Ol' Fally

I’ve been meaning to blog about a lot of things recently but I’m either to tired or I get side tracked by videos of cat’s eating watermelons or other people’s blogs. Hey! I’m here now! In all seriousness I have been very productive in my absence.
For a few months now I’ve been regretting my decision to drop my place in Falmouth University to pursue a degree in Swansea Metropolitan. It became one of those ‘Well it’s too late now Naomi, you’ve made your bed’ situations. Yet I was thinking more and more about it and it was starting to get on top of me, until I decided to email Falmouth to ask if it were possible to have my place back. After all if you don’t ask you don’t get and I felt that I’d be forever kicking myself if I didn’t at least try to get back into Falmouth. After a few emails, phone calls and a week or two of having serious nuclear like butterflies residing in my stomach I heard back and I’m extremely pleased to say that I’ve been given my place back! I’m so happy!
When I found out the news I was in the middle of helping out with a wedding photo shoot. I happened to receive a few questioning and annoyed looks from some of the people surrounding me as I jumped up and down shrieking with glee. So sorting out all the financial bits and bobs as well as Ucas things has a lot to do with the fact I’ve been off the grid for a few days or weeks, can’t remember.
One of the most exciting things that I had to organize was where I planned on living for the next year. So last Tuesday me and my friend drove four hours to Falmouth. We stayed in a BnB where I slept in the cutest room. I’ve driven on the motorway before but not for very long, an hour and half at the most? I was pretty nervous about driving two hundred miles; never the less I sucked it up and was surprised how easy it was. Though I think blasting Muse down the M5 might have contributed to putting me at ease. My foot still hurts though, wish my car had cruise control.
Once my friend, Chris and I had settled in we decided to walk to the town to have a drink. Luckily we were a pleasant ten minutes walk away from the pub. The same pub that I wanted to visit and have done since I decided, over a year ago that Falmouth was the place for me. Walking through the colourful streets of Ol’ Fal it really hit me that this was where I was going to call my home for the next three years. I wondered idly whether I’d ever get bored of the multicoloured buntings; I don’t think I will.
We visited the Irish pub called Finn Mccools. It was amazing in there, it was the type of place where I didn’t feel like I was slouching too much or, that I needed to have a fresh drink in front of me at regular intervals. I felt welcome and for the first time in a while, young. We actually were there during Finn Mccools weekly open mic night and everyone was amazingly talented. At one point the two boys that were sat next to me decided they missed playing the keyboard so they got up and accompanied the boy who was in the middle of his - never though I’d say this because I actually hate the song he sang - an awesome rendition of ‘The tide is high’. I think me and Chris were the only ones there that didn’t actually fit in with the indie ‘High school musical’ that was unraveling around us, never the less I had loads of fun watching everyone preform whilst I sipped on my cider.
The next day I woke up ridiculously early, showered, packed, woke Chris up by knocking on his door till he proved he was awake and then had my breakfast whilst checking my emails. I was completely determined to find a house.
I know for a first year it’s most probably much better and is the norm to stay in halls with other Fresher’s and just try to settle in without the worry of bills but not only is the accommodation stupidly expensive in Falmouth if you want single occupancy, it’s also a good 50 minutes walk or 28 minutes cycle away or, if you’re a student with a lot more money than me, a 17 minutes bus ride away. The idea of having to rely on buses to get me back and forth to uni and having to pay to boot, really didn’t appeal to me. Plus I wanted to be nearer to the town and the beach. Yes! The beach. Ooo! And be able to ride my Mary Popping’s style bike around.   
After viewing what felt like hundreds of houses and being shown all types of things from moldy rooms, to what I can only describe politely, as a ‘bachelors’ pad. I was so pleased to actually find a house that I think will feel like home. I met some of the housemates who are staying there and they seemed really lovely. They were all so relaxed and the girls seemed really bubbly and friendly. Plus the room I’m moving into is so light. Ooo! I’m excited and it’s still three months away.
Whilst looking at my finances and having it hit me that I really am going to be living like a student, I decided that I would write my trials and tribulations on this blog, in the hopes that it helps someone else. I’m desperately searching the Internet at the moment for a persons real life accounts of what’s happening/happened with them during their time at university. At the moment it seems like everyone is having an easy time and even though I like to view the world through rose tinted glasses, I know it’s not going to be the same for me. Hopefully I can get myself a job. Never the less I’m sure it’ll all work out fine. As I’ve been told time and time again, it’s all about the experience and in this case, I’m going to go with that.

 

*Click Click*

For my Birthday last November, I was given an Olympus Om10. Now I’m no photographer but I’ve always been in love with the idea of using film. I’ve completely romanticized the idea of using an analogue camera. The idea of walking through fields of long grass and flowers, taking pictures of friends or a loved one whilst the sun casts everything in the kind of golden glow that you only get on a warm summer’s evening, is utterly appealing to me. Completely unrealistic too. Rather like my expectations for myself as a ‘photographer’.

Now being the type of person who hates reading instruction manuals and who’d much rather just try to use something or put something together straight off the bat, I, of course, loaded the camera up and went out shooting. I took pictures of vintage fairs, the snow, farmers markets and family members through the space of a few months. Don’t ask me why it’s taken me around six months to fill a film because I honestly don’t not myself.

A few years ago I was bought a Lomography Diana camera, also for my birthday. I remember looking at the website for months prier and being convinced that I was going to become some creative genius by simply using one of these incredibly quirky camera’s. I really couldn’t have been more wrong. It took three rolls of film, my money refunded twice, having a pity discount and asking for someone’s help before I could actually capture something that was a mass of blurred colour. After all of that I now have some really fun pictures of my friends and some weird bits and bobs, that I’ve grown to really love and that have become really precious.

I still wasn’t getting the type of images that I wanted from my Diana and being a mad work man who nearly always blames her tools, I decided it was time to invest in a proper analogue camera in the hope that it would fix all the problems that I had been experiencing with my Diana. Yet again I was wrong.

Like always I went to get my photo’s developed optimistically believing that at least two out of the twenty-eight photos would be good and makeup for the rest of them being awful. After an hour of waiting after month and months I finally got to see the fruits of my labors. Which weren’t great.

Although the pictures weren’t as bad as the first few sets of Diana photo’s I had developed they weren’t brilliant either. Only seventeen were developed – still better than the measly five-blurred Diana photo’s. It was at that point I thought ‘Maybe I should read a book about how to take photo’s’. In the end my friend sent me a link to a digital copy of the original manual, which I never thought about trying to find and I also thought that it was a really sweet thing to do. Over the next few days I plan to read the manual in the hopes that it teaches me how to use my camera to gain a good shot and not just a blurry mess from where I was trying to be ‘artistic’.

Some of the Photos I took are bellow :)

May Playlist

I love music and I sometimes find it really difficult to find new music to listen too and love. 

For the last year I've put my music in to months. Whatever I like that I listen to goes into the month that I discover it.  

Normally if it sunny a lot of 60's music will creep into my playlists :) I thought I could share a list of a few of the best songs that I've been listening to each month, for people like me who love finding new music... This is May's Playlist... I hope you like them.

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