Flash Back

Looking back through photos from London in June 2008 I found a load of street art that I spotted on a walk around the Tate Modern. Some as part of an open air exhibition, others more genuine. A few familiar artists like Invader who I also spotted around Europe. 

Unrelated

Three unrelated images, from different times and places, but all taken the same day. Excitingly featuring three different things that catch my eye. Old advertising signage always interests me and this painted wall in Darlinghurst contrasted against the more modern buildings was an unexpected pleasure just north of Liverpool Street.

Now living in Camperdown I am more aware of street art than ever and this couple  by Wendy Murray made my walk a little more interesting. This was my first exposure to the work of the artist also know as Mini Graff. She is exhibiting at the oh really gallery from the 9th - 15th of April if you want to check out some more of her stuff.

Take away the function of a machine and it becomes an object. This trolley is at a loss without its wheels and look very lonely in the wasteland portrayed by this almost empty car park.

Found

Getting off at museum station today I noticed the pieces of paper dropped by another passenger. Being at the end of the line and the only one in the carriage I thought I should post the shopping list up just incase the owner is lucky enough to find it.

It is amazing the insight that a persons shopping list tells you. This person is obviously female, trendy, organised and caring. Amy will be receiving a Easter card which is very important as the underline suggests. Some kitchen odds and end, then the very fancy sounding soap. My mouth watered at the thought of yummy cookies, even though it goes into no more detail.

Then in a anonymous book recommendation you can check out '100 ways to make your life calm and creative', which i have googled back to this.

A very interesting snapshot of someone's life and a unique souvenir of my trip into the city.

For lovers of fine drop shadow

Using global light set distance to variable, then size and spread to zero.

Living on the street

Discarded on the street not knowing the way home and no one to care for him this nameless face waits patiently, hoping to once again be noticed and welcomed back into the arms of a loved one. 

Be brave little one, the nights are cold and the streets are rough but hope will get you through.

Place of the dead

Wandering the streets on a new route home I slipped through the gates of the church and followed fence around the cemetery . Hidden from the sounds of the city behind tall sandstone walls the broken tombstones and tall grass give the impression of a place forgotten by all, yet the well worn track winding through the plots suggests otherwise. 

St Andrews Cross spiders have strung their massive webs just to the side of the thoroughfare and wait patiently for their prey. In one web a male slowly and cautiously approached a female well aware that the situation could only end badly.

Old gravestones were subsiding and opening up holes in the ground, leading to mental images of the dead rising and roaming the grounds by night. The dense trees and open spaces play with the light across the site obstructing the view like a curved road leaving you always wondering what is just around the corner.

Public Transport

While zooming through traffic on the bus I often use the time to scribble ideas into my sketchbook and spend time reworking or touching up the drawings over a coffee or when the TV decides it has nothing of interest to show. I have tried this many times before but never committed to the entire trip. This time I made it from Circular Quay to the stop around the corner from my place in Camperdown. I positioned myself back and centre and as you can see lurched around for the better part of half an hour. 

On the right you can see where the driver bumped over a kerb startling pedestrians and the passengers who were engrossed in their books. At the top of the page a quick braking when the lights changed and he decided not to run the red this time.

When the hurried takeoffs did not match the rapid braking the pencil moved across the page creating densities of line as the bumpy roads moved my hand sometimes even to the point where it left the page - landing on a different area.

One day I will take the same journey and see if the road tells the same story again.

Oh Really

With a lazy Sunday ready to be taken advantage of I headed down to the Oh Really gallery to see the Australian Stencil Art prize. The gallery is perfect for the medium. Small and a little rough around the edges. Not to mention being a stones throw from King St Newtown and all the alleys decorated in some great art. Definitely worth a look if you are in the area.

Along with the gallery you should have a look down Weeks Lane where you will find one of the highest densities of street art in the area. Though the door below must have a story behind it with all the stencils being upside down.

I have no idea how many times I have walked past this sign (below) without it catching my eye. Now its all I see. Being new to the area I didn't know it before so here is the background on the site - a Guerilla Gardeners project.

Street art #2

These are just two of the pieces of local street art that make me smile every time. The music puts a tune in my head and usually I end up whistling to myself. Not that the tune is ever the same. Maybe one day I will put it on a scale and see if it works on piano. And Berk from the Trap Door has me as a 8 year old cross legged in front of the television laughing at the hyperactive Drutt and booming voice of the Thing Upstairs.

I am not a collector, but I collect

While out and about I can't resist dropping into every op shop and second hand dealer. These are two of my favourite pieces picked up recently. A fantastic worn leather camera case from around the 1920's, its beautiful warm tone and shapely latch will hopefully get some use as a new sketch kit. The second is a printing plate that I lugged back from Greenwich adding four kilograms to my check in luggage. I have reversed the image so that you can read the details. If you have primary school italian skills you should be able to work it out. Enjoy.