Lifebook week 24 plus the joys of job hunting

At last I've got my art space organised and jumped back into lifebook. The week 24 lesson was with Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. I couldn't bear to put down in black and white the bad stuff, so I wrote down positive words about the great job I'm going to get soon! Then it was a matter of doodling to turn the letter shapes into flowers, leaves and butterflies. I worked in acrylics but probably would have done better with watercolour or gouache.

I have also jumped back into looking for work. I've discovered that job hunting in the 21st century is a whole new ball game. Most jobs are advertised and have to be applied for online, even jobs I've seen in shop windows still have to be applied for online. After that you get an automated email to say they got your application, and then you never hear from them again unless you're one of the lucky ones who's shortlisted for interview.

It's discouraging to apply for jobs everyday and not hear back anything. I was told about a company up here who advertised for a receptionist and had over 100 applicants, so competition is fierce! I'm lucky that I've had some bits of casual work - which is good for my morale - and might be a better way of advertising my skills than sending out my resume!

In the meantime I've been busy adding a few new cards to my etsy shop, and getting ready for the next craft fair which is at a new location this year - on the Esplanade in Darwin city, on Sun 9th July.

Holiday sketching

Last time I went on holiday to England - about 8 years ago - I came back with 3 sketches. This time I was determined to do better, and I  did, though I  still didn't do a lot...

I made a tiny sketch pad with pink pages. It was light to carry and I didn't feel precious about it at all. I drew with a ballpoint pen and pulled out sketches and glued them in my journal.

I did this little sketch at the cafe at Saltaire, I took a couple of photos too, and then did this version back at my Mum's, using watercolour pencils and a little bit of watercolour wash.

I also did some drawings at Mum's of the views out of the window from different rooms. It's the house I grew up in so the views although slightly changed over the years, are so familiar to me. I really wanted to make a record of them this time.

This one I drew one evening while we were watching tv, and a blazing sunset was going on outside!

I wish I had made the time to do more, photos are wonderful, but a sketch is something different, it means I've really spent time looking, and putting down the elements that are important to me - quite an emotional thing.

Back home

Hello blog friends. I'm back from my holidays in England. I'm not the kind of person who looks forward to holidays!!! In fact I dread the long flights and being out of my routine. But once I was there I had a wonderful time. Here are a few photos to give you a taste.

Canal side walk at Saltaire.

Wonderful David Hockney exhibition at Saltaire.

Spring flowers in the rose garden at Gotts Park.

Beautiful gardens at Harlow Carr near Harrogate.

Amazing rainbow when we got off the bus one evening!

We did a lot of walking, talking and drinking tea, which is my idea of a perfect holiday! I did manage to do a tiny bit of sketching, and might post some of those next time.

While I was away my partner took the opportunity to paint the verandah which is also my studio. All my art stuff is packed up in boxes, and will be in chaos for a while as other bits of the house are being painted and the verandah will be a bit of a store room.... So it might take a while to get back into the full swing of painting. 

I am doing the ICAD (index card a day) challenge through June and July. It's organised by Tammy at daisy yellow blog. I took part last year and it was great to do a little drawing, painting, something everyday, some of those little quick pieces were the basis for lino prints and cards that kept me busy for months afterwards, so I'm excited to see what will happen this time.

I hope your May was great and your June has got off to a good start!