ELSEWHERE

dinosaur eggs

I have just happily spent a few hours dying Easter eggs. They were the first few idle hours I have had the pleasure of in two weeks. Deadlines have loomed heavily of late, pressure on all fronts, but as of a few hours ago now all is under control and I gave myself some time off as a reward. The fruits of my egg dying time were not successful, I am sorry to say. I started with much optimism and five eggs, I ended with a frown, five duds, one of which is broken. I think I will put it all down to ‘experimentation’ and have another try tomorrow. Perhaps then I will be able to create what is in my mind. It could be I am aiming to high? Perhaps instead I'll just sit back and enjoy the wonderful creations of others.

On a different note, above is a Tyrannosaurus Rex I drew for my dear friends' gorgeous 3 year old boy's birthday. Happy birthday MBR. This is also for you...

Kingfisher

Todiramphus sp. Lesson 1827
Kingfisher
Family: Alcedinidae
Collection history: G. Masters 1875, Cape York
 
Todiramphus macleayii (Jardine and Selby 1830) is one of the many animals named after a Macleay family member  — in this case, Alexander — because of their extensive interest and activities in natural history. This forest kingfisher lives in woodland and forested regions. When looking for food they will perch still on a low branch. Once they have spotted their prey — insects, small fish and crustaceans — they swoop quickly and bring it back to their perch. They excavate their nests in trees, fence posts and termite mounds by flying at the site, then picking away the bark and debris with their powerful beak and claws to make a safe burrow for their eggs.
 
Museum: The Macleays, their collection and the search for order
Robyn Stacey and Ashley Hay
Cambridge University Press
2007

Red-bellied pitta

Pitta erythrogaster macklotti Temminck 1823
Red-bellied pitta
Family: Pittidae
Collection history: Cape York
 
There are only three species of pitta or jewel thrushes in Australia and less than thirty internationally. P. erythrogaster is limited to Cape York. This specimen was collected during the Chevert expedition and its labelling reflects an earlier taxonomic grouping. On 27 June 1875 the Chevert anchored between Poll, Bet and Sue islands in the Central Island group of Torres Strait, William John Macleay wrote: ‘A number of our people went ashore…Masters got some good birds, Spalding a snake and everyone got something’.
 
Museum: The Macleays, their collection and the search for order
Robyn Stacey and Ashley Hay
Cambridge University Press
2007

Scaly-breasted lorikeet

Above, and over the next few posts, are a few drawings I’ve been making of late and all are from samples in the collection of the Macleay Museum. Heinrich Kuhl collected this particular lorikeet I have drawn one year before his death in Java.
 

Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus Kuhl 1820
Scaly-breasted lorikeet or green lorikeet
Family: Psittacidae
Collection history: Moreton Bay, Queensland
 
The scaly-breasted lorikeet is easily identifiable with its solid green head plumage and bright red beak; its breast feathers are yellow tipped with green and appear scaly or barred in pattern. These birds inhabit Australia’s east coast and live principally off eucalypt and melaleuca species, but they are also known to raid agricultural crops and eat insects. They can spend over a month adapting a hollow in a tree by chewing off wood sections for their nests, with the wood-dust serving as the nest floor.
 
Museum: The Macleays, their collection and the search for order
Robyn Stacey and Ashley Hay
Cambridge University Press
2007

Seated atop Kandinsky’s chair, the unexpected could be sighted with ease.

This is a recent piece by Gracia and me that I thought I would share with you all today. Below is something I recently read that has stuck with me of late.

"According to one ancient Greek account of creation, the careless god Epimetheus was given the responsibility for distributing the ingredients of biological creation among all the creatures, and he botched the job. Epimetheus lavished upon the wild animals gifts of beautiful fur and feathers, gracefulness of form, strength, and agility, to such an extent that he ran out of desirable characteristics by the time he came to man. His big brother Prometheus, mankind's special friend, then saved man from shame by endowing him with the tools of dominance of the other animals even though he was weaker and uglier than they. Like many since, Prometheus reasoned that a creature equipped with language and technology could get along well enough without beauty."

Joseph W. Meeker (1932– ), United States
The Bedside Book of Beasts — A Wildlife Miscellany, Graeme Gibson

An Australian Pelican and a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo make a good pair

These are the last two zines to show for now, an Australian Pelican and a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. I’m not sure what time either of these birds rise of a morning, probably earlier than me, and I suspect when they do, they are able to begin their days without a coffee or two. Perhaps a particular fish or berry is their morning weakness. I know coffee is certainly mine. My head in a haze until I’ve consumed that first cup.
 
Enjoy your Wednesday.

Who are you?

Well, that is quite a question, isn’t it? Who are you? Thankfully, Gracia and I have created this new zine to help you answer this question. If you have 30 spare seconds then you may enjoy this little video of the zine in action. Enjoy the zine and enjoy your Tuesday or Monday depending on where you are on this rotating planet.

PS Here's a link to an interview with Gracia, which I meant to post last week. I count myself as very lucky to be collaborating with such a brain.

Opening my eyes on a Monday morning

It’s early Monday morning, a time I remember I did not always enjoy when I had to rush off to employment, but now my employment is in my studio and coffee comes from my kitchen rather than a takeaway stand. I no longer have to board a busy tram or pack a bag or even worry too much as to what I’m wearing.... bliss. Now as Monday morning rolls around I hear the alarm, drag myself out of bed, greet my pets and brew a coffee, then I can set to whatever it is that calls my attention that particular day, be it the computer, my watercolours or binding.
 
The last few days my attention has been on binding and the making of an edition for Gracia and my entry into the forthcoming Artspace Mackay 2010 Libris Awards: Australian Artists' Book Prize. It is all finished after many hours of hand-colouring, balsa wood case sanding, gluing and folding of the concertina pages. It now needs to sit and dry for a few days before it is posted. I am a little nervous posting a balsa wood case that has around 20 hours of work in it. Fingers crossed much bubble-wrap will make its journey a safe one.
 
Something else heading out via the postal service are these wonderful zines of Gracia’s.

Closing my eyes, it is possible to imagine myself anywhere but where I am (I)
Gracia Haby





Closing my eyes, it is possible to imagine myself anywhere but where I am (II)
Gracia Haby





Views in my pocket
Gracia Haby