Finally! We're getting somewhere...

This is my second attempt at writing this post. I tried to be smart and technology savvy, by writing a post via my phone, going back and forth adding a new bits but somewhere along the line I deleted it *sigh* never mind aye?
As you maybe able to tell by the lack of post talking about my own work, I've been stuck in a bit of a creative rut. You know how writers get writers block? I've got the creative rut, the illustrative version. Instead of working and getting frustrated at the fact it seems like I've lost the ability to draw over night, I sit refreshing Instagram every ten seconds or so and compare myself to other creatives. Usually these people are older and wiser than me with a lot more experience, but never the less I sit and get angry at the fact I'm not as good as people like Rob Ryan or Julia Potts and certainly not as productive as Ella Masters. All in all being very unsatisfied with my work and my general approach.
It's defiantly not a good thing to compare yourself to others. It is however a good thing to look to others for inspiration and sometimes the littlest thing can trigger something that will, in turn go on to create something amazing. But comparing yourself will only put you deeper into the lack of inspiration and motivation ditch.
On Friday I went to visit the college that I studied in last year. It's always nice to go back for a catch up and I needed advice on a set of Lino cutters that I've been thinking about buying. Whilst talking to my old print teacher he introduced me to a lady who is studying the City and Guilds printmaking course. It turned out that this lady had recently bought the Lino cutters that I'd been looking at. They're really beautiful things, I'll most defiantly be buying some soon.
She was so lovely and inspiring. We talked for ages about art, university, her daughter. She was the type of artistic person you could talk to all day and who'd help you. She recommended a few local life drawing classes too. The part of the conversation that sticks with me most is when she gave me the advice 'believe in your ability'. I think those words triggered something because I feel so inspired!
All weekend I'd been itching to draw but I didn't get around to it until Saturday night. Since then I've been drawing and painting every night. I come home make tea and then draw till one or two-ish. The last few days have been so lovely. I've not felt this happy in a while. I realise my work isn't perfect but its progressing and I feel so much better because of it.

The other evening I was looking on the Internet at different bits and bobs and I came across the words 'love when you're ready not when you're lonely'. They struck a chord. So I decided to get my watercolours out and paint!
Then once I finished that one I began painting a present for my sisters birthday. She was given some chickens so I took inspiration from that :) I just hope she likes it.
I feel so inspired and there are loads of things I have in mind to do and I'm trying to write them down so next time I have a mental block I'll be good and ready to smash it down :)

I've also drunk my weight in tea... So happy! Whooop!

Saturday Spontaneity and my mid-year resolution.

For a while now I’ve wanted to start to visit new and different places – Galleries, Exhibitions, museums and such – with the intentions to broaden my views and learn as much as possible. I want to experience lots of different things.
Can you believe I’ve never been to the Tate or V&A and I’m going to be doing an Art degree in September? Nope neither can I, it’s embarrassing. This summer I will rectify this, bellow is a list of things I’d like to do from now till Uni, with or without my friends company;
• Visit Glastonbury – I’ve been once before and thought it was one of the loveliest places
• Visit Cambridge – All of us have memories of being somewhere, being completely and utterly happy and uncomplicated. My memory took place in Cambridge where I went on a school trip and we punted. I’ve been dying to revisit ever since.
• Visit Hay-on-wye – Last year I was looking for a list of books for uni, Hay-on-wye being the book capital seemed the perfect place to go. I loved it there, the amount of book surrounding me in one small town was overwhelming and it had some of the second best vintage shop I’ve been in – First being in Totness.
• To Kayak down the River Wye – More specifically through Symons Yatt, on a buoyant pub-crawl.
• London – There is a massive long list of things I loved to do in London. Camden market, Tate, V&A, China town, Portobello market, Camberwell market, British museum, Natural History Museum… basically a lot of museums and markets. I’d have to stay over a night or two to be able to fit all of that in.
• National Museum Cardiff – I’ve lived in Wales my whole life. all almost twenty years, and I’ve never ever been to the National Museum; yet another thing I’m ashamed of. I really want to sit and draw, make little studies, try and improve my life drawing skills.
• The Fleece – February I went to go see – prepare for fan girl-ing; my favourite band ever! Frightened Rabbit, it was the best gig I’ve ever been to, I was right at the front, my stomach touching the stage, if I wasn’t afraid I’d get a restraining order I could have touched Scott (Lead singer) I could actually see the wet collecting in his beard. Moving on, the venue they played in is called ‘The Fleece’, it has a capacity of 450 people; it’s like quaint, small and gets really warm, making it perfect. I fell in love with Bristol that night. I’d love to live there, in a flat. I’ve completely romanticised it.

Think that’s all of the stuff I’d like to do this summer that I’ve thought of so far anyway.

To start this off I visited an exhibition and a museum today, in Newport. The Exhibition is called ‘Shift’. My old Tutor, David Garner - a Welsh Artist originally from Ebbw Vale, South Wales.  He studied at Newport and Cardiff College of Art and the Royal College, London. He’s exhibited widely throughout the UK and Ireland including the National Museum, Cardiff, the Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow and the City Gallery, Leister. Garner is one of Wales’ leading visual artists.
Dave’s work is heavily influenced by industrial South Wales and the closure of the coal industry, which resulted in deterioration of many mining communities like Dave’s hometown.
As well as being a very talented fine artist Dave is also a lovely person who’s not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. All in all he’s a very inspiring person.

If you’re in the area and you’re interested in having a look it’s running till June 28th

http://www.davidgarnerartist.com/David_Garner/Welcome.html

 

Sunnnyyyy!!!

We've had some really good weather this past week and I was lucky enough not to be working bank holiday so I could enjoy the weather appose to staring at it with a scowl on my face from my office window. On Saturday I went to IKEA with my friend Kirsty, it was a fairly special moment because Kirsty has lived almost nineteen years and prior to Saturday had never set foot inside the holy yellow and blue cube that is IKEA. I love it there, sadly I'd even go as far as saying it's one of my favourite places that I've been. When I was little I wanted to design for them, now that I'm a little older I've gone with the more achievable dream of hiding within the great mountain of pillows until night fall at which time I emerge and head towards all the little room's and the food court... Bliss, they even sell arty things, like crayons and chalk!
I went with the intentions of stocking up on Uni bits and bob... I bought most of what I needed from IKEA last year, but there were a few things that I needed, plus any excuse will do to visit IKEA. Whilst there I saw a set of shelves for £17... it was one of those 'this could become useful, I don't need it but I want it and it would be very good for *insert a long list of reasons* and I could paint on it' so that was it, it was in my trolley!
Because it's been so sunny recently, I've moved away from drawing bearded men in bobble hats and scarfs, instead all I want to draw is colourful houses, little boats and create them whilst drinking cream soda... yummy! So when thinking what to put onto my box it was an easy decision... I wanted something light and happy, to reflect that warm happy feeling you get when the sun starts to shine after weeks and weeks of grey and rain. Look how happy Kirsty is in IKEA! God she loved that bear... I also bought myself a new cup... it's a dog and you drink from his nose :) I love it.
The final picture is of me skipping into the sea... Sunday I was in such a bad mood, for no reason. I just couldn't shake myself up and make myself happy... so when my friend came over she suggested going on a little holiday to Tenby or somewhere, by the time we actually got our bottoms in to gear it was to late to go, so instead we went to Barry, which is only a short drive down the motorway... it was about 9pm and I have a terrible problem with open water and wanting to be in it. So I did, first in my tights - they were broken anyway then I look my jumper off and then less and less clothes until I was simply in my tights and a vest up to my neck in freezing water... I couldn't have been happier. I had two scoops of chocolate ice-cream too... it was lush!

Wait... Mr. Postman

I'm a terrible Internet dweller. I like to sit and spend hours just looking for inspiration and at what other creatives are doing. A few people that I follow on numerous different sites, I noticed, participate in art swaps. This was something that I really wanted to do myself. I thought the idea of sharing your work with another person for none profitable reasons was lovely and what ever you received back would help broaden you within your field, mine being illustration. Plus I love mail.
Last year I was going to attend Falmouth University, until I freaked out and decided I wanted to simply work, but before this I started talking to a few different people that were going to become fellow students. Sophie Elizabeth Chadwick (sophielizasquid.tumblr.com) being one of them. I brought up the idea of a swap, asking if she'd be interested in being my arty pen-pal and she agreed, to my delight... Sophie makes very psychedelic, natured inspired, some times collaged illustrations that are bursting with colour and fun.
Being the procrastinator I am and being super busy with work and family, it took me much longer than I would have liked to send off my first set of bits and bobs. However the moment I started creating it was incredibly satisfying and quiet addictive, I wanted to put everything into a box to send to her. Thankfully I restrained myself. In the end I made a card, some earrings, a Lino print and I sent some tea bags as Miss Chadwick shares the same love of tea as I do.
This was the first project that I had completed in almost a year, that though freaks me out... Not to worry Swansea Uni soon :) 132 days... Till I finish work... Not that I'm counting.
Anyway, I'd defiantly do this again and I can't wait to see what Sophie sends in response :)

Love Naomi x

Adventures of Magpie

Recently I've been at a loss when it comes to my weekends. I currently work in the week until University and it's not exactly how I'd like to be spending my time. It's because of this I really believe that my free time is incredibly valuable and I hate wasting it. Sadly due to the fact my friends are still in education at the moment, they don't understand this and they don't share my views. To say the least, I'm a little bored.
So to try and cure the feeling of a wasted weekend I have visited my auntie, uncle and cousins house in a small village called Brewood, South Stafford-shire for the last two weekends. Both times were an impromptu, spur of the moment thing and I'm so glad I did it. I feel much more fore filled, even though I spend the rest of the week sulking that I can't stay all week.
Last week we visited Shrewsbury, the birthplace of Charles Darwin. Shrewsbury is lovely because it's so old but it's still quite big. There is a mixture of vintage shops as well as high street shops, so depending on your mood you are really catered for.
When I went last week there was a busking for charity even and there was music everywhere. I don't think I've ever seen so many ukuleles in one place. One vintage shop, that was in a market, over looked a coffee shop and a band of men placed a Tom Jones song, I felt like I was in a film. The only way it could have been better is if I had a hot chocolate from the shop myself.

This weekend I've went to Wolverhampton, which wasn't as big and scary as I thought it was going to be and there were loads and loads of vintage shops which pleased me immensely. Some better than others. 'Darlington Vintage' was by far one of the better ones. It was jam packed with coats and jumpers, dresses and shoes. The prices weren't ridiculous either. We went into a record shop too, I've been into a few record shops in my time, I collect records, but never before have I been into a shop with quite that many singles. If you are more goth than vintage then 'Trisha's'. Lot's of leather, lots of Levi's, lots of lace and lots of velvet.

Beth wnes i Dydd Sadwrn

Last Saturday I went into Abergavenny, which is a lovely little market down that lies at the gate of the Brecon Beacons. It also has a really lovely traditional art shop, that looks more like an apothecary and a market that sells the nicest pies, sadly I ate the pie too quickly to take a picture of it. I had literally no interest in going into any of the major high street shops. I went on a spur of the moment type of thing after the hairdressers, just because it was a nice thing to do to waste an afternoon, plus I really wanted 'Rubber Soul' on vinyl. The shop was closed, which made me quite sad although I found a lot of lovely things to take the sting away :P

We had snow with us, as you can see and I wasn't dressed for it at all. It was so cold. I went into the art shop to buy a new sketch book and ended up coming out with two new lino inks, a new pencil, refills for my pencil, a paintbrush, a new nib, a sketch book and a few pieces of lino. I always get carried away there, it's awful. I did have piece of cake with the owner and a cup of tea, which was nice. 

After that, I ventured to an really quaint second hand books shop, whilst on the hunt for anything by Oscar Wilde that contained 'The Selfish Giant'. I'm attempting to illustrate it and much preferred referencing it from a book as appose to staring at my Ipad for long periods of time, it's more inspiring plus I'm just difficult. The really special thing about this shop is, unlike Waterstones, it has incredibly old, preciously bound books that have had different lives before ending up on the shelves of this bookshop, having the likes of me looking through them all. 

It so happened that they did have an Oscar Wilde book and I bought it. I really wanted to buy The Tales of Asop and a Hans Christian Andersen book too but I decided that I treat myself to those another day. I've been buying to many books recently and until I finish them all I refuse to buy anymore. I'm going to read 'The Age of Innocence' soon after I finish 'Lolita'. 

I'll post the beginnings of my new sketch book soon too. 

Es i Gaerdydd ar ddydd Gwener

This is going to be quite a heavy photo post :) On Friday I had quite an adventure. I went to the welsh capital, Cardiff. I don't really live too far away, about half hour away really, yet I don't go there very often. My Friend recently moved there to go to university so I've been spending more and more time there.
Anyway, she invited me down to show me an antique shop she'd stumbled upon called 'Jacob's'. It turns out that I'd seen this shop loads of times before from the outside whilst passing it on the train. I'd always wondered what it was, I though maybe a studio or something.
I bought a jumper, which I'm currently sporting whilst typing, which was £5, that was my bargain for the day, I was so pleased. I also bought a few little cards for 50p.
I like to collect things that once meant a lot to people, sort of like a social history of the heart. There was quite a few different types of cards and my friend noticed that they were all 'To' and 'From' the same people... Doris and Rey.

I also really wanted to buy anything with The Beatles on, including a lollypop wrapper.

I also had, to me, the epitome of Cardiff on a plate. A slice of Ham, Chicken and Leek Pie and two crumpets. It was gorgeous. I'm a terrible foodie and recently I've been doing Slimming world, however yesterday I decided to treat myself :)  

Once I got home, I decided to go back out again. My other friend, who's doing a music course, rang me and invited me out with him and his college friends so go watch a few bands that were playing in a pub called The Dolls House. There was a boy doing acoustic covers of songs. He even covered Bon Iver, although I came a little to late to hear it. Apparently it was very good. There was a punk band and a few others. My friend pointed the merchandise stand and showed me hand drawn tape cover. Things like this really excite me because of the amount of thought that goes in to them and how much people care, so I bought one of those too. The band are apparently called 'Hot Damn'. I listened to a bit earlier on before going shopping. They sounded quite good, like a Welsh You me at six, dare I say?
The people that were selling the merch gave me a few stickers, which I was over the moon about. I'm aiming to cover the sides of my record player in band stickers before going to uni in September. I also bought a Tee shirt... from the same band. I had to tip-toe in the snow to get to a cash-point for all of this... Snow in late March? Madness.