Winner!

...and you could knock me down with a feather

It's a wonderful thing, an unexpected win. The launch of the On The Map event at Artspace8 went extremely well and as a huge surprise to me, my piece 'Missing' won the BMW Mornington Award for best in show at Artspace8. 

Missing. Pencil on paper, 2016, 84.1x118.9cm (unframed)

Saturday and Sunday went by in a blur of people from all over the peninsula coming in and seeing where we all work. It was a great way of meeting all sorts of new people and artists who work in the area. 

Special thanks go to the wonderful sponsors of the event:

Major Sponsors
Bendigo Bank Mornington
Mornington Peninsula shire

Artisan Partners
BMW Mornington
Mornington Peninsula Dental Clinic
Arete
Like Minds Create
Design By Bird

Along with our:

Creative partners
Mornington Peninsula Brewery, Range Life Wines, Myers Electrical Services, Poppy Culture, Manyung Gallery, Mornington Peninsula Magazine, Coffee in a Cube, Specialised Art Supplies, Southern Partners.

Collaborative partners
The Pantry House, Fernwood Fitness, The Private Sea, Quirky Collective, Peaches and Cream, Style Temple, Auspicious Arts Incubator, Sienna Jack Hair Salon.

But we mustn't forget the hard work of my studio buddies: Lindy, Luke, Bianca, Dee, Saskia, Fiona, Aniquah, Kim and Mikayla whose contribution in setting up Artspace8 and driving the project to be the best it could possibly be cannot be understated. They are wonderful.

Cheers!

How I fill my ears…

When I’m at my desk/easel/drawing board and the work I’m doing moves from problem solving and creating to process, I listen to podcasts.

If you don’t know what they are you’re missing out and well, get on board! It’s like a radio show but you decide what you want to listen to and when. They are often episodic and the one’s I subscribe to, hilarious because who wants to hear more bad news and people complaining about the government…

Discussion about what podcasts you listen to have become a go-to topic of conversation and I thought I’d list my favourites. But I couldn't choose so I’ve selected only six to begin with.

These are the ones that I do not miss an episode of, because they make me laugh out load and give me so much joy.

 

1. Stupidly Small

This is a pair of Melbourne (and Regional Victoria) people who discuss stuff and nonsense about the world and life and aren’t afraid of using a bell to keep each other in line. Lorin and Stuart used to be Breakfasters on RRR so they know their fa-shizzle from their fa-nizzle. It’s daily and almost always less than 30 minutes long. Perfect for the trip to work and keeps the everyday blather of talk-back radio out of my ears. 
http://www.stupidlybig.com
https://www.facebook.com/stupidlybig
https://twitter.com/stupidlybig

 

2. The Dollop

Los Angeles comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds have gotten together for an American history podcast. My first reaction to this was, I’m not interested in American History… but I gave it a shot and well I love it. The podcast, intentionally or otherwise, uses humour to show how unchanging human nature really is throughout history. This may or may not be extrapolated by the listener, that's up to you. Give ‘em a go you’ll love it. It is a bit sweary, but that’s the way I roll so if you’re not able to stomach it you’ve been told.
https://twitter.com/thedollop
https://www.facebook.com/thedollop/

 

3. My Dad Wrote a Porno

This is fairly new on the block, my sister referred me this one and after the first episode - yes you HAVE to listen in order, I was totally hooked. I didn’t think a podcast could make me laugh out loud like this one can, The Dollop was top in this stakes until this one… yes it has adult themes and is quite graphic but hilarious, weak bladders be warned!  Jamie Morton reads out chapters from the erotic books his  dad has written to his friends James Cooper and Alice Levine. Hilarity ensues.
Honestly - the funniest thing in my ears at the moment.
http://www.mydadwroteaporno.com
https://www.facebook.com/dadwroteporn/
https://twitter.com/dadwroteaporno

 

4. My Favorite Murder

This too is new. Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff get together to discuss true crime. Their discussion stems from their fear and fascination with all of the horrible things that have happened and the only way to deal with it is to talk it out.
Their shock and dismay at the stories told leads to some dark humour which is gets me right where my uncomfortableness begins. Love. It.
http://www.feralaudio.com/show/my-favorite-murder/
https://twitter.com/MyFavMurder
https://www.instagram.com/myfavoritemurder

 

5. Mr Rabbit and the Bearded Lady

This is a movie review podcast. I don’t go to the movies. I rarely watch movies. I mostly watch tv and if then, I have trouble committing to anything taxing. These guys help me fill in the blanks of what people are talking about around me. And they are funny, I wan’t do an Elena Ferrante and out the speakers but one does have a distinctive voice who I have seen in other places and is a favourite of mine. They are both know their topic and speak about it very well, having a genuine love of the medium. I really enjoy their discussion (in amongst a myriad of health issues).
I might even watch a movie… you never know. For now though, I’m happy to live vicariously through these guys.
http://mrrabbitandthebeardedlady.libsyn.com
https://twitter.com/RabbitLadyFilm 

 

6. The Adam Buxton Podcast

This I love because of Adam. I know little about him as he seems not to have much of a profile outside of Britain, but what I’ve heard of this makes me think he’s great. He interviews people in a gentle and conversational way. He intersperses it all with great jingles that in themselves are fab and this shows that he understands how people engage with recorded stuff like this.
http://adam-buxton.co.uk/ad/  
https://twitter.com/AdamBuxton

So these are the first 6 of the ones I listen to regularly. It makes me think I'm learned and educated, but really, it stops the Negative Nancy in my head from telling me I'm wasting my time, and gives me something to talk about at parties.

All of these podcasts are available through iTunes and other podcast apps which you may or may not have on your phone. Look them up, everybody needs a bit of funny in their day!

Cheers my dears!

Birdies everywhere!

I've been a bit slack with the blogging, but busy is as busy does and because not everyone has Instagram here's what I've been doing...

As you can see Birdies have exploded from my pencil and have taken a life of their own. Up to all sorts of adventures. Hopefully a wonderful and generous publisher can see the potential and gives me a call. I have so many ideas for what these little darlings can achieve, you just never know what they'll do next!

Cheers and chin-chin!

La, la, la, la, LAAAAA!

La, la, la, la, LAAAAA! Hilary Cresp, 2016

To market to market…

Last night I went to the Craft Victoria seminar on market readiness, and I learned so much I though my brain was going to burst!

There were two speakers Penny Min Ferguson of MinPin and Leah Jackson of Leah Jackson Ceramics, a well as the person organising the event from Craft Victoria, Kim Goodwin. They all spoke well, clear, concise and open about their experiences and the tips they’ve learned from going to markets and building their businesses. Lots of guidance on having a successful market experiences - even if you don’t make money out of it… 

To be honest, I knew a lot of this stuff - BUT I hadn’t been able to put it together in a coherent package enough for my tiny brain to see how it worked. But this seminar showed me, which was awesome! And they liked my tea towels - they have excellent taste.

I just need to decide what I really want my business to be. But I really need to thank the wonderful Aniquah Stevenson for her advice in doing this seminar, she is awesome and her work is great - check out her new website http://www.aniquahstevenson.com

Time for a tune, Hilary Cresp, 2016

In the last couple of weeks I’ve sent off a few illustration agency submissions and to a literacy agency.  But I won’t hear from them anytime soon, they get hundreds of applications and it takes long time to view them, and they only get back to those they want to see more from. So we wait.

AND...mark the weekend of the 11-13 November in your calendars! ArtSpace8, where my studio is, is having and open studios with a group exhibition and market stalls (so I can put what I've learnt into practice), with new work on display and some product for sale. More details to come!

Anyway, I’ve been doing a lot of birdies lately…and one in particular got a bit of a run. I listen to a podcast called Stupidly Big - they do a segment called 'Shiver me Tingies' : what makes you feel good in a happy friendly way like, slipping into clean sheets or hearing the sound of a champagne cork pop. I was part way through making it when, they mentioned on the podcast that someone had already make them something. So I was in two minds as to sending it to them, but in the end I did - they loved it and (with my permission) made it their avatar for Twitter. YAY!

Shiver me tingies, Hilary Cresp, 2016

Don't forget that you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram using the @_essayer handle or sign up for my mailing list.

Cheers and chin-chin!

Birdie

Some you win…

Last weekend I had my work Unravelling in the Derinya Art and Craft Exhibition (DACE), and although it didn’t sell I did have lots of positive feedback.

After picking it up I’ve put it on one of the gallery walls attached to the studio space here in Artspace8. It looks great (even if I do say so myself) and I haven’t got tired of it.

Unravelling (1,2&3), pencil on paper, Hilary Cresp, 2016

The intricacies of doing a piece quite this large is a challenge but one I’m willing to take up and I have a lot of this on my mind so I think it will form the backbone of a new exhibition. 

At DACE we did make a purchase… Eddie Zammitt and Travis Price collaborated on a limited edition print, which ticked our fancy. It’s a beautiful image well executed by a master of the genre. I love it.

I also took down the exhibition Endless, at Frankston Art Centre (FAC). It had been up there for a while and made a few sales, which was great. The curator there was really supportive as well as being pragmatic, which is of great benefit as I am not alone in being somewhat unsure of myself, so a guiding hand is wonderful. She gave me a couple of leads which I will follow up in the coming days.

Currently, I am working on a groovy little picture book. Hopefully the magic publishing fairy sees it and loves it as much as I do… and publishes it. I haven’t got a title yet but it will be finalised in the coming weeks.

Birdie, Ink, Hilary Cresp, 2016

I used the little darling in a screen printing workshop with Tim Growcott, a fabulous textile artist. Held at Oak Hill Gallery, Tim showed us how to make a screen using photographic emulsion and print on a carousel. The following week he showed how to strip a screen and placement printing - but I missed that day… :(

Cheers,

Dream big

Giving…

The idea of giving is not something new to me. While growing up, giving was a regular part of our day-to-day life. Giving of money, giving of time, giving of resources. If something was needed and we had it to give, we gave it. That was just how it was. It was the right thing to do.

As I grew older and I saw life as busy and hectic and, to be honest, a grind, other people that needed help became white noise. Sad to say, but it’s true, for me anyway, that the beggars and buskers, the requests for donations, charity bins and development funds all got overwhelmed by my own personal needs to look after my family. I helped out where I could, volunteering and fundraising drives but no great cause. As basically that time of my life was survival. 

I’m not as survival based as with a young family and recently two things have popped up and I donated. And it felt great. 

First was to support a project by an enterprising women who decided to see a bit of the world and help out where she could. Kim found the situation for Uluibau Primary School in Fiji needed a boost post Cyclone Winston. The story Kim wrote to support her request is worth the read but to quote a passage:

“…I am asking for your support to establish a new school library at Uluibau Primary School. It’s no myth that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and I believe all children have a right to access education in a safe environment, just as we did growing up. All raised funds will go to the purchase of new (really cool) reading books.”

The thing that struck me was “new”. Why should these kids have outdated, worn out reading material? Why indeed! They deserve better.

Education is the key to everything. We can’t fix it for all schools, and there are so very many in need, but someone I know has put up their hand up to help out one school, and I was ready to back them in. Maybe it was my personal connection to Kim that got me over the line, but whatever it was, it felt great.

 Secondly, I love a good idea, and this one is superb. Mum’s Taxi is a ride sharing scheme being developed by George McEncroe a local Melbourne based comedian/writer/performer. 
 
I first heard about this on radio, can't remember where, then again, recently on a podcast I listen to called I Love Green Guide Letters Ep221 16 June 2016.

The podcast is not for those with delicate dispositions as many expletives are spoken, but I am a regular listener and it is hilarious. On it George spoke with passion and it was compelling, for our daughters, sons, nieces, aunts, mothers, grandmothers and cousins. And so I put my hand in my pocket and donated. Again, it felt great. 

So I come to the conclusion about giving: It’s feels good. I feel connected to the things I am passionate about. I feel as if I can do something, that I am contributing, that I am supporting people and causes I believe in in a tangible and active way.

I know these may not be your passions, causes or things to support and I'm not sure these are it for me, but it has been good to find this out about myself.  

You can read more about Uluibau Primary School and the rest of Kims’ post here: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/128577/help-uluibau-primary-school-fiji

You can read about Mum’s Taxi here https://www.gofundme.com/mumstaxi

Oh, and something I've been working on lately, one for the politicians and the sports commentators...

Cheers!

Endless - will it ever end!?!

My exhibition Endless is currently on display at Frankston Art Centre. 

Open from 9am-5pm  Monday to Friday and on Saturday from 9am until 2pm, it is being shown in the Atrium Gallery now until the 16th July, so if you missed its last showing and wanted to catchup with it or if you just wanted to see it again, you can!

Cheers,

Robot has landed!

Recently I wrote about e-struct Consulting Services commissioning me for a project and here it is!

As yet un-named, the little bot will become the mascot for their Junior Engineers program. The first item on the agenda is to name the bot and that is to be given to the kids, which is great news. Being the young creative geniuses that they are, they're sure to come up with something more creative than Botty McBotFace and angle for something that is not gendered or ethnically indicative. The idea of course is that this little bot will encourage all kids of all backgrounds to participate in STEM programs.

My suggestion is RU1-2, but I’m not in the voting pool, and I'm a bit biased… but you can check out the program and keep in touch with e-struct Junior Engineers via Facebook.

Cheers,

Paste-ups are pasted… finally

So my little kids are out there in the wild.

I had been commissioned by Frankston Art Centre to put up some of my little kids as paste-ups but the weather and the glue was defeating me. Eventually making my own wheat paste was easier than I thought. In fact, it was easier than trying to find a commercial solution.

The weather though, that’s different matter. I didn’t want to go ahead and paste them up and then have a down pour overnight that washed them away. So I waited, and waited, and waited. It seemed that the cycle of one day fine and the next day drenching seemed to be never ending. Eventually though this week end was looking good. Saturday fine after a fine day Friday and Sunday is looking fine too. Hopefully they’ll last a few weeks. 

Although there is the question of the painter-outer-er. We have a person in the area, who, with very good intentions, has the grey paint the Council uses to paint out graffiti and they conscientiously keep this bridge in tip-top, graffiti free condition.

As these have been commissioned by the Council, I’m keeping my fingers crossed this person has been told and doesn’t feel the need to clean them up. 

So if you do want to see them, in the wild, be quick! They’re on the pedestrian bridge where Playne Street crosses Baxter Street, over the railway line in Frankston. 

Sorry about the map, best I could do!

Cheers,

Someone is looking after me, for sure.

I thought I had a big project to announce, but it’s yet to be confirmed. The people I’ve been dealing with haven’t got back to me and after a couple of un-answered emails I’m not sure where to go with it. I don’t want to email the big-boss but… anyway I was getting a bit down about it but two - count them TWO awesome things have happened. 

I’ve been commissioned to develop a character for a wonderful program run as an off-shoot of a local engineering company, e-struct Consulting Services. They’ve put their considerable intellect and enthusiasm into ‘Junior Engineers’ a S.T.E.M. program of fun activities in the sciences to develop and encourage problem solving, creative thinking and learning as you do.

When I met the directors, their excitement and integrity with which they are doing this was amazing and infectious. Only just at the beginning of their venture, they want to show children how technology touches their everyday and how they can be part of it. To do this they run events where kids can participate in experiments and solve puzzles, teaching them as they do the activity, letting them explore and find out for themselves. 

The character I’ve been asked to design is to create a friendly, mascot type of emblem and I’m loving the sketching… can’t show you all yet, but I will later - of course!

The second thing, which is also so great I can’t believe it’s actually happening, the remainder of my exhibition ‘Endless’ is to be shown at Frankston Arts Centre (FAC). 

Endless, Linocut, 2015,  Hilary Cresp

So there is one last chance to see the few items that weren’t sold. They’ve also put some tea towels and postcards in the display boxes so they’re for sale too. It will be open to viewing on 10th May until sometime in July. What a run, hopefully lots of people will see it and maybe even a few more contacts made!

In other news, I’m currently working on a new series of drawings (above). If you follow me on Instagram you’ll have already seen some. It’s a play on entropy, beauty and its fleeting nature… I hope I get better in finding the words to describe it all. 

I do know, for certain, that drawing these gives me joy and the finished ones leave me dumbfounded that I did it. I keep coming back to look at them again and again, and they leave my heart satisfied.

Cheers,

Posting in an actual postbox!

Sketchbook Project

It’s Sketchbook Project time again. I stuck with the pencil work again this year, but created a bit of a narrative. The little darling, can’t decide on what to wear… creates a bit of a mess in the process.
So it’s off to the post office and out of the country to Brooklyn, New York. To be properly digitised and put into their collection.
Each year I sign up I think I’ll never get this done, each year about halfway through I want to bin it, each year there’s an immense sense of achievement in finally seeing it posted off.
You can flick through the images here of each page by clicking on them.

Postcards

More postage, I’m about to send my second postcard off to the publishers. This one began when I said I was going to make these postcards and Rohan said, “…like and old fashioned tweet…” so I grabbed that and went with it.

The original is hand painted in Gouache, I’ve tidied it up in Photoshop, putting the background in and adding a few more notes and I’m really pleased with how it came out. This would make a great greeting card, I think, and the style would be a good book cover, hopefully ‘they’ see that it would too!
Cheers,

Timing is everything

It’s already halfway through February! Where does the time go? Certainly not adding to my charms… 

The last month or so has been really productive. I’ve finished and printed some promotional postcards and written a short article about my amazing new press for the Illustrators Australia magazine, Outline.

I’ll post the article when it’s published, but in the meantime you can go to www.enjaypresses.com.au, under “success stories” is a hint!

The postcards though, are to be sent to publishers to tell them that I exist. Hopefully they’ll like what they see and get in touch.

I have a campaign ready! six postcards one a month until July, starting in February with one I did last year with a bit of a Valentine’s theme. I love getting things in the mail which aren’t bills so hopefully they will too.

I’m also putting together a print portfolio to be posted (Yes! by the Postie). Some publishers only take physical portfolios and this one will be printed like a magazine and showcase what I think is my best work. 

It’s hard to decide what is left in and what is omitted so I’ve decided to focus it on the lettering and children’s illustrations. Other potential clients explicitly say they want digital submissions, so I’m also doing a version that can be emailed. Lots of work to get work! 

Love,

Happiness

It's been a challenging year, but a happy one. For me it's all been a successful one. I haven't won Tattslotto or anything, but I have created a plan, stuck to it (-ish) and begun building a business for myself in a true and meaningful way.

In this, I've been overwhelmed by the love and support of my family, they have been through it all, everyday, step-by-step and my biggest cheer squad. 

I've been humbled by my friends, who have also been there, holding my banner up high and heralding the charge. I love them so very much. 

People have taught me so much about myself through out this year, and I reckon this it the key to happiness. Learning. About yourself, the world, the universe. Science, art & everything, it all opens your mind...astoundingly and delightfully expanding it, adding new bits to the pile of information already in your brain, shifting it a little to make more room. This is the truly ever expanding universe.

Love,

PS: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 
      And remember...

Action stations

It's a crazy time of year. Everyone is busy, busy, busy! 

Roccotillo's Cafe in Wells Street Frankston very kindly offered to put up a few of my pieces. Which I've taken full advantage of, and they look great. Irene has already had them hung, so if your around, go and buy a coffee from them (and I can recommend the Lemon Friands - delicious!)  and check it out.

Lately I've been working on a project I can't talk too much about, but the artwork is finalised. What I do with it is yet to be decided. From the busy-ness of this time of year I like to think these best describe what's truly important...

Having fun, laughing with your friends and seeing how far you can go!

Cheers,

Podcast is up!

The podcast of the interview I did with JOY 94.9 Sunday Arts Magazine is up! You can listen to it from via their website here:

http://joy.org.au/sundayarts/2015/11/08/hilary-cresp-arts-house-sean-mcdonald-jewish-int-film-festival/

It was so nerve wracking and wonderful all at the same time. I love it when life does that to you. Like a carnival ride, or the surf, it leave you all tingly and excited... invigorated and looking for the next adventure.

Happy listening!

Busy, busy, busy...

Lots of adventures this month! This week alone has been full of new and exciting things that I've never done before.

On Sunday I was interviewed on the radio. What a thing!?! One of my wonderful neighbours volunteers at community radio station JOY 94.9 and he put my name forward to the guys who do an arts program on Sunday afternoons called Sunday Arts Magazine And it was FANTASTIC! A great experience which I never thought I'd ever have. David, Daniel and Brendan the announcers were so welcoming and generous that, although I was very nervous, made me feel totally at ease.

A podcast of it should be available soon.

On Monday I helped hang the 2015 Illustrators Australia 9x5 Exhibition 'Playtime'. It was a big day but there were many helpers and we got it all done in record time. Come and see it, it's showing at the Abbotsford Convent from 10th November until 5th December.

Coming up on Sunday 15th November and Saturday 28th November, we're having an Illustrators Market there in the gallery. I will be selling some of the tea towels, postcards and prints from the show. So if your looking for something to do and need to do a bit of present shopping, come down and say 'Hi!'. 

Cheers,

Thanks!

Thank you everyone! It was a great night Friday and the exhibition launched without a hitch (I was a bit impressed with how calm I was). 

So many people came and such wonderful support was so lovely to see. A terrific endorsement for me and the past years work. The positivity in the room was palpable. 

Some major thank you's go to my wonderful family. Their help on the night was OUTSTANDING. It just wouldn't have worked without them, I love them to bits and they are amazing. To those who've all been on this journey with me, my sisters, brothers, nieces and nephews, not to mention my friends... "Thanks" doesn't cover how grateful I am and how special you all are to me - not even close.

In the end, we raised a little som'n-som'n for WHISE which, when the exhibition winds up, I'll pass onto them.

And if you want to see it all again in a less crowded environment, the Gallery is open on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 until the 25th October. Tell your friends!

Oh, and I'm on Instagram now, you can follow me @_essayer - just like all the cool kids!

Cheers,