Life begins at the end of your comfort zone....

With a much much needed trip back up North to see my family..came with it a bit of relaxation therapy and inspiration.

My Dad makes AMAZING things all the time from wood. Planters, doors, tree houses, boxes..you name it he can make it. And after sitting outside on an old tree stump in the morning sunlight, cup of tea in hand,  staring at the trees in the golden glow, I felt inspired to paint on some wood!

What better to paint on a piece of wood but an apple! All over the entrance to my parents house are apples! And as we come to the end of Summer I wanted to paint something that captured that weekend.

The green,the trees and the sun.

So armed with a bit of scrap ply wood Dad cut for me, and a huge bag of organic apples..I lugged it back to London and this was the result..

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I haven't painted on wood before, but I loved it! It is so much enjoyable than working on paper as the oils just glide across the wood and you can be a lot more vigorous and generous with the amount of paint you can use as once you have a base you have a really hard surface to work on..

I'm inspired to paint a series of these, and shift from portraits for a while to painting still life again. I've been painting portraits since I arrived in London so feel like moving on to a new subject for a while...getting out of my artistic comfort zone...


I am addicted to this site at the moment.. it has some great images that I love streaming through before bed.. check it out www.thecoolhunter.co.uk

Ironically I just read something quite inspiring on here that I had to re-blog. Its worth a read:

Some people dream of success, others make it happen. Of course, you can dream as much as you like but waiting for things to happen gets you nowhere. Get active and start making things happen.

Whatever journey your path takes you on, the most important thing is to have passion in what you do.

How many of you went to college, got your degree, and ended up doing something totally unrelated to your major? Studying it did not make you passionate about it. It wasn’t your path.

Education or even talent aren’t worth much without passion. So do the stuff that you love and you've always wanted to do because without it, you'll feel stuck and unfulfilled. If you work in a bank but your dream is to be a naturopath, then make those changes now. Make this year the turning point in your life. When you do what you love you will be rewarded — it will just flow naturally.

Look at those around you who just make things happen. They have a clear goal in mind and they know where they want to go. They don't always have a plan but they have the passion and the tenacity to make it work, and they achieve their goals as the end result.

Trust us when we tell you this. If something important to you, you WILL find a way. If it isn't, you'll find an excuse. It’s that simple. Find your way. Make it work, whatever it takes. Are you 10 kilos heavier than you should be? It is simple: Commit, go to that gym every day, no excuses, and train until you lose those 10 kilos. When you accomplish this, you'll have the confidence to do more. Set a goal and make it happen.

Want to stop smoking? Stop making excuses, take control of your circumstances before they take control of you.

Success isn't just about what you accomplish in your life, it's about what you inspire others to do and when you do accomplish something as simple as quitting smoking or losing weight, you'll inspire others to do the same. Anyone can change the world, and everybody should try. And it all starts with your own life.

Stop waiting for the perfect time to do what you want to do. Do it now.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone, so get used to being uncomfortable. It won’t kill you. Do you need a sign? Here it is: - Bill Tikos

LOVE IT!!

Sweet dreams

J-L
xx

Interview time...with Maiko Spencer

Wow two artists in one week...lucky me!

Whether it be a singer, painter, photographer, movie maker, dancer.. I believe all of these professions fall under the artistic radar and sometimes rather than being a career choice, they are more of a career necessity, a lifestyle choice and most of all a gift.

Today I meet with the stupidly talented and breathtakingly beautiful Maiko Spencer. Having had the pleasure of meeting Maiko through a mutual friend over 8 years ago in a popular pub in Sydney,Australia, we have managed to maintain a long distance friendship over these years and continued to support each others passions.

I'm now back in London again, hanging out with her once more, watching in admiration as she slowly but surely is conquering London, giving it her all, and hitting London with the sound it craves.

With a brand spanking new website in tow, a fresh look, a whole bag of style and confidence, the music industry sitting up and taking notice....I get to pick her brains for a few minutes on what makes this little but dangerous package tick......

MAIKO,FIRST OF ALL CAN I START BY SAYING WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO BE BACK IN LONDON AND HANGING OUT WITH YOU AGAIN. LOTS SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED IN BOTH OUR WORLDS SINCE I WAS HERE 4 YEARS AGO AND YOU REALLY ARE GLOWING WITH HAPPINESS. WHAT SEEMS TO HAVE CHANGED MOST IN YOUR LIFE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS?

Well Jodie, firstly it's great to have you back in London!

OH SHUCKS THANKS HONEY...

Yes a lot has changed, when you were last here I was singing as part of the band The Reluctants and now I'm flying solo working on my first album.

I guess the biggest change came after meeting with the great John McKenzie master bass player, he and I have been writing together since November and it has been a very productive and most of all fun experience we really get each other musically and I'm really loving what we are coming up with .

YOU GREW UP IN SYDNEY, HAVE LIVED IN NEW YORK, YOUR FAMILY HOME IS NOW IN NEW ZEALAND, AND YOU CURRENTLY LIVE IN LONDON (PHEW!)WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME AND WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT IT?

(LAUGHS) yes, it sounds exhausting when you put it like that.

I am an Aussie and Sydney will always be my home but I have spent an almost equal amount of time in New Zealand and its these two places I dream about when I'm away.

I miss them both for the amazing lifestyles in amongst such naturally beautiful setting, from the beaches to the mountains I miss it all.

And of course my friends and family but thanks to the wonders of skype they're never really far away


YOU HAVE SUCH A FRESH AND UNIQUE LOOK, WHICH IS REALLY RARE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL NOW IN THIS INDUSTRY, WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AND DO YOU STILL FEEL CONNECTED SOMEWAY TO THESE ROOTS?

Of course . My mother was born in Tokyo as was I but we moved - just the 2 of us - to Australia where my biological father is from.

My first language was Japanese although I lost a lost of it over the years living in Sydney since age 3.

My Dad who raised me since age 4 is from New Zealand and I was blessed to experience it too. Although I have not lived in Japan since i was a baby I have always been very connected to that part of me through my mother and her experiences and my Grand Mother.

I guess I cant help feel anything but connected to all the places and experiences that make me who I am .


WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IN YOUR LIFE?

Laughter


WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES?

All our family excursions (laughs)

WHO MUSICALLY WERE YOUR INFLUENCES GROWING UP, AND WHICH ARTISTS HAVE HELPED SHAPE YOUR STYLE?

Blues-BB King, Soul-Aretha Franklin, Country-Bonnie Rait anything my dad had playing in the house(Crowded House, Tim Finn). And then later came people like Lauryn Hill , Missy Elliot, Dr Dre, Mos Def, Jurassic 5 , but at the same time I used to love musical theatre .
I'm never good with these questions because I like soooo many different people and styles ... and as far as shaping my style on an artist that's not really how i look at it .
All I know is that I like soulful melodies, great groove and great beats . sorry not very technical (Laughs)


HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO SING? AND WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE IN YOU COULDN'T BE AN ARTIST?

I have always wanted to sing, ever since I started to watch Disney movies as a child.

If I couldn't I think I would still be writing and involved in the music business





AS AN ARTIST MYSELF,IT CAN BE TOUCH WORK! I SOMETIMES FEEL UP AGAINST THE WALL AND STRUGGLE FOR INSPIRATION AND DESIRE TO KEEP GOING, WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO KEEP ON PUSHING?!!!

(Laughs) Yeah I know that feeling, what motivates me is the fact that If I want this I don't have a choice I just do keep pushing. I just get up and make my self start playing with my guitar or finish of an idea from a previous day . Or sometimes I just take a nap or relax somehow and
that's when the best ideas come to you .
WHAT SONG CAN YOU NOT STOP LISTENING TO AT THE MOMENT?

I need a dollar - Aloe Black


HA HA DON'T WE ALL!

I FIND MY ART QUIET A PERSONAL JOURNEY, COMPARED TO MUSIC WHICH IS SO OFTEN A COLLABORATION OF MANY DIFFERNET PEOPLE. DO YOU PREFER WORKING ON SOLO PROJECTS OR IN A GROUP?

Even on a solo project , for me there is always some aspect of collaboration . That's why I value the great people I work with as they allow me to get personal even in a collaborative environment.


HOW DO YOU FEEL THE MUSIC INDUSTRY COMPARES TO THE REST OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?


I have always felt that London has a great diverse music scene, and very active, there are places to play every night of the week. As for the rest for the world, I'm heading off on a trip to Vancouver, LA and NYC to find out .

JEALOUS!!!! TAKE ME WITH YOU???

ON A MORE SOMBER NOTE...WITH THE DEATH OF AMY WINEHOUSE LAST WEEK, AND AS I TALK ABOUT IN MY BLOG ALOT, IT SEEMS LONDON IS FULL OF TRAPS AND HURDLES FOR YOUNG ARTISTS TO FALL OVER...HOW DO YOU STAY FOCUSED AND STEER CLEAR OF THESE DANGERS IN AN INDUSTRY SO SURROUNDED BY IT? AND WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUNG TEENAGERS WANTING TO PERUSE A CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?

I think the best way to stay focused is to have your own confidence and self love so that you are not easily swayed by darker forces, and being around people who have a genuine interest in you as a person and your well being is a big part of it as well.


WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?

Like I said I am heading of State side to check out what's happening and to promote a release I am doing with the AUM BRAND, they will be launching 3 new Maiko T-Shirts in all their stores and I will release one of my songs with it. I'm super excited to see how the T-Shirts will look check out their website http://www.aumbrand.com/

OOOH CAN I HAVE ONE PLEASE BEFORE YOU GO?!!
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?

Hopefully doing what I love and sharing that with as many people as possible !


WHERE CAN WE HEAR YOUR SOUND AND CHECK OUT WHERE YOU ARE PLAYING NEXT?

WWW.MAIKOSPENCER.COM



NIGHT OUT OR NIGHT IN??

Night in (smiles)

Thanks to the beautiful Maiko for taking time out to talk to me today and good luck with everything...come back and lets do another interview after you concur New York please! xx

Keep a close eye on her by following her website maikospencer.com and make sure you go and see her at one of her gigs...I'm sure to be there, G+T in hand, and a proud grin on my face.

J-L
xcxcx

Interview time...with Adrian Gilliland

Okay...so very very rarely in my life am I left speechless or in awe of things. This is one man that does that to me!

An art guru to me and fantastic friend who I have known for...lets just say years...has kindly agreed to be my first artist guinea pig and I couldn't be prouder! Having first met Adrian in LA we were reunited once more in Sydney where we spent a magical NYE under the Harbour bridge, getting drunk waiting 6 hours for the fireworks!

As well as being a fantastic Artist, Adrian is also an amazing stylist and photographer. I love Adrian's work, and artistically speaking feel a little similarity in our style (although I'm nowhere near his level!), and every time we see each other I always leave feeling refreshed and my passion for art a little stronger and me...slightly more driven. Sighhhh

Here I get my 15 minutes with my favourite artist....

ADRIAN, THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO CHAT WITH ME TODAY, CAN I START BY SAYING THAT I MISS YOU AND WHEN OH WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO GREY OLD LONDON TOWN??

Hi Jo, a London getaway does sound nice but I don't see it anytime soon. You'll be in LA soon enough though!


YOU CURRENTLY LIVE IN LA. HOW DOES THIS TOWN ACCOMMODATE YOUR ARTISTIC NEEDS, AND CAN YOU IMAGINE LIVING ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE FUTURE?

I love LA right now. It hasn't always been this way but the current artistic climate is pulsing with energy. The space available to artists is perfect and cheap. It's really easy to have a comfortable lifestyle here on a budget, most of the interesting young people are in the same circumstance you are and together we are developing a new modern artistic culture. When the time comes, NYC will always be on my trajectory but living there won't coincide with me being poor.



WHEN DID YOU START PAINTING AND WHAT IS YOUR TRAINING BACKGROUND?

I started painting when I was really young, maybe in 6th grade but I do remember drawing when I was around 4 or 5. It's just a practice that has always been a part of me. Thus far I've received my bachelor's degree in painting and another in photography.



HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE?

I'd say realist pop portraiture.


WHAT DRAWS YOU TO PAINTING PORTRAITS?

Before I knew about "art art" I was always drawn to portraiture and history painting. I always remember drawing animals and people, not really landscapes or abstract work. I have so many drawings of cartoons from my youth. Human representation just seemed like a natural next step, the ultimate challenge. I took a leap in college and started doing lots of self portraits, mainly because I was always available as a model. After school finished, I wanted to push my ideas and imagery and create something that seemed timeless and sewn into the thread of art history.



I TEND TO FOCUS A LOT ON THE FEMALE/FACE BODY IN MY WORK. WHAT MAKES YOU FOCUS ON THE MALE SPECIES? I FIND YOU GUYS INCREDIBLY HARD TO PAINT?!!

Guys are great to look at for long periods of time!

HA HA...XX

WHAT SONG ARE YOU PLAYING TO DEATH AT THE MOMENT?

Anything Amy. Probably Take the Box the most. Her recent passing hit me pretty hard, something about the truth and the fantasy in her writing really runs deep with me. Her songs were the perfect heartache.


WHAT COLOURS DO YOU ENJOY BEING SURROUNDED BY?

My apartment is painted blue/green/grey but all very neutral tones. I tend to paint with a very limited neutral palette too.

IF FOR SOME REASON YOU HADN'T BECOME AN ARTIST, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN AS A PROFESSION?

I don't think any other lifestyle has ever crossed my mind. I believe in destiny.


WHAT IS ONE OF YOUR FONDEST CHILDHOOD MEMORIES?

I grew up in a small town and remember wandering around with my 4 best friends. We all loved to draw together and after school we would take hours to walk to each others houses, stopping to eat food, and throw rocks at things.


WHO WOULD YOU SAY ARE YOUR BIGGEST ARTISTIC INFLUENCES IN YOUR LIFE?

This changes on a daily basis, but most recently its very clear that my parents have had a major impact on my art making. My mother was an art major when she was in college but dropped it after having my brothers and I. My father was a wood shop teacher. Since we grew up without much money, my mom was always crafting and making things to decorate our home and getting me to help by drawing, painting, sewing, and woodworking. I've always held onto those skills and now I'm just applying them to different media and subjects.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT YOU COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT?

Spirituality. It's so important in my day to day world. I tried for many years to forget about it and that is when I became really unmotivated and lost. Its a constant struggle to be grateful for what I do have presently and also important to let go of my expectations from people and life. Whatever is meant to be will be and all of the tools that I need presently are right in front of me.

AS MOST ARTISTS WOULD TENT TO AGREE, SOMETIMES INSPIRATION RUNS A LITTLE LOW AND CREATIVITY SOMETIMES IS HARD TO FIND, WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU ARE FEELING A LITTLE LOST FOR IDEAS?

When I feel lost for ideas, I'm really into accepting the fact that I probably shouldn't be working at that moment. Forcing solutions was a problem for me in the past and never really worked out. I love exercising, both indoors and out, so when I feel uninspired I get fresh air or go sweat for an hour. It does wonders to clear the head and meditate while keeping fit.


I NOTICE RECENTLY THAT YOU HAVE MOVED INTO THE CREATIVE DANCE MOVEMENT, TELL ME MORE ABOUT THIS AND WHAT NEW SKILS YOU ARE LEARNING?

I happened upon a dance class over 2 years ago after a friend suggested going. It was amazing and life changing. Ryan Heffington is a choreographer and artist in Los Angeles who teaches this class twice a week. I've been a steady student of his since then and have performed in various recitals, dance attacks, nightclub shows, and museum pieces. It's such a unique extension on the creative process, incorporating the body and music. I'm met such a brilliant family of collaborators at his studio The Sweat Spot, just a few blocks from my house. It's one of the best things happening in LA right now!

WHERE CAN WE SEE YOUR WORK AND NEWS OF UP COMING SHOWS?

I'm working on rebuilding my website, www.adriangilliland.com. It should be up shortly. I'll be showing at a group show in October at the PopTart Gallery in Los Angeles for the show Pacific Standard Time which will be a multi gallery show based around the work of photographer Bruce. I'll keep you posted!

ADRIAN THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN...
LOVE AND MISS YOU

J-L
XX

London is burning

After a few weeks hiatus...I feel my life has turned the page on to the next chapter here in London.


Art school is over, a new job has come my way, and I am reaching out there to get some sort of gallery internship or magazine internship alike. Its all change..and with it has come a change in London..and I feel sad yet strangely honored to have been a part of this historical event with in the city, and across major cities in the UK

For 5 consecutive nights, riots and acts of horrifying violence spread through out the streets of London. What I can only describe as horrifying, scary, and post apocalyptic images streamed live through my computer into my home. The violence was at my doorstep and at those of my dear friends and my community.

Scary stuff.

After the violence came to an end mid week...the atmosphere was eerie to say the least. Shop owners all freaked out, closed up early, Tesco brought all its shopping carts indoors, shopkeepers boarded up there fronts...everyone locked their doors and stayed off the streets.


However, through the sadness, madness and outrage, came a sort of London uprising. Random acts of kindness, a banding together, people for once started TALKING to each other. Asking if you were okay, walking each other to the tube, checking to see if anyone could help. Something that I often felt lacked in London, shone for the few days after the violence.

London all of a sudden had a new hope again...new art made by the people of London for the people of London.

My heart goes out to all those who were scared, lost property, possessions and were affected by the riots. Stay safe London town.

J-L
xxx