Do you see me?

I've known about french artist Sophie Calle for quite some time. I got her book for my birthday and its probably the most fascinating thing i own. It has secret compartments and postcard-type images like a storybook full of postcards and letters i had when i was little. the association alone makes me nostalgic and warm inside.

Literally just watched a programme about her and her bizarre life presented by Melvin Bragg (who i also quite like). although i have a huge appreciation and love for books, i do find these art programmes clarifying and a good waste of an hour or so, this particular one was full of Calle facts i doubt id find elsewhere.

In a nutshell Calle is a narrative artist, (slightly like Emin in her portrayl of herself but Calles best works are on the lives of others) initially she followed people around.. getting involved in thier lives without them knowing, sometimes creating stories for them, she photographed and recorded their movements (as shown above) she has continued to do similar things and ever recorded her own life and its slightly twisted goings on. Her work is prolific and i'm sure i could write for hours.

The main reason for this post is perhaps a slight similarity to her. Whilst watching the programme with Ali he commented that a lot of people (himself included) wouldn't appreciate this particular form of art because they weren't voyeuristic. I am voyeuristic. This word was mentioned lots in the programme. Never would i go to such an extreme as Calle, never an obsession, but i do find certain people fascinating. i love reality TV (shameful i know). i people watch. a genuine interest, wondering about peoples lives and thoughts and what they've done. sometimes i feel a bit odd so god knows whats going on within Sophies head.

So this is the new year..

.. and i don't feel any different. (a gold star if you can name the song) Well i do a bit - mainly excitement, for (fingers crossed) many amazing things soon to be flooding my mind and literally moving me to pastures new! At the moment my life is consisting of making shoes which is stupidly enjoyable and just makes me wish i'd discovered fashion an textiles long ago (next up is a corset based on flowers - cue Giles Deacon for Ungaro/a recent Rihanna video that was all saturated and lovely and might chuck in some Sarah Burton-esque butterflies- summer is on its way after all!)

Within the shoe project through fairly substantial research have found a few bits to chuck together to form a "structure for the foot'' based on me. Personal projects are always quite fun, and easier than a self portrait which I have struggled with since I realised I could draw.

I will post pictures at some point- attempting to scan a4 from a1 is a task at the best of times...

Kate Moss by Mario Testino

i love kate moss. iconic, original, not really caring a whole lot - the opitame of 'cool' (though cool probably doesn't sound that cool). she's fascinating to watch and to hear - her collections for topshop were (and still is huge) with her signature pieces becoming classic pieces. the face and attitude of a generation. it was no suprise that a collection of her most iconic images (taken by fantastic fashion photographer mario testino) were printed in to a gorgeous taschen book, and sadly slapped with a massive price tag (i felt slapped, too). i think i might make it a goal to one day own one of the 1,500 copies. well, a girl can dream..

fairly recent sketches..

taking a little inspiration from the amazing sheep sketchbook of Henry Moore..

the most gorgeous male feet i have ever seen, i became slightly obsessed over summer!

cheryl cole on vogue. discuss.

To me, Cheryl Cole doesn't particularly suit Vogue. My idea of a cover star is a model, a designer, someone that has made a real impact on the fashion world, maybe even a garment, a fabric, lots of things in fact, but not an x-factor judge, i don't think that being a celebrity deserves such recognition (though i guess the same could be said for certain models/and or icons). Ali said that i was put vogue on a pedestal that it didn't deserve, but ill wait for next month for vogue to redeem themselves..

continuing todays animal theme..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifWyqLijKFM

a very fitting video!

in a few weeks i will be visiting the royal academy in london to see an exhibition which includes pieces by Egon Schiele. Ive never seen one 'in the flesh' so i am very excited. I think they're the most beautiful images, line quality, use of colour - to me they are perfect works of art, and the fact that some of their subject matter makes some people slightly uncomfortable (i think) makes them even better..

oh and Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Goya, Manet, Monet, Schiele, Gauguin and Picasso are there too..

above> embrace 1917

sidenote: a visit to Austria to see his museum?