Short week

It's a short week at work this week (I mean pay-the-rent work and not proper work obviously). I have tomorrow off as well (well, strictly speaking it's today), so only have to endure Wednesday to Friday. Even that's seeming pretty daunting though. I'm really not enjoying it at the moment, and not feeling very positive about it at all, which is kind of unfortuate considering they've just given me a permanent job as senior editor there.

No doubt I'll pick up, but the fact that I'm even thinking about the bloody place at the moment, let alone dreading going back, is a bit of a worry. Oh well, at least I've got a weekend away in the Sounds with Rose next weekend to look forward to, and I'm planning to take the following week off to knuckle down and do some real work (though we'll see - these plans haven't been overly successful of late).

In other news, I'm rethinking this zombie and robot bizzo. I can't put my finger on it, but the idea's just not doing it for me. I think the main problem is that I was really pleased with the Skeleton Guys and am finding them a hard act to follow. Part of it is that I want everything to spring into existence from my brow fully formed and perfect. I've got a large bottle of ink and a large pile of paper sitting there staring at me accusingly, so I think doing some quick and rough ink drawings as a way of loosening up and not being so goddamn precious might be the go.

Zombies and robots

Stephen posted a link to this comic strip, which kind of says it all really. I particularly relate to the second episode. It's pretty much where I'm at at the moment.

I do have some ideas for at least one zombie and robot painting. I think it could be a logical progression from the Skeleton Guys, both formally and conceptually, but haven't really got it sussed in my head yet. I need to sit down and spend some time playing round with ideas but haven't quite managed to do that yet. The problem is that I haven't been spending much time at home and, when I do, I spend it reading rather than working.

Very funny

Unlike Rose, I didn't bother to put up my famous leader and classic movie results - Saddam Hussein and Apocalypse Now respectively - but I couldn't resist this (simply because of the reaction from Rose it got):

You scored as atheism. You are... an atheist, though you probably already knew this. Also, you probably have several people praying daily for your soul. Instead of simply being "nonreligious," atheists strongly believe in the lack of existence of a higher being, or God. atheism 100% Satanism 100% Buddhism 50% agnosticism 50% Paganism 50% Judaism 17% Hinduism 17% Islam 17% Christianity 0% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com

Karaoke nightmare (take 2)

I'm afraid I've deleted this. It was taking up far too much room on the server and was annoying the fuck out of me (this being my home page and all).

Kind of updated site

I'm in the process of putting my updated and reorganised site up. This may mean that pictures disappear from here, but hopefully that'll only be temporary, for the newer ones at least. Stuff from the archives might just be abandoned.

The only new things are the installation pics of the show and an expanded bio section, not to mention a hopefully improved navigation around the place, but especially around the paintings. I haven't really tested it at all, and it's designed for viewing on a set-up exactly like mine, so if you have any problems at all, please leave a comment and let me know.

Yay mates with blogs

Stephen's posted a spiel about the show that I've only just discovered and very much enjoyed. I don't know about this Maltese mafioso stare bizzo though.

Meanwhile Rose has put this account of the opening up, which kind of says it all really.

Full on

I've just deleted the failed attempt to put a Quicktime video of me butchering the Beatles' 'Here comes the sun' up. The file was far too large anyway.

I've yet to put any pictures of the show up either. I've got them, but my picture filing has been a bit haphazard and needs some sorting out. The opening was a whole lot of fun. There was a good turnout, despite some stiff competition from Chris Moore's.

Here we go

Well, the opening for my first solo show is only hours away. I've no idea what it'll be like, but will find out soon no doubt. All I need to do now is show up with some booze.

I've got some installation photos to put up on the website but haven't done that yet. I'll try to get on to it soon. I also need to update the paintings pages with pics of new stuff. It all just seemed a bit too daunting yesterday.

I was feeling a bit hungover and depressed after Saturday night's efforts. Saturday was my 35th birthday, and a fantastic day all round. In the morning Rose and I went shopping at Moore Wilson's for food for dinner, dropped some stuff off at the gallery, and took some photos there. We then bumped into our friend Stephen and I ended up spending the arvo drinking whiskey and beer with him and another mate of his while sitting in the sun at the Aro Fair.

Dinner was a whole lot of fun. It was meant to be fairly low key, just a small group of friends at Rose's, but I think we ended up getting fairly raucous. We did, after all, get through a whole 'nother bottle of whiskey.

Voice of the taniwha

Had a listen to Stephen's new CD this evening. It's pretty bloody good, especially when you're feeling pretty crashed out. It just washes over you in an extremely pleasant manner.

Size doesn't matter

This finding isn't really a surprise. After all, neanderthals had larger brains than we do, but weren't as innovative - they seemed to have long memories and very conservative brains. I bet these homo floriensis guys would've been pretty good value to hang out with.

Tonight's efforts

If I go with the layout I'm thinking of, I needed another this size and shape to go with this other painting. So just in case:

You are cordially invited to...

11-19 March 2005
91 Aro Street Gallery
Opening 5.30pm Monday 14 March