Photos from the UK

Here are a few pictures I took from our visit to the UK.

Deptford, London:

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London:

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Inside the Salisbury Cathedral:

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Outside the Salisbury Cathedral:

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I really wanted to go to the Stonehenge and Gene came though he insisted that they were just a pile of old rocks. Which they are, but we went and it was wonderful.

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Bath:

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To get to these places we took a bus tour – I do not recommend them. While it was great to see these places we were only allocated 20 minutes to each place. The worst part was the tour guide who spoke through very loud speakers that were above each seat. It drove me crazy so I listened to AC/DC very loudly to drown her out.

London visit & Nom Kinnear King’s exhibition opening!

We went to London last week to see my friend Nom Kinnear King’s solo exhibition. Gene and I helped Nom put her show up, so we were the lucky ones that got to see the work before everyone else did..

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Nom’s work is pretty magical and she’s a prolific artist. While some of her works are gentle, others can be quiet dark.

I think I love most about it is not one piece ever seems to be a direct translation or representation of anything – they are all a sum of different things. The past, present, future, auto biographical and biographical, fiction and non – fiction, dreams and nightmares. Each work has many layers.

Her website is here: Nom Kinnear King

Our apartment in Berlin!

window

We moved into our apartment yesterday – we have 99 stairs to climb!

It has a very nice kitchen that is painted red. The ‘lounge’ room area is large so I will be able to draw while I look for a studio to paint in. I have only been to one art exhibition this whole week, it was in an amazing old building in Wedding. The exhibition was by two girls who went to other exhibitions and stole the beer bottles. (Here in Germany, you can return your glass/plastic/cans to most supermarkets -there’s a recycle machine- in exchange for money.) With that money they bought the beer for their opening. The beer was the art as were the flyers of the shows they went to and took the beer bottles from.

We have visited some amazing places, such as the Berliner Dom and Mauer Park. Mauer ( wall ) Park is a large flea market on Sundays, which runs along the wall walk, there is a lot of junk to see/ buy, food to eat and music to hear.

The public transport system here is amazing, it is reliable and the longest I have had to wait for a train is 10 minutes. It costs roughly around the same amount as Melbourne (maybe a few dollars cheaper).

Everyone seems to own a dog, a bike, a baby!

I think we’re settling in ok – I really need some German lessons, the course I did in Melbourne was too long ago and I have unfortunately forgotten most of it. I am looking to enroll somewhere soon.

I miss my mum terribly.

 

First few days in Berlin

Gene and I have arrived in Berlin!!

As soon as we got off the plane we put our things in the guest house and began exploring – and haven’t stopped. We have already gotten approved for two apartments and have chosen one – so we shall be moving soon. It’s in a very old building that is cute and quiet.

I haven’t seen much art yet.

We have seen many palaces, cathedrals, etc.

It’s surreal being in a place that you have heard about all of your life – this is the first time I have left Australia!

Oh, the food, it’s amazing!

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I’m leaving tomorrow!

Gene and I board the plane with our one way tickets tomorrow! I’m not sure when I can blog again.

I am going to miss people but so excited about our new adventure!

Love to Meg, Beau, Karl, Akéan and Jonny.. And CASS, Timmy, Dowd and Bron and Lachie and family and all of you I love so so so much…And thank you for calling today Eric.

I hope you see you again someday.x

I’m going to go and spend sometime with Gene now – Flight of the Conchords series two awaits!

A lovely day

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Almost a fortnight ago – I got married.

This beautiful photo was taken by Woodrow Wilson – who is a really nice man. I got distracted from the event briefly by talking about art with him!

His website is here: Woodrow Wilson Photography 

The day was overwhelming, I was so shy walking down the ‘aisle’. Thank you to all of our friends and family for celebrating with us. We spent the honeymoon in Apollo Bay – with temperatures in the mid 40s – my word!

I love you Gene.

The ‘bath’ painting

“Untitled”
Oil on linen
100 x 80cm

This painting is the result of a year of studying and exploring self portraiture. I made lots of studies of this work with drawings, little paintings, water colours and then took this on. I’m pretty proud of it. It’s nicknamed as the “bath” painting.

Here are a few of the preparatory studies I did of this image before painting it:

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