Red Shoe Artist

Hey, hello,

How are you all doing? By all, I mean the 7-ish gorgeous people that visit this blog. I hope life is treating you well and you need to know, I appreciate you and wish you nothing but happiness.

I’ve been decluttering! The last couple of months has seen me spending my weekend decluttering my spaces to help me breathe a little better. I always thought I was so diligent with things, but turns out, I’m bloody not! I go around telling people that I have a capsule wardrobe… the truth turned out to be WEAR a capsule wardrobe, but I have HEAPS more clothes than I need. So, I donated so many clothes, not just to the poor, but to my adorable cousin who appreciates beautiful things.

I had so many black items of clothing that I purchased for my previous job, because that was our uniform, I reckon I got rid of a funeral processions worth and I still have too many black items left. The next day, I went out at bought two tops in red, teal and I also got a floral print dress, just to break up the morbid looking wardrobe. My capsule is reset and now any time an item comes in, an item must go out. End of story. I still have a fair way to go before I’m finished, but gosh it feels good when your space is organised.

So, while I’ve been making cookies for the good people of Melbourne, and writing meal prep plans and acquiring and washing meal prep containers, I have been going out of my skin for not doing a lot of art. I don’t know about you guys, but if I stay away from the things I love to do for too long, I short-circuit. This whole, I need to eat healthy meals, and work certain hours in a week, and scrub sinks and mop floors, and clean spaces life is really starting to bore the living shit out of me. After deliberating for so long, I enrolled in a dry point etching class for next week. I LOVE all forms of printmaking, I still remember the first time I discovered Linocut printing, but any and all forms really gets me excited. I’ve tried most types, I even bought a gel plate to give that a go, but I have never tried etching. Whenever I go to the NGV I always visit the Rembrandt room. His etchings are out of this world and I am fascinated by it. So, I’m looking forward to that. I am also involved in a lot of online communities that keep inspiring me to do things, but I just end up watching others do it and wonder why I’m not motivated

And then it dawned on me…

My Space! I tore down my trestle table that had been set up in my room because I needed the table for my market stall. I had all my art supplies packed up in overnight suitcases and reusable shopping bags. I didn’t have my set up so I was back to not doing art. A couple of posts ago, I told you guys how I had set up my art space and I was creating like mad…

Okay, this is a lesson in how not to live your life. Do not, under any circumstances, give up your space that makes you truly happy. Instead of going out and buying another trestle table to use at the market, I thought why have so much stuff, just fold up the art table and use that. Yeah, Nah! (as we say in Australia).

Last night, I asked my brother to carry it upstairs and put the table outside my room. This weekend is going to be about me resetting my space. I can’t do without it.

I’ll hopefully. show you guys what kind of masterpiece I create next week at my etching class. I’m so looking forward to it. Right now, I need to prep some food for later and then go upstairs and start setting up my art play area.

Things that I think are worth sharing this week:

1. I love this piece of art by Rembrandt, The Angel Appearing to the Shepherd it’s amazing how you can get such lights and darks simply by how many hatchings you create. You need to think in reverse in order for this to work. It’s amazing.
2. I am STILL reading Anna Karenina. This translation is the best I’ve come across, and I know it is taking me way longer to read this than any other book, but I have put it down here and there to read some less dense books, just so I can feel like I’ve accomplished something. Wow! This book can drag on a bit, but I’m determined. The writing is beautiful but old Leo can rabbit on a bit. Edit, my good man!
3. Anderson Cooper has this amazing Podcast about grief. It sounds morbid, but it’s actually quite helpful to know that you’re not alone in grief and there really is no time frame. Things will pop up, even years later and it’s completely normal. Feel your feelings,
4. I’ve been listening to Crowded House a lot lately. It’s only natural (oh, a CH pun! hahahaha) that it would be a progression from listening to Split Endz so much. This song, in my honest opinion, is the BEST Crowded House song every written and you’ll see my comment on Neil’s post to prove it. You can’t change my mind.
5. I’ve learned so much reading this article about Melbourne facts. I had no idea that Melbourne was the first city outside of Europe and North America to host the Olympics. That was the year that my Dad came to Australia, 1956. My Mum migrated in 1961. They met, fell in love, had their first kiss somewhere on St Kilda Rd in the city and got married and had babies, me being the 3rd of 4. I love Melbourne! I’m so lucky to live here. Thanks Mum and Dad for choosing an awesome city to live in.

That’s it from me for now. I hope I haven’t bored you too much.

Have a great weekend, folks.

Cheers to you x