Work - at last. [# 13]
This last week I ended house-sitting where I'd been staying for the last month. It was a great find and valuable for me in that it gave me space and freedom to look for work. I've been studying Maya (3d modelling and animation package) but this'll take a while to learn fully. If ever. My laptop can handle it but I think my brain would need a faster processor with extra RAM and a larger hard disc.
The picturesque coastline north of WellingtonWorking by myself was good discipline but after a few weeks I got tired of my own conversation - I always know what the answers are going to be. It was handy then that a friend was looking for somewhere to stay so she came to stay at Stokes Valley with me since there was plenty of space. Michaela is a landscape architect and was basically in the same boat as me - in town, no job and needing somewhere to stay. It was nice to have some company and to share cooking tasty meals. She had a van which had plenty of character - pot plants on the dash, hanging baskets full of herbs and spices, bamboo map shelf etc! We drove up the picturesque Karori coast on Sunday and ejoyed a welcome change of scenery.
Michaela using my laptop
Michaela's van and the Kapiti Coast.
Unfortunately she didn't capture my double back flip dismount.But the significant news is that I've had my first days of paid professional work. Hurray. At last. It's not a permanent job but looks like it may be ongoing at 2 or 3 days a week. I'd phoned a few publishers and a small one had just lost their designer who'd left because his wife had just had a baby. She gave me a chance and we decided to see how things would go. On my first day she briefed me and got me going designing an 80 page childrem's book and she then asked me to come back for the next few days so I must have done something right.
Other things are moving onwards too - I'm also producing some mock up illustrations for the national education publisher who's showing some interest. I may be doing one day tutoring at the Learning Connexion too - an arts college I had an interview with last week. All or nothing eh! 3 Weeks ago I couldn't get a job as a wheel barrow operative. Before I arrived in NZ I thought I might have got a job doing computer graphics but it seems my illustration work might be more in demand. There could be the making of an elegant irony here. I only got to go to New Zealand originally after needing a break from the highly competetive field in the UK. Now I'm here as a resident it seems my work might be more in demand - its coming round to what I originally trained for years ago.
Now I'm seriously looking for somewhere to live - probably a room in a shared place somewhere in Wellington. I'm not ready for suburbia yet. I'm looking to move to somewhere in the city - hopefully with a garden. Got to have somewhere to stretch out and look at the sky, grow my herbs and carve sticks. Or do my other crafts. No, I'm sorry - no more news on my sandals made out of kelp however I'm very excited - there's going to be an exhibiton in town by a sculptor who makes stuff out of kelp. He's made some kelp cows out of copper and covered them with kelp and displays them near the sea. Who could resist such a show?
Kelp Cow sculpture
posted by col @ 8:27 pm
2 Comments:
Holy Kelp Cows "SpiderMan"!! This is a great read Col, glad it's filling out your days - hmmm shep innards and testicles to eat too a real treat - bush mellows I believe the Aussies call them - they pluck 'em out with their teeth, I certainly draw the line there old son, I think in respect of eating them too!?! Nice picks... You on skype yet??
Love & Bests
Your namesake!
Excellent news Col... it's been great to catch up with the latest. Sounds as though NZ is finally coming to its senses and tapping into your talent! The Charter juniors send their greetings and continue to tramp the triangular play area daily!
Lots of love A&C
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