Mural

This is the wall I will be starting on tomorrow. It is 11m x 3m. I am doing an induction today and I am starting to paint the mural tomorrow. I went and got the paint and supplies today. I bought dulux low sheen interior paint from a place called 3d inspirations at Kedron and then Newmarket. They were really helpful and friendly.

13 exhibition

We went to 13 exhibition last night. It was held in an old warehouse that is going to be demolished soon. The exhibition was part of a project for a third year subject at QCA. I did the subject in 2007 and it seems a bit more interesting since I did it.

She knew without any shadow of a doubt

Big painting

I am hopefully going to be starting on a giant painting for the Qld State Govt. next week. It's actually a mural but I don't really like that word. The word mural reminds me of really crap paintings on walls. This is my first public art piece and I am so looking forward to starting it. I am happy with the design and the location.


The 'painting' will be on an internal wall of the new bike centre located at 61 Mary Street in the city. It's a very suitable place for one of my pieces as it promotes the use of bicycles rather than cars. The wall is 11m x 3m. I've always wanted to do a huge painting but have never had the room :-)

I have to decide which water based acrylic paint to use yet. The painting will be coated with an anti-graffiti layer at the end. you should be able to just wipe graffiti off quite easily apparently. Also, should i make it a glow in the dark piece? wouldn't that be great!

At first I tried to keep it a secret from my neighbours

title: At first I tried to keep it a secret from my neighbours (night terrors)
medium: Acrylic on canvas
size: approx 3 metres long
year: 2009

A suburban residence viewed as through night-vision goggles. The scene is still, with the anticipation of events about to unfold.

A familiar scene on the verge of transition to the strange, representing the dreams and aspirations of a society heading into uncertain times. The fundamental assumptions that make the suburban form possible may no longer hold valid, causing anxiety beneath the calmness of the surface, even as it reaches its fullest expression. The advent of peak oil, climate uncertainty, demographic change, shifting geopolitical realities all impact the stability of a financial system based on risk and the concept of limitless growth. How will they change the way we view our lifestyle in the coming century? Will the now commonplace seem strange – how transient are our seemingly permanent marks on the surface of the world?

holidays?

On thursday I have my painting critique for the end of the semester. I have to take all my paintings back into uni and then next week I will bring most of them home again :-) I am looking forward to having a break from uni but i will continue to work over the break (of course). lol!

I want to believe

Gemma Smith won the Clayton Utz travelling scholarship last night. She had work in the Optimism show at GOMA and is represented by Milani Gallery in Brisbane.

These were the entrants:
Jennifer Baxter
Chris Bennett
Kate Bernauer
Sue Beyer
Chris Booth
Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox
Jasmin Coleman
Megan Cope
Ky Curran
Nameer Davis
Kim Demuth
Stefan Dunlop
Franz Ehmann
Simone Eisler
Julie Fragar
Anna Gonzalez
Anita Hochman
Madeleine Kelly
Lisa Lee
Mandana Mapar
Karla Marchesi
Alison McDonald
Bruce Reynolds
Giles Ryder
Gemma Smith
Arryn Snowball
Daynor Sudmalis
Gabriella Szablewska & Brent Wilson
Sally Williams
Hoe-Chee Yam

I knew I didn't have much of a chance to win but it felt pretty good to be included with these fantastic artists. I will probably enter a couple more competitions this year and give it a break next year. I have been accepted into everything I have entered this year and I am quite happy with that. The only thing was, my work has evolved to a higher level and my best work wasn't shown at any except for the Clayton Utz. Sometimes it feels like a waste of time being in these things, but a lot more people have seen my work and my name is getting out there. I won't have the time or energy next year to enter these things as I will be doing honours.

I can't wait to finish uni so I can get on with things. I have PLANS! I want to start applying for overseas residencies and grants to do work, but you can't until you are a 'professional' artist. That means finishing my degree. I feel like uni is holding me back at the moment but I think it is a necessary evil. I don't regret going back to do a fine art degree. It has helped me to focus and I have met heaps of great people. It has worked for me.

I haven't had a break for ages and I am a bit tired. Time to watch some X-files :-)

End of semester

I am handing in my last written assignment for uni tomorrow. what a relief. I need a break from uni. My painting critique isn't until the 18th so I have time for last minute things.

I took my painting into town this morning for the Clayton Utz travelling scholarship. I was lucky and got a park for the car and trailer right across the road from Metro Arts in Edward street. The opening for it is tomorrow night. It would be great to win this one but I have some really good competition and don't expect to win :-) Dreaming my dreamy little dreamy dreams.