Sarah Beetson Art and Illustration

Straightjacket Press Newcastle create my tshirts

2012-02-05T23:25:00.008+11:00

Here are some photos that detail the creation process of my new tshirt collection. The illustrations were adjusted for screen printing in 6 colours by the awesome Straightjacket Press in Newcastle, NSW. They were then printed onto acetates and applied to the screens, before being painstakingly hand-screened by Rob and Michelle.
All the shirts are American Apparel neons, in beautiful fine cotton. The Prince Print comes in pink, yellow and orchid and Sarah Print in orange, green and blue. The really special thing about the process for me is that unlike with CMYK or digital printing, Rob and Michelle were able to use fluroescent inks, and by alternating colours between water-based and oil-based inks, they were able to replicate a lot of texture within the images. The colours are AWESOME and these photos really don't do them full justice. The print run was all done in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. The shirts are ethically sourced from American cotton and sewn in downtown LA, and there are no sweat shops or slave labour in any stage of this production. As this is a hand screened process - nothing is done by machines, and it results in each shirt varying ever so slightly from the next. This is about as luxuriantly unique as a tshirt gets! And we made just 15 of each design, unisex sizes XS, S, M, L and XL.

Stella McCartney Cherry Heels for Surf n Ink Tattoo Convention

2012-01-06T15:15:00.005+11:00

Here is a brand new piece I created for the "Underway Is The Only Way" Art Exhibition at Surf n Ink Tattoo Convention Australia. Both the original art and prints will be available, as well as 4 more tattoo related prints: "Sailor Jerry", "Tattooist Geordie Cole", "The Noise Of Sorrow Itself (Hannah)" and "Villainously John Galliano". The Surf n Ink program runs from 13th - 15th January at The Gold Coast Convention Centre.

Dreamworld's 30th Birthday Celebration

2011-12-20T23:14:00.003+11:00

On 15th December, I was commissioned to create a commemorative artwork celebrating 30 years of Dreamworld. The piece was finished live on Main Street, with the Holiday Shrektacular Dreamworks Live Show taking place to my right and the high pitched screams of the riders on The Claw to my left. My work was really popular with the kids and teens in particular, with groups of people stopping by to survey my progress throughout the day. Unfortunately, I finished just as the park closed, and missed out on a ride on The Cyclone! Ah, next time!

John Galliano

2011-12-20T22:47:00.002+11:00

A brief interlude of illustrations from some of the John Galliano @ Dior collections that have inspired me over the last decade. The tattooed body stocking from the Marlene Dietrich meets Courtney Love SS04 collection was a piece we kept desperately trying to call in for photoshoots when I worked as a styling assistant on an issue of POP in 2003 (I think everyone at the magazine was obsessed by it). I hold it partially responsible for the tattoos I have had since then. I hope that this series will help a few to remember the ingenuity of Galliano's work post-scandal.

I Dream In Celluloid: Ottawa

2011-12-20T17:11:00.003+11:00

Celluloid Canada, at the spectacular La Petite Mort Gallery - a taxidermy filled wonderland of eclectic vintage furniture and an awe inspiring artist roster. The gallery staff were so wonderful and it was a truly delightful way to end the exhibition tour.

Here are the photos from

I Dream In Celluloid: London

2011-12-20T16:21:00.004+11:00

After a crazy whirlwind UK/Europe/USA/Canada tour, I'm finally back, have found myself a non-painting minute, and I'm blogging all about it! Firstly, here are some photos from the opening night of "I Dream In Celluloid" London, at The Brick Lane Gallery:

Help me print 2 new packs of playing cards!

2011-10-27T12:58:00.000+11:00

Two Dogs

2011-09-07T02:35:00.003+10:00

Tattoo designs for Fashion Designer / Parsons New School of Design Professor, and my muse; Kyle Farmer.

Giant Bluebird Canvas

2011-07-31T06:52:00.002+10:00

Here are some photographs of a large scale canvas painting I just finished from my temporary studio in my folks garage in Cheshire, UK. The painting will be displayed in the Pediatric ER of a children's hospital in Texas.

I Dream In Celluloid Comes to London!

2011-07-31T05:51:00.002+10:00

Celluloid opens in London this Wednesday, 3rd August 2011 from 6-8pm @ The Brick Lane Gallery.

Creative Review: Best in Book Award

2011-07-31T05:32:00.004+10:00

I won the Creative Review Illustration Annual 2011 Best in Book for an illustration series. The 5 winning works form part of my 4th solo exhibition "I Dream In Celluloid", which tours The Gold Coast and Melbourne, Australia, London UK and Ottawa Canada this year. Here are some images from the annual.

Taschen Illustration Now! Portraits

2011-07-31T05:20:00.003+10:00

I am included in the new Taschen book: Illustration Now! Portraits. Here are some photographs of my pages.

birth.art

2011-05-24T00:37:00.003+10:00

Here is the mini series I just finished creating for the group exhibition birth.art. The show opens Tues 14th June @ ACU Gallery, 26 Brunswick Street, Melbourne - I'll be in London but I'm hoping to be beamed in via Skype!
The show features 1 large canvas and 5 small works created especially which explore the process of birth. Sneak peak!

An Homage to Frida Kahlo

2011-05-24T00:31:00.003+10:00

Here are the 4 works for the upcoming Exhibition: An Homage to Frida Kahlo. My inspiration for this mini-series came from a discovery made upon reading much of Frida’s memoirs, Diego Rivera’s autobiography, and modern literature about the artist. Frida Kahlo had an affair with the exiled Russian Bolshevik Revolutionary Leon Trotsky, who lived and died at her Mexican home. For a number of years I have cultivated an obsession with Soviet Military Hats, and have amassed an extensive collection. The paintings in this series reflect this interest, and confront my ever more mixed up British/Australian identity. They feature my beloved pets from both countries, some of whom I have lost in recent years.

"I Dream In Celluloid" Exhibition Photos - Melbourne

2011-04-22T19:14:00.007+10:00

Here are some photos of the show in situe and the opening night of "I Dream In Celluloid" @ For Walls Gallery, Melbourne City, Australia, on 6th April 2011.

Celluloid Melbourne Exhibition Posters

2011-04-22T19:09:00.002+10:00

Here are some of the show posters and invites from Shell Weiss.

Polyester Books Feature Celluloid!

2011-04-22T19:06:00.001+10:00

Polyester Books will be featuring a number of my Dream Sketches in their Vol 3 issue of the Polynation Zine. I also created this title text for them.

"I Dream In Celluloid" Exhibition Photos - Gold Coast

2011-04-22T18:37:00.007+10:00

Here are some photos of the show in situe and the opening night of "I Dream In Celluloid" @ 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace, Mermaid Beach, Queensland Australia, on 19th February 2011.

Celluloid Gold Coast Exhibition Posters

2011-04-22T18:10:00.002+10:00

Cushions!

2011-04-22T17:57:00.004+10:00

Large Canvases - Fake Movie Posters

2011-04-22T17:45:00.003+10:00

Here are the 3 large 80cm x 120cm canvases I created for "I Dream In Celluloid". They are 'Fake' movie posters; these might be the films I'd make if I was a big budget movie director...

Fake Movie Poster iii: Whatever Happened To The Indie Girls?

Fake Movie Poster ii: The Directors Chainsaw Massacre

Fake Movie Poster i: Nepotism Kills Culture

Quilt in progress!

2011-04-22T17:27:00.003+10:00

Photos of Amy's quilt and cushion pattern making and sewing in-progress!

Quilt Pattern Repeats

2011-04-22T14:49:00.007+10:00

Here are some of the pattern repeats I created for digital print. The Dream Sketchbook repeat was printed on cotton poplin, Celluloid repeat on needlecord, and the Embroidered Mirror repeat on luxurious silk viscose velvet. I printed other designs on silk viscose satin and silk viscose jersey.

Sunrise (1927) Dream

2011-01-09T00:57:00.002+11:00

A very odd dream in which I had a stand off with a silver flying fish, which glided through the air like water, and kept ducking and hiding under beds before swooshing out and attacking me. I finally found a bread knife and split it in two, whereby a large fish banquet opened up which Chad and Shell came to eat, complete with Vietnam brand margarine (I think I have watched too many Apocalpyse now/Jacob's Ladder movies of late).

Evel Knievel (1971) Dream, Delirious (2007) and Celebrity (1998) Dream

2011-01-03T22:17:00.003+11:00

In this dream my brother and his girlfriend seemed to have swapped bedrooms (and contents!) with me...?

A nightmarish skiing dream which I think harks back to some bad experiences of falling on skis in Spain a few years back. British Olympic ski jumper, Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, I think symbolised myself in this dream?!

The Elephant Man (1980) Dream

2010-12-30T21:23:00.003+11:00

My most vivid lucid dream yet, in which after becoming lucid, I escaped from captivity by climbing up 4 shelves and evaporating through a brick wall, freed my family, and led them outside into a daisy covered English garden with rays of morning sunlight shining down. "If I'm dreaming, I should be able to see my hands" I thought, and looked at them, dropping them to my sides, and looked at them a 2nd time. The light shone between my fingers in fragmented beams filled with diamonds and precious stones. As I moved my hands, I felt like I would be able to enter another space or dimension via the light beams. I was overcome with joy, but lost focus when I spotted a drunken, rambling Michael Caine at my feet. He kept begging to give me a kiss. Eventually I reluctantly offered my cheek, and awoke.

Prince, The future Queen of England and Coney Island Dreams

2010-12-29T03:40:00.002+11:00

The Name Of The Rose (1986) Dream:

The Seventh Seal (1957) Dream:

Lucid Dreaming

2010-12-23T02:17:00.006+11:00

Gonzo (2007), Where The Buffalo Roam (1980), Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (1998) Dream: a giggling teletubby played scenes from the Vietnam War on its belly (straight out of the Vegas hotel suite in Fear and Loathing?), whilst Velvet looked on. I became lucid in this dream and was able to visualise my hands, but wasn't able to grasp objects or walk without sinking thru the floor. I noticed my chipped nail polish though!

Animal Kingdom (2010) Dream: In which I was being directed by Johnny Depp in a movie. The scene we were about to shoot involved a bank hold up, but I kept forgetting my opening line: "Take Heed!" and having to reread the script. I did not like wearing dark colours.

Wikileaks and Julian Assange Dream

2010-12-16T23:22:00.003+11:00

A dream I had in the early hours of Tuesday morning. In this dream, I had found an article in a copy of December 1980 Playboy magazine (I have an extensive Playboy collection) in which Julian Assange was being interviewed about the fact that he had been accused of extorsion and framed for money laundering (Julian Assange would've been 9 years old in 1980, but that didn't seem of consequence in the dream). He had been extradited to the US and was sitting on death row (I hope this wasn't a premonition?) Having found this article, I scanned it and posted it on Facebook (I have clearly been spending too much time on there if I'm dreaming about it!). I instantly got a facebook comment from Regan, who posted a link to a database of a ton of surveilance footage and photos of myself from when I had lived in London and travelled on London transport?

Rope (1948) Dream

2010-12-15T18:45:00.003+11:00

A dream which followed the Alfred Hitchcock movie Rope (1948), in which my boyfriend and his brother were larking about onboard the MTB 219, whilst my friend Ruby Blues helped my cousin Amy to try on burlesque outfits. All of a sudden, a storm came and a gigantic whale flicked its tail, creating a tsunami which inadvertantly saved us by beaching us ashore.... oh and the dream contained this random quote: "The sum of a child's education can be contained in a box of sewing thread".

My Grandad

2010-12-13T17:12:00.002+11:00

A dream I had about going home to find my grandad (who died in 2003) watching Match of The Day, and telling him how much I had missed watching Man Utd with him. I never really got over his death as I was away in London and did not get the chance to say goodbye to him. He inspired my love of classic film and I will be dedicating "I Dream In Celluloid" to him.

Two More Celluloid Dreams

2010-12-10T01:45:00.003+11:00

Que He Hecho YO Para Merecer Esto (1985) - English Title: What Have I done to Deserve This? The Pedro Almodovar masterpiece inspired some odd dream wanderings in the bushes outside my hometown local pub, in a fabulous red sequined outfit, accompanied by Robert Smith of The Cure, with my teeth rotting and falling out.... The Jazz Singer (1980) culminated in a dream in which a group of petrified small children were thrown from their picnic blanket by bloodsuckers masquerading as The Care Bears.....

Bus Stop (1958) Dream

2010-12-04T00:03:00.003+11:00

Marilyn Monroe, Loretta Lynn, deciding on which of my 2 favourite bands to see during simultaneous gigs (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or The Warlocks), and settling for dancing on tables in my blue velvet pink poodle skirt.

The Legend of Billie Jean (1985) / Pump Up The Volume (1990) Dream

2010-12-03T23:16:00.002+11:00

A very fun Fairground /Adelaide Fringe / Farm mash-up dream with carousels and funhouse mirrors and friends having fun.

London to Brighton (2006) Dream

2010-12-01T14:25:00.002+11:00

This one had a slightly nightmarish quality, involving an attack by a friend's usually placid cat.

More Dreams

2010-11-30T15:02:00.003+11:00

Some dreams following the movies High Fidelity (2000), S.F.W (1994) and Funny Games (2008).

The Big Chill (1983) Dream

2010-11-21T17:35:00.002+11:00

A visual record of the dream I had after watching the movie The Big Chill (1983). It saw my boyfriend and I escaping from bushfire by car, our house being burned, losing our beautiful 60s vinyl couch named Gladys, but all my paintings surviving. The rememberance of being in Fitzroy swimming pool as the Black Saturday bushfires unfolded must've been swimming around in my subconscious.

First panel for Quilt

2010-11-17T15:14:00.003+11:00

Here is the first piece of the giant quilt cover for "I Dream In Celluloid". It was based on a dream I had after watching the movie "Two Moon Junction" (1988). The dream involved dingy London flats, working at The Electric Ballroom in Camden (where I once had my market stall selling all my hand painted tshirts), my mystic friend Laura's fabulous Cowboy boots, and several people named Billy - mainly my cousin's son Billy Reddish and my Norwegian friend Knud's son Billy Kleppe, who are 3 months apart in age and whom I often confuse, but also Billy Idol and an old PC, also named Billy, which died from a virus many moons ago taking 1 year of my scanned university work to the grave with it.

More Dreams

2010-10-28T18:02:00.003+11:00

Four more dreams, following from the movies: "Robot Holocaust" (1986), "Angst Essen Seele Auf" (1974), "Cool Hand Luke" (1967) and "Labyrinth" (1986).

Dream Sketchbook

2010-10-14T22:10:00.003+11:00

2 new dreams, after watching the Frank Zappa movie "Baby Snakes" (1977) and Ghostbusters (1984).

Last Unsung Hero

2010-10-12T01:58:00.002+11:00

Arthur 'Killer' Kane was the bass guitar player for The New York Dolls, one of the most influential yet unsung bands of the early 70s, who shook up the prog rock scene by dressing in women's clothing yet delivering a tough sound that was to set the prescedent for the Punk Rock explosion that followed. Hard partying and the death of drummer Billy Murcia from an overdose lead to the band's split in 1975, and Arthur forged several unsuccessful side projects with fellow Dolls Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan and Blackie Lawless of W.A.S.P. Arthur relocated to L.A, and aside from a few 80s B-movie roles, faded into obscurity and depression; jumping from his apartment window during an alcohol binge, and being beaten up and left for dead during the Rodney King riots. He pawned his guitars, joined the Church of the Latter Day Saints, lived on disability and volunteered at the local library. In 2004, he got a call from Morrissey urging him to reform The New York Dolls with surviving members David Johansen and Sylvan Sylvain. What followed was the resurrection of Arthur's dream. He flew to London and The Dolls played better than ever to much fanfare, with Gary Powell of The Libertines on drums. 22 days after Arthur returned to L.A, he checked himself into hospital with what he thought was a case of London flu. He was diagnosed with Leukemia and died 2 hours later. A beautiful portrait of Arthur Killer Kane can be seen in the documentary "New York Doll".

Unsung Heroes - 1 more to go

2010-10-09T01:43:00.004+11:00

Here is the next to last of my Unsung Heroes: Cookie Mueller. Cookie was an actress and Dreamlander: a member of Film Director John Waters regular cast and crew. She originated from Baltimore and spent the 60's in San Francisco, narrowly avoiding joining Charles Manson's Family. Upon returning home she featured in 4 of John Waters earlier films including cult classic "Pink Flamingos", before heading to New York to work as a go-go dancer and writer for Details Magazine and a health column called 'Ask Dr Mueller' for the East Village Eye. Cookie was a key player in the New York artistic community in the late 70s and early 80's, and like many of her friends, lost her life to AIDS. She featured in photographer Nan Goldin's "The Cookie Portfolio", a collection of 15 photos spanning 13 years; the penultimate of which features a devastated Cookie beside her husband Vittorio's coffin, and the final shot is of her in her own casket.

My 6th Unsung Hero: Emmett Grogan

2010-10-05T01:50:00.002+11:00

Emmett Grogan was a founder member of The San Francisco Diggers - a radical community action group that emerged in the Haight Ashbury district of San Francisco during late 60s. Hollywood actor Peter Coyote (E.T, Erin Brockovich, HBO's Deadwood) was also a member, having met Emmett performing with the SF Mime Troupe. The Diggers were famous for cooking and handing out free food daily at the Panhandle area of The Golden Gate Park, providing food for those living in poverty and organising crash pads for the thousands of homeless teenage runaways who came to San Francisco in search of the Hippie dream. Emmett spoke out against the hypocrisy of the Hippie ideals; opening up a Free Store in which clothing, food, furniture and money could be taken at no expense by whomever wanted it. Emmett spoke out against the people he saw to be attempting to gain status and celebrity from the HIP ideals, and was open in his criticism of Timothy Leary, Allen Ginsberg and particularly Abbie Hoffman - who in attempting to import the Haight mindset into New York, claimed many of Emmett's ideas as his own. Emmett's book "Ringolevio" contains a well rounded account of life in the Haight around the Summer of Love; as well as detailing the life and times of a junkie, thief, and most likeable rogue; and a fascinating, if elaborate, portrait of American life and culture in the mid 20th century.

Large Paintings

2010-09-21T21:02:00.003+10:00

I've finally got around to scanning some of my larger works (mainly due to being asked to send some portraits to Taschen for their new illustration book). They have been scanned in up to 24 parts and seamlessly joined together by my fabulous boyfriend.

As follows:

Flora

2006

120 cm x 120 cm

2.4 Children (Janine, Kari, Jordy and Bertie)

2007

60 cm x 80 cm

An Australian Family Christmas (Gillian, Tabitha, Tony, Nathaniel, Jasmine, Kane, Breanna, Hayley and Christian)

2007

60 cm x 80 cm

Dolly

2007

80 cm x 120 cm

Venus Xtravaganza

2010-09-12T21:36:00.004+10:00

Here is the 5th portrait in my Unsung Heroes series: Venus Xtravaganza. Venus (born Thomas Pelagatti) was a transgender American in the New York City Ball scene of the 1980s, in which contestants 'walk the balls' to compete for trophies under different categories such as 'Butch Queen', 'School girl/boy Realness', 'Hetrosexual Realness' and 'European Runway'.
The Balls were a fascinating homosexual subculture of fashion, style, and glamour, and were the inspiration for one of Madonna's biggest hits: Vogue. Vogueing is a series of gestures and dance moves which take from Egyptian hyroglyphics, gymnastics and mirror the poses in Vogue Magazine, and its roots date back to the 1930s. The ball scene was divided into Houses of 'drag families' often named after the Paris Fashion Houses such as Saint Lauren and Escada - each comprising a house 'mother' and often father. Venus was a daughter of The House of Xtravaganza, was saving up for sex reassignment surgery, and working as a prostitute to pay for the extravagant costumes she put together for the Balls. She longed to be a spoilt, rich suburban white girl, to get married in church and live in a nice home with her husband. Tragically, she was murdered by a trick and her body was discovered 4 days later in a New York Hotel room in 1988. You can see Venus in the documentary "Paris is Burning".

New Exhibition Dates Announced 2010 and 2011!!!

2010-09-08T16:13:00.005+10:00

Group Exhibition: "Black and White Vs Colour"
Opening Night Friday 22nd October 2010, 6pm - 9pm
Exhibition running Oct 22 - Nov 12, 2010
Off The Kerb Gallery, 66B Johnston St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
http://www.offthekerb.com.au

Solo Exhibition: "I Dream In Celluloid"
Opening Night Saturday 19th February 2011, 6pm - 8pm
Exhibition running Feb 19 - Mar 19, 2011
19 Karen Contemporary Art Space, 19 Karen Ave, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
http://www.19karen.com.au

Solo Exhibition: "I Dream In Celluloid"
Opening Night Wednesday 6th April 2011, 6pm - 10pm
Exhibition running Apr 6 - 29, 2011
For Walls Gallery, Miss Libertine, 34 Franklin St, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/For-Walls/116143241756732?ref=ts

Group Exhibition: "An Homage to Frida Kahlo"
Opening Night Saturday 4th June 2011, 6pm - 8pm
Exhibition running June 4 - 30, 2011
19 Karen Contemporary Art Space, 19 Karen Ave, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
http://www.19karen.com.au

Group Exhibition: "I Dream In Celluloid" (as part of 'Art In Mind')
Opening Night T.B.C
Exhibition running Aug 2 - 15, 2011
The Brick Lane Gallery, 96 Brick Lane, London E1, UK
http://www.thebricklanegallery.com/

Richard Brautigan

2010-09-06T21:27:00.004+10:00

The 4th portrait in my Unsung Heroes series is American poet and writer Richard Brautigan. Richard grew up in poverty in the Pacific Northwest, his father leaving his mother 8 months before his birth. As a young man, he threw rocks at a police station window in order to be sent to prison and fed - instead he was committed to a mental hospital where he received 12 electric shock treatments. He moved to San Francisco to become a writer in 1954 - a huge ambition for someone of his social class. Richard's involvement with the 60s counterculture saw him give away much of his early writings on the street for free. His works employ a stark simplicity, black humour and hauntingly beautiful innocence, and are both an important cultural account of the 60s and priceless pieces of Americana. He often mentioned suicide to his daughter, Ianthe, and after falling from favour, he shot himself in 1984.

Next Unsung Hero

2010-08-10T21:20:00.003+10:00

Opal Whiteley (1897 -1992) was a young nature writer and diarist from a logging town in Oregon. Her childhood journal, written with wax crayons on butcher paper, was torn to shreds by her sister Pearl only to be painstakingly re-pieced together and published in 1920 to much acclaim. Its date of creation and authenticity were later disputed, as were Opal's claims to being the illegitimate child of a French Prince. However, Opal's diary remains a unique and precious portrait of the innocence of childhood and the overwhelming importance of the natural world.

Unsung Heroes series

2010-07-15T13:08:00.004+10:00

I am currently working on a series of portraits of my Unsung Heroes. There will be 8 paintings in the series which will be available from 19 Karen Gallery. The majority of the artists I'll be portraying have remained below the surface of their genre whilst others they have influenced and inspired have received much critical acclaim. I have therefore decorated the portraits in 'badges' featuring the successors.
Fran Landesman is an American poet and lyrics writer who was highly influential in the beat generation, and she has written songs for a vast array of musicians from Miles Davis and Roberta Flack to Bette Midler and Barbara Streisand. I was lucky enough to meet her and listen to a recital of her poetry at The Angel (she now lives in London and is 82 years old.) I have used her lyrics as starting points for paintings in the past as well as quoting her within my work.
Jeffrey Lee Pierce was an influential American blues musician who bridges the gap between the likes of classic Delta Blues era artists like Son House and Howlin' Wolf, and the modern era White Stripes and Nick Cave. He died on my 15th birthday in 1996 of a brain hemorrhage, and a shoebox of his last recordings was recently found in an attic and made into a record called 'We Are Only Riders', featuring Blondie's Debbie Harry and many of his contemporaries. His music has been my in my studio playlist for some years and his autobiographical book of stories has contributed greatly to my ideas.
The next one I'll be doing will be Opal Whiteley. Jeffrey Lee Pierce is ON RESERVE.

Represented in QLD by 19 Karen Gallery

2010-07-01T11:29:00.007+10:00

I am delighted to announce my representation in Queensland by 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace. I am currently part of a group show there containing the last remaining works from my "50 Bucks" series, presented in a new format on a candy store assortment of handpainted wooden frames.

And Another...

2010-06-10T16:23:00.002+10:00

Fame (1980), Rome, Josef Marzi, Art Awards and A Hobo.

Another Dream

2010-06-08T10:16:00.003+10:00

This one involved a squat party with my old London squatter friends, Johnny Depp buying me cocktails and attempting to seduce me, having extreme tan lines, Elliott Smith playing a gig and my mother feeding people Pepto Bismol. Strange indeed. Dead people are always rocking on in my dreams.

Memories

2010-05-31T14:54:00.002+10:00

I am going to be contributing to the wonderful Memories project; a coffee table art book containing 144 artworks by artists worldwide set around the theme of Cancer. All proceeds will go to Maggie's Centres in the UK.

Computer Arts Feature

2010-05-30T16:13:00.003+10:00

Computer Arts magazine have published a 3-page interview with me in their June 2010 issue - pics below! The article focuses mainly on my exhibitions and works from YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT.

Blog Feature

2010-05-11T16:24:00.001+10:00

Thanks to Shiela for featuring my blog on http://makingjewelrysupplies.com/

New Works

2010-05-06T12:57:00.006+10:00

I have now begun works for my next solo exhibition; "I Dream In Celluloid". The works will explore the link between my obsession with film, and how this affects my dreams and memories. Here are some excerpts from the dream sketchbook, which records the dreams I had and the movies I watched on the corresponding nights.

Die Roten Punkte - Otto's Jacket

2010-04-21T13:04:00.003+10:00

Here is Otto's jacket which I illustrated for Die Roten Punkte's new show "Kunst Rock" at The Arts Centre, Melbourne.

Die Roten Punkte - Burgerstore Dinosaur tshirt

2010-04-21T12:52:00.004+10:00

Here is the illustration I did for a tshirt print for the new Die Roten Punkte song "Burgerstore Dinosaur", from their forthcoming album "Kunst Rock". Please contact the Die Roten Punkte website for details of how to purchase one.

Die Roten Punkte play opening party and scarf wearing

2010-04-21T12:35:00.004+10:00

Here are the wonderful Die Roten Punkte playing at the opening night of my Melbourne exhibition, braving the rain to play a brilliant out door set. Also here are some colourful examples of how to wear my limited edition silk scarves. Red ones are SOLD OUT, limited numbers of the other 3 colours are still available.

Photos from "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT" Melbourne

2010-04-21T12:02:00.010+10:00

Here are some photos of the exhibition in situ @ Discobeans Gallery & Tabiya Sock Shop, Melbourne.

Photos from "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT" Adelaide

2010-04-21T10:45:00.012+10:00

Some photos of my 3rd solo exhibition; "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT" @ Dragonfly Bar, Adelaide. The exhibition was nominated for an Adelaide Fringe Award for Best Body of Work By An Individual.

LMFF Poetry Bag

2010-04-21T10:35:00.004+10:00

I was asked by L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival to illustrate a calico bag for their exhibition at The Australian Poetry Centre. The bag had to inspired by a poem, so I chose "Against Conformity and Averageism" by Richard Brautigan, and referenced Dave the bull from our farm in the illustration.

Last Week of YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT Melbourne

2010-03-23T14:10:00.003+11:00

Closing Party for YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT, Friday 26th March, 6pm til late

@ Discobeans Gallery / Tabiya Sock Shop
238 High Street
Northcote
Melbourne

http://www.discobeans.com/

2010-03-12T15:47:00.003+11:00

Here are a selection of shots from the photoshoot we just did for YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT in Victoria Square, Adelaide. The model is the beautiful circus performer Anna Lumb - http://www.annalumb.com/ and makeup was done by the wonderful Kammy Lee kammy_lee@hotmail.com, with photography by Chad Lane.

Jeffrey Kubiak shoes collaboration

2010-01-25T13:17:00.002+11:00

Here are the beautiful shoes created by Jeffrey Kubiak, with cutaway soles to represent the idea of the impossibly thin waist. The design on the side was based on the bones and cartillage inside a foot (taken from the Hunterian Museum), and the text reads light as a feather (0.56699046 grams) - based on the concept of anorexia sufferers wanting to disappear completely.

Airoplane Sick Bags

2010-01-17T10:14:00.004+11:00

Some drawings made on in-flight sick bags, created during the chaos of cancelled flights and delays between Oslo, London, Seoul and Brisbane.

Limited Edition Signed Print

2010-01-13T21:34:00.002+11:00

Below is the Limited Edition Signed Poster Print for "YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT". There will be 50 signed prints available, size approx 60cms x 80cms.

Adelaide Fringe Guide Listing

2010-01-13T21:20:00.002+11:00

"YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT" event listing in Adelaide Fringe Guide:

http://tix.adelaidefringe.com.au/ticketing/EventDetails.aspx?EventGuid=1d602a9b-f99b-4add-b872-4b3098dba13e

Limited Edition Silk Scarves

2010-01-13T16:31:00.003+11:00

Here are the 4 x designs for silk scarves. Each design is a limited edition of 12, printed on 100% silk habotai, size 50cms x 50cms.

Paula Ibanez Fashion Collaboration

2010-01-13T16:25:00.004+11:00

Below is the beautiful knitted dress created by Paula Ibanez, incorporating my toilet fair isle design.

Fashion Collaboration - HANNAH by Hannah Bella Bowden

2010-01-13T15:41:00.005+11:00

Here are some shots of the first finished fashion collaboration between myself and HANNAH by Hannah Bella Bowden - a gold leather minidress covered in hand-made appliques.

Michael Jackson and Bubbles

2009-11-08T13:41:00.003+11:00

The first of my portraits series for "YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT" is 'Michael's Monkey'. At the time of his death, Michael's Body Mass Index was 16.1.

Detail from Green Wordsearch

2009-11-08T13:39:00.001+11:00

Let's Play Exhibition in London

2009-11-05T11:06:00.005+11:00

Calling all Londoners - I'm part of the Group Exhibition 'Let's Play', curated by The Art Group, and I'd love you to come down to see it! The private view will be on Tuesday 1st December 2009, 6-9pm @ Maverik Showroom, 68-72 Redchurch St Shoreditch. The show runs 1st-5th Dec for those who can't make the opening, and there will be a chance to purchase these popular works.

Detail from Pink Wordsearch

2009-10-27T21:39:00.002+11:00

Detail from Blue Wordsearch

2009-10-14T17:50:00.002+11:00

Upcoming Exhibition Dates

2009-10-02T16:18:00.005+10:00

Here are the details of my next upcoming exhibition dates:

"Let's Play" Group Exhibition with The Art Group @ Maverik Showroom, 68-72 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London UK.
1st - 5th December 2009, private view Tuesday 1st December from 6pm.
http://www.maverikshowroom.com/

"YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT: Eating Disorders in Fashion" Solo Exhibition @ Dragonfly Bar, 193 Victoria Square, Adelaide, Australia.
19th February - 12th March 2010,
Opening party Thursday 25th Feb @ 6pm (til late)
Closing party Wednesday 10th Mar @ 6pm (til late)
http://www.dragonflybar.net.au/pics.html

"YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT: Eating Disorders in Fashion" Solo Exhibition @ Discobeans, 208 High Street, Northcote, Melbourne, Australia.
14th-28th March 2010,
Opening party Friday 19th Mar @ 6pm (til late)
Closing party Friday 26th Mar @ 6pm (til late)
http://ameblo.jp/noilove/

Here is a sneak preview of a detail of one of the large works for "YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT":

Metro Gallery Group Show

2009-10-02T16:02:00.004+10:00

I just finished a group show at the prestigious Metro Gallery, 1214 High Street, Armadale, Melbourne. Here is the piece that was included:

New designs for Kings of Neon

2009-09-11T14:01:00.002+10:00

I have added 4 new designs to my range for customised plimsoll company Kings of Neon, including a design based on my BMI badges.

Toilet Fair Isle!

2009-08-22T16:15:00.002+10:00

Here's a sneak peak at one of my design collaborations for the next show; "YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT". This Toilet Fair Isle will be finding it's way into the wonderful knitwear creations of Paula Ibanez.

3rd Solo Show to open March 2010

2009-07-20T21:33:00.009+10:00

My 3rd solo exhibition; "YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU EAT: Eating Disorders in Fashion", is set to open during The L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2010. It is scheduled to run from March 14th - 28th, 2010, and I hope it will feature at The Adelaide Fringe Festival in the February beforehand.
The theme of the works began as a response to the deaths of 3 South American models; Ana Carolina Reston Macan, Luisel and Eliana Ramos in 2006/7. This triggered Madrid and Milan Fashion Weeks to adopt a policy of no underweight models on the runways, and I am hoping to urge Melbourne to consider enforcing it too.
The following image was inspired by my research into the Body Mass Index statistics of 50 prominent female celebrities. I discovered 69.8% of these are underweight (with a BMI of 18.5 or less) and that 18 out of the 50 are at or below what the World Health Organisation defines to be starvation (a BMI of 16 or less.) Healthy range is 18.5-24.9. The exhibition will feature a number of text-based works around the theme, including a giant wordsearch, and will see collaborations between myself a a handful of fashion designers. Below is a sneak-peak at the first of a series of 100 original art badges based around the celebrity BMI theme.

My Illustrated Plimsolls!

2009-06-19T00:54:00.004+10:00

You can now purchase my eye design plimsolls from Kings of Neon, for just £24.99! They are also available from Topman, River Island and Asos.com.

Belvedere Vodka Exhibition

2009-06-18T16:07:00.000+10:00

Here are some photos from the Belvedere Vodka Exhibition closing night party @ McCulloch Gallery, Melbourne City 12/6/09. I customised a bottle with portraits of the former residents of Belvedere Palace in Warsaw, Poland, which was sold. The show featured 50 Australian Artists including Adam Cullen, Matt Kyme + David Sheridan, John Forrest, Claire Sutton, Josef Marzi and Ha Ha.

Lifelounge Feature

2009-05-31T17:22:00.000+10:00

http://www.lifelounge.com/Sarah-Beetson-has-fifty-bucks,-bring-on-the-sluts.aspx

Collaborative piece with Josef Marzi

2009-05-26T21:05:00.000+10:00

Here is the work Joe and I created for our joint stock show "Expectations". The owner of the piece will be decided by raffle, which will be drawn at 9pm at the closing night party this Friday 29th May. For a chance to win the work by purchasing tickets for the raffle, please contact McCulloch Gallery mccullochgallery@yahoo.com.au.

"Sluts" Reprisal!

2009-05-06T13:42:00.000+10:00

Perhaps the last chance to get hold of one of the few remaining Sluts will happen in Melbourne this month.
The show will include a selection of current and past works from Josef Marzi and myself, including 1 new collaborative work.
The exhibition will run from 18th - 31st May, with a closing night party on Friday 29th May from 6pm, at McCulloch Gallery, 8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne City.
Josef's selection will include works from his Birds, Cherry Blossom and European Cities series.
I will show the last remaining 'Sluts' which toured 3 continents in 2008, plus a selection of smaller works which have not yet been exhibited. All Sluts playing cards are SOLD OUT, but there are still a limited number of badges and posters available.

Deforestation in Tasmania Group Show

2009-04-15T16:47:00.000+10:00

Running at The Collingwood Gallery until Thursday 16th April are my works on the theme "Deforestation in Tasmania". See below. All of the Original Art Badges are now SOLD.

Victorian Bushfire Benefit Exhibition

2009-04-15T16:37:00.000+10:00

In March 2009 I participated in a Victorian Bushfire Benefit Group Exhibition at The McCulloch Gallery, Melbourne city. All door charges, bar proceeds and 33% of the sales went to the Bushfire Benefit Fund. Here are the works of which 1 was sold.

The Secret Life of The Love Song

2009-04-15T16:21:00.000+10:00

My next show "The Secret Life of The Love Song" opened at The Greenwood Gallery, Melbourne on October 16, 2008. It featured the Nick Cave live drawings plus 2 new large canvases inspired by his lecture about the melancholy nature of the love song. These works were created during summer '08, whilst I was living aboard the Motor Torpedo Boat 219 on The Thames, ironically adjacent to Nick Cave's former wharf.

Nick Cave for Diesel Jeans

2009-04-15T16:11:00.000+10:00

After making Live Drawings of the musician at the 'In Conversation With Nick Cave' sessions at The Melbourne Arts Centre, Diesel Jeans asked me to create a blog with Artist friend Caelum Rale about the experience, and to interview then Bad Seeds drummer Mick Harvey on the subject of Australian Identity. Here are the resulting works.

Amanda Palmer in The L.A Times with ukelele 'Slut'!

2009-04-15T15:31:00.000+10:00

I sent Amanda Palmer of The Dresden Dolls a pack of my R-Rated "Sluts" playing cards after she invited me to her show at The ICA in London last year. Here she is recently in The L.A Times with 'Quiff' in her uke. All of the packs of "Sluts" playing cards are now SOLD OUT!

"50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts" opening, New York NY, USA

2009-04-15T15:23:00.001+10:00

The "Sluts" tour culminated at Flux Factory in Queens, NYC. Sadly the building has since been knocked down for the MTA's new subway development, but I was honored to host one of the last shows in the fantastic space, right accross the East River from the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings. Opening night saw a giant "Sluts" card game and the unveiling of Giant Call Girl which I painted on the wall.

"50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts" opening, Portland OR, USA

2009-04-15T15:21:00.001+10:00

Photos from opening night @ Valentines, Portland Oregon, with fellow exhibitors and fabulous hosts Olivia Edith Fuente and Sarah Gottesdeiner.

"50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts" opening, London UK

2009-04-15T15:16:00.001+10:00

The first stop of The Sluts tour was The Brick Lane Gallery in London in August 2008. It was a great night with many works selling from the tiny space and being replaced with new ones.

"50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts" opening, Melbourne, Australia

2009-04-15T13:12:00.000+10:00

The original solo exhibition "50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts" opened in Melbourne on June 6, 2008. The walls were adorned with 350 works with the remainder being sold from the donated customised Pepsi vending machine. The machine was adjusted to vend artwork-in-a-bottle at $50 a pop. The show was a great success with over a quarter of the works being sold on opening night.

MX Melbourne feature The Vending Machine

2008-07-30T20:06:00.000+10:00

Sluts to show in New York?

2008-05-30T04:41:00.000+10:00

The Sluts show now has a 4th location - it will open in New York City on Tuesday September 23rd, 2008 @ Flux Factory, 38-38 43rd Street, Long Island City, NY 11101 USA.

Cream Magazine feature The Sluts

2008-05-30T04:38:00.000+10:00

Lost At E Minor Feature

2008-04-21T15:55:00.000+10:00

www.lostateminor.com/2008/04/18/50-bucks-bring-on-the-sluts/

Confirmed Exhibition dates - UK + USA

2008-04-09T15:13:00.000+10:00

A selection of work from my Melbourne solo show; "50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts", will tour to London and Portland, Oregon USA. Dates as follows:

"50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts" - group show, opening Wednesday 20th August, 2008 @ The Brick Lane Gallery, 196 Brick Lane, London E2
http://www.thebricklanegallery.com/

"50 Bucks: Bring On The Sluts" - group show with Olivia Edith and Sarah Gottesdiener, opening Saturday 13th September, 2008 @ Valentine's, 232 SW Ankeny St, Portland, Oregon USA
http://www.myspace.com/valentineslifeblood