Monday 25 April 2011

Chocolate Season

While I don't have the tendancy to do anything art related to commemorate any specific occasion, today I just happened to pull together a few items for the sheer fun of it, and put them together in my latest sketchbook.


It all began with a chocolate wrapper that I got off the chocolates I got for Tony a while ago, and the little label my friend Paul had tied on to the little Easter egg he gave us with teeny tiny bunny gingerbread cookies and tiny chocolate eggs inside. 

GREETINGS from the EASTER RIBBIT
 



The strip off the top of my iced tea bottle came next, and the ribbon that tied the label onto the little egg was then added. Three jigsaw pieces had been loitering on my desk since I found them in the bottom of a box of art supplies a friend gave me recently. In peeling off most of the cardboard which backed the pieces, I discovered a whole new collage potential.

A few weeks ago I experimented with "found" poems, this time using newspaper articles. The poem reads as such:

Chocolate Season

iconic
sensuous luxury
true believers

exquisitely expressed
spiritual reasoning

'food of the Gods.'


As is often the case, what began as something simple became a social commentary on the confusion that is often created when a festival designated for a specific purpose is overtaken by materialism and consumerism.

Whatever the significance of this holiday weekend holds for you, may it have been a good one ~

Friday 22 April 2011

Building a business or a life

"It doesn't take any longer to build a business [or a life] that fits just-right
than to cobble together one that pinches and pulls at you.

Both take a tremendous amount of time and energy.
That's the way it is.

The only question is whether you'll spend that energy trying
to turn yourself into something you aren't or
figuring out how to use your strengths
to do what needs to be done."
Molly Gordon

Over the last few weeks I have been doing a lot of reconsidering in both my business and my life in general, and within the last few days have made some distinct moves to make some changes. Today I received this quote in my email box and once again, it was as if someone, somewhere was taking notice and sending some encouragement my way. Maybe this will touch you in turn ~

Wednesday 20 April 2011

Enchanting "Micmacs"

Sometimes you come across a movie that is, quite simply, superb. "Micmacs" is a wonderfully rich piece of work that will delight and enchant you. The attention to detail is second to none and the subtleties too many to absorb in one sitting.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2588476441/

I am lucky enough to speak French fluently and so was able to follow the movie in its original version and thoroughly enjoy the play on words and the poetic use of what is already a beautifully poetic language. I did notice that the English sub-titles were really good.

The director's interview recounts how at the age of 8 he would create puppet shows, and charge his parents to watch! He would also take the View Master spirals, cut out all the pictures and repaste them in completely different order, writing a script to accompany them.

Find a quiet evening, turn off the phone and settle down to linger for a while watching a true work of art. And let yourself be inspired all over again.