wake up your mind

I am quite ready for the uni year to end... so i can go to Melbourne, the beach, picnics, see friends, escape from the hostel (as i'm not really the 24-7 social type) and the food at home is so much more wonderful (at least i can appreciate that now). There will be sunshine, tanned legs, Gelato, painting and maybe even a job.
Today at Nathan's we planned a tiny picnic to catch up with some more friends, we are making chicken and then spinach & feta filo parcels: exciting to cook again! Then i came home to bake berry brownies with mum.  Tomorrow should be good especially with Jordy and Andrew's flat warming to follow

Upcoming things i have are finding a flat, art exhibition, biochemistry and epidemiology tests, BETs, GLMs, applying for my next year course, course interviews, and then final exams. Oh dear...

I have been painting and it's finished:

This is 'Mother' done in fine ink and gouache
The main idea behind it is a feeling of comfort and a mix from both ones mother and mother nature...

Following a suggestion from a friend i think any next pieces i attempt will be based on an individual, with one main factor to look at and explore rather than a collective made of pieces.
Some interesting artists at the moment are http://ghostpatrol.net/, http://mattw.us/
and then some stand alones:

Kitty Gallannaugh, a wonderful photographer 

Greta Tuckute

Style stalker

Brown eyes

Have been working on an art piece lately and it's almost finished, so far i have spent 33 hours and a half on it and it's called 'Brown Eyes'. My first attempt on mounted canvas for the exhibition
Chapman come in the other day and i think he quite liked it as now all the other RAs ask how its going and if i'm entering the Hayward art competition, so he must have told them.
While i'd like to keep the piece hidden away now until it's finished and pretty but i can still share my picture inspiration for it, and references i have been using.

Images are from Nirimmi, Kirsten Shaylee and unknown sources.
The feel of these images are how the painting will become, all painted in soft delicate oil paint
When Chapman came in he showed me a trick on my camera and made swirling shapes:

Also had Hat visit the other week, she is great fun to have around though was was rushing everywhere all day. We had a cute breakfast together that turned into brunch and when i ordered an affogato the waiter told me i was his idol for ordering ice-cream for lunch. Amazing food and far too much of it while we talked and then Hat was rushing off again for lunch and the chocolate factory.. saw her again in the evening as we had a cute sleepover with Kate that turned into us watching finding nemo with wine and gummy lollies, there were sharks and we put the sharks in our wine for fun. Hadn't seen that movie for such a long time that i jumped for the sharks and jellyfish like i first did. We were tipsy by then, especially Hat considering how much alcohol affects her now, so we took videos of ourselves dancing around, singing along to something on the webcam and were generally -too cute and embarrassing- It was good fun

(stolen from Hat)

Italy

I want to go to Italy
Everything i hear about it just increases that feeling
Language block, yes. But everyone there is so lovely and there will probably be a few scattered people who know English. The people are so friendly and loud, embracing others on the street and not at all the way we know it where eye-contact is awkward and everyone is so very judgmental.
New Zealand is apparently friendly seeming too? Italians leave us behind in the dust, their way of life is everything i would like mine to be. I love their food as well.

But the best part is this, http://searchingfortomorrow.com/posts/sleeping-in-italy
One of my favourite photographers, and a generally lovely person went there on a trip and took photos ... I want to jump on a plane there right now. I'm going to mention it around my family as often as possible even though my sister has already, for no good reason at all, decided she doesn't want to go there.

She sums it up for me better than i ever could:
"And no matter how many countless times I have visited Italy, their way of life always astounds me. It leaves me yearning for more, and that's what makes trips so special. When you leave feeling sad because you'll miss everything about it, and you know it's only a matter of time before you're back to explore again. The wetted appetite for more adventures, and that heroic stir in the stomach for journeying to a new place and loving it so deeply is what keeps some motivated. I feel it's possessed me too." - Kitty Gallannough

I miss Caitlin

I want to travel like Anna just did

and see Viv over summer <3

and so many many more people...