Saturday, May 29, 2010

Chris and Charlotte

Two of our dearest friends got married yesterday.
Charlie-and-Chris-539-1
Charlie and Chris 494 post mini
Chris and Charlie have been friends with each other since year 3 and going out for about 4 or 5 years now. They took their time (not relenting to not-so-subtle pressures to get married earlier), honoured God the whole way through and did things in His timing. They are both 23 this year. Their relationship is such an example to everyone. The wedding was a glorious celebration and I'm excited about the great things they will accomplish as Mr and Mrs Grainger. WOohoO!

Monday, May 24, 2010

This is what I do for work

I have a job which I never knew existed until applying for it. And I am very happy to say I love my work. My hands may never be dainty again, but I like getting messy (in a productive and creative kind of way) in whatever I do so ink stained fingernails and paint on all my clothing is an easy compromise. I am a travelling primary school visual art teacher. I work for a company called RAW ART which are contracted to both state and private schools to supplement and boost existing art programs. I work at a different school nearly every day with children aged 5 to 13ish. We have a curriculum of lessons from which schools nominate a 1 1/2 hour session. I travel all over Brisbane in my ute (so have a pretty good handle on the Brisbane road system and the Southside is not so dark and scary now...) and as far north as Childers, west to Toowoomba and south to Burleigh Heads. Here are some of the things we've made:
1 Water small
2 Cupcakes small
3 2-picasso-heads
4 faces-at-wilston2
5 fantasy-fairytales
6 jellyfish-and-birds
7 prepare-to-dance-and-beth-and-ben

1 and 2 Reduction prints. These are actually some I made with 6/7 kids
3 This Picasso lesson is wonderful as you just can't go wrong. I always remind the children not to worry if it turns out a big wonky... that's perfect for picasso style (year 4/5)!
4 I did a contract at a local primary school where the year 4's did these delightful portraits.
5 Can you recognize which fairytales these are from? Year 2
6 Left hand side are prints by a year 1 girl. I love how little ones can make something beautiful from something as simle as a triangle. Looks jellyfishy to me. Right hand side screen print by a clever year 4 boy. Love the birdies crest.
7 Having learnt some fantastic tecnniques through staff training days, every now and then I do a little something myself at home. This bicycle screen print was for a card for Alice's 21st birthday (I found 'prepare to dance' in a magazine and thought that was a nice sentiment about bike riding) and the Beth and Ben reduction print for an engagement card. I simply engraved into an old styrofoam meat tray with a blunt pencil. So simple!

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Flowery chair by the skip

flowery chair
Today I am shooting Joel and Tamikas wedding which I am really excited about. I went to the venue again yesterday to scout out some good spots and familiarise myself with the area so I feel really comfortable and confident. I am very thankful to have had the help and support - practical, technical and equipment wise - of Aron Leong who is a well-awarded Director of Photography. Photos coming soon. (This chair was sitting by a stinky skip bin in a funny little side street. Perhaps someone enjoys their morning smoko here...)

Monday, May 3, 2010

1980 Vintage

josh's 30th invite
Last Monday we had a little get together for Josh's 30th with close friends and family. 4 of Josh's best mates today are guys he went to primary school with. I think over 20 years of friendship is pretty amazing and really says something about Josh, and the other boys too. Benno and Dave are now married with kids so it was great to have the little ones there, and just as they were leaving and the larrakins (Jacob and Nathan) were arriving we managed to get a photo of the 5 boys together (will post later when all sorted out - so many other pictures to wade through).

Made the invite in photoshop (although I am still finding it a struggle) as I really want to get as much practice in as possible. My sister would whip up something spiffier in 5 minutes and this took me a couple of hours... but I think I'm gradually getting more confident.