Birdsong : Sonic resonance

There are a few things we may never know. Like why there are 17,928 baristas in Sydney, and only 4 of them can make a good coffee. Or why the French got 99% of the world's cool genes. And while you're there, you can riddle me this: why are there so many illustrations about birds? Is it just because they're cute? Kittens are cute. Is there something universal about them? Ah, hello, dogs have that crown. Or is there a fluidity of movement (such a special phrase) that captures the eye of artists and art lovers alike? Who knows. All I know is I love birds. Not the ones that crap on the newspaper after at lunch, splashing black onto my new jumper (yes, black. I didn't ask). But the ones like the dudes above and below by Shuxin / Sound Revolution.


Here's a bit of interestingness about the lovely Shuxin...

I am a graphic designer and illustrator from southern of China, but now I am living in Melbourne as a freelance artist. Before I came to Australia, I finished my master course of graphic design in Edinburgh, UK. Those different experiences of study and life, that make my mind open to different world visions, and nourishes itself with the richness of different people and ways of life.

Materials and textures intrigue me and I have an almost obsessive need to create... I started my own project in 2005 while in the UK. It's called “Sound Revolution” which was inspired by the conflicting and harmonious relationships the urban environment has with the natural world.

I love nature, I like birds and their songs, so I want to use my art work to express to my audience not only a sonic experience but also my own self-identity as a channel by which to encode this sonic resonance.

I think visual communication is the most direct method to deliver a message and communicate with people. To express the meaning of sound through the designer’s perception is to let people use their eyes to feel how the sound influences their emotions directly. I really hope my clients are able to feel a natural and unique beauty and serenity from my artworks.

And who doesn't like a reindeer on a Friday? (Do you think it's lost?)
Check: madeit.com.au/sooooound

Stationhairy : Fish kissin' fun

I've been known to mooch about in a shop for half an hour trying to find the perfect card for someones birthday. It drives my companions into a twist (which is why I prefer to shop alone. I also drink alone, but let's save that for another time).

These cards are perfection. They're crazy beautiful, really a bit funny (sometimes I laugh alone too) and altogether unique. They're by Kata and Maz, the peeps behind Raven & Lamb. They're cool. They have fun doing what they love, print using vegetable-based inks and hail from sunny, wonderful Sydney.



Feeling lonely? Send someone a card for no reason whatsoever (don't leave it blank) and you'll feel all loved up before you can say "I hate walking to the post office in the rain, why can't posties collect mail when they deliver it..." ravenandlamb.com.au

Snapshot : Good times ahead

Let me start today's proceedings with a few incredible words from my horoscope. You may feel blissful today as you come to recognize that your future possibilities are entirely limitless. Blissful and busy, the perfect combination! One of the main reasons I want to become a life coach is to encourage other people to follow their dreams - big, brilliant, bold dreams. Life's worth it, yes?


My horoscope goes on to say: When we banish self-imposed and entirely arbitrary borders, we come to understand that there is nothing we cannot do. We thus begin to expand our ambition to correspond to our newfound awareness of the legitimate limitlessness of our lives. We feel a real sense of freedom, knowing as we do that we now have the potential to truly grow into ourselves to the full extent of our wonder and imagination.


As you look at these photos you can almost feel the talent behind the lens - this photographer is definitely fulfilling his limitless ambition. Stefano hails from Cesena, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. This region is home to some of the world's greatest cheeses, the tastiest cured meat and Sangiovese. In other words, this man comes from heaven and has a divine talent.


Check out Stefano's range of pics at flickr.com/ste_bo

Glazedware : Alive with age

How much fun would an architect have had a couple thousand years ago. They'd spend their time outdoing every other elaborate designer in town with baroque touches in every corner, crazy gargoyles and stunning, stunning, tiles. Fun times my friends.

Zavisa has a gorgeous range of photos on his flickr photostream. The Portuguese tiles (above and below) caught my eye straight away. These painted, tin-glazed tiles are called Azulejo; they're found on the walls, floors and ceilings of churches, palaces, houses and train stations. I think they're beautiful.

I asked Zavisa why he likes them so much...

First they are imperfect. If you check carefully, even if they were built in an industrial process, they never seem 100% equal.

Secondly, their surface and glazing shows signs of time - they've been consumed by years and probably sun and rain. They are simply alive. Old and alive.

Finally, they are always different. You will never see two equal patterns in a street. To be honest, after walking and riding a scooter for days, I never saw two identical patterns in the whole time I was in Lisbon.

What are you reading? Psychology and Alchemy, a fascinating book by Jung. Symbols and numbers. And then I start seeing the beauty of these patterns in a completely different way...

flickr.com/elkabong

Snapshot : Mooching moments

The reason I call my blog Cloudburst Beauty is because I love the way sun bursts through dark clouds so brightly - in big, fat, stunning golden rays - that all you can do is stare. And stare. And smile. Whether I'm on a plane or in the country or just looking out the window from home, it'll get me every time.

That's what it's like when I see a photograph or doodle or notecard that I love. I kind of connect with it, though I can't explain what I mean by that. When you see art that you love, you just get it. Right?


But nothing can replace being in nature. Sitting under a wise, old tree. Feeling alive in the wind and rain. Watching a snail mooch around its 'hood, listening to crazy birds and staring into the wonder that is a flower.

Which is why I'm so excited... I'm minutes away from jumping in the car with the hubby and dog and going bush! We're heading to a friend's cabin for a few nights. Bring on the log fire, the impossibly slow roasts and the books. Oh the books.


The pics I'm featuring today are by Ioana. Her entire collection is so relaxing to flick through, I had trouble choosing only a few to post. In the end, I fell for the rounded corners. They 'feel' nice. Here's a few words from Ioana:

I love to photograph people, mostly in the street, trying not to get invasive. And my sister.

I photograph because, as I don't have any other talent, it's the only way to express what i constantly observe. I'm a visual third-person narrator. Even when I shoot self-portraits. Sometimes I try to create memories I don't have.


Well, I won't be posting again until next week, so don't miss me too much.
Thanks Ioana for sharing your incredible photos.
And happy birthday to me.

flickr.com/aliteratia

Snapshot : An introverted breakfast

Today is cold and wet and I have far too much to do. I would rather be making soup and watching a few Clooney DVDs. It seems setting up a business where you tap on a keyboard from home in your velour takes a lot of organisation, which I've been putting off for weeks but have decided to attack all at once. When, oh when, will I learn? Happily I discovered these wonderfully elaborate answers by Photoslinger this morning in my inbox. He's made my day and it's hardly begun...

How did you become a photographer?
My parents have always been artistic in some kind of way. My father is the photographer (mostly landscape and family shots, but always trying to get the perfect picture), my mother the painter/writer. Both amateur. It probably runs in the family. We are all kind of introverted people with a lot going on in our minds, I guess it's a way to get people interested in you without using the verbal language. Nothing unusual I guess.

I did quite a lot of painting as a kid, but quit when I got older. I tried to write some poetry but it showed more of me than I would like to. I have been doing some instrumental music production, but I am not patient enough to make entire songs. Anyway, I ended up buying a digital SLR camera last year. Since then, I haven't really stopped taking pictures and trying to improve my skills (composition-wise but also my post-processing skills, it somehow stimulates the same part of the brain that I used for painting). I am not always patient, I guess digital photography is the perfect medium for me since it's so fast (and with flickr it's very easy to let many people see what you do). I usually see something that I want to remember or that evokes an imaginary scene, I quickly take a picture and post-process it later when I have time.

I am deeply influenced by movies, I have seen so many of them. It looks more real than painting, but still isn't reality. Right now I am on a learning curve, I am not really trying to have a definite style. There is a lot of night/dark stuff in my photostream but I want more colours. I don't really like the idea that all my shots are dark, I do like colours! That's where I am at.


What subjects do you like to photograph?
- Landscapes, although I have been living in the Netherlands for a few years and can't seem to know how to capture what I'd usually call a landscape (it's more of a flat manscape).
- Architecture, whether it's modern or falling apart.
- Moody atmospheric scenes, although I am not sure whether that's a proper category.

What would you like to photograph?
I'd like to do some street photography. There are no people in my shots but I am not very happy with that (I have some good ones of my girlfriend but am not allowed to post them!). I am also very interested in studio lighting because of the control you get but I don't see that happening anytime soon. It would be a good way to get some of the cinematic shots I am aspiring to though!

flickr.com/photoslinger

Pics from top to bottom: Before breakfast, Le petit dej' and This way up.

Plaything : Sweet tweet

I've been feeling so inspired and energized lately and a lot of it has to do with this blog. So last night I made two illustrations from the huge folder I have of scans of scrap paper and fabric. The illo on the left is strips of stationery, ribbon, wool, wood and digitally painted; while the illo on the right is cork, fabric, a Tiffany jewellery box and digitally painted. Mixed media delights. They were more fun than a buffet in Vegas...

Have a beautiful day!

Illohaven : Jump like you mean it

I've never felt such satisfaction as I do when I see my features published in a magazine. It's an affirmation that's hard to describe. Writing is so personal and strange and public but I love it so so much. I don't think I'll ever stop. The other day I was going through my old high school books one last time before finally throwing them out (hoarding days are so over) and I noticed a few short stories and english essays. Sitting back I re-read my words, trying to remember if I had the pull way back at 14. I think due in part to my sheer craziness, the fact that my Pop wanted me to be a pianist and my slightly confused careers adviser, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. None. Thank goodness the pen found me again five years ago.

Last year I discovered the unbelievable joy of illustrating. I asked the art director of Real Living mag (where I worked for three years until a few weeks ago) if I could have a crack at an illo for the mag. I had never done one before, only painted and sketched, but I did two for them (completely in photoshop) that were both published. Happy days I tell you! I haven't done much since, but now that I'm freelancing I have more time to paint and draw and illo, as well as write features and everything else I love. It's paddle pop perfection.

I big-time heart Melanie's illos. I was so excited after I read her answers, I love reading about other people making their passions their jobs. Here she is in her own words...


The highlight of my career was the end of one and the beginning of another... I had a job that looked so good on paper but was so bad for the soul. After returning from my honeymoon while on a lunch break it was all so clear – I needed to quit immediately. Luckily, my husband was so excited to live vicariously through my quitting that he said, "just do it!' and since we planned to start a family asap we figured it would show us what it would be like with only one of us working... so I jumped ship! Later that night we both realized how crazy and scary of a move that was and how I needed to figure out something to add to the income pretty quickly. I wanted to support myself by being creative and even try breaking into the world of illustration and textile design but I needed to figure out how to make money in the interim. Having worked as a jewelry designer for a national brand (previous soul killer) combined with my degree in graphic design I decided to blend the best parts of them together – and voila – super extravagant wedding invitations! And thus, by the seat of my pants – Love Your Invite was born: loveyourinvite.com. Plus – extra bonus – along with running the invite business I now had time for crafting and illustration like what you can find in my Etsy shop: spreadthelove.etsy.com


My favourite subjects are whimsical ideas with lots of fine and delicate details...
I love to relax with great documentaries, snuggling with my husband and dog, gardening and oddly enough – trapshooting! (I've been doing it since I was 12 – it's a family thing.)


Top, left to right: You fly me like a kite and Forgotten
Above: Modern Cameo Print, Red Rose

Snapshot : Desolate beauties

Soon, dear readers, Gemini season starts. Next Thursday in fact. How do I know? Because I was born right on the Taurus-Gemini cusp. What does that make me? Weird.

Geminis like opposites. We're twins after all (though some of us have waaaay more than two personalities to deal with). We like dark and light, pink and brown, marshmallow and toffee, bert and ernie... We're a bit childish, but lively and smart. A little inconsistent, but completely versatile and the best laugh ever. And we're sensitive. Which means yes, we can get cranky easily, but we also notice subtleties like no-one else.

Flowers bloom in desolate places (Mandalay's words, not mine), and I think flowers that bloom in between cracks of cement look the prettiest. Sure, fields of tulips are amazing, but one flower amongst a sea of grey adds a fragility to an already tiny life. How did I get onto all of this? Check out the orange playground horse above. It's the most fun a four year old could have without chocolate chips, but look how sad it looks. It has no friends, it's stuck there and it doesn't even have anything pretty to look at.

I love these pics by Ze (aka zenog). They're beautiful and sad and a little tragic. Here's a bit about him...

Where is your favourite place to take photos? I take most of my photos in the Botanical Gardens of Rio de Janeiro. I walk almost every day, finding treasures as I go...

What gets you in a creative mood? I'm excited when I see a special light or I find something very interesting on the ground of the garden.

flickr.com/zenog

Cheers y'all. Thanks Ze. And happy Friday.

Posterjoy : Sharing the love

Things I learned from my Mum: I can do anything and be anyone I want to without exception, to laugh often and loudly, a love of writing, a instinct for cooking... and a glass of wine solves just about anything.

Things I learned from my Pop: do your best in whatever you do, a love of maths, an instinct for gardening, to stand up for myself, to appreciate the details... and to know when to hit the beach after a day of hard work.

Some things just run in the family. Like curly hair (thanks Pop) and long fingers (cheers Mum), some things are just in us. I think once we accept and embrace these (talents, freckles and all), life becomes easier and more fulfilling. (Which means any day now I'll stop straightening my hair. Soon. Really. However, if I may point out I have taken a trip to brunette-ville for the first time in a while. Yes, yes, no more bleach. I'm proud of me too.) Where were we?

I was thinking about heirlooms after I read all about the gorgeous JJ, a Melbourne-based designer. I was drawn to her work instantly, it was like a bright beacon lit up the room. Then I found out her father was the illustrator of many portraits on Aussie currency and her 10 year-old daughter has just finished her first novel. Crikey. Here's a few words from the designer herself...

What makes you laugh? Hands down, my 10 year-old daughter Angel. She is the funniest, wittiest person I've ever known. She always making me laugh with her quick comments and insightful mind.

What music do you listen to as you create? When I'm drawing I nearly always listen to music, anything from Debussy, French music, Sigur Ros, Coldplay, Radiohead, Motown, Bob Dylan or the Beatles. When I'm designing, I rarely play music. I usually am so engrossed in what I'm doing that I don't even think about putting music on, and I also like the creativity to be pure if you know what I mean. I am so profoundly moved by music that I find it a distraction.

What are you reading? Currently I'm reading 'The Passion Test' by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood, and 'City of Bones' by Michael Connelly :)


theloveshop.etsy.com

Top set, left to right: Je Taime, Never Give Up and Do What You Love.
Set above, left to right: Laugh Love Dream, Love in Manhattan and Carpe Diem.

Snapshot : Stories in mono

Simple can be perfect. Sad can be beautiful. I love how black and white tells a story. It tells a whole lot more than colour sometimes, because magical details come to life that would otherwise be shadowed by a sea of distracting brights. Isn't that what life is about? Some days the colour fades a little, or a lot, and our perspective shifts with it, bringing in a whole new outlook we'd never tried before.


Meet Ken, a Boston-based photographer I discovered in the interwebs last week (an amateur believe it or not)...

I like photography because I can obtain visual and spiritual satisfaction through pictures. The black and white, as well as the coloured photos can provide dissimilar images and memories unable to be seen with the naked eye. Also, I and many other photographic amateurs are the same, we enjoy using the camera and the process of turning films into hard copies of images.

I mostly photograph at home and around my neighbourhood. I frequently browse through outstanding photos in bookstores and on the internet, whatever that captures my eyes will give me inspiration and imagination.


flickr.com/kentoku

Pics clockwise from top left: *, Running in Raining, * and Bicycle.
(That may have been more confusing than informative, however that's how it is peeps. You'll just have to check out Kentoku's pics at flickr to see the other cute titles he gives pics.)

Kidsplay : A rush of colour

You've caught me in a good mood. I have a new laptop (my first mac, so excitement), the sun is out, Madeleine Peyroux is singing sweetly (through the speakers of said new laptop, of course), I've just devoured a pack of peanut butter m&m's and the art prints I've found for today's post are so brilliantly citrus-bright and fun... there really is nothing else to feel but delight.

The lovely Helen (aka zukzuk, originally from NZ, currently residing in Canada), has an etsy shop full of beautiful children's prints that would brighten up any home. I especially love the masked bear above, it reminds me of the look my dog gives me when trying to sneak off somewhere she shouldn't. Anyhoo, here's a bit about Helen...

What and who inspires your designs?
I keep my eyes open and when I see something I like I try to make a mental note. I have ideas coming to me when I'm lying in bed and I enjoy checking out blogs and being inspired by artists who are way more accomplished than I am. I love being surrounded by nature - this time of year (spring in Canada) is a wondrous and very inspirational season. The uncontrolled vitality of life rushing forth is mesmerizing.

What makes you laugh?
Lately, Flight of the Conchords.

What are you reading?
Heidegger's "Being and Time." I'm just kidding, I can't remember the title, it's "101 nature activities for your child" or something like that.

What are you listening to as you create?
I have been enjoying revisiting the Sesame Street classics! I have a 4 year old son... so that means... 5 grey hairs per year x 4 years = 20 grey hairs, at least!!

Check out zukzuk.etsy.com for the whole shop. Want to win stuff? Helen's giving away goodies right here: hellozukzuk.blogspot.com

Pics above: (clockwise from top left) Birdabies, Masked Bear, Sugardrop Baby and Love Train

Dreamweaver : Novel ideas

From a small town in Norway comes these stunning and fragile mini works of art. They're original mixed media illustrations using acrylic paint, ink and marker drawing on a vintage book pages from 1892, by the lovely Annette. Here's a bit about her:

How did you become an artist?
I've been drawing and painting all my life. I loved my colouring books when I was a little girl and I started my Art education when I was 16, I went to Art school for 7 years.
Art is my life really, it's like therapy . A way to get my feelings out . People that know me can tell from my work what kind of mood I am in.

When I was 18 I went to Tasmania, Australia for 6 months and took art classes and life drawing classes at Adult education, Hobart. At the age of 19 I was accepted into a private Art school for Fine Art, Sculpture and Photography in Stavanger, Norway. I graduated 2 years later and have been a freelance designer and illustrator since then. I've also worked in an Art gallery.
In 2007 I started to sell my art online at carambatack.etsy.com.

Whats been the highlight of your career?
All the positive and wonderful feedback from customers, bloggers, friends and others when I started to sell my art online. That gives me such joy and makes me want to create more art.

What are your favourite creative website?
Flickr.com - so much creativity and inspiration in one place....WOW. I love flickr and have been posting photos of my work and life since 2006. My flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/carambatack

Pictured top (clockwise from top left): Fantasy tree, Girl on Swing, Red Bird, My red umbrella, Under my wing and Red dress. Below: Peacock in blue and red, inspired by Norwegian retro paper cut from the 70`s.

Frenchlove : Blowing in the wind

If you had a room full of vanilla and pear candles, and shoved inside my hubby, the dog, a roast chicken, a bottle of Champagne (ok let's be fair, try three), scrabble and a mix of Miles Davis and Elle Fitzgerald tunes... you might have just created my favourite place to be in the world.

When it comes to the lush land of creativity, Fabienne from France fulfills my artistic cravings quite nicely. She takes the most exquisite photos of petite French scenes, digitally mixes them with painting, and prints on Hahnemuhle fine art paper (imagine velvet as paper). Has a poppy ever looked so perfect? A tussle of wheat so romantic? Non. Until now.

Fabienne... What gets you in a creative mood? Harmony and simplicity!
Favourite artist and author? Mark Rothko and Jiro Taniguchi

labokoff.etsy.com

Clockwise from top left: piquant blanc, souvenirs, papillo, ble, abricotier, monnaie du pap, seul dans le froid, coquelicot and ballons

Snapshot : Funny fridays I like

You know what I love about my blog? It gives me the chance to discover pics, people, art, stationery, cities, countries, ideas and so much more that I would never have found otherwise. It's so energising and satisfying. Initially I thought I'd just be putting up a pretty picture here and there, I had no idea there would be such a beautiful human connection in the whole process. Or that I would become obsessed. Hmm that too.

As you may have noticed, I get a bit excited when humour and creativity collide. Take Mike - aka Balakov - and his pics. Now these are some brilliantly styled, perfectly lit, insanely funny pics. So good, in fact, that each mask seems to take on a different emotion. Amazing.


Meet Mike...

What makes you laugh?
Well that's a tricky one, my grasp of neurophysiology is pretty weak, but I understand supranuclear pathways come into synaptic relation in the reticular core of the brain stem which activates the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Terry Pratchett's books generally cause this response in me.

What is it about toys & troopers?
Compared to people and places, toys are easy. They don't move, they take less room, I can control the light, and I can put them in all sorts of compromising positions without them complaining or phoning lawyers. Why troopers in particular? Well that's easy, I'm a total Star Wars geek.

What's your favourite website?
I spend a lot of time on Flickr and DeviantART, and of course, I spy on my friends through Facebook.

http://www.flickr.com/people/balakov/

First group, clockwise from top left:
Cold. Standard Imperial issue Twinings English Breakfast Tea, always a favourite with the troopers.
A piece of me you seek, yes?
I wish I was a snowtrooper... Good Christ it's cold outside. Probably not so bad if you're dressed for it.

Second group, clockwise from top left:
Imperial Gardening Commander. TK-764 : Head of the covert gardening unit deployed on Endor. Someone has to keep it looking nice for when the Emperor visits.
Heat. "You'll love the weather on Tatooine" they said. At least on Hoth your ice cream doesn't melt.
After the war. Not all Stormtroopers did so badly after the fall of the Empire. TK-754 now owns a moderately successful washing machine spares supply business on Coruscant.
Down the pub. After a hard day hunting droids, TK-107 spends the evening watching the suns go down while relaxing in a traditional Tatooine pub.
North by Northwest.

Cardtherapy : Chillin' up north

Anyone who hails from Canada, lives in Canada or has been there and raves about it is an instant friend. I was born in Toronto a few years back and although I've been in Sydney most of my life, (with a bit of Melbourne and Detroit thrown in for fun), I still know how to throw an 'eh' into any conversation. The only thing is I can't ski and I'm no good in the cold. And by no good I mean completely useless. I know, I know, it's really letting the team down, but I love snow and watching people skate on outdoor rinks and the flamboyant way they cover anything stationary with lights at Christmas. So I obsess from a distance. This is my fate.

Happy was the day I discovered the cards above by Katie Muth, a Toronto-based artist, illustrator and print maker. Ain't they too cute? She also makes pencil cups, journals and greeting cards inspired by the Victorian wrought iron fences of Sydney - in the most stunning colours. I love her originality. Here's a bit more about her...

What gets you in a creative mood? Unfortunately: deadlines! But I've learned to accept this fact, and enjoy being creative in these frantic spurts.

What's your favourite subject to draw? Lots of subjects catch my attention: Nature is a huge inspiration; patterns, human connection, fun things to do... but what I am most satisfied by is when I'm able to really capture a moment, and take the viewer to that place in time.

What's your biggest craving? Well, I've been on a crazy diet recently that doesn't allow booze or sweets, so that's the first thing that comes to mind! But long term I'd say to be surrounded by beauty ~ flowers, colour, nice art.

Cards above clockwise from top left: mix tape, baby foot, girl with skates and wedding birds.
katiemuth.com

Canvasworks : Behind the feather

I saw these beautiful birds on my interwebz travels the other day and thought they were just so quietly striking. I love the colours, the peacefulness, the cleverness. And then I read the titles of each and nearly dropped my mug of earl grey (see below). You know, if you can somehow bring Wal-Mart into the title of a painting of a bird, you have my vote.

Meet Matt, aka mincingmockingbird, the L.A-based artist behind the brush behind the feathers. Here's a bit about him..

What gets you in a creative mood? Silence and Diet Coke.
What makes you laugh? Nothing makes me laugh more than my fiancee, The Frantic Meerkat.
Why birds? No other animal lends itself so readily to painting.

Clockwise from top left: In This Poignant Moment Of Finality, The Vibration Of Atoms Sounds Like Singing; Listen, If We Could Be Serious For A Moment, I Think I Have Been Shot; I Have Seen The Interiors Of Cloud Formations That Make Your Cathedrals Look Like Wal-Marts and He Thinks My Sudden And Terrifying Mood Swings Are Kinda Cute.

mincingmockingbird.blogspot.com

Snapshot : Moody frames

My outlook has taken on a slight shade of grey this morning. It's raining, cold, I have the flu and I just found out a friend's dog had to be put down last night. As the mum of a divine staffie X myself, this brings me too close to tears. So I've put Alicia Keys on, wrapped up a big scarf and decided to go the moody route with my choice of pics.

Christie Lyon is an artist who works with all sorts of materials to create the perfect piece. But it's her photos I'm drawn to. The shots above somehow look mysterious, cheeky and thought provoking at the same time. Love 'em. Here's a bit more about Christie...

What gets you in a creative mood? It's inexplicable! I'll see something, maybe just a combination of two colours, and it inspires me. I never know when it's going to occur, but I know that I am happiest when it is happening!

What's been your biggest highlight so far? The highlights are any time a customer tells me that my art touched them in some way. Customers have told me stories of childhood memories, love, children, friendships and more. I think I remember every single one of those stories. I like knowing that my art has meaning for them.

Who is your favourite artist? Giuseppe Arcimboldo. His portraits are beyond amazing!

What are you reading? I enjoy reading about various sciences and philosophy. I'm currently reading a wonderful book written by a friend of mine: "Peace: A World History" by Antony Adolf.

Clockwise from top left: Sunset Palm, The Guardian, Powerful and Pining Away.

studiolyon.etsy.com
flickr.com/photos/studiolyon/

Snaphot : Best monday ever

Happy monday lovlies! I hope you're enjoying your morning as much as I am. First monday freelancing, and I'm beyond busy... and busting with excitement! My home office is coming along rather nicely, thanks for asking. It's feeling comfy and looking pretty and organised. Almost.

What better way to kick of a week than a whole bunch of cherry blossoms delivered to your door. You can almost smell their sweet beauty. Ahhh. I was so excited when I discovered Lauri's pics. What a beautiful talent. Here's a bit more about her.

What gets you in a creative mood? Browsing Flickr or reading other blogs always seems to get my ideas coming. A rainy day does too.
What do you play in the background while you work? I play re-runs of shows, like Lost or Survivor, or sometimes I'll just play a movie.
Favourite artist? James Tissot. I love his paintings of fashionable women.
Favorite author? Charlotte Bronte. I just love Jane Eyre and read it over and over.

Above: Ranch Exit
Top: Collection of blossom pics from here

Plaything : Note to self

Edward Monkton makes the most brilliant and funny cards. Some are completely random, while others are so perfectly and simply insightful, like the one above (I added the stripes, couldn't help myself). It reminds me to have faith in myself and others and to believe that I'm being looked after every minute of the day. And sometimes, that's all that really matters.

Snapshot : Road to nowhere

I have this insatiable urge to jump in the car and drive for hours. I just want to be in the country where there's plenty of sky and no mobile reception. It's the best time of year to fall asleep in front of a log fire, to roast lamb for nine hours, play chess, read a book without checking the time and stare at an owl as though seeing one for the first time.

So when I saw Peter Polter's pics I started looking for the car keys. They're so divine, I can almost feel the morning chill and hear the horses. Hot cocoa anyone?

Clockwise from top left: Birds, Old Railway, The Creek and Forest Walk.