Archive for the ‘Writings and Poetry’ Category

13 Month Project

Sunday, April 17th, 2011

A few weeks ago, I received my 13 month project subscription in the mail! YAY! They are the prettiest most eclectic zines I have encountered in a long while!

As you can probably guess, there is a new zine each month, for 13 months: December 2009 – December 2010. It features art, writing and thoughts from artists all over the place! I received the my first zine (May) in a Grab Bag from Bird in the Hand Zine Shop. I loved it so much, and saw that “Anyone can submit!”

So, I did.

Here are the zines I received, I’ve got two copies of May, but I’ll let you see the different covers (the insides are the same!)

WARNING. This post is IMAGE HEAVY.

(I have no January)

May number 2.

June was one of my favourites, here is my favourite snippet of June.

Pretty cool huh? This is written by Phoebe Macdonald. She has exactly the same kind of synesthesia as me!

I am also a big fan of August, here is one of my favourite bits.

This is by Mark Whittaker

Here is September, and here is my painting inside:

Here is  my painting inside:

Sweet!

In my next post, I’ll include all the other goodies I received in the package!

Love and stardust!

Happeh New Yeeaah!

Tuesday, January 4th, 2011

Well it’s officially 2011. Wow last year has been a … huge one. EFFING HUGE in fact. A big, big, big year of HUGE firsts and some lasts as well.

In Feburary I started back at my last ever year of uni, and also celebrated my 5th anniversary with my lovely boy (not a first or a last!)

In March I opened my etsy.com store and made my first sale in June. Not long after that I was featured in a blog (Cute Stew) for the first time and had my first giveaway at the same place.

In June I had a painting in an exhibition for the first time (Drawgasmic) and will (when the book arrives) see my art in a book for the first time. I’m planning on submitting again this year! Yay!

I’ve even got published for the first time this year, in Blanket Magazine and the Thirteen Month Project (twice!).  Much like my Drawgasmic book, my subscription to the Thirteen Month Project is still coming in the mail, so thought I have been published, I have yet to see any of my art in a book in the flesh (paper).

I submitted art to the Indie Fixx  Feed Your Soul - Free Art Project, and will be submitting a downloadble Valentine’s Day card soon!

I’ve painted four commissioned portraits this year, and have another commission for the new year (and it’s a biggun!) I have yet to post about my most recent one, but I will soon!

As the year drew to a close I had to practically abandon my art and blog and YOU dear reader to focus on my (cough) career!  I still feel so strange even saying that out loud.

I graduated from my Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education in Dec with Second Class honours, and (before I had even graduated) got my dream job at a little Anglican College teaching Prep – Year 9 music to boys and girls. I start on the 17th and am pretty much beside myself with excitement.

As for this year, I have some resolutions (many of which are the same from last year!) Some of them are already underway.

Carla Thursday’s
 Resolutions
for 2011

1. Eat better. For pete’s sake EAT BETTER. Well, I eat pretty well, but I need to eat more raw vegetables, more fruit and less carbs (I am a sucker for bread and pasta). Also, more water, more green tea, less cofee, less alchol and more vitamins (particularly vitamin B).
2. Get up early and walk every day. This is partnered with going to bed early too. I honestly, don’t know why I don’t do this, when I know that I feel amazing afterwards.
3. Meditate. At the beginning and end of each day. This is a habit that is yet to stick, it’s a tricky one, but my mind makes more sense when I do.
4. Get organised. I am starting a new job and a new life this year, and my life is an organisational nightmare!
5. Get your art out there. This I have already started doing, I have posted ads to Gala Darling

 

and on The Curious Pug! Click here to read about Alycia’s sponsers!

I also (DUN DUN DUN) mailed two of my prints to Frankie Magazine today.

Frankie is quite possibly my favourite magazine, and the most delicious publication ever. Just the thought that someone at Frankie will see my paintings fills me with delight!

I hope that this year will be equally huge and as exciting as last year,  for me and all of you.

xo

Books I’ve read in 2010

Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010

As many of you may know, I love books. One of my better skills is that I can read really fast, if I put my mind to it, I can put away a book a day. Sadly, this year I didn’t get that much time to read, but here is a list of books I’ve read.

In no particular order:

The Handmaid’s tale – Margaret Atwood
When you are engulfed in flames – David Sedaris
Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
A Clockwork Orange – Anthony Burgess
The Elephant Vanishes – Haruki Murakami
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles – Haruki Murakami
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Jonathan Safran Foer
Girlfriend In a Coma – Douglas Coupland
The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
The Messenger – Markus Zusak
The Knife Of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking Series Book 1) – Patrick Ness
The Ask and The Answer (Chaos Walking Series Book 2) – Patrick Ness
Monsters of Men (Chaos Walking Series Book 3) – Patrick Ness
Darkly Dreaming Dexter – Jeff Lindsay
Dearly Devoted Dexter – Jeff Lindsay
Dexter in the Dark – Jeff Lindsday
The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins
Tess of the d’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
Wicked – Geoffrey Maguire

These are the only ones I can think of, off the top of my head right now. I’ll probably think of many more as the days go on!

What amazing books have you read this year?

Do you have any on your to-read list?

I haven’t died.

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

I know you’ve probably been wondering what’s happened to me, but I assure you, I do still actually exist.

I am officially on holidays. I graduate from my uni degree on the 14th (v. excited to wear the silly outfit!) This last month has been a terribly stressful, uncertain time for me and a lot of my friends. When you graduate from education, the system can pretty much send you anywhere. Luckily, I got an interview at a lovely college about 20 minutes away from my house, and four nail-biting days after the interview I got the job.

I am absolutely DYING with excitement. I’ll be teaching Prep to Grade 9 Music (yeah not art I know, but music is my major). I got to visit the school this week, and the staff are lovely, and I’ve been spending these last few days planning for next year.

Now I’m finally giving myself a break. I’ve read two books in three days, and I’ve just started another.

I have just finished these two books, which were recommended to me by my writer friend Ryan (and believe me he knows books).

This one was my favourite of the two, it is so funny and lovely lovely lovely.

 

I only finished this one today, only a few hours ago. This is unlike anything I have ever read before, and really got me thinking. I can’t recommend these two enough! Go forth and read!

I’m also really close to finishing a comission portrait for a lovely guy in America. It’s a portrait of his girlfriend for Christmas (I know – Romantic!!) Hopefully I’ll get it done today and mail it away, then I’ll probably post picture after Xmas (with his permission).

I’ve bought a set of four really lovely wooden frames, that I’d like to fill with artwork for my parents for Christmas, because they are always complaining that they have none of my art in the house. Which is true.

It will have to be one artwork, across four different sized square frames. Ideas? Thoughts? Inspiration?

Blanket!

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Well, lovely news lovelies!

It seems I’ve had three paintings published in Blanket Magazine which is a rad online PDF magazine featuring emerging artist from all around the world!

Blanket Magazine Issue 24

The cover art is lovely no?

Anyway, I’ve had three paintings published Little Sister, Bang Bang and The Singer which I probably consider to be some of my best work.

If you are so inclined, you can buy the issue here. It’s all online, so it saves trees (yay!) and only costs $2 (whoa cheap!). My paintings are on page 42!

Some actual art tomorrow (yay doodles!)

Love, Love, Love and Crayons!

Website!

Sunday, September 19th, 2010

Yay! I’ve been working on it for a few weeks now, but my new portfolio website is finally up and running!

carlathursday.comPretty snazzy huh? I designed it in iWeb which is quite useful, and OH so easy.

www.carlathursday.comI’m quite happy with how it turned out, and luckily, one of the perks of having a lovely nerdy boyfriend, is that I had tonnes of help getting it all set up. So my boy is definitely in the good books at the moment (not that I suppose he’s ever been out of them!)

www.carlathursday.com

Go and check it out because I’d love to know what you think of it!

Tomorrow, there will be a big post with my newest painting! All finished!

xoxo Goodnight Starlight!

Reverse Cymbal Press

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

You may remember my last post about zines. In it I talked about the Reverse Cymbal Press zine pack I received.

In the pay was the zine May, which is part of the 13 Month Project, a new zine gets released each month, from December 2009 to December 2010. Inside the zine it said, “Publishing emerging artists, anyone can apply.” So I did.

Reverse Cymbal Press

Which is exciting, because I’ll be having an artwork published in the September Zine which is coming out soon!

You can check out their Facebook Group here, where you can get the zine for only $2.

Happy Zinestering!

Za za zines – Reviews!

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

I am posting this with cling wrap on my head.

No I’m not even kidding. I’m dyeing my hair with henna as we … speak, and I shall document the results soon! Just so you know, it’s really hard to scratch your head through a layer of plastic, then a layer of wet goopy hair.

In the mean time, here are some zine reviews! YAY! I ordered another grab pack from Bird in the Hand Zine shop again! And BOY did I snag a good hawl this time!

Here are some of my favourites!

This first one is by someone who identifies herself only as Mechelle B.

Bearded Chaps Mechelle B

This little zine is just what you’d expect it to be.

Bearded Chaps Mechelle B

Aren’t they just darling?

Bearded Chaps Mechelle B

My favourite part however, is that it almost isn’t a book at all.

Bearded Chaps Mechelle B

See how it all folds out? This is SO beautifully present, but still has that gorgeous hand made feel, I just can’t stop looking at them. I think Mechelle’s illustration style is really darling, and it seriously inspires me!

Next on the agenda!

Digits Elke O'Connor

This one is by Elke O’Connor, in this batch of zines I got around four of hers, and this is definitely my favourite! Beautiful black and white photography coupled by brief beautiful narrative poems.

Digits Elke O'ConnorThis is my favourite in the book, and honestly it was hard to choose.

Digits Elke O'ConnorDoesn’t it just make you shiver? I wish I was so clever!

This next one is just as brief and just as delicious.

Wheel House Chloe Siobhan

This is a little series of zines called Wheelhouse. I ordered the first four chapters, mainly because they are only 10c each. (BARGAIN!)

Each one contains a tiny chapter, each one more lovely than the last. :)

You Luke

Now this one is very enigmatic indeed, just a piece of recycled paper, with a letter from someone called Luke.

You Luke

Don’t worry. It’s someone where I will read it a lot.

Next I also ordered some zine packs. I’ve never done this before, but it was really fun (and surprising!)

Crehatetivity

Crehatetivity was fun, it had inside all sorts of little tid bits.

crehatetivity

It was a zine, and little pieces of art tied up with string! Does it get any better?

Reverse Cymbal Press

This one was done by the Reverse Cymbal Press, who make it their job to publish the work of emerging artists. I’m definitely going to get in contact with them.

Look at all the things that came inside this envelope!

Reverse Cymbal PressA booklet made with an ultra sound of someone’s kidney.

Reverse Cymbal Press

This one I think may have been bound around the wrong way, because I can see what looks like poetry inside the pages, but I can’t bring myself to unbind it and read it.

Reverse Cymbal PressI also got this little red envelope, and guess what was inside?

Reverse Cymbal PressYay! Six dollars! I’m going to buy a copy of the Big Issue with this. :)

Reverse CYmbal Press

Another sweet afirmation.

reverse cymabl press

Reverse Cymbal Press

Also in the pack was the Reverse Cymbal Press Monthly zine, which I am definitely thinking of getting a subscription to. I’m also thinking of submitting some artworks. It features some great illustrations, and some really lovely (and thought provoking) writings. If you can snag a copy, they’re cheap cheap!

Reverse Cymabl Press

Lastly. My favourite item that came in the pack was this. I dont’ know who it was by, but it’s an altered book.

Reverse Cymbal Press

As you can see it’s The Whispering Land by Gerald Durrell, but the artist, has painted the cover black so it looks like this.

Reverse Cymbal Press

And on each page, they’ve written a word. So it’s like a story within a story. It’s just DEVINE. It is literally now one of my prized possessions. Here are the first few pages.

ThisIsNotAnArtprankNo indeed, it is not.

Whoever these Reverse Cymbal Pressians art, I am a big fan.

(Almost) all images have been linked back to where you can purchase them at the Bird in the Hand Zine Shop. Check them out, they’re all marvelous reads.

Speaking of zines, my lovely friend Ryan and I have finally gotten our act together and are starting a zine collaboratively. His words my art. Fun no?! We’ll talk more about it soon.

Now, it’s perfect timing for me to go take this gunk out of my hair and admire my new glossy locks!

More updates soon chickens!

Darling Gala

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned before, but my favourite blogger an all round idol is Miss Gala Darling.

If you haven’t heard of her (or read her delicious blog) you’ve probably been living under a rock.

It was my birthday party on Saturday night. That’s right, I’m almost 21! My birthday is actually on the 6th, but I was totally showered with gifts (I’ll get back to this when I have more time) and with my birthday money, I bought myself a subscription to Gala’s Love and Sequins Podcasts.

I have been devouring them like I need them to survive! I already know that it is the BEST $84 I have ever spent. EVER. If you have $84 lying around (which we never do) DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR!

It’s all about living magically and endulging in radical self love! Something I believe in so strongly. When I listen to her lovely hybrid Kiwi/American accent, I feel like she is telling me everything I’ve ever needed to know, and everything I knew but haven’t realised yet.

I have listened in the car, and at my desk, and on the train, and on my walk and I honestly don’t want to do anything else! I just want to lie in a bath full of bubbles and let her tell me ways to inprove my well being and just love myself more. I am so inspired to make my life all the more amazing.

One tip I can give you is this one. EFT – or Emotional Freedom Techniques. Read Gala’s article about it here. Go on. DO IT. FREAKING DO IT. It will change your life.

I am often skeptical about these kind of things, and I didn’t feel any different about this. But when I did my first round (I followed Gala’s video and focused on a fear of change) I suddenly felt so light headed, like I was going to faint! The blood rushed to my head and I know that I have encountered something physically life changing.

I’ve now done a couple of rounds focusing on more private issues, and I’m going to see what happens! Exciting no?

I hope you read some of the magical things Gala has to tell you, because you’ll love her and everything she has to say.

Have a delicious day darlings.

Journals

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

I used to keep tonnes of journals. I’m talking five at a time, full of sketches and collages, thoughts, dreams I’d had.

Anyway, I’ve really been inspired by the lovely journals in some of the blogs I follow.  Here are some pages from old journals I’ve done.

Sometimes you wake up and all you’ve got left is a mental Polaroid of a solitary moment on the other side.

There’s a chrysalis and a woman with underwater hair sleeps inside. She seems to shift like a sweet shimmering droplet of glass colored water. She must live deep in this miasma as if trapped by some wild metaphor, created purely by the predilection for perfection. All is monochrome, like breath on a mirror, making illusions like the sky with the intake – outtake – sigh.

On her surreal white skin an angry vision which is like dust & fiery triumph claws through the silhouette of pain & passion in time. It breaks the metaphysical, the ethereal and unravels the silence with flowing thoughts and clashing voices. The crashing of waves and the foam of the sea.

Can skin be sewn back together?

Her eyes would probably be beautiful if they were open.

My favourites are from the notebook doodles.

Aren’t they the lovliest?

I have a really lovely green journal with lots of pages, that I’m really going to try and use more often. I’ve used it to write about nightmares I’ve had which helps deal with them I think, and I also like to use it for random thoughts, but I’m going to try and make more art and share it! That is my pledge to you!

Speaking of pledges! I’ve got something inportant to post about real soon! I’ll keep you posted! (Worst pun ever!)

xo Love and art!