Summary of February 2014

This month last year

Paul Holmes passed away, and I sold a portrait of him for charity. Again, the weather was better. We're having the odd stunning day but overall it's a crap summer.

Entertained by

Got back into movies this month. Loved Her. Enjoyed About Time a lot more than I expected - loved The Time Traveler's Wife book but not so much the film, and this was significantly better. Didn't really enjoy Enough Said - the late James Gandolfini was darling and I admire Tavi Gevinson so much. But the story was kinda silly; how can a grown woman be so out of touch, especially with the daughter plot. Watched all of Brooklyn Nine Nine - hilarious - and the first season of House of Cards (thanks, 3NOW) and loving My Kitchen Rules of course. Been listening to Kate Miller-Heidke again in anticipation of her new album out next month. Also been listening to Simon and Garfunkel, Fionn Regan and Jimmy Eat World. Variety, mate.

Purchased

Finally won a TradeMe auction and scored a leggy couch, and its little sister! Thank you to legendary Mum and Dad for picking them up, and to Dad and Charlie for 'dismantling' the old one. And we bought a new desk chair for Charlie so he can actually sit and play computer games without leaning to the side. They only had the floor model left so we got it with a discount and carried it home (I did help until we got to the hill…) I also bought a new work-appropriate dress and blazer.

Highlights

Mum giving me a lovely ring and card for Valentine's Day. Having a few more summer days and hanging out with my sister at the beach. Getting rid of the old couch.

Lowlights

Tough stuff at work - not directly affecting me, but still not fun. Finding out Louis Cole was hanging out at Wagamama's on the waterfront and not going to meet him.

Looking forward to

Gift shopping for a few birthdays coming up. Interview with The Wireless going up probably next week.

Most liked on Instagram

Honourable mentions

Louis Tomlinson

Charcoal and pencil on paper.

Meow

Oh, hi!

It's been a long time since I last blogged. After spammergeddon, I was very much sick of it all. But now I've got to the point where I actually miss it, so hopefully I'll be posting on the regular again soon.

It's all been business as usual around these parts really. I turned 24 in May. Spent time with a couple of friends I don't see nearly enough. Spent a Saturday building a wall of bookshelves with Charlie. Watched three seasons of The Sopranos. Got semi interested in games thanks to The Last of Us. And did just one drawing; a portrait of Lil Dicky which he retweeted and made my day.

I've felt kind of overwhelmed by the number of other projects and activities I'm getting involved in, all the while juggling it with regular work and keeping healthy. Everything is really exciting, but there just aren't enough hours in the day and it's hard to put as much effort into everything as I would like to. It's enjoyable though, I feel like I'm really getting to a point where I know what my priorities are, and where I want my life to be heading.

I'll try my best to get this blog back to where it used to be. It's kind of daunting to post again after such a long break; feel like I should be posting something truly profound or thrilling... but this will do for now.

Hope anyone who's still following me on... Bloglovin' I guess (?) is well.

Three

RIP Sir Paul Holmes, pencil on paper.

Two

Cara Delevingne, pencil on paper.

One

I've read it wasn't to everyone's taste, but I loved Nicole Richie in her Naeem Khan dress at the Golden Globes today And the blue eye make up.

Lovecats

Hey everyone! I've been working on a couple of commissions so far this month, which I'll hopefully be able to show you once they have been gifted. I just did this quick pencil drawing of Charlie and Wallace for fun. Yes, it's most definitely from a photo - as if Wallace would sit still in someone's arms long enough to be drawn. I realised I've actually never drawn Wallace before - don't think the mouth is quite right, and his forehead isn't dark enough looking at it now. But he still looks cute, so that's the main thing.

Work is almost over for the year, and everything's still going great in my new role. Got the gist of it down, but still learning new things all the time which keeps it interesting. We had a couple of staff Christmas functions to attend in the past few weeks, including a day at the horse races which was really fun. The weather overall has been brilliant, just hoping it stays that way for Christmas day.

I'm looking forward to taking a fresh approach to my blog in the New Year; seems like a good time to do so. Hopefully I'll be posting more before then, but regardless I hope December is treating you well and you're feeling suitably festive.

Cora Blimey

I stayed up rather late last night. No, not partying, who do you think I am? I created this drawing of superbabe fashion model Cora Emmanuel. I'm not one of those people who swoons over natural light when it comes to art, for some reason I just can't concentrate during the daytime. I get impatient and end up unhappy with whatever I produce. I like drawing once the sun's gone down, and there's just the city lights outside, and my art desk is lit by only a lamp and the glow from a reference image on my computer. I spent about four hours on this drawing which seems excessive looking at the image above as I type but first of all I'm my own worst critic, and second of all my camera hasn't picked up all the tones on her face that are visible in person. Actually it was the first time in years I've got a cramp in my hand while drawing.

Anyway, she's for sale in my Etsy store now. Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend, despite the weather for you Wellingtonians.

PS: I know, the title of this post is probably the lamest I've ever done. But Cora, cor blimey, Emmanuel, I couldn't not. Also, thinking of post titles is pretty much my single biggest challenge when it comes to blogging. I almost wish I'd started just numbering them.

Brun

On Thursday night I watched Bec Winnel's first #artclasswednesday video, which streamed live earlier that day while I was at work. I painted/drew this eye using gouache and coloured pencils while watching along, and I really like it considering I only spent an hour on it.

Today was the first of a three day weekend, and was gloriously sunny. Charlie and I went to a few shops this afternoon and I bought 10 sheets of beauuutiful watercolour paper that I cannot wait to use for the series I've been making notes and sketches for. We had a late lunch and beers at Enigma (turning into regulars). Then we came home and I did some cleaning and spray painted some picture frames white. Productivity!

I have an interview with an amaaazing American artist to post tomorrow, so make sure you check back then! Have a great weekend everyone.

Vlog: Art (Part Two)

In which I outline 'Alice's Art History' and learning to draw. Artists mentioned are Egon Schiele, Christopher Reiger and Bec Winnel. Watch Part One here.

Vlog: Art (Part One)

In which I answer questions from Caitlin and Renee about my favourite artists and exhibiting. Artists mentioned are Egon Schiele, Christopher Reiger and Bec Winnel.

Then she created shops.

I've opened an Etsy store! Check it out, tell your friends, add me to your circles or favourites or whatever's the cool thing to do o'er there (I'm still learning). Click here to have a look at the few listings I have so far, or mosey on over to the Etsy widget I've added to my sidebar.

Recent Work

Hey everyone, above are some portraits I've been working on over the past few days. I'm auctioning them on Trade Me (NZ only, sorry overseas friends!) You can view all the listings here, and don't forget to like my Facebook art page if you haven't already! Thanks so much, hope you all have a brilliant weekend.

Work in Progress

Indoors

I posted this painting back in May after Holly won a pet portrait on Carly's blog. Holly posted this photo last week of the subject, Squirt, admiring himself. So cute!

I'd love to work on improving my pet portraits, so perhaps that's another thing I'll focus on now we're all settled in our new place. I'm now thinking I might use the kitchen table as my art space. We have set up the PC on my old art table in the lounge and I initially thought I'd paint there too but it's not really big enough. Also, I know I'd end up getting distracted by the computer/TV/view, so it's not really ideal.

I think as long as I can get the kitchen warm and comfortable during winter, it should be good- it's not like we're ever actually going to eat at the table, let's be honest!

Still no internet at home of course, my aunt's loaned me a computer for a couple of hours. Supposedly it will be connected on Monday, but since they can't tell us what time of day a contractor will show up I'd say it's fairly likely we'll come home to a 'card to call'. So. Annoying.

Have a happy weekend all- we're facing a 'weatherbomb' here according to the news. Lots of cold wind and rain so far today, but I'd rather like some thunder and lightning too. Sigh, it's officially autumn.

#7 Fabric Design

This was the first photograph I ever took with my own SLR camera, of a roll of mangled chain link netting. Since then, this chain link pattern has always appealed to me. I like how at a glance it appears to be a grid of diagonal wires, but is really rows of linked zig-zags. For a long time I've had this thought in my head of a crazy hairstyle- a narrow band of hair woven like chain link, with the rest shaved off or artfully tied out of the way. Obviously I haven't become a creative hair stylist, but when the latest Monthly Painters' Challenge topic was announced as creating a fabric design, I realised that if I couldn't hack at someone's hair in the real world I could at least draw my idea.

ALICE JONES
"Chain Link"
Watercolour and Liner Pen on Watercolour Paper
29 x 21cm
NFS

"He's Mine."

29 x 29 cm
Pencil on Watercolour Paper

Sorry I've been so slack with blogging- I really just haven't felt like it to be honest. Everything's great with my family and Charlie. There's just other stuff getting me down, and I'm not quite sure what to do about it. Apologies for the ambiguity.

Anyway, I picked up some pencils and did a drawing. Not the most appropriate paper to use, but it was the best quality I had. I found the Sons of Anarchy season finale last night a little lacklustre, but I love Jax and Tara.

Like my Facebook art page

Orderly

I rearranged and cleaned out my art room this evening. I'd accumulated a lot of junk, and I also felt like a change. Now I'm too sleepy to do any actual artwork, but there's always the weekend.

#6 Something Beginning With O

The theme for this month was 'Something Beginning With O'. I have made some progress on a painting for this topic, but once I got sick last week any hope of finishing it off went straight out the window! I chose to paint actress Olivia Wilde, so for now I'm submitting a planning sketch I scribbled over with some gold and silver hot foil. Sorry it's a rather half-arsed submission, but I will keep working away on my painting in my spare time, and upload it onto my blog some time in the future!

ALICE JONES
"Planning for Olivia Wilde"
Watercolour, Coloured Pencil and Hot Foil on Watercolour Paper
14 x 21cm
NFS