The Giraffe

26.5.14

23.4.14

What the hell are you doing?

Really Good David Shrigley

I think I'm starting to get obsessed...:)) but I liiike iiiiiittttt!!! :D

4.4.14

Obsessions

Obsessions, 100x80cm, oil and acrylic on canvas, 2013

I have never wrote on such a public place about my own work...

This is my first one, so be gentle :))

I thought it is interesting to write about this painting because this caused me to really understand what it means that a painting is not finished when I put the brush down.

This is the last work I did for the admissions to the Royal Academy, and I think I thought it up to be the most complex of them all and the most honest one as well, as this painting incorporates a lot from what I am interested in right now.

It is about all kinds of obsessions that people have nowadays and I have noticed that some are addicted to shopping, to cigarettes and all that kind, or sweets or booze and drugs, or food that it's really bad for them.

I thought I would show them a way out of it, in a really simple equation that Dr Todd Kashdan thought up as a solution and he might even be right.*

The equation said (Mx16+Cx1+Lx2)+(Tx5+Nx2+Bx33) - be curious, live in the moment, nurture relationships, be grateful and exercise...in short.

I even put it onto a white paper to make it really visible and put a treasure chest on which the objects stand, with an open lock so you could feel that at any given time you could open up the treasure chest and all those objects will fall and you will be left with the treasure, a Happy Life...

Than an interesting thing happened at the interviews to the RA Schools. The professors questioned everything about me and my work and somehow as I was explaining how this work is a bit social and critical... I forgot to tell then, but it made me realize that the formula itself is representing a kind of obsession about how to be happy. My Facebook page is fuuuullllll with these how to be happy, healthy, wise posts, and it is somehow an obsession just as the others. It is a new kind of obsession...

It was really interesting to see how my work evolved so much after being finished. From a point where it had problems listed and an obvious solution it is now a very nice all ironical painting, just the problems painted in a way that people might think I made it because I like those things...as most of my paintings are misunderstood.

This was my great discovery...wow...:))

* (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2378821/The-formula-happy-life-Stay-curious-live-moment-look-health.html)

31.3.14

You, Seane Corn and David Shrigley

!tnatropmi yllaer, nuf evah dna flesruoy eB

(Be yourself and have fun, really important!)

25.3.14

Austin Kleon - "Show your work"

I bought this book when on a Haim Steinbach exhibition.

Heim Steinbach is pure genius by the way..wow, love his work!

How I know about Austin Kleon? By chance I would say. Found "How to steal like an artist" in a bookshop, maybe in the Saatchi Gallery and since I was really searching to find my way I thought it might have potential. Right I was indeed! To be honest it didn't really say anything new, but it backed my thoughts up and gave me the courage to start doing my thing and not wait for a heavenly sign to show me what it's expected of me but to work till I find out what really matters to me. I think I had some success with that, as my works really started to have character after a while, and I realized that I was more and more conscious in deciding what to paint and why.

My second problem now that I have some work is to show my work. To whom should I show it, or when or which ones...a lot of questions...It seems I know a lot of things that are written is this book as well and it seems I have been making some steps on getting online and communicating, but somehow I wasn't showing myself but hid my things and showed just a tiny bit of who I am. I was not sure if people would want ho hear my stupid little problems about not being able to get the right background color and repainting a work 3 times, but I have decided that I don't care anymore. Being admitted to the Royal academy sure gave me a bit of confidence boost, but it is important to have a part of myself on the internet so maybe people would understand my work better if they see some more manifestations from me. And besides I am a terrible speaker especially when it comes to my work so I would rather write something down than to say it in person to anyone:))

Oh well here is the firs bit of me, hopefully I won't give up and more will follow soon.

Change in the Giraffe

Hey everyone,

I thought I would announce that from now on I will be posting whatever to my blog not just pretty pictures but also boring ones and not so nice ones and some boring texts and some funny texts as well as I thought Austin Kleon is right about getting out there and sharing my work.

So this will no longer be a pretty picture blog, but a blog about me and my work. Me being clumsy and me being great.

Thanks for your understanding
:D

The Giraffe