Breath of fresh art

I was considering why I start projects before ones I’m busy with are completed. My brain seems to switch tasks like a mental juggler. There’s usually a painting or two, or three on the go and then I’ll notice the wool that’s been lying around for a while. A scarf would look great, you know, those Mobius ones. I don’t have a pattern but how difficult can it be?.... A gorgeous Amethyst pendant will attract my attention and give me ideas of how I can string some beads together and make myself a purple necklace. Some decorative balls that need a make-over are in the process of being mosaic-ed.   A plaster cast of a head has been half covered in pewter until I decide how I’m going to finish it. How I’m going to finish….. it kind of echoed in my head and I remembered an article I read about  the useful art of procrastination- Frank Partnoy. It went on to say “You're not procrastinating, you're managing delay.” I have decided that I no longer procrastinate, I manage...

I was inspired by a beautiful photograph in a local magazine which captured the spectacular scenery near Scarborough.  http://goo.gl/maps/BgFE The picture lay in my "inspiration" file for a while until I decided, a few weeks ago, to give it a whirl. It's a pretty simple palette and I used loose brush strokes to depict the forms of clouds, rocks and foliage. I painted with acrylics on a canvas covered board of 14" x 18" (about 35x45cm)

Re-use and up-cycle ideas for decorating a warm and cosy bedroom. Bedrooms are important spaces as we spend most of our time in them. They need to be relaxing and welcoming, a sort of retreat from the stress of every day realities. Interior décor need not cost an arm and a leg. With a bit of imagination you can create great solutions to enhance your living environment. A pair of old wooden speaker boxes, some calico and gold metallic fabric paint will make really nice tall side tables. Unclip the speaker covers and cover each with the calico which has been trimmed to size and painted with the silhouette of a side table. I needed to make a headboard too. Some planks from a dismantled wooden crate will do for the legs. The backing of some old shelves came loose. I cut this piece of hardboard to the required size, attached the planks and glued a piece of foam to it. Some inexpensive rich looking fabric was chosen for the headboard cover. Make some cushions with an...

My latest interior design project has been completed. The townhouse needed an update. Take a look by clicking  the slideshare link and see how I did it. http://www.slideshare.net/Nicolezing/connie-before-and-after

Graham and I have remodeled a few properties over the years. Nearly a decade ago we renovated a kitchen. See how it turned out. http://www.slideshare.net/Nicolezing/kitchen-cupboard-remodel

I follow @davidsandumart on twitter. A few weeks ago he tweeted a call for artists to exhibit at the 2 nd Twitter-art-exhibit.   http://www.davidsandumart.posterous.com/call-for-artists-2nd-twitter-art-exhibit-in-m The first exhibit was announced October 21, 2010, and was organized to help the Moss public library raise funds for children's books.  260 twitter artists  from  24 countries  participated. Now, the Norwegian charity  benefiting  is,  The Women's Crisis Center in Moss , where abused women and children can get help. See their website at http://www.moss.kommune.no/artikkel.aspx?MId1=5277&AId=2515 A rtists contribute postcard sized,  hand painted original artwork ,  that will be sold to raise money. Since any professional artist or amateur painter was allowed to enter, I decided to contribute! I created an artwork and will be posting my watercolour off today. My work’s title is: Healing Waters The exhibition will open...

I entered an advert competition for a new radio station. Wish me luck! The background below explains the thought process which lead to this particular image. The (in)famous broadcaster, Darren Scott is making a comeback. The incubation period for the creation of a brand new radio station is coming to an end.  The radio station is called Ballz Visual Radio. When "Just plain Darren" disappeared from airwaves he was sorely missed by his fans. His shows were always upbeat and hugely entertaining. He is so talented. You can't keep a good guy down and I admire his courage and am following his gutsy progress. Go and check out the facebook page - Ballz. The "Gang" are hoping for 10 000 likes by the weekend.

Maybe you visit a friend’s house who is a fantastic interior decorator, or travel to exotic destinations where they embrace dramatic colour. Even a slight change in colour can positively impact your mood, making you more productive, relaxed, even happy.  Take a look at this video see a colour experiment. http://vimeo.com/35817547

Culled from   American Letters 1927-1947: Jackson Pollock & Family , the letter is a beautiful paean to what matters most in life, and how to cultivate it. courtesy of   Lapham’s Quarterly : Dear Son Jack, Well it has been some time since I received your fine letter. It makes me a bit proud and swelled up to get letters from five young fellows by the names of Charles, Mart, Frank, Sande, and Jack. The letters are so full of life, interest, ambition, and good fellowship. It fills my old heart with gladness and makes me feel ‘Bully.’ Well Jack I was glad to learn how you felt about your summer’s work & your coming school year. The secret of success is concentrating interest in life, interest in sports and good times, interest in your studies, interest in your fellow students, interest in the small things of nature, insects, birds, flowers, leaves, etc. In other words to be fully awake to everything about you & the more you learn the more you can appreciate & get ...