photography

Happy birthday, Diva.

| Anna Cull

My husband had a significant birthday this week. As some of you know, we perform regularly at a local open mic night. What is not widely known, however, is how much of a diva my darling can be when we’re learning songs. He is very talented. I’m in awe of his ability to hear a song, pick up a guitar and play it. Beautifully. Nonetheless, he is at times a DIVA — Demanding, Irrational, Volatile and Antagonistic.

So I painted this tee shirt for his birthday.

Perhaps I should add that he not only approved the design prior to painting, he also couldn’t wait to wear it to open mic night! Happy birthday, my darling Diva : )

A model mouse

| Anna Cull

Pirate Mouse model — plasticine and wire, 75 mm tall, 2012.

I made this quirky little fellow when I was designing the Pirate Mouse character. He helped me to figure a few things out, such as how to draw a mouse in pants and a waistcoat without losing his essential mousiness.

Shower rose

| Anna Cull
Shower Rose #2 – ink and watercolour on paper, 245 x 185 mm, 2012.

Something just for fun.

I came up with the idea for the shower rose a couple of years ago. It was a student project where we had to make a picture by combining a man-made object and something from the natural world. I wasn’t happy with the drawing I submitted (done in pastel, see below) but I’ve always liked the concept. I had another go at it a couple of weeks ago, this time using watercolour (Shower Rose #2).

Shower Rose #1 – pastel on paper, 350 x 280 mm, 2010.

This was my first attempt to draw with pastels. It’s not a medium I’m drawn to (no pun intended) but perhaps I should give it another chance. After all, I had fun with charcoal — eventually.

And this is the photo I used as a reference. The rose, for anyone who may be interested, is French Lace and is one of the few plants (other than weeds) that has managed to thrive in our garden.

Experimental collage

| Anna Cull
happy birthday Jess – mixed media, 190 x 255 mm, 2012.
happy birthday Jess – mixed media, 190 x 255 mm, 2012.

Question: what to do when you want to make something a bit special for an arty friend who has seen practically everything you’ve made over the last three years?

Answer: something else.

The background photo and the toy museum dolls (in the window) were taken in Nelson, December 2011. The vintage circus girl, shell and chrysalis are found images. Acrylic paint, a black copic marker and felt pens (probably also vintage) were used to complete the design.

I wouldn’t mind making a few more like this.

P.S.

| Anna Cull

Here are a couple of other D&A projects…

A newspaper ad promoting Adbusters’ Buy Nothing Day. Originally a 72-hour group project, this ad is my personal solution. It was created using images sourced from the Internet.

Christchurch City Mission installation (concept): a graffiti-knitted artwork to raise awareness of the City Mission and encourage $2 text donations. My idea is that giving to a good cause is like giving (and receiving) a ‘warm fuzzy’. The mock-up shows knitted scarves wrapped around wooden seats. Donate and feel the love!

And here are a few pages from my sketchbook…

Playing with my (then) new Winsor & Newton watercolour pan set which I bought for sketching while out and about.

These were exercises suggested by Danny Gregory in his book The Creative License: drawing in other languages…

Rembrandt sketch.
Degas sketch.

…and copying the work of famous artists. The Rembrandt turned into a study of 17th Century hats.