I had a very odd dream about two Robbie Williams zombies. I have odd dreams in general, usually if they make sense I facebook them and my friends are all “What’s wrong with you???” Shrug. My brain doesn’t shut down? I tend to not post my hugely violent dreams because people get upset, just the weird ones.
I felt the need to paint the feeling of the dream. I did the first one here and it didn’t really come across as I wanted – the brush I was using was too thick. So I got a thinner brush and did the next version and that was better. I do like that you can use ink as line or wash, and even splatter. Greyscale.
I also had a dream that the queen was showing me her jewellery collection, so I painted that, too. I think I’ve captured her likeness well enough. 🙂
Early November I got to see Steve Wilson in concert for the second time, saw him a few years ago. It was seated this time which was great for the back – he convinced us to stand up in the ‘second act’ and that was good too. The right amount of standing! My back is rooted. The general age of a Steve Wilson concert tends to be ‘older’ – everyone I think was glad of the ability to sit.
I don’t usually do good portraits based on memory but I felt like just trying to get down a bit of vibe and feeling as it was a seriously enjoyable night. I’ve done two paintings of Wilson below – one with him on bass, the other guitar. He’d had a haircut so his old distinctive ‘he-man pageboy’ cut was more a ‘short back floppy front’ look, which was less iconic but, hey the dude is allowed to change his hair.
He didn’t play a Fender but I have one so it was easier to copy off that. So there.
Also did a picture of Nick Beggs, the bassist. You might know him from the 80s, he was the bassist for Kajagoogoo and has a truly epic curl mullet in the video of “Too Shy”. I guess I have a favorite bassist now, he’s got a lot of on-stage Charisma; I also saw him when Wilson did his “Hand. Cannot. Erase” tour. I was lucky enough this time to be in row D at the Palais in St Kilda, right in front of him, so I got to watch his expert playing. The man has magic fingers.
Before the show we went on the scenic railway at Luna Park, a bone-rattler of a roller coaster, so I painted that, too. I love the sick feeling you get as your stomach pops out of your mouth. WHEEEEEE!
I’m quite enjoying painting in monochrome at the moment.
I went and saw the Escher exhibition at the NGV and I was blown away by the woodcuts. Most Escher pictures I know, the really popular stuff, is the amazing mind bender clever perspective and pattern stuff – but there were rooms and rooms of his early woodcuts and I am in awe. I won’t be woodcutting but I will be playing with monochrome ink for a bit!
