Thankyou

Thank you to for the warm comments on my painting below. I am so glad that it was taken in the fun spirit intended.
Painting or drawing upside down can help to produce a more fluent picture because the mind is not so much in control. Ofcourse the artist is not actually upside down, rather the piece of paper and the drawing is done upside down starting at the 'feet' end or on my case the chest. Neda said in a comment that this technique can also be used when scouting for collage images. Thanks for the tip Neda!
I have heard of a famous artist (who's name I can't quite remember, but it was someone in Andy Warhol's era) who painted suspended in a sling so that the painting was directly underneath them. I don't have a sling or I may well try this!
I think with painting or drawing upside down you really need to be prepared to let go. Drawing is something that causes me to look at a blank piece of paper and freeze. I can't figure out where to start the drawing and then when I finally get going it almost always I dosn't look like anything I had in my head! I have been known to throw tantrums about this! Doing it upside down somehow helps me.
That said I found it as challenging to post it here! Even though you are all lovely and kind people I still had moments last night when I thought "Oh * why on earth did I put that on my blog?" What if it offends John? What if it is not good enough? What if your all too scared to give me an award (should I be deserving!) ever again??? I had to tell my mind to let go and accept the finished piece as being what it is- a fun portrait , a thankyou and not the next Mona Lisa.
Ok, I could go on but I like you guys and won't do that too you:) I am actually taking my eldest to the Jim Cooper exhibition today and the gallery has organised a mask making activity for the kids to do in JC style. What a great way to encourage kids into art! Maybe I can learn something too...

Jim Cooper exhibition

What can I say that these don't already say for themselves?

In my not so humble opinion Jim Cooper is another NZ genius! He's illustrated the words of the Beatles song "Sgt Peppers lonely heart band" through these ceramic sculptures and paintings.

The exhibition was just awesome! The statues seen on the cover of the mock record sleeve where all lined up againts a wall and opposite them was a huge floor 'Aladdin's Cave" of spontaneous and instinctive drawings. Absolute gems! In the midst of them was a video of Jim Cooper himself, creating these drawings and it had a tour of his studio. As it is -no snobbery.

Jim has tapped into the creative energy that drivess us to create and he dosn't question it. He just draws, paints, sculpts and collages to his hearts content.

In my (again not so humble opinion!) it takes great courage to share something so deeply personal with the world. What he has shared is not child like but more primal. The art is an expression of thoughts, a response to the song and it's perfectly imperfect!

Another thing I like it that Jim draws upside down, well he draws his people upside down. It helps the flow and stop the over thinking that can interfere with a good piece of art. I came home with a packet of crayons (part of the exhibition pack) and could not wait to draw! Actually I painted but my point is, I was soooo excited! So inspired! So 'on fire!'

How often do we get to truly feel that? And you know what else? DRAWING UPSIDE DOWN WORKS!! I actually produced 5 lisa-style portraits that I liked! and I never draw or paint people. It may sound strange but right at that moment I felt as if I could draw ANYTHING. I felt empowered by releasing the urge to control and make perfect drawings.

I seriously reccomend drawing your picture upside down! (Just the image, not you upside down ofcourse!)

OK, settlling down again now...one can only cope with so much excitement!

Neda, thanks for the tag, as soon as I find an un-altered book that still has page 123 I will reply.

Shani, Mick, Sweet Irene, Diane and DC stay tuned because I have every intention of tagging you all when I come back!

Lisa :)

PS: As I mentioned on my photography blog I am having trouble posting comments at the mo...I am trying though!

PPS: Yes I love the red too, that brown was terrible! Thankyou for your compliments!