art equals happy.

end of the cinema season.

Every friday for the last 8 weeks, Camberwell has had a Cinema Season where they show a double bill of really excellent films. We had our last week yesterday and I'm very sad to see it go. My favourite out of all of them has got to be Man With A Movie Camera;    It was filmed in 1929 and I think the thing that inspires me so much about it, is the lengths that Vertov and his team went to, to push the boundaries of film at it's time and in Russia. There are no actors or scenes or staged performaces, and the making of the film is part of the film itself. You see 'the man with the movie camera' and you see an audience watching the film, you see his wife cutting together the film. If you ever get a chance to see it- I would take it! 

Because of this season, I've really looked at films in a different way. I have no idea if I will end up working in film, but it's a real possibility, I enjoyed working on 'Heather' a lot, but wished I had more time to refine it and I look back on it now, and it definitely needs some changes to it.

I watched 'One Flew Over The Cucko's Nest' this morning. I haven't seen it in years, but watching it with a new perspective did it worlds of good. I think it made a lot of difference seeing 'The Shining' before watching it. (by the way, The Shining completely freaked me out. It was amazing, but I can never watch it again. So terrifying.)

I am finding it incredibly hard to get myself into a project at the moment. Although most of my interview stress is over (I got onto the BA Illustration course at Camberwell!!!!!) we still have a lot of deadlines and I need to start getting my head around what I want to do for my Final Major Project (which I'm going to make a separate blog for). I have some photos of my portfolio to share with you, and a lot of the work that is in it- is scanned and ready to be uploaded.
This is a drawing I did yesterday at the Diner I've been going to after the cinema every friday. I also have some nice memories of Jon there too. (Jon left for India last week. He'll be gone for 5 months, I miss him so much- but it's been a dream of his since forever, and I know he must be having an amazing time!)Thank you to all my readers. [: I'm still doing the giveaway, later!
-Kimxo

p.s. Someone asked me about the chances of them getting into UAL. I'm not really a good spokesperson for this- there are a few girls in my class who are really good, but didn't get in and I don't understand this but the Tutors have really tough decisions to make. My advice would be to obviously have good work (and work that you believe in!), be confident about what you do and who you are, don't be boring!- make sure your portfolio is well put together, and during an interview talk about what you want to talk about. Good luck to everyone that's applied, I hope you're prepared and it goes well!!

oh happyday.

there is nothing that feels better than working really hard and getting rewarded for it.
except maybe getting free stuff! (haha!)     I had a really good day today, and I'd really like to share the love- I'm going to do a giveaway later this week when my etsy shop is finished being updated. [: I listed the Vespa-pa-pa-pa paper today (buy as a set or individually) and the 'new'ish You're Nicked line will be up later on. Stay tuned. [: 
in the meantime, how about some pretty things i've done recently to calm my stress;
   and here's some happy who for you;  Have a great wednesday. :D
kimxo

non-stop

Mum has been here, helping me out the last week or so. (these photos are from a friday after Camberwell's cinema season @ my favourite diner! Ed's!) It's been nice to have her around, but I can't wait to finish my portfolio and get my life back a little bit. The stress is unbelievable! I have two interviews this week and two more later on in March. (not to mention projects that keep piling up!)    It has been such an intense month so far- sorry this isn't longer, but my little break is almost over. love you! kimxop.s. Style School has been an awesome class and has really saved me from going art-insane. haha. Can't wait for Indie Business two-point-oh!

Q&A

First off- THANK YOU for all the lovely comments lately. They have really made me smile lots. 

Here are a few Questions and Answers. Feel free to ask any if you've got them. [:

I love it. Do you expire that film on purpose?

Yup- I buy it expired. [:

This is truly wonderful :) how did you manage this effect so well!?

This is pretty much straight out of the camera. The sun was shining in from a window behind & to the right of the bookcase. The flares are natural, I focused it manually and let nature do the rest!

Your photos are fantastic! Mind if I ask how you can make them look so...for lack of a better word, retro?

Aw, thank you! I'm planning to do a class about my photography soon & how to incorporate photography easily into your everyday life. Some of my photos are film (my favourite!) but for digital, I use photoshop for subtle colour changes. if you're looking for actions... these look pretty.

I've been curious, are all 100 drawings of the same thing? Do you do them on your own or are there theme for class?

yes and no. We were given a task to 'Draw 100 Ends' (there were a few options but I chose this one). I ended up exploring several different ways of interpreting 'Ends' and that's what you see in the set. i.e. the last track on the B-side of my entire record collection shown with words and with a drawing of the record.

are these (100 drawings) in a book of some sort or just loose papers?
loose papers. [:

Where did you go to get your paper line up and going? I would love to do this someday.

I am proud to say I did it all by myself! I designed the papers and then found a printers who would do a bulk order for me. My line kicked off when Rachel from the Red Velvet Kit Club (now closed) asked me to debut the line there. Since then, I've used Etsy to sell my papers and things. If you are thinking of doing this- be warned, there is a lot of planning involved, but I'm not the only one that's done it- have you seen Mandi's? 

i was wondering if you've thought about submitting some of these works--the ones with words/letters--to poetry magazines.

I haven't done many submissions (most of the publications I've got- I've been e-mailed about), but I'm working on some fun stuff -like zines and things- that definitely have a poetry feel.

Ok, time to sleep for me! night.

there's a place where time stands still.

updates and updates!

i seem to have a HUGE backlog of things i forget to upload. oops! things like film photos and scans of drawings, and sketchbooks and prints and things i forget to scan.

(these are from april. bright and springy. i made an animation with them in may here.)i had a very long day at college today and it didn't go at all like I planned (it makes my life so much easier to have a clear plan- a list of things), but it did end on a great note, and I'm feeling confident about my portfolio now. 

Over the weekend, I went to one of my favourite galleries ever called Here (it's in Bristol) and saw some of Lizzy Stewart's work along side other pretty things.  (all photos from her flickrstream)

And I bought another one of Nigel Peake's books (get one here). His drawings are just soooo pretty, and his text is perfect! Here Gallery is one of those places I hope to find some of my work in one day, I've probably said that already. [:

Just thought you might like to see some pretties that I like. There will be more updates of my work constantly. Have you seen the collab I'm doing with Kara?

I think you're going to like what we've got instore for you. [: (this is day one: yearn)

Lately, my favourite things to use are watercolours and inks. Mainly with a brush, but sometimes with a special little pen. [:I also bought some new frames from etsy, but not too sure about them... thoughts?

hope your monday was alright. [:

just a little bit longer.

I've been putting together my portfolio and so I have a lot of things to share with you (like this arrow woodblock print!), but for today, I wished this moment had lasted much longer;our Valentines Day was kind of sad, as Jon leaves for India (to teach monks!) and I won't see him for 5 months, but we had a wonderful time going to galleries and the cinema and drinking milkshakes. I'll share some more photos as soon as I can breathe from under the pile of work I'm organizing and scanning and laying out. 
I feel change in the air. I love you.

some comfort things.

tying my hair back with a pretty twist/braid (when it's not curly).a really big jumper and my flares (which i never wear out- too shy. haha).

notes left on post-it's all around my room.

my journals and my big comfy quilt, which my mum found and finished for me!
speaking of my mum- calls and texts from people always make me feel good. That 70's Show is currently my favourite thing to watch. it's always been a favourite. ha, i love the re-runs!

snack; Ritz crackers. Viennetta ice cream.

music; Pindrop Band. ef. and Rolling Stones.

book; home crafting books from the 60's/70's & Zines.

and this is my knitting. i started it over xmas, but haven't gotten very far. it's the first 'complicated' stitch i've tried. so much funnnn.

are you getting bored of seeing the same view of my room all the time? 

I AM. i think it's time for a switchup. i can't wait to have more than just ONE ROOM to live in.

anyway. what are your comfort items at the moment?

kimxo

drawing, drawing, drawing.

starting to get a bit stressed about portfolios and applications.

been doing some experimental drawing. here are a couple that i did on a bus at night. just thought you might like to see some unfinished stuff. 

working from home today. i'm going to reward myself for getting things checked off by updating online.

have a great day. have a cup of tea. [:

kimxo