can wait!.. Other than this!
Today is Waitangi Day.
Pretty much NZ day.
On the 6th of February 1840 The Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the two cultures that make up our beautiful country.
I am proud to say that I (a girl of european descent) am very lucky to be in a relationship with PJK (a boy of Maori descent).
Although our country never really seems to do things right on this day, it is nice to think that in a round about and super simple way (without all the political/customary rights stuff) we are a product of that moment. Pakeha and Maori uniting… Topic of conversation anyone??
1 of 3 of a little something I made back in 2008
If you’re NZ proud, I hope you got to enjoy the day, she’s always a stunner this weekend.
And if you were a lucky sod and went to the 7′s, I hope you had a massive time!
Aroha.
Whitinga o te rā.
Harikoa.
xx
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Shells and Daisies
Now doesn’t that sound like the perfect combo? Shells and daisies. CUTE!
When I was at home in Nelson I stopped in at my fave hippy shop to pick up these wee beauties that I saw the last time I was home.
After all the balls of 2011 something this simple can help to remind me to…
Always have HOPE whether it be for yourself, life or others.
PEACE with your decisions and life.
CELEBRATE success and the good.
WISH for lazy days,creating memories and having those you love with you.
HEALING the mind and soul.
And just the plain old and simple.. Kick back and RELAX!
I plan on carrying these cute wee things in my bag as I now know there is nothing like making sure you have the time to reflect when things are not right.
Something so simple can make life better.
It looks like we have another awesome week of SUN SUN SUN ahead of us.
Make sure you make the time to enjoy it..
FnC’s or ice creams down the beach maybe?
How about a picnic in the park or even your backyard?
Pop out and have lunch OUTSIDE
OR EVEN
Have a bevvy after work in an awesome spot that catches the sun.
SIMPLE.
L.S.H
xxxxxxx
★
