made by maddy

frida kahlo inspired self portrait with thorn ank and my cat pip

2011-11-17T19:58:00.002+10:00

moth girl

2011-11-17T19:47:00.000+10:00

sneak peak of a drawing i'm working on (:

2011-10-17T16:36:00.000+10:00

Art With Heart online art auction ♡

2011-09-23T20:14:00.004+10:00

Art can do many things, it can decorate walls and put smiles on faces and make dull places look bright - and it can also save lives.

A dear friend of mine is a volunteer for an organisation called "I Live Here", an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of fellow human beings in extreme poverty and isolation.
The 'Art with Heart' online auction is one of their innovative projects, which is aimed to raise money for the Malawi Prison Project in Africa. It's also a project that is very near and dear to my friends heart, and I wanted to help out in whatever way I could by writing this little article. It's all the little things that add up to make things like the Art with Heart auction happen.

I am donating some of my artwork to the action, so if you are interested in purchasing something pretty and acquiring that warm fuzzy feeling one gets when helping out a worthy cause, please do pop over to the Art with Heart auction page on ebay from the 29th of september to the 3rd of october to take a peak at some arty goodness and goodies alike. You may be able to snatch up some lovely pieces to pretty your walls with, and contribute to a wonderful cause whilst you're at it.

To find out more about where the money will be going, click here.
Here is their facebook page.

A little more about the boys in Kachere Juvenille prison: they are crammed into small rooms of up to thirty young men, who are forced to use a single bucket as a bathroom, receive only one scarce meal a day and must sleep on hard concrete floors on their sides in order to fit them all in. Most of the boys are in prison with no charges. No human deserves to live like this, and this is your chance to help.
What will ILH do with the money raised? All the money will go towards basic things like school supplies and creative modules to improve and aid the lives of boys in africa.

Oh, and p.s: I don't know if any of my lovely followers are fellow lady-lovers like myself, but if you are, I am sure you shall be interested to know that Mia Kirshner, (who plays the role of Jenny Schecter on the L word) is the director of I Live Here, which is kind of exctiting and makes me love her even more for not only being incredinly adorable and a briallant actress, but also a really awesome and kind-hearted person.

Much love,
Madelynn Holmes
xxx

2011-09-09T16:15:00.003+10:00

this is about as far as my creativity has taken me today.
a poem i wrote ealier this year, typewritten on tea paper.

hollow eyes and stiched wounds

2011-09-02T09:15:00.000+10:00

i remember last year, i spontaneously started water colour paiting and this is what happened.

rabbit hearted girl

2011-09-02T09:10:00.002+10:00

this is a rabbit hearted girl. i drew her when i was feeling particularly lovelorn and rabbit-y.

"pretty girls who hate themselves"

2011-09-02T09:08:00.000+10:00

i remember drawing this sad pretty girl a long time ago,
but she never made it out of my sketchbook until now.

bits and bobs from cut out from old sketchbooks

2011-09-02T09:04:00.001+10:00

the sketchbook project!

2011-08-09T16:14:00.000+10:00

This is an awesome project, they send you a sketchbook to fill up, and then it goes on tour!
Take a peak at The Sketchbook Project site if you wish.

A birdie from Emma

2011-08-01T17:39:00.001+10:00

I've been meaning to show off this pretty little blue bird that Emma Wiesenekker illustrated for me. I am yet to send something back, but I promise I haven't forgotten Emma!! Take a peak at her blog.

lino hearts

2011-07-14T12:01:00.002+10:00

reminder

2011-07-14T11:42:00.000+10:00

2011-06-13T12:05:00.002+10:00

A present for my 'aunty' for her 44th birthday (2011)

For a Lovely Girl named Jes

2011-06-12T11:55:00.000+10:00

"Jes's Recovery Rally" (2011

The things I do at work...

2011-06-12T11:47:00.003+10:00

As you can see, I am a hard working employee.

Lucy and the Bluebird

2011-06-12T11:46:00.002+10:00

"Lucy and the Bluebird" (2010)

I heart Cats

2011-06-12T11:41:00.002+10:00

"I heart cats" (2010)

Hello everyone, I'm alive, and i must start using this blog again!

2011-06-02T18:03:00.002+10:00

just something from my notebook

2010-12-12T13:06:00.002+10:00

I need some inspiration!

black & white vs. colour

2010-11-30T18:00:00.008+10:00

here are the illustrations i made for the black & white vs. colour exhibition at off the the kerb gallery this month.

"the black and white girls" "the coloured girls" (sold)

jessie & maddy

2010-11-30T17:45:00.004+10:00

i've pretty much abandoned this little blog, due to the stress of finishing 12th grade, as well as other personal issues, however now i'm graduated and have all the time in the world to make art and keep everything up to date.

here is a little illustration i did today for my dear friend jessie who is moving overseas tomorrow to start university next year. everyone is growing up! i drew this so she wouldn't forget me.

2010-10-15T18:33:00.003+10:00

2010-08-28T19:22:00.001+10:00

for my school art assignment on the human condition, my theme is "inanity"

2010-06-18T19:58:00.001+10:00

a girl in black and white attire.

2010-06-17T19:18:00.001+10:00

i drew this girl this evening.

little ghost

2010-06-05T22:42:00.004+10:00

i just finished this little drawing, inspiration from sarah mcneils hair.

2010-06-01T20:57:00.001+10:00

just a quick little illustration that i did the other day, a reminder really.

The Human Condition

2010-05-22T15:42:00.012+10:00

So, I have been incredibly slack with this blog. I have been very busy with school and working on my body of work for my art assignment. All of these illustrations relate to the human condition - it was a really exciting topic!

"i am leaking"

"the human patchwork"

"this is our condition"
this is the largest illustration i have ever done!

2010-04-21T19:34:00.002+10:00

i really wanted a pair of frilly lavender colour knickers, but i couldn't find any, so i gave them to this girl instead.

2010-04-07T01:13:00.001+10:00

a portrait of a very small girl and her cat!

2010-04-06T23:59:00.002+10:00

2010-04-06T19:21:00.004+10:00

i made these today for my art asignment.

new art

2010-04-02T11:16:00.006+10:00

i drew these pictures today and last night. but after making them i think i want to change my stlye. my art is looking too...samey, which annoys me. hmm.

full of dismay

2010-03-30T20:21:00.003+10:00

i just finished drawing this. today on the bus, i saw from my window a girl with lovely brown locks who was wearing something like this. i thought it was lovely.

also, GIVEAWAY CLOSES TOMORROW! please do enter.

today i made these

2010-03-22T01:07:00.004+10:00

for school art assignment

for my madeit shop

March Giveaway!

2010-03-13T16:14:00.005+10:00

As i was drawing this girl, just minutes ago, I decided that she was a cat person. I also decided that I really want a knitted cat jumper to keep me warm this winter...I shall be on the lookout.
Anyway, I am giving her to you, if only you'd tell me why you love cats too?

update: this giveaway is now closed and has won by sMac Thoughts.
I do agree, i'm sure my cats see all the ghosts in my house! :)

updated madeit shop

2010-03-13T11:48:00.003+10:00

Now you can buy my origional illustrations via my madeit shop!
Click here to browse!

forgotten art

2010-02-24T19:26:00.006+10:00

here is some art i found whilst re-arranging my files, so i'd thought i'd show you!

for a friend

sent to caitlin shearer

recent art

2010-02-24T17:23:00.006+10:00

i'm leaking!

what's on your mind?

"eight girls in the forest"

2010-02-17T22:01:00.003+10:00

this girl with a purple jumper and branch in her hand is a spontaneous drawing i drew this afternoon. i need to start drawing more often like i used too.

My Madeit shop

2010-02-01T20:13:00.003+10:00

Made By Maddy Store at Madeit.com

I set this up ages ago, and planned to fill it up before I let everyone know, so it's looking a bit empty right now, but you can look if you want anyway :)

Super late January Giveaway!

2010-02-01T19:07:00.009+10:00

I have been really quite slack with this blog recently, which I am not happy about!
It was one of my news years resolutions to make lots of art and do lots of blogging and do a giveaway each month on here.

So, even though it's the very last hours of January, I have something to give you:

As well as another arty-surprise + some stickers of my artwork and a lovely note from me, all sealed in a pretty envelope and delivered to your mail-box, sound good?

Just tell me what you like most about my art and it's yours!

xx Maddy

(okay, i realise it's the first right now as i publish this, but i fell asleep before the picture loaded last night! i won't tell if you don't)

2010-01-15T21:20:00.006+10:00

Today I was featured in my local newspaper for my art, which was rather exciting!

sold arwork

2010-01-10T07:34:00.003+10:00

I am rather happy, yet a little sad to part with my dear friends, as these four artworks along with another sold at my group exhibition at Emiggen Books recently. I also just found out that my piece for Once Upon aslo sold, so that's lovely as well.

last pieces of art for 2009

2009-12-31T19:47:00.010+10:00

merry christmas everyone!

2009-12-25T08:40:00.000+10:00

i hope you all have a splendid day!

xx m

brittany's dead

2009-12-21T18:50:00.005+10:00

i only just found out about brittany murphy's death, and I am very sad indeed.

i especially liked her in girl interrupted and just married, and clueless, and uptown girls too and it's really very depressing to say goodbye to another hollywood favourite. rest in peace.

Group Exhibition

2009-12-15T22:36:00.022+10:00

Last night my artwork was featured in First Spark, an exhibition at Embiggen bookstore. I along with 7 other students from my year 11 art class at school go the opotunity to show our work at this fantastic store and it really was a lovely night. It's the first local exhibit I've been in, and it was nice to see my work up on the wall, as it is the most I've ever shown. I even go to catch up with an old friend who I haven't seen in a really long time!

Me and my dearest friend Savannah

my artwork on a wall, instead of under a pile of clutter on my desk!

I don't think I have shown these on here before, moslty because they irritate me, but these are birds made from recycled soda cans, which i cut up and assembled using a hot glue gun. I made them for school in term 2, and my teacher insists that everybody loves them so here they are.

Me, Greg (mum's partner) & Rayne (mum's friend)

where the sad and lonely things are

2009-12-12T17:26:00.005+10:00

i don't know about you, but i found this movie incredibly sad.

it was wonderful and strange, and utterly truthful, but oh my, oh-so heart breaking. it just ended, everyone was sad. but i loved it.

i had a dream about you

2009-12-10T23:52:00.004+10:00

i dreamt of this handsom boy the other night, it was a lovely dream.

as i recall, it was in black and white, and he came to my house and we talked for hours, and then i think we fell asleep together, and that's when i woke up. i must say, i was a little saddened when i realised that it was merely a dream and he wasnt next to me at all. sigh.

from one pink bedroom to another!

2009-12-10T21:57:00.005+10:00

i forgot to tell you that i recieved a lovely package full of wonderous art prints from caitlin shearer the other day!! thankyou very much dear caitlin! they have bean added to my growing wall of art from my lovely blogger art friends!

(p.s i am yet to send drawings to gemma, chrissy, lucy, elisa and caitlin too! if you'd like to be added to the list and participate in this lovely little art swapping, let me know!!)

what i wore today

2009-12-10T21:52:00.003+10:00

i've been meaning to do a what i wore today picture since the very beggining of the project!

so finally i had a draw-worthy outfit and actually got around to doing it :)

the key to my heart

2009-12-06T22:20:00.006+10:00

i found some little wooden frames at the opshop the other day, and these two have been in my head ever since.

and this girl too.

i fell out of a tree

2009-12-06T16:39:00.006+10:00

i worked on this picture last night, as a tribute to the events of yesterday afternoon.
I am turning 16 in just 18 days and i am dreading it, so yesterday i climbed a tree, to embrace the last moments of true childhood, however the tree didn't feel the same way. it literally threw me out, and i landed on the ground with bruises and scratches and the loss of a little dignity.

i recovered, however this is how the picture ended.

i feel sorry for this girl. not only do i draw her in pain, but i then proceed to rip her up. she really didn't deserve it at all. sorry!

Culural Identiy: this is who i am

2009-11-30T08:46:00.012+10:00

Okay, so here are the artworks that I recently completed (but only just!) for my end of year school assignemt.

(click to view bigger)

"I am Celtic" (Irish & English)

"I am native amrican"

"I am african"

full body of work

work in progress

freedom & mail

2009-11-27T21:13:00.009+10:00

I am finally free! 8 weeks of greatness!

Well, almost. I got an extension on my art assignment, so I have to finish that, but it doesn't really count because unlike studying for exams and writing essays, I actually want to do this one. I'll show some pictures when I'm done!

Oh! And when I got home from school today, (also known as my last day of 11th grade!) I found a lovely little yellow package sitting on my desk, with this lovely letter and illustration form Chrissy Lau!

It features all my four kitties and a lovely pink bow and I love it! Thanks Chrissy! Your picture shall find its way to you soon!

Tonight I also went to an art exhibition, featuring works of local artists studying at TAFE here in Noosa. It was a great, although increasingly crowded and hot show. It made me think about what I'd like to do with myself when I graduate next year. I'm thinking Melbourne, as my friend Kara and I have day dreamed about the lovely cottage apartment that we will decorate. Perhaps I'd like to study at Swinburne or RMIT or maybe I'll travel the world!

my cat rex & i, he is such a hopeless romantic.

that's all for now,
i have been given this extra time for my art assingment, and i hope to use it wisely!

procrastination is the devil

2009-11-25T20:07:00.010+10:00

I am freaking out. It is exactly 12 hours until my maths exam, and maths and i just don't co-operate at all. I also have two 1000 word essays to write and four A3 art drawings which are currently in the sad stages of sketching - all within the next 48 hours and I am so stressed I might explode. Procrastinating is not my friend, and neither is food at the moment, and I'm pretty sure time hates me. Which unfortunatly for me, these three things seem to go hand in hand.

Oh the holidays. I cannot wait until saturday, I will be abble to breath.

pieces of me

2009-11-23T22:02:00.008+10:00

today i ditched school and attempted homework. it didn't go too great.
so i decided to procrastinate with my typewriter as i often do, and i stiched this together. my hopeless thoughts, ripped up and re-attached with thread.

i can't wait until the holidays, i have big plans. plans that mostly involve making art, reading books, eating insanely healthy, and going on creative little advenutures with my favourite friend and her tandem bike. it's doesn't sound too big i suppose, but it is, because i plan to be happy.

i also wrapped a little present for the above mentioned friend i hope she likes it.
i'm kind of obsessed with brown paper at the moment.

goodnight.

photos from once upon!

2009-11-22T20:49:00.022+10:00

my art alongside courtney brims! who i met in brisbane at the finders keepers market! have a look here to see an interview with agela, and my work featured there too!

tabitha emma and me

me, ben zen & chrissy lau

ambush gallery

me, sarah mcneil & ben zen

ben zen, me & caitlin shearer (!!)

me & elisa mazzone

me, renee & angela

my final piece, minus a few last minute details

the first experimental version

aslo, have a look at the website for more pictures and a chance to buy some of the lovely artworks! i have many more pictures but they'll have to wait, as i just got home from sydney and i'm sleepy and my eyes are begining to close without my permission.

love, maddy

Once Upon!

2009-11-20T15:36:00.004+10:00

Oh my!! The Once Upon exhibition last night was amazing! I am still swooning over the fact that I got to meet some of my favourite artists ever! It was a bit of a task to try and pick everyone out, but I finally met and chatted to Ben Zen and Chrissy Lau, and Caitlin Shearer gave me a hug (!!) and we spoke of art and cats and lovely things, it was grand. I also met little Sarah Mcneil, who is oh so cute and sweet, and Tabitha Emma too. And Elisa Mazzone, who is lovely, and I wish we lived near by because I bet she would be fun to hang out with :)
Oh, and Angela who greeted me as I walked up the street, and Renee, who were both so lovely!

All of the artworks were so great too. They were all very different and they looked wonderful in their fairy tale frames. Thanks to Angela and Renee, who put so much work into the whole project!

Now i must be off, as I am going to the theatre tonight in the city, so I shall post all the photos here when I get back home on Sunday!

sydney!

2009-11-18T09:05:00.003+10:00

I'm off to Sydney this morning! i shall see you all at once upon TOMORROW!

how exciting, but i'm a little bit nervous too! it's going to be fun to recognise everyone, if i don't come and say hello, I have an afro so it's kinda hard to miss!

let's be awesome

2009-11-10T22:01:00.002+10:00

So according to ERRA-TRON, I am awesome! Well, thanks, I think you are pretty awesome too!

The rules of the tag is as followers:
1. thank whoever gave this to you
2. copy award
3. post it in your blog
4. tell us 7 things that your readers don’t know
5. link 4 new blogger
6. notify winners of the award with a comment on their blog
7. keep being awesome

here are my seven unknown fun facts:

- i've owned 10 lovely cats during my life, 6 affectionate chickens, a hyperactive puppy, a fat guinea pig and a naughty rabbit

- i have no brothers or sisters

- i've failed maths all year, literally

- i like to sing but never do because i'm scared that i'm horrible

- i've been to America, Italy, Austria, Bali, New Zealand (briefly but i still like to count it) and Malaysia and I want to travel everywhere!

- i'm a vegetarian

- i day dream of a house by the sea, and a studio and an attractive african american boyfriend who plays the guitar and has an english accent.

and now i tag:

you are all awesome :)

this is what i do at school

2009-11-10T11:58:00.007+10:00

It's funny that my notebooks for the subjects I do worst in are filled with pictures...

November giveaway

2009-11-09T18:41:00.009+10:00

Hello Hello,

So, I realise I've been really boring in terms of blogging lately, so i thought that perhaps a giveaway would spice things up a bit, because they're fun, and because I think it's nice to say thanks to my lovely followers, (all fifty of you, wow!) and the new ones who have started following me even though I've been so uninteresting!

these words are stolen from lyrics to one of tegan and sara's new songs, on their latest album, sainthood, it's seriously wonderful.

oh, if you'd like to find these girls sealed in a pretty envelope with a note from me, umm, tell me your fondest memory from when you were a kid. yeah?

2009-10-29T15:35:00.001+10:00

hello hello, just letting everyone know that my internet will be disconected until the 2nd of november - how inconvinient (i'm at an internet cafe right now).
i hope everyone's once upon pictures are coming along nicely!

my mailbox...

2009-10-26T20:49:00.012+10:00

...is happy once again!

Not only did I recieve my bi-monthy bible, aka frankie magazine, a lovely little package form Ben Zen also sarrived, which included this dear little illustration and some lovely musical stickers! I really love birds, especially tiny coloured ones that greet me! In fact, I believe my first word was 'birdie" too!

I love his little orange scarf and the mini heart on his arm! He shall join the collection of artworks on my bedroom wall, so far along with some illustrations from Oppy and Gemma as well!
(if you would like your arwork to join them, and in return recieve one of my illustrations, drop me a line, as I mentioned before, sending and recieving things in the mail is oh-so lovely and should be done more often!)

Which reminds me, here is another little card which Oppy sent me the other week, i love it so much!

That's all for now, I'm off to make some art and read my frankie with a cup of green tea and a cat on the end of my bed, night!

a weekend full of art

2009-10-25T13:25:00.015+10:00

This weekend I've worked non stop on all kinds of artwork, for my school final, once upon, personal work and things to send off to my lovely art friends, here are some bits and pieces:

Playing around with a different style and approach to my art assignment based on cultural identity, (this is supposed to be me, when i was little).

Fun fact! My great great, so great, that I don't even know how great, grandfather was the prime minister of Ireland in the 19th century, fancy that! I thought it was quite cool, however not so cool that there is no sign of great inheritance or fortune passed down, in fact, one would say that he was a scandalous man, and died at age forty-five, supposedly by a heart attack. hmm...

Another picture for my art assignment, focused on people of 'colour'.

And lastly, this girl with green eyes, which I just finished.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I've also had a few little chats with some fellow once uponers, which is exciting! (ugh, i've said this words so many times to so many people lately, that I'm sure it's quite tired indeed, so i think i'll substitute if for... adrenalized, or maybe enlivened, according to the thesaurus...)
I can't wait to see everyone's work. Have a look at the website, http://www.once-upon.com.au/ and if you can, please do come to the opening night! It honestly will be the best show!

That is all, my eyelids are beginning to shut voluntarily so I'm off to bed now.
I hope eveyone had a good weekend!

p.s Oh, I also forgot to thank Oppy for her lovely card in the mail, I love it so much!

ONCE UPON, HERE I COME

2009-10-16T09:40:00.012+10:00

Oh my! Here is the lovely poster for the exhibition!!

I did a little dance when I saw Sarah McNeil, Caitlin Shearer, Catherine Campbell, Courtney Brims, Kareena Zerefos and Lucy Hope were showcasing as well! I can't believe that my work will be in the same room as so many of my favourite artists! :) :) It's honestly going to be a wonderful exhibition! And I'll be in Sydney for the event so I'll get to meet Chrissy and Ben and it just keeps getting better!!

Angela and Renee, the lovely ladies curating the exhibition have also made a website dedicated to all things Once Upon, which will be updated with artists profiles and promotion, so it would be nice to take a quick peak if you can. http://www.once-upon.com.au/

Once Upon preview

2009-10-11T14:52:00.006+10:00

Here is a quick preview of what I'm doing for the Leeloo exhibition, but I'm not sure if i'll use this drawing, after all, it's only one small picture, so I'd better make it the best I can.

What has everyone been up to this weekend? I hope it's been good :)

october giveaway

2009-10-11T09:12:00.007+10:00

I've decided that every month I'm going to do somekind of little giveaway for my lovely followers, because I'd rather my art be in someones humble hands than under piles upon piles of clutter, and I think it's rather lovely to get a little art treat in the mail.

So, this month, just tell me what makes you the happiest, and I shall pick my favourite answer and someone shall find this in their mail box sometime soon:

update: dearest teesh has won herself this little drawing, she is oh-so lovely, and you should take a peek at her answer, it really is grand.

my mail box is happy

2009-10-08T19:28:00.011+10:00

My lonely little mail box has been very happy lately, and feeling very loved! And my zine collection is growing handsomely, thanks to Holly's zine, Pancakes for Dinner, and Kristy, who has sent me The Ponies all the way from the US, and some from Lisa (aka Oppy), (along with two lovely little drawings that I shall cherish and keep forever) and they are getting along very well. Thankyou all! :)

Getting littke nick-nacks and doodles in the mail is oh-so exciting, it honestly makes my day. We should do it more often! Anyone agree? If so, it would be positivly splendid if you'd like to exchange some little artistic goodies with me, just drop me a line!

leeloo once upon

2009-10-07T22:24:00.003+10:00

Hello, I am just a little bit happy tonight, because I was accepted into the Leeloo Once Upon exhibition after all, to submit a teeny tiny work of 21 x 15 cm, based on a fairy tale called The Robber Bridegroom. I recently discovered this story is a tad gruesome, involving a princess engaged to marry a price, who turns out to be not only a robber, but a murderer and cannibal, isn't that lovely? Anyway, that's all for now, just wanted to share the news.

goodnight, m

Blanket Issue 18 - The Black & White Issue

2009-10-03T19:22:00.007+10:00

I just thought I'd tell you that my little cultural identity picture was included in the Black & White issue of the lovely Blanket Magazine, it fitted in perfectly I think.
If you haven't already heard about Blanket, which I already know many of you have, then be sure to grab yourself a copy, it's only $2 per issue or you can buy a subscription for $12. Bec, the Editor is lovely and she puts all her time and effort into the magazine, and it really is worth it!

2009-09-28T23:36:00.006+10:00

A rather spontaneous illustration, I just scribbled the outline and didn't stop until I was done.
So here she is, another cat girl, because I love cats. I'll probably go to bed now. Goodnight.

i'm so boring

2009-09-28T12:23:00.007+10:00

hi there.
so i've been a bit boring lately, honestly. i've spent almost two days in my house doing nothing. like, not a single thing. not even making art because i tried but just wasn't in the mood. so i rearranged my computer files, cleaned my room, made a lot of peculiar meals, watched bad day time television and patted my cats, oh and spent a lot of time just sitting. how sad. please tell me others have these kinds of days? please!

anyway, so since i haven't done much artwise, i thought i'd show you this:
i drew him many months ago but he's never shown his face, so, uh, now he has.

for therefore magazine

2009-09-26T09:02:00.004+10:00

Hello,

I'm on the hunt for anyone who has a story about meeting someone that they'd like to share?
Was it awkard, exciting, utterly boring? We want to know!
Something short and sweet for a page in Therefore Magazine.
Yeah? Send it to: thereforemagazine@hotmail.com

Thanks!!

love my life

2009-09-25T19:20:00.003+10:00

dear anyone who cares to know about my the insignificant details of my life,

i didn't get into the exhibition i applied for and i gained a kilo.

but it's okay. one day I'll have an exhibition of my own and I'll be wearing a size 8 dress.

hansel & gretel

2009-09-18T23:03:00.011+10:00

I'm entering the Leeloo "Once Upon" exhibition, showcasing Australian artists with artwork of a fairy tail theme. (update: i didn't get in, but Ben Zen and Chrissy did! Hurray for them)

I was inspired to make this because I've always loved this story, and finally I'm on holidays and could spend an afternoon on it without thoughts of schoolwork.
I think the whole concept of a candy house in the forest and two lost children with German names is truely wonderful, minus the scary witch lady that tries to eat them, of course.

we create therefore we are

2009-09-12T13:24:00.008+10:00

Hello Hello,

I think it's time I told you about the project that my friend Jessie and I have been Working on:
our first issue of therefore magazine! An independent magazine dedicated to all things creative, controversial, satirical and smart. Pretty much, we were sick of wasting our time on school work and study as millions of other 15 year olds do, and wanted to do something a bit different.

The first issue is called the "nice to meet you" issue, so we're on the lookout for some artists/photographers/ writiers that would like to contribute, especially if your work relates to the theme!
Keen? If so, send an email to thereforemagazine@hotmail.com and be sure to have a look at our blog for more info and updates!

We're also in need of a "letters to the editors" section, so if you have a little comment about our project then head over to our blog and leave us a comment and you could find it in the magazine!
The first issue will be freely distributed, as a bit of a test run to see how it goes, so send us an email if you'd like us to post you a copy and you can see if you like it.

We also have a blog section, where we will feature five blogs every month, which I will be chosing soon :)

That's all for now!

Hello, Chrissy Lau

2009-09-11T08:04:00.006+10:00

Hey. I've decided that I'm going to show you some art from my blogs friends here on blogger from time to time because they are all such cool people and I wish wish wish that I was friends with all of them in person.

Have a look at some of my favourite little illustrations from my blog friend Chrissy Lau on Decipher the Day. And she's a lovely person too, and we may have a littlw project coming up sometime in the future :)

2009-09-09T20:57:00.009+10:00

sometimes i think life in general is a bit of a sick joke.

it can be wonderful and happy but other times it mocks you and laughs in your face and keeps you dangling on a string.

no, i don't want to write essays and calculate useless things and read dull books about world war II, i just want to make art and be creative because that's all i can do and it's all i've got to give.

but i can't because i don't have time because apparently fifteen year olds don't know what they want and i procrastinate and i complain and today is the third day in a row that i've felt frustrated and pathetic. it's also the first time i'll have gone to bed before 2am in almost a week, goodnight.

cultural identity

2009-09-03T02:23:00.006+10:00

at school we're doing a unit of work called 'cultural identity' and here is what i've done so far...

ive decided to focus on my personal herritage and cultural idenity of:

irish & african

and english & native american indian

some photography

2009-08-27T18:20:00.011+10:00

i've decided if ever things don't go my way, i will go and do something creative and constructive, and then i can look back and be grateful for the circumstances, (unless of course it's crap, in which case i'd probably feel even worse, ha).

anyway, this afternoon i ran down to the meadow to capture the last moments of sunlight.

i made friends with this pretty little purple flower and we got along handsomely.

i bet this is what it would look like if you were falling into flowers in slow motion.

these pictures replaced going out tonight, and they made me a little less glum.

like i give a frock

2009-08-24T03:29:00.007+10:00

i bought this book a while ago now, in fact perhaps it was last year, anyway, i thought i'd share it with you if you hadn't already seen it, honestly one of the best books i've ever purchased.

kat macleod has the best sense of humour and taste.

it's truly brilliant.

p.s did anyone feel the summer coming on today (yesterday)?

hello sam

2009-08-22T11:48:00.008+10:00

i made this picture just this morning for a girl named sam, who suffers from depression.

she is so cute and sweet, and it really is sad.
so i thought this might make her smile.

2009-08-16T02:01:00.004+10:00

smile for the camera

post it reminders

2009-08-16T00:16:00.010+10:00

i made these little post-its sometime ago, but i found them again, and they reminded me of a few things i'd almost forgotton, which is their purpose i suppose;

i'm running out of time

2009-08-13T14:06:00.009+10:00

i'm feeling a bit dramatic, and i really need to do something with my life, soon.

i've been swishing around these thoughts of an exhibition for years now, and nothing.

wouldn't it just be wonderful if we could just press 'pause'? do all the things we want and then press play.

because i swear that people don't care what you do after a certain age. I don't want to be thirty and still trying to 'become' and artist. i want to do it now.

anyone feel my pain?

picnics, medows & polaroids

2009-08-10T20:39:00.017+10:00

there are no such things as answers

2009-08-01T21:46:00.010+10:00

I just finished watching the Virgin Suicides, and I loved it. I love that era, and the girls were so mysterious. And although the movie really doesn't give you answers, at all, maybe answers hardly matter. I also read the book once upon a time. Both Amazing.

I also thought Kirsten Dunst's acting was wonderful, I really do like her a lot.

Has anyone else seen/liked this movie? If you haven't I think you should, just remember not to expect answers, because they really don't exist.

dear charlie

2009-08-01T18:37:00.008+10:00

I have a tea and a box of tissues in hand, and am more than ready for sleep after last nights activities. Despite this, I'd just like to show you a picture that I made last week for a new, fellow-artist-friend, instead of doing my homework. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but she loved it, I guess that's the point.

I'd also like to say, oh my, another month has passed. Sooner than later it will be September, and once the 'ber' months start rolling in, you know you're at the end of the year. Soon I'll wake up and five years will have passed. I wonder if I'll still be the same, because to me, it feels as if I haven't ever changed.

night, xx

what's the story morning glory?

2009-07-29T07:44:00.004+10:00

15 minutes ago when I woke, in my freshly tidied room, I looked in the mirror as I was getting dressed for school. I thought, hey, I'm actually starting to like what I see. It was liberating to think that and actually mean it for once. All that gyming and healthy eating it beginning to pay off, and it feels good. That's the story.

I think this girl here feels the same way as I do, colourful and hopeful.

scarlett and lisa

2009-07-28T20:07:00.003+10:00

i'd like to be her friend, i've watched this so many times. i love it more each time.

i'm slightly in love with scarlett johansson,

travelling scolarship opening

2009-07-24T23:07:00.009+10:00

I also forgot to mention that I went to the Travelling Scolarship Exhibition opening at the Noosa Regional Gallery tonight. I wore my dear sweid high-heal boots, with tassles, which I named thing one and thing too, because they are like pets. and now my feet feature blisters. Anyway, really not the focus of this.

The art was lovely, and I knew some of the artists personally, which was rather swell. Oh, and I got to meet one of the gallery managers, Nina Shadforth, who'd I'd e-mailed recently about my art etc, which was really quite good. But I must say, art is tough, and I've come to the conclusion that sadly, talent is just one small part of the many factors in becoming a succesfull, recognised artist. But it was good to see. I'm motivated and determined. Someday soon I'm going to have my art hanging on those walls, and next year I'm going to apply for the Travelling Scolarship, and I'm going to travel, and scolar away. Oh, won't it be grand!

polaroid fun

2009-07-24T22:03:00.012+10:00

Hello friends.

I'd just like to tell you that my new/old-but -still -brand -new polaroid camera arrived in the mail on tuesday week, and ever since I've been dying to get my hands on film. So today, I excused myself from school, mostly because it was the sports carnival, (I mean come on, I'm an artist, I don't do sport!) anyway, so I went out and got some! There was only 3 packets of film left in stock at Kodak, and they were'nt getting anymore in, ever, so I had no choice but to buy them. It was shockingly expensive, and I could only get two (40 photos in total), and lets just say I won't be buying much else in the upcoming weeks.
But do you want to know the worst part? The part that goes on my list of failures and mistakes and losses that I cry about at night? I completly ruined 10 photos. That's right, being so excited, and the polaroid amature that I am, I took apart the film packet, exposing the film to light, and put in the individual sheets in my camera. The people at Kodak must have thought I was retarded when I ran back to them asking what the hell I did wrong. You know what? I think the 'do not take apart packet' should be written in bold, bold, BOLD on the packaging, for idiots like me. Never ever doing that again, that's for sure!
Anyway, tears aside, look at the wonderful shots we took this fine afternoon:

Savannah insisted that the fist ever photograph had to be taken with her. We've kind of been swooning over polaroids and dreaming of the day when we could finally own one forever.

this is the old, rusty, yellow car thats existed forever. we found it at a place we've named the medow. it's right near my house, but when we go there, it feels like we're so far away from everything.

it's funny really, because the sunsets are alsways so lovely in this town called sunrise.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

x Maddy

dear arsehole

2009-07-22T00:09:00.007+10:00

Here is another tick off the list: submit to frankie magazine.
This letter is addressed to all the arses out there who've screwed a girl over, or in this boys case, sucesffuly screwed two over, at the same time.
now, although it's not completly finished, you may enjoy it.
(you may have to click on the link to read it, unless you have freakishly good eyesight)

can you see a letter theme happening here? hmm

dear anyone

2009-07-20T20:58:00.016+10:00

I've recently learnt something about the world: we have no real control over it. I've also learnt that some people just don't know how to take a nice gesture.

How do I know? Well, my dear friend Savannah and I have a list, it's called the year list, and on it are a bunch of things - some pointless and random, some a little bit illegal, some with a purpose - which we've agreed to complete together by the end of two-thousand and nine. Our most recent task was to make a collection of nice letters and leave them around town for people to find and cherish.

So, this Saturday that's what we set out to do. But before I go on, let me ask you this:

If you saw a nice little letter on the ground, addressed 'dear anyone' or 'yes, this is for you' or 'someone please open me', what would you do? Would you stop to look at it, and then walk away? Would you step on it? Ignore it staring you in the face, because you fear it's too nice to be true, perhaps even filled with bugs of some description? Or, if you're a big mean biker, maybe you would pick it up and put it right into the bin?

Maybe you wouldn't do any of those things, maybe you'd pick it up and it would make your day, and you'd keep it forever and thank the anonymous person who wrote it, maybe you're one of the decent ones. I hope you are!

Although some letters we just left to fend for themselves, and when we went back, they were gone. I hope a lovely person who needed a few happy words found one and loved it, because that's what it was supposed to be about. I think we learnt that once we let go of a letter, we must realise that we no longer have control over it, it is connected to us, but we no longer own it. I think we'll make some more soon.

p.s I also learnt that biker stereotypes are true.

I think these girls would be the kind of people that would give out nice-ness, but not receive it back right away. Or maybe they'd be the kind of girls that need a few happy words for themselves.

guess what?!

2009-07-17T22:58:00.007+10:00

I've always wanted a polaroid of my own, so tonight I thought, 'Hey, I'll buy one" So I did, $110 dollars from e-bay, perfect condition - I'm oh-so excited for its arrival next week in 1-3 business days. Just thought I'd let you know, it looks something like this:

and this, for fun, because I couldn't resist waiting.

Okay, so this photo is from art camp. That's right, hold your tongues. I, myself admit that art camp may only be, if anything, a mere step higher than the all-famous band camp, but it was worth the nerdy title. A couple of girls from my school went, which was good, but it really wouldn't have matter if I hadn't known anyone, there were so many lovely, creative people there and we had so much fun!

and these girls say hello,

That's all for now, sweet dreams!

2009-07-14T22:28:00.007+10:00

Today was my first day back at school - oh it felt as if I never even had holidays!

These ones here were done all on the same night sometime earlier in the year.

'The girl and the feline'

This was the original of "with love", however this was too large to fit into the frame for Small Works! Can you believe it? I actually re-did all those images especially for the e

xhibition because nothing else would fit either! But I'm glad I did! :)

'All my love'

'The bird that saw my heart'