more studio stuff

working on mixed-media architecturally inspired images. (fine-liner black marker and oil pastels)

workspace

I have started a mood board for inspiration

I have been re-arranging my workspace. We have made our studio on the mezzanine floor at home. It connects our bedroom to that of my son and is a space which we can work in without having to worry about tidying up every time someone comes around for a visit.

The rats: Scrat and Milo

Scrat and Milo

Rats in their tank

Milo, named after our (late) jack Russell with the same markings.

18 May - voting day

We went to the local voting station early, although we did not expect to stand in a long line to wait. We did not have far to go - we voted at St Stephens' Catholic Church Hall in Pumula. The local government elections have been more publicized and talked about than any election since 1994 as far as i can tell. I think so many people are just fed-up with bad service delivery and corruption, that people turned up in great numbers to vote.

The results tomorrow will be very interesting.

The up-side is a day at home.

We found two "Hooded fancy rats" for Pierre Jr. They are really surprisingly cute. i have a bit of a phobia of rats, and had to make a major mental shift to agree to their addition to the menagerie. They are more responsive to human company and can be trained to do all kinds of things - much like a dog.

Pierre has been stroking them and picking them up for short spells to get them used to him, and so-far-so-good.

Rain,rain,rain

We had over 4 inches (100mm) of rain - the rain-gauge was overflowing, and it still raining.

the dilemma is that we need the rain, but the roof is leaking badly again.

We designed our own dream-house in the forest, thatched roof amongst old, indigenous trees, which my husband built  17 years ago. After 4 years the beautiful Natal Mahogany had provided so much shade that the thatch began to rot. the contractor who re-thatched the roof took our money and left halfway through the job with us staring at the sky from our lounge. After completion by a second contractor and much money later, the thatch lasted about 11 years. The time came for the upper layer to be combed and a thin outer layer of thatch to be laid on top.

A team of thatchers moved in, and by Christmas, unbeknown to us, in their hurry to complete the work in time to return home to Mpumalanga, did not tie the thatch down properly.

the end result is a roof which has a life of its own. When we have a heavy shower like we had last night, every container in the house comes out to contain the drips.

Curious juvenile Trumpeter Hornbills  on scaffolding outside the studio.

This one admires himself in the window.

Thatching in progress - looks good, doesn't it?!!!

How were we to know this would not last beyond the first shower of rain?

It certainly keep us humble and entertained.

More art

These three collages were created using the papers i received for the February and March Paper Swap challenges.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the procedure - it is great fun - you fill an A4 sized envelope with papers related to the theme set for the month. Your paper swap partner (somewhere else on the globe) does the same and you mail them to one another. Once you receive the treasure trove, you create a mixed-media artwork using the papers received.



                  Mr Spock came from an art catalogue,
                  the rocket was made from a photo of a
                                 space craft with a tail of script from an old book.
                            The flower was from a German magazine ad
  (I couldn't resist that touch)
           It could be a starburst of course.



The children coming out of the "flower"
came from a Polish book on physical training for
schools and the background was the rest of the German ad.

This one was great fun. The boy, from the Polish exercise book reminded me of an aeroplane and matched up with the black and white image from the catalogue. The brown paper jet matched the flying theme. I matched the letter "C" found in various images and mounted it all on a map.

tag journal with stitched collaged cover - Cloth Paper Scissors

I found this wonderful art journal on the link given above.

I am a bit stuck - artwise - at the moment. maybe i should just let it rest and enjoy work by other people for a while.

tag journal with stitched collaged cover - Cloth Paper Scissors