Return of the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 40

Week 40: Carnival

Luna Park Sydney's "Crazy Crooner" carnival sideshow heads. Cut from white Quill linenbond card, and collaged onto a background of mounted "scratch paper", with watercolour and marker highlights.

Update:

Week 40: Carnival II

Watercolours over masking fluid, with collaged masks and a horizon of carnival buildings. Accents in black finepoint Sharpie, white Puffy paint and various highlighter pens.

52-Week Illustration Challenge, Week 52

Created on black "scratch paper", which comes in a pack of five sheets (plus tool) for $4.00 from a toy shop.

Week 52: Fireworks

Update:

Oil pastel resist and watercolour wash on wet watercolour paper, with black Sharpie silhouettes and gold metallic Sharpie sparks on the sparkler.

Week 52: Fireworks II

This is how my brothers and I spent several Cracker Nights in the 60s and 70s. We had no awareness that we couldn't always afford to have fireworks bought for us, so we pressed our noses against the back screen door. Or had sparklers and a few throw-downs only, if we were lucky. (Or got invited to next door's bonfire if we were *really* lucky.)

Happy New Year!

1.1.11

Today, I am told, is the first day of the second decade of the third millennium.

Last night, Sydney celebrated with the traditional anticipated/expected fireworks spectacular over the harbour - and I actually ventured in for the first time since December 31, 1985 (the year the movie "Explorers" premiered, because we filled in our afternoon by going to the cinema to see it.)


Ice cream van in Martin Place.

I had been invited by a friend to attend her rooftop gathering in The Rocks and this sounded like the perfect way to enjoy the event without having to tolerate the crowds!


The view upon arrival, above The Rocks.


Sydney Harbour Bridge.


Sydney Opera House (recently nicknamed the "Oprah House").


Fireworks by Foti Brothers, wavy glow stick by Karen, glowing rings by Chie-Hoon.














Happy New Year!

(By the way, the first photo is a closeup of the battery-operated pendant I wore for the event.)

Australia Day celebrations

I love this juxtaposition of a metal tree and a real palm tree at Darling Harbour. Waiting for Australia Day celebrations to begin. I celebrated Australia Day by eating half of the Australian coat of arms. Yummy kangaroo on potato mash and asparagus. And it was delish.


At Baia San Marco restaurant, Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour: the traditional Australia Day fireworks begin.


Central Station was also decked out for Australia Day celebrations.

Vacation photo roundup, Part II

The holiday snaps continue:


New Year's Eve midnight fireworks commence. View from suburban Cooparoo, Brisbane. 1 January 2010.


Piddling canine, a metal sculpture at the DFO complex's plaza, Brisbane. 2 January 2010.


A small Cookie Monster holding a giant cookie. 3 January 2010.


Graffiti on bamboo, Botanical Gardens, Brisbane. 4 January 2010.


My Virgin Blue plane home to Sydney, being readied for departure, Brisbane. 5 January 2010.

2009 approaches...

Usually I have a quiet New Year's Eve. Pizza with a few friends. I think it'll end up being the same this year. I've tried having bigger New Year's Eve gatherings here, but no one likes travelling too far afterwards, and someone in each carload has to be the designated non-drinking driver.

I was excited to be invited to see the fireworks close up, from a rather unique residential tower on the north side of Sydney Harbour this year. I'd have to get there by 4pm, as all the ferry transport stops in preparation for the two fireworks shows (at 9pm and midnight). My friend, who lives there (opposite Nicole Kidman's apartment on the other side of the Harbour), is only allowed to invite a certain number of people, and even has to hand out passes. Reluctantly, I passed.

I think I rather prefer seeing the fireworks on TV these days. When I lived in Lakemba, I used to see them really well (but tiny) from my balcony. By turning on the TV we could even hear them as well! But no crowds. It really does get ridiculously crowded at Circular Quay on New Year's Eve in Sydney. Getting home again is the rotten bit. Everyone trying to get on the first train out of the city, idiots wandering through the subway tunnels, holding up the trains. Been there, done that, rather be comfortable and safe(r).

Happy New Year!

Meanwhile, here's yet another amazing Youtube fan mash-up on the upcoming "Star Trek" movie, this time using images from TOS:




The TAS mash-up is HERE and the official one it's based upon is HERE.

Great company, glorious weather and fireworks to boot

Despite the massive Australia Day crowds at the Waterfront Bar (which started an entry surcharge of $5 per head about an hour after Nate arrived there), and the throngs on the Old Pyrmont Bridge when they opened it up to let the endless flotilla of ferries go through!), we had great company, new Star Trek friends, old Star Trek friends, glorious weather, and fireworks at our front door.

Baia San Marco's food was excellent as usual. They did not hurry us, despite being so busy, and that left lots of room for chatting - and dessert. When we couldn't get free access to the Waterfront, Baia even let us have our table one hour early!


ABOVE LEFT (clockwise from left to right): Sonia, Djura, Ben, Chris, AdamJ, Iarfirithwen and Caprica_Six. (After a few merlots, and with all the dark lighting, the photos are a bit fuzzy.)


Where would we be without mobile phones? They seem to be the only way to triangulate a group of friends coming together these days:

"Where are you guys? I'm in the queue at the door."

"We're over here. Table 38. We're waving at you now."

"Hey guys, I've been trying to get across the pedestrian bridge for 70 mins. Have you started dessert yet?"

"Where did you go, mate? I thought you only stepped out to see the fireworks?

And so on.

Thanks to all thirteen members who weathered the crowds and supported the first re-energized Sydney Star Trek Meet-up at Baia restaurant, plus the extra members who caught up with us after dinner.


ABOVE (from left to right): Ben, Chris, Therin of Andor and Paranoid Tailor.