Getting my SG on...

This afternoon and this coming Saturday I'll be playing some tunes down at the Sportsgirl Pitt street Store. Due to the silly season it feels like ages since I've been down there so I'm looking forward to playing some new tunes for the ladies.

THURSDAY 27th... 3-7pm

SATURDAY 29th... 1-4pm

Meet miss HOLLIE...

WHAT DO YOU DO? I work as a dental nurse and receptionist but I devote a lot of my time, and my heart, to seeing and creating art. Triangles dominate my drawings where I use repetition of the shape to create more of an organic form. I attempt to create something that makes me feel happy when I look at it, so colour combinations are really significant.  I have to consider that individual responses to colour vary because of association.  When we associate colours with events or experiences it has the ability to alter our opinion of what we consider to be beautiful, but I use colours that make ME feel happy so my work is actually quite personal.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START GETTING INTO ART, OR REALISE YOU WANTED TO BE AN ARTIST?  I could say, “I was always drawing as a kid,” but weren’t we all?  In my final two years of high school I really enjoyed my visual arts class where we were creating, analysing work, learning about artists and I was getting good marks too so I think this is when I realised I was much more interested in it.  Then after I left school I went on to do an Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts at TAFE in Newcastle.  This whole experience strengthened the idea to become an artist and do art, but at that stage I could never consider myself doing it for a living because it would be so hard.  I just wanted it to take me to a job within the arts industry, and just produce personal stuff on the side.  It’s only been recently that I’ve been more confident with my work and comfortable of the idea of working towards making a living out of being an artist.

WHAT KINDS OF MEDIUMS DO YOU USE?  

I enjoy mixing mediums but at the moment my work is limited to watercolour pigment, watercolour pencils and graphite.  I usually work on paper because watercolour works best on that surface but I occasionally work on ply as well.  Working with ply was quite experimental at first.  The watercolour wasn’t taking to the surface and was spreading along the grain of the wood so I had to get some advice and found a medium that sealed the ply and created a nice surface to work on.  I love the rawness of the ply juxtaposed with the image and the watercolour.  This is a surface I will definitely push further with my work. 

DO YOU FIND IT HARD AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE CALLING THEMSELVES ARTISTS?  

I wouldn’t say I find it hard.  I struggle to call myself an artist, it just feels really cocky.  I’d prefer to say “I do art.”  It seems like it’s a bit of a hip thing to call yourself an artist, or to be going to art school.  Everyone’s perception of art is different.  What I consider to be a piece of art could vary from what the next person considers.  I think there are a lot of new forums out there for displaying art and that has the ability to legitimise it.  I don’t think that doing art necessarily makes someone an artist.  The internet is such a massive part of our culture now and we are constantly being encouraged by websites to display our work to the world so it’s easy to see how some people can get confused.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON CREATIVE TYPES MAKING MONEY OR EARNING A LIVING FROM THEIR ART-FORM?  

I think it’s great and I look up to those people because thats where I want to be in the future.  It’s very hard in the art world because artists are constantly having to sell themselves and their work and there is just so much competition.  I imagine it is a roller-coaster ride, wondering if you will be able to make an income from something you are working on or not.  It’s very brave to make the decision to solely rely on something you have created or something that comes from within.  

YOU RECENTLY GOT INTO ART SCHOOL - BUT TURNED IT DOWN. WAS THAT AN EASY DECISION?  

In no way was that an easy decision. No no no, and especially because it was the National Art School, a highly respected school with such a good reputation and because it was something as stupid as money that forced me to make that decision. I’m being forced to take a new avenue to get my work out there so I also feel as though I have made a brave decision. 

 WHAT THINGS/PEOPLE OR ARTISTS INSPIRE YOU?  

Im inspired by so many different things and people. Im inspired by nature, pattern, surfaces, repetition, friends, sounds, sunlight, text, routine, colour, design, food, relaxation, crystals..... there are so many artists and designers that inspire me, not only visually but for their practice and process as well.  Every day I'm on the net looking at blogs and seeing so much new work by creatives I have never heard of and for the life of me can’t even remember.  Artists who inspire me include Jean Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Gemma Smith, Anthony Lister, Kirra Jamison, Egon Schiele, Brett Chan, Aaron Kinnane, Kevin Tran, Kareena Zerefos, Ears, Richard Diebenkorn, Richard Rauschenberg, Adam Cullen.....

WHERE DO YOU THINK 2011 WILL TAKE YOU?  

I have no idea.  There’s places I HOPE 2011 will take me.  I want to make more artistic connections.  I’d love to get my foot in the door and involve myself in group shows.  I hope to get lots of pieces together for a solid body of work.  I aim to enter more prizes.   I aim to create an online store and I hope to sell more work.  I also would love to think about digitally printing my images onto fabric.  After this idea was suggested to me recently by friends I cant stop thinking about it.  Bring on 2011!

IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO PAINT ANY SURFACE IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD YOU CHOOSE?  

Even though I use watercolour I want the freedom of painting my triangles on a wall, with lots of colour.  I see all those massive buildings where artists like OS Gemeos have painted huge characters on walls.  I want to do something like that.

IF YOU HAD TO PUT ON YOUR IPOD RIGHT NOW - WHAT WOULD YOU PLAY?  

I would play all different stuff.   If and when i listen to my ipod which is not very often, i don’t even know where it is, i always put it on shuffle.  Im a radio gal.  Otherwise, i would say either Kings of Leon (old) or Kasabian.

WHAT'SYOUR FAVOURITE NAIL POLISH COLOUR?  

Red! Normally a deep red.

SUMMER 2011, DESCRIBE YOUR ULTIMATE WAY TO SPEND THE DAY? 

Wake up without an alarm, but not too late.  Then have a big breakfast before heading to the beach and spending the day there.  I want the water to be not too cold and no blue bottles thanks.  Oh and I must make sure i slip slop slap, rap.  Then I’d like to get home and have a shower and head back out for beers and dinner and some chilled out tunes with friends.  That would be a super relaxing day for me.

WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING RIGHT NOW?

 Water, it’s not even lunch time!  I cant wait to have a beer after work though!

WHATS FOR DINNER? 

Not sure, I'm at work till late today so it might be something unhealthy and quick on oxford st.

WHAT SPICE GIRL WOULD YOU BE? Posh! Der, she's got Beckham!

WATER… STILL OR SPARKLING? Still, I'm not fussy.

BLACK OR WHITE? I cant decide between these.  They are both so good!  I think black.

STRAWBERRY OR CHOCOLATE? Defs chocolate

HOT OR COLD?  Depends. Hot. but i like my beer cold.

BRITNEY OR GAGA? Eeeeeeeek. I wish i could say neither, but GAGA.

SUMMER OR WINTER? Defs summer, check my tan mofes!

CHECK OUR MORE OF HOLLIE'S WORK HERE:

HOLLIEMARTIN.BLOGSPOT.COM

Become the Official Sportsgirl Good Vibrations Photographer

If you haven't grabbed yourself a ticket as of yet to Good Vibes, here is your chance to score a freebie! 

Sportsgirl is on the hunt for the official Sportsgirl photographer at Good Vibrations festival in Sydney and Melbourne.

The lucky winners will report from Good Vibrations Festival for Sportsgirl in either Melbourne or Sydney -  with VIP tickets, entry into the PRESS PIT for your chosen act, as well as the chance to have your photo diary posted on sportsgirl.com.au! 

All you have to do is go to the forums on the Sportsgirl website and submit your best music moment as snapped by your lens…it could be a memorable performance, crowd shot or pic you’ve taken of your fave artist. Tell Sportsgirl the story behind the pic (in 50 words or less) to go into the running!  Full T&Cs here.

Entries close 10am, Monday 31 January 2011.

GOOD VIBRATIONS...

Anyone going to Good Vibrations in Sydney?
I AM!!
Sportsgirl have been kind enough to ask me to play again in their tent, which means that I get to see the amazing line up. I'll be checking out:

PHOENIX

NAS + DAMIAN MARLEY

THE TING TINGS

KELIS 

and oh my god ERYKAH BADU!

If you don't have tickets already, get some.
SAT FEB 12th at CENTENNIAL PARK

THE CHEF CHRONICLES CONT...

While I was busy with Christmas and NYE gigs I gave my personal chef some time off, and this is what he got up to....

That girl can play...

A month or so ago when I was asked to speak at a school graduation ceremony, I couldn't help but notice the young girl sitting there practicing scales on her bass quietly (and super quick!) in the corner. The next thing I know I was presenting an award to her for her outstanding work in Music, and you could tell that she wasn't just your average young school girl. 

Meet Alexis - she plays guitar and pretty much whatever else she chooses. She oozes youthful coolness and her natural talent is hard to miss. I soon realised that she was the perfect person to start off the new year and be the next young inspiring lady that I interview. Check it out below - I can't wait to see her gigs in the future!

WHAT GRADE ARE IN YOU AT SCHOOL?

In 2010 I was in Year 9.

WHAT SUBJECTS TO DO YOU STUDY?

I take music, art and japanese electives. My compulsory subjects are english, maths, history, geography, PDHPE and science.

WHAT INSTRUMENTS DO YOU PLAY - AND WHICH ONES DO YOU WISH YOU COULD PLAY?

I play guitar and bass, but I really really enjoy experimenting with many instruments like drums and piano. I don't really wish to play any other instruments, I'd rather put all my energy into guitar and have any other instrument as something I find fun to play, but don't particularly want to take seriously (like flute for instance, it's very fun to play, but I wouldn't want to be a flautist)!

WHAT SUBJECTS ARE YOUR FAVOURITE AND LEAST FAVOURITE AND WHY? 

I'd say I really like Music, Japanese and History. Music because when I'm in a music room I'm like a kid in a candy store (there's so much to do and to experiment with), I like Japanese because I would love to speak it fluently and one day go to Japan, and history because I learn a lot. My mind changes often with my third favourite subject- sometimes I even like Maths! :P

I guess my least favourite subject would be physical education - not that I'm lazy or anything, I just disagree with the material we learn in class.

YOU PLAY BASS IN YOUR SCHOOL BAND, BUT WHAT OTHER BANDS DO YOU PLAY IN?

Well, me and a couple of school mates recently formed a band and we play kind of alter-rock music. We're still in the baby stages as we've only been together for about 3 months, but we've written a few songs and we all have many ideas of where we'd like the band to go. We hope to get gigs soon once we build up a solid repertoire and such.

YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN FREE TICKETS TO SEE ANY SHOW OF YOUR CHOICE… WHAT WOULD YOU GO SEE?

Hmm... I'd like to say something like Led Zeppelin in the 70's, but seeing as that's impossible, maybe a music festival like Soundwave if they had a good lineup. I'm pretty picky with my gigs - I only like to see my favourite bands.

WHICH MUSICIANS INSPIRE YOU AT THE MOMENT?

I would say Andrew McMahon (Jack's Mannequin) and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Andrew McMahon inspires me because of his love for music, his expressive vocals, and his complete determination to his work. Jimmy Page also inspires me because of his fantastic guitar playing. I hope one day I could play as good as he does :)

IF YOU HAD TO PUT ON YOUR IPOD RIGHT NOW - WHAT WOULD YOU PLAY?

Well I'm listening to The Living End right now, so I'd leave them on - I love them.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE NAIL POLISH COLOUR?

I once saw a picture of glow in the dark nail polish, I don't have it, but that sounds so rad that it'd have to be my favourite.

SUMMER 2011, DESCRIBE YOUR ULTIMATE WAY TO SPEND THE DAY?

Going up north to the coast, breathing salty air and lazily spending the day at the beach till sunset (making sandcastles of course)

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING RIGHT NOW IN 10 YEARS TIME?

As most naive teens dream, I would like to be doing something musically (like maybe in a band, or songwriting), or be a doctor- like work in oncology or paediatrics, or a firefighter. 

There are so many things that can be done :) So many interesting things to do... But I can say I've wanted to do something in the music industry or something in medicine from the age of six, so hopefully if I work hard, I can get there.

WHAT SPICE GIRL WOULD YOU BE?

Well.. when I was a child I had an unhealthy obsession with Posh spice, now I'd say I'd have to be Sporty.

WATER… STILL OR SPARKLING?

Still

BLACK OR WHITE?

Grey- joking, probably black.

STRAWBERRY OR CHOCOLATE?

Strawberry :)

HOT OR COLD?

Yes then you're no? :P Just kidding.

I'd say hot, hot, hot.

Or cold.

Nah, probably hot

BRITNEY OR GAGA?

Uh... can I say neither?

SUMMER OR WINTER?

You'd think this was an easy question, but it's not. The weather can make things prettier or uglier, it can make you feel better or worse. I'd have to say... Summer - when it's stinkingly, un-escapably hot. Great Australian weather!

c-c-c-c-CHANGES

2011 - welcome.