Since my last entry the days have blended together. I started college...now one of the determined few working at at getting a double major bachelors degree in fine art and visual culture. I took two classes for the first term and work went to an 80 hour week at the same time - eeeekkkkk! Learning about Modernism was a challenge, but can now count myself into the understanding why some of it is done. There is even an appreciation built for some of the Expressionists, Impressionists, Dada and more. It lead me to even undergo the Picasso exhibit at the NSW Art Gallery (more on that later). What else..mmmm.. photographed an engagement/rehearsal/wedding of a mate's daughter and organised albums, prints, etc and now painting their portrait. Practicing anatomy drawing for an upcoming life drawing class at Norman Lindsay's Gallery. Work has fluctuated between 50 to 80 hours a week depending on how much the boss will let my leash out. Had the inlaws visit for 3 weeks, Nat visit for a week, and we are renovating the house. Did I leave anything out? Who cares....I just been spinning and going with the flow. At this moment I am trying to eat lunch, wait on customers, type in the blog, and line up the studies for this afternoon - Multi-tasking to the ultimate insane levels. I need a shirt that says "Crazy Train".
This term I have limited myself to only one course, Introduction to Visual Culture, which is studying the history of art from the Greeks to Modernism. The most interesting thus far was the art of India, the beauty of their detail in Buddhism and Hindu works is exquisite. Currently the project is a 1200 word essay on how the Renaissance art demonstrates a "rebirth". I am now in love with Sandro Botticelli's work.
Art work wise there has only been my anatomy studies and the wedding portrait that is a work in progress when I can sit down to it. This is the beginning (the only photo I have on me at work).
This is the latest anatomy study of the morning: no, it is not me - it is from the Human Anatomy for Artists book by Dr. Gyorgy Feher.
From the 2nd of January until 5th I will be attending Norman Lindsay Gallery Life Drawing Summer School. It will be my first drawing class since high school (that was a long time ago). The teacher is David Newman-White with a lot of diplomas listings behind it. He studied Fine Art at Sydney Technical College, Alexander Mackie and the University of Western Sydney. He has exhibited in Hogarth Gallery, Coventry Gallery and Casula Powerhouse. He currently lectures for Nepean Art and Design Centre at the Western Sydney Institute, Nepean Collage. Impressive eh... I looked him up online and was very impressed by his work, so hopefully I'll learn lots of new tips this week.
Craig has been off work for the last two weeks and currently has all the walls in the kitchen, bathroom, spare room and dining room tore up to replace wall paneling and plastering. So I don't know how much work I will accomplish outside of the life drawing class. If I am not able to draw, I will post my latest readings for class, an artist bio or something art wise until my own work is able to be accomplished again.
Happy New Year.
