2nd Place!

On Saturday I went along to the presentations for this years Amuri Art Council Competition, The theme: "Is that Surreally the Amuri?". My print 'Outstanding Dairy Conversion' (a morphed Ram & Cow as shown below) got placed 2nd for my agegroup. Apparently one of the reasons that I didn't get first place was that apparently dairy conversions (thanks Dad for the clever Title), or Rams or Cows aren't exclusive to the Amuri area.. but then, most of the content in all the other artwork isn't exclusive to the Amuri area either so go figure. However, Im stoked to get a placing considering I entered just for fun :)

Flo's Mobile

Hello! This post has been a LONG time coming.
On the 4th July 2011 my gorgeous wee niece Flo came into this world and a little stumped on what to buy for her welcome, I decided instead to make something myself and settled on a mobile for her room (which she is apparently loving at the moment now that she's a bit older!)

I did a refresher course on how to make paper cranes, then when confident enough I made my cranes using some beautiful handmade paper that I was once gifted from a friend (Thanks Sarah Bowers!). I then strung them together using some fishing twine and hung them from a wooden cross at the top.



I then packaged it up in a special wee box for Flo and sent it up north with Mum :)



I think Paper cranes are just so cool. I'm slowly working on some more mobiles to sell so watch this space. I am aiming to handmake my own paper and print some patterns on them using my printing press.

Exhibitions!

The Art in Practice Exhibition (which I've had some work in this year) was due to end in August, but the show has now been extended until October 24th. This exhibition is a collection of works by staff, students and graduates of the Dunedin School of Art. It is displayed at the Medical School at 55 Hanover Street, Dunedin. Go have a look while its still going!

It's Art Festival Year at Edendale Primary School this year! Between the 20th and 23rd Sept they will have just under 600 pieces of artwork exhibited by their students, mediums include drawing, collage, printmaking, painting, mixed media and clay.
As part of their Exhibition they are also holding a silent auction on their opening night where you have an opportunity to bid for work donated by contemporary NZ artists, designers and photographers (that includes work by ME!!) The Proceeds from this auction will be going directly back into visual arts at the school. So If you're in Auckland head along and support them :) More info here

I'm also exhibiting in the up and coming Hurunui Arts Showcase. This will be held at the Hurunui Memorial Library in Amberley between the 17th Sep 2011 until the 25th Sep 2011... So if you're passing through Amberley check it out!

As for me, I'm off to Australia to be a bridesmaid at my best friends wedding! Bring on the sunshine! Back in October... where I'll be putting my head down and doing some serious work! There are lots of ideas floating around in my head :) See you soon!

Robin Hood

Here's a poster I designed for the Amuri Players production of Robin Hood coming up in a weeks time In Hanmer Springs. If you're in or near the area you should come along. I can guarantee it will be a great laugh! I'm very much looking forward to it.

2011 First Quarter

Hello!

It turns out months have gone by without posting what I've been up to. Procrastination is the culprit. I've been hanging out in Hanmer Springs for the last few months enjoying Summer...which has now turned into Autumn. Picked up some part time work, and have spent the other part time sorting out my parents house & garden, and have made a few trips down south and over to Brisbane and Melbourne.

Late January I finished up my projects with the Valley Baptist, and then started on a few projects with the Amuri Community Health Centre - they are getting a flash new building over in Rotherham and so were needing a new logo and also a newsletter to send out outlining their new services. Below is the new logo:



I've also given my website a bit of a makeover so go peek at www.simonemariecreative.com

After a couple of months of sorting out our Cottage next door, I finally have a space to work! Hoorah. A little bit cold in there but its nice and cosy with a fireplace, kitchen and couches for sitting and thinking up new ideas :) And a nice porch for sitting in the sun and drinking cups of tea and working on woodcuts...



I had my studio set up just in time for the completion of my printing press! (thanks Dad). Here it is.... all that metal is pretty heavy, but its definetly portable so i'm stoked!



A little hesitant at whether the press was actually going to work, I got started on a test print. Sat outside on a beautiful sunny day and got carving. Once carved, i coated the MDF board in some shellac and waited to dry. Then I rolled out some waterbased ink on to the board and rolled it through the press...



AND VOILA! My first print on my new press:



It produced a nice even flat of black ink which is a good sign. How exciting! Good to know the press is in perfect working order so its time to start thinking up some new ideas. Watch this space! But first i must clean up...

Bye Bye 2010

The last month or so has whizzed by! At the beginning of December I finished up my work at SouthLife Church...and with that said goodbye to so many of the projects that came from being a part of the Creative team there. My last project for them was the theme & registrations for the Leadership Summit coming up at the end of January..which sadly i will not be attending...


..Because after I finished up work I packed my wee car up to the roof and headed back to my hometown of Hanmer Springs! Unfortunately I didn't have much response to my last post, but I managed to fit all the prints in anyway. However, I did manage to sell a print at Pukeko Junction at Christmas time. Yah!
I'm spending the Summer up in Hanmer (with many adventures to Christchurch). Lots of time over December has been spent outside in the garden, but there is still plenty of time spent completing design projects and thinking up new ideas for 2011! Especially since Christmas time bought with it a new wacom drawing tablet from my brother, and my portable printing press is currently in construction. I can't wait until it is ready!

A Few months ago I managed to pick up some work with what is now 'The Valley Baptist Church' in Dunedin, they have continued to give me consistently so I was kept busy right up until the day I left, and with the joy of the internet I can continue working with them from Hanmer. The first and most important project was the name change and new logo..

Here is what they had before:



And after much "umming and arring" this is what they decided on for new logo and signage. Unfortunately with the front sign, they changed their mind at the last minute in terms of colour and made the front sign all white.. which wasn't the intended plan, but sometimes I guess its hard to keep everyone happy in a group. Luckily the main sign is interchangable so i think next time they will opt for a dark green background on parts instead. See below: (sorry about the poor quality photo - click on it to enlarge)



I have also been kept busy making business cards, welcome cars, newspaper advertisements, flyers for various guy fawkes and christmas events, welcome cards for new people etc (all of which i'll probably upload to flickr at some point) .. However one of the funnest projects thus far would have to be a brochure for "Easy Rider" - a course for men.



That's pretty much it for 2010. I'm off to Christchurch to see the New Year in with my friends. Happy New Year! See you in 2011 :)

Help wanted! Interested?

So, the Musselburgh Baptist auction turned out to be a success: All 3 of my prints sold = YAY! However, It has just dawned on me that I am leaving Dunedin in about 2 or 3 weeks...and have to fit all of my belongings into the back of my car (whose battery unfortunately died today at St Clair...so not going anywhere just yet)

I have in my possession four framed prints...which i'm struggling to imagine how they are going to fit in my car along with everything else. So I'd be super stoked If I managed to sell them before I left. The photos of the four prints are below...and the 5th photo is an example of how they are framed (floated on white matt with white frame). So if you like cities, or bikes...or know someone that does and would like to buy it for them (christmas present anyone?). Offering these framed ones cheaper than usual for $325 (bargain!) So...if you are interested please email me at simonescrivener@gmail.com. First in, first served I guess. Though of course I still have many unframed ones in stock..


"Alone in the Crowd I"


"Alone in the Crowd II"


"Alone in the Crowd IV"


"Oranje Fietsen V"


Example of Framing