jetstarplane

Since my trip to Sydney I have done quite a bit of flying around for various reasons.  I actually like flying.  It’s fun.  And exhilarating.  I love the take off especially… that surging sense of unleashed power and the ground falling away beneath us.  And then when we have levelled off… the cup of green tea… the cheese and crackers.  Perverse I know given the taste of aircraft water… but it’s become a bit of a ritual… something you expect and look forward to (((chuckles)))  

This morning I awoke to the gentle lapping sounds of the Coral Sea and to a warm and sunny morning that truly defies the fact that we are in the grip of winter here in the Southern Hemisphere. Let me tell you… this is NOT winter.  

The weather here is totally glorious… and this morning as I look out onto a crystal sea… I am content to absorb the transient moment and simply accept without question the ordinary everyday universal gifts that come our way unexpectedly… and to take life and it’s many challenges with a grain of salt… (err… maybe make that sand!)

beach-coupleAn oldie but a goodie!

“Seeing Eye to Eye” Watercolour Copyright 2004 Jean Burman

I spotted this rather funny scene one day at the beach.

Without a sketchbook handy… I tried to remember the essentials

but this was mostly done from memory.  

It’s been a busy few weeks.  Hence my tardiness here.  But much has been going on behind the scenes of the Blog to bring some exciting changes and improvements.  Funny how things (ideas) take time to percolate and… only after that… to take shape!

But by the end of the week you should see some changes here… including an all new online shopfront with products featuring many of my paintings, cartoons, sketches and, yes, even photographs!  It’s been a fun project setting up and sorting out products and images and the process is (and will continue to be) ongoing.  

In the coming weeks I will also be launching a new Blog (another one… which will run parallel to this one).  It’s a total spinoff from this Blog but will run in an entirely different direction topic wise.  I hope you will come along with me on my next big adventure to see where it will lead?  You are all officially invited!  It’s a very exciting project which has been a long time in the pipeline but (at last) finally taking shape!  More news on the new Blog as it comes to hand.

So as you can see I have been busy!

claire-grad

Also since last we spoke… my youngest daughter graduated from University with a Bachelor of Business majoring in International Business and a Bachelor of Commerce degree.  I managed to capture a couple of happy snaps (okay there were over a hundred or more) under the Arch and out in the University Quadrangle before the ceremony.  

c-on-water

I loved this photograph especially.  She was waiting for the official photographer to set up the camera and turned to give me a casual wave in the opposite direction.  The illusion of her walking on water was entirely accidental… although I have no doubt she is more than capable of it! LOL  

She was in fact in heels and standing on one of the concrete pathways that lead across the water feature.  I thought it was a cool effect… but like I said… entirely accidental!  Funny how things just happen like that…

More news as it comes to hand.

Enjoy your week…

and don’t forget to look for the good in everything!  

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stuff-white-people-likeChristian Lander “Stuff White People Like” & Ben Pobjie 

I never knew that white people liked stuff that other people didn’t until last Saturday… but apparently it’s true. White people are unique!  Well that’s according to internet guru Christian Lander anyway… on his recently gone-viral tongue in cheek blog site Stuff White People Like.  

According to the Book
QUOTE  [They pretend to be unique, yet somehow they’re all exactly the same.  They are down with diversity and up on all the best microbrews, breakfast spots, foreign cinema, and authentic sushi. They’re organic, ironic, and do not own TVs. You know who they are: They’re white people. And they’re here, and you’re gonna have to deal. Fortunately, here’s a book that investigates, explains, and offers advice for finding social success with the Caucasian persuasion] UNQUOTE

The book in question is (yes you guessed it) the recently released hard copy version of his wildly popular blog site Stuff White People Like. And it was being discussed in conversation with the author at the Sydney Writer’s Festival last weekend.

How I came to be in the audience is another story and… oh all right then if you insist ~grin~

About a month ago I thought “you know… I really should go to the Sydney Writer’s Festival”… then promptly forgot all about it. Then last Thursday I received an email offering me complimentary tickets to the Christian Lander session. I’d never heard of him. But in the spirit of following the Universe to it’s natural conclusion I thought… well heck… why not?

stuff-white-people-like-5The World’s Largest Coathanger

I booked my flight for Saturday and set the alarm for an early start. The day dawned wet and incredibly windy. The tail end of the low pressure system that had wreaked havoc and brought wild weather to the coast had sent thousands of like minded people (all white no doubt like me) clammering for the airport.

Driving around in the dark with not a carpark in sight… I spotted a fluorescently-clad/torch-wielding gentleman who directed me with a wry smile to the farthest reaches of the long term car park.  

“Hope you’ve got a brolley!” he called after me.  

Don’t you just hate attempted good humour so early in the morning?

Negotiating the mud puddles on foot… in blinding rain and with my umbrella by now turned hopelessly inside out… I not only cursed the fact that I could have still been tucked up in bed… but also that I could have been dropped right to the door if I hadn’t been so damned stubborn about taking the car… *sigh*

By now thoroughly drenched… I stumbled into the terminal building… took my chances with electrocution at the check-in kiosk… and then headed for security. A couple of good humoured security people then decided to put me… my soggy carry-on and hysterically dilapidated umbrella through the hoops. And then for good measure and because they were being so funny… I scored the explosives test as well!  Bizarre isn’t it?  Why… when everything is too wet to strike a match some fool decides to look for explosives?   

That done… next stop was the ladies room for a quick buzz of the hair under the hand dryer. As you do. Funny how those things don’t stay on unless you’re drying your hands. I mean… how does it know if it’s your head or your hand stuck under there? But it does. Apparently. You know that don’t you?

After much ado about nothing… I made it onto the plane and arrived in Sydney late but relatively intact. My brother had enjoyed breakfast in the Qantas lounge while killing time waiting for the flight… and then we headed straight for the Writer’s Festival venue at the historical Heritage Pier in The Rocks. Even though it was still early… the multiple venues were packed and people were queuing along the wharves in a patient good natured manner (as they do).

 

stuff-white-people-like-4

Queues of perfectly ordinary white people - Heritage Pier Sydney

The conversation with Christian Lander and facilitated by NewMatilda resident satirist Ben Pobjie was both entertaining and enlightening. He’s a very funny guy despite how he looks. He can’t help it. He’s white.  They both were in fact.  I think it’s a conspiracy. *wink* LOL

stuff-white-people-like-2More perfectly ordinary white people - (the book signing queue)

As the session drew to a close the audience was invited to queue for the book signing.  Barry turned to me and asked if I wanted to join the queue and get a copy.  What?  No way!  Not this little (white) girl (insert smug knowing smile)  I wouldn’t be seen dead in that queue!  

Not now… especially not now!  Not after what I’d just heard and knowing what I now know about white people and how they claim independent thought yet clump pretentiously together clammering after brand names and for whatever cause! ~grin~

stuff-7Stragglers break ranks over a nice cup of coffee  

Seriously though (if only just for a minute) I couldn’t help but wonder about the irony of it all. How come so many (totally cool) white folks automatically fell into line? I mean… if being white means you’re unique… an individual… unwilling to follow the mob and accept the status quo… why then be seen in a queue?  *wink*

A puzzling phenomenon perhaps only the author could answer… but by now… he was simply too busy signing to comment!

It was a fun weekend.  And you will be happy to know that the flight home on Sunday night was completely uneventful. I recovered my car in the middle of a mud puddle in the far top corner of the (by now) empty carpark.  The parking attendant was nowhere in sight.  ((chuckles))

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cupcakeMini cupcake baked and photographed by

Jean Burman copyright 2009 (grin)

I have been busy producing more cartoons for the NewMatilda competition but won’t show them here until after the Comp… (or maybe before if they don’t get into the Heats).  It’s getting close now with only two heats to go and the professionals are out in force pushing us wannabees to the back of the queue.  Too bad.  C’est la vie!  

In the meantime… I came across this film clip which I simply loved.  It put a smile on my face in a challenging week that was sadly lacking in reasons to… except of course for the making of cupcakes above which always puts a smile on my dial (((chuckles)))

Similar to the Improv Everywhere crew’s stunt in Grand Central Station New York… this was a fascinating exercise (and heartwarming insight) into human behaviour. I think they pulled it off well…

take a look HERE and see what you think! 

In the midst of the world’s gloom and doom it seems there is still occasion for joy in the indomitable human spirit. This clip made me feel so proud and happy to be a human bean! (grin)

I am positively glowing… how about you?

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It may be a man’s world… but it would be nothing without a (pesky & persistent) woman!

kevmax

“KRudd Boots N’All”

Cartoon Pen & Watercolour 8″x 12″

Copyright 2009 Jean Burman

another entry in www.NewMatilda.com.au Political Cartooning Competition

(and yes… oops… Barack has one R!)

With a Dad and three brothers in my childhood home… my mother and I were used to the rough and tumble of living in a house full of boys.  Consequently I think boys are great.  Different entirely to girls… who are okay too mind you… but way more complicated (grin). Boys on the other hand are pretty straight forward.  They say what they mean and mean what they say… punch first… ask questions later… that sort of thing.  (Though I hasten to add… being the only girl in a family of boys had it’s strategic advantages too cos no-one was allowed to punch me!  Ha!)  

I have always found the notion of being a woman in a man’s world rather intriguing.  The idea of mixing it with the boys who definitely seem to have the numbers in almost every arena (including cartooning) doesn’t really faze me… I grew up with boys remember?  But still sometimes my ignorance of any tangible sort of philosophical difference between the genders still surprises me.

This ignorance has on occasion led me inadvertently into a number of humourous situations.  Like the time I blithely sailed into the Gentlemen’s Room in the Qantas Lounge at LA International Airport… (incredibly jet lagged and in transit)… sending all assembled gents into an intercontinental flat spin and the room into an all-out unholy panic. Pandemonium ensued… as redfaced I realised my error.  [I shall never again underestimate the power of a woman to clear the mens room in under 30 seconds flat!]  I do however  swear on my life to never ever do it again!  Anyway by the by.  I hadn’t intended to tell you that story… but it was funny at the time… and what the hey!

What I had intended to tell you about was the new Life Drawing Session I went to the other night.  No stranger to life drawing… and being used to a “mixed” group… it took a comment fully half way through the three hour session to alert me to the fact that besides the model… I was the only female in the room.  

“There’s life drawing on Monday mornings too you know” came the wake up call that enlightened me.

“Oh thanks” I responded appreciatively to the kind gentleman beside me… still not entirely getting it.  

“but Monday doesn’t suit… and Wednesday night is just fine by me…”  I trailed off

As the last word spilled confidently from my lips the realisation hit me.  I looked around at the bunch of friendly and (don’t get me wrong) more than perfectly well behaved guys in the group and realised for the first time that I was definitely the odd man out.

I chatted with the model out in the kitchen over a cup of tea on our break… and learned that she too had no nonsense boys in her life and was unfazed (despite her lack of apparel) by the prospect of being in a room full of blokes. Though I’ve got to say… I reckon her courage exceeded mine by a very large measure! LOL 

Undeterred I pushed on into the second half and left with a reasonable assortment of 2, 5, and 10 minute sketches.  Whilst they are not serious art… I find quick sketches great for figure referencing in subsequent paintings.  And life sketches do have a spontaneous freshness that is sometimes hard to beat.       

p102063510 minute sketch 

Willow stick on cartridge paper

Copyright 2009 Jean Burman 

I think I shall go back again next week… what do you reckon?  

If only to stir things up a bit?   Heavens knows I need the practice!

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