Do What You Love is growing fast, and we are delighted to work with a team of brilliant people based on three continents to bring tools and inspiration to you. I thought I’d introduce our newest team members to you:
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Night time festival magic
If you like the sound of a city centre closed to traffic, ancient wooden festival floats lit up with hundreds of traditional lanterns, street stalls selling fried noodles and other delicious offerings, and tens of thousands of people strolling in beautiful summer kimonos, then you want to take yourself to Kyoto for the Gion Matsuri. Here are a few pictures from a hot hot night here!
The quiet moment before the crowds come
Final preparations are made on this boat-shaped float, just before the parade begins
The Gion Matsuri is one of the most famous festivals in Japan. It is over a month long, and on the three nights leading up to the main parade, the main streets are closed to traffic, allowing tens of thousands of people – many in summer kimonos – to wander around soaking up the glow from the floats adorned with lanterns. (Night pictures to follow soon…)
We got up early to go downtown and get up close to the Gion Matsuri festival floats before the crowds decended. Here is what we found…
Exquisite paintwork on the gold leaf ceiling of the float
I AM an artist: Rachelle Panagarry shares her story
Today’s shared story comes from Rachelle Panagarry who lives in the UK with her husband and children, teaches full time, creates art and loves life.
Some people might say that from the outside appearance, I’m already doing what I love, but those who really know me can see that I’m actually just beginning to do it. I know this might not really make too much sense but let me explain.
I’m currently working full time as a school teacher in a school that is full of fun and challenges and no two days are ever the same. What’s more, I LOVE that place and I feel in a very honored position to have a part in educating the children that come into my care.
BUT
My true love, in fact what I now believe to be my true life as well as love, is my art.
After taking a break from teaching due to illness, and having much needed breathing space, I have rediscovered what I knew to be true all along. I am an artist. Yes, I said it. I AM an artist. This is my true calling, I know it and feel it and the desire to be creative grows stronger every day.
For so many years now, I have watched and admired other artists from the sidelines. I’d read about them, collect artwork, view websites and wonder ‘what if’ I’d pursued my art rather than teaching. Well due to what could have been a real negative situation, but actually turned out to be the best, the illness (heart related) has given me that push to go do it for myself. If I’ve learned one thing this last twelve months, it’s that life is short so GRAB it and DO WHAT YOU LOVE.
I realized that if I want to be taken seriously, then I had to take my art seriously myself. I started to blog, tentatively at first, and put my artwork ‘out there’ for the whole world to see. I wasn’t really prepared for the response that I got. Like many creative folk, I too suffer from the ‘my art’s not good enough syndrome’, so it was a real shock when the response was positive. But even better was an email in my inbox asking if I’d like to have my art included in a book to be published by Suzi Blu. I think I actually screamed out loud when I read the message. Of course I said yes, and this year it was published. A dream come true for me, but better than that, it gave me the confidence to really believe in myself and to go after what I want. I want to do what I love, and what I love is making art.
Things are starting to go from strength to strength and I can feel a bright future ahead of me now, something that I didn’t see before I was ill. It’s so exciting… I can’t wait for this creative journey ahead, I just know I’m going to LOVE it.
[Images courtesy of Rachelle Panagarry.]
Find out more about Rachelle on her website.
Festival preparations
July is Gion Matsuri festival time in Kyoto. As the city gears up for the biggest parade of the year on Tuesday, the streets downtown are all closed off to cars, and are lined with street food stalls and people peddling all sorts of festival goodies.
Guerrilla pattern art
Not wearing busyness as a badge of honour
Back in my days of having a ‘job’, my frequent response to the question “How are you?” was “I’m so busy”. Thinking back to those days, I even used to write that in emails to friends, as if being busy was my news and something to be proud of. What was that all about?
Do What You Love interview – Ai Kawauchi
Today I am thrilled to share this interview with Japanese contemporary lighting designer Ai Kawauchi. I met Ai when fellow lighting designer Hannah Nunn came out to Kyoto to visit recently. Ai is featured in Hannah’s upcoming book ‘Illuminate‘ which showcases contemporary craft lighting from around the world. Ai’s work is unique, fascinating and other-worldly – here is a peek into her world.
Image by Hannah Nunn
Photostyling 3
This month’s theme was Summer. Very appropriate – it was baking as I made my way from the little train station to my Sensei’s house.
I have never noticed the colour and texture of blueberries in a way I did when photographing them for this session.
And all the little tricks – the water spray, the fanning out of stray berries, the reflection of light with a white foam board – are all so good to know. I am learning a lot!
Pattern course student signed by Wallpapered.com!
The good news just keeps pouring in for our fantastic graduates of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design (the e-course) The lovely Suzanne Washington has been signed by Wallpapered.com and has created a collection of 6 beautiful designs for them! You can see her fantastic designs below. This was a direct result of Suzanne submitting to a live brief set by Wallpapered.com for Module 3.
You can see more of her fabulous work on her website: Suzyspellbound
Congratulations to Suzanne & well done to all of our e-course graduates! So proud!
