All wrapped up with love

Took out a couple of hours tonight to paint more with water colours. I feel very serene and easy going when I start to concentrate on sketching and painting, great way to relax after a full day at work today!

I decided to do a tonal painting today with just the colour black, allowing me to practice handling the brush strokes :) and also to practice my shadows and light colours - something I exercised a lot last year while I was completing 2D Design as a course (I got to draw naked people! Weeee!) I'm honestly not very good at shading with shadows with pencil, but I found it much easier to do so with the paint brush! How wonderful! :D

This was my end product, where I referenced a photo of the parcel found here.

Still need plenty of practice but I'm pretty happy with it! Quite proud of how my ribbon turned out! It wasn't even suppose to be black/grey haha! But it does give off a 3D feel, and I'm all smiles :) As you can maybe tell, I really like mixing the pinks/violets together <3 it's sooo purrrrrrrrrdy!

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I LOVE COLBIE CAILLAT!

No kidding! I've driven home from work listening to her a couple of times now in Jenny's car, and it's the best music to listen to when you're driving. BEST EVER! Especially after the hectic duties of work, her voice is so beautiful to listen to while you're chilling in the car! You should try it out! :D

Favourite songs atm by her: I Do, Brighter Than The Sun, Before I Let You Go 

(pretty much her whole new album 'All Of You' hehehehe)

“Some of this book—perhaps too much—has been about how I learned to do it. Much of it has been about how you can do it better. The rest of it—and perhaps the best of it—is a permission slip: you can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will. Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink. Drink and be filled up.”

—	Stephen King (On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft)

Closest thing to magic for me

I broke into my new water colour sketch book on Saturday night and decided to paint a photo of which I found on tumblr - a girl with her eyes closed (here) I started out lightly sketching out her facial features, keeping in mind that these lines will help me a lot when I start painting.

Once I got the feel of the brush, I started to delicately paint her eye lashes and I pretty much continued on - always referring back to the original photo, where it helps me to distinguish the shadows and crucial lines that make up her face. It's a black and white photo, but I decided to improvise with additional colours for her lips and cheeks, to really bring her to life, and it turned out better than I expected! :)

As you can see, I continued to just play with the colours as I started painting little purple/violet flowers in place of her hair! It was so much fun mixing the colours purple, violet, blue etc all together and see what they become once they touch the paper :)

I'm pretty proud of what I did so far for this painting (^_^) the great thing about water colour painting is that I can easily go back to painting more to an oldie, as the colours are so delicate, gentle if you want it to be, and vibrant and bright too if you choose! I love it! :D I couldn't help but spend the rest of the night, till 2a.m. just playing with the colours.

I believe this is new love affair of mine is here to stay...


Uploaded some more of my water colour paintings on Facebook :) (link)

“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face….You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”  
- Eleanor Roosevelt

My new art station :)

Took some time to rearrange my desk so I can make some room for a little painting station! Now all my paint brushes are right where I can just easily access them and I can paint easily sitting at my table! :D How fancy! hahaha! This is me trying to feed my new hobby of painting with water colours :) So far I've just been painting with acrylic paints, and usually I just sit on the floor with the easel. Can you believe how tired your legs can get after a really long while of just sitting on the floor cross legged??

My first attempt of painting with water colours from last night :) 

I still have a long way to go with mastering how to mix beautiful colours together but it's a start! I seriously feel like it's magic when the water colour paints just burst into bright and vibrant colours when it touches water! BAM!


Definitely one of the closest things to magic <3


Spent a good hour or so collecting a whole load of water colour painting inspirations on tumblr <3 (click here)

Adelaide Flights Booked! :)

Last minute trip down to Adelaide has been booked and confirmed! I'll be heading back to my hometown next Wednesday afternoon at 5:30pm and I can't wait! Can't wait to see Aaron again and catch up with a couple of my friends. I told my mum and, as always, told me off for always wanting to return to Adelaide, for spending my money carelessly.. and yeah, it's always about the same things. I'm sorry mum, but this is my life. I know I might sound spoilt and stubborn, but I worked hard for this money in a job that you pretty much forced me to do. So I'm pretty sure I have every right to spend it however I like.

I'll just be staying 4 nights, where I'll be leaving Sunday morning at 9:30am (>.<) such a short trip but I'll make the most of it. Aaron says that we'll be cooking for the family to eat for a couple of nights! So that'll be interesting! :D I've already got this recipe from The Herald Sun on how to make bangers and mash! Yum, I seriously love mashed potatoes! The chef at the cafe makes the best, it's actually going to be on the menu tomorrrrrrrow! Even if I'm quite sick now, I'll be working tomorrow and treat myself to some mash (^_^)

$4 passport photos we took along Chapel Street last time Aaron came to visit :)

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After I'll be meeting up with peeps from uni, whom I haven't seen for sooooo long! Pvan especially! I miss uni so much, and I know as much as I used to complain about it.. I miss dressing up and looking pretty (rare days when I do try haha) and going out. Felt independent somewhat haha. Now I just go to work, where I pretty much just roll out of bed and go to work haha :) Good stuff! Anyway, we'll be watching Captain America! *fingers crossed* it'll be a good one! I already made Aaron tell me how it goes lmao, so I know what happens. Oh well. :) I never let that ruin a good movie for me! If anything, it makes me anticipate it more because I understand what's going on!!

Sigh, okay, I should return to bed. These sniffles are being stubborn and I need a good rest for tomorrow! (>_<)

Goodnight and sweet dreams <3

Move. Learn. Eat.

Just stumbled across a few awesome videos made by Rick Mereki, Tim White and Andrew Lees, where they were each called: MOVE, LEARN and EAT. This is their little synopsis of their project while they were travelling across 11 countries!
3 guys, 44 days, 11 countries, 18 flights, 38 thousand miles, an exploding volcano, 2 cameras and almost a terabyte of footage... all to turn 3 ambitious linear concepts based on movement, learning and food ....into 3 beautiful and hopefully compelling short films.....
= a trip of a lifetime.

MOVE

MOVE is my favourite, and then the FOOD video is just plain awesome, makes me so hungry just looking at all the tasty dishes! I'm definitely inspired by watching these short films :) makes me want to travel more and be more adventurous! Loving the piano playing in the background too~  very uplifting feel <3

Reow! New arty stuff!

I must have spent a good hour or so after work today at Chaddy, walking around and taking my time with buying new art supplies (^_^) I love it how the reject shop sells such cheap and good quality canvases! Couldn't help but bought myself a few new ones so I can start painting again! I recently am fascinated with water colour painting! So I bought myself a watercolour paint set, along with oil paint set from Kmart for $8 each! So cheap! And I found myself a watercolour cake set (kind of like crayons) from this variety store :) bought some new tonal pencils and a new art diary too~ wow I must have spent about $80+ but I don't really feed my love for art very often like this so it's all good. :) I'm going to test out the colours now! Rah rah rah!

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P.S. I PASSED MY DRIVE TEST! I'M A P-PLATER YO! :D :D

Whoop whoop! If I wake up early enough tomorrow, mum will let me drive to work :) Big step for her! Allowing me to drive her and all! I sure hope I don't give her a heart attack... (=_=)

Time for another moodboard!

So I thought it was time for another change of a desktop background, hence I spent the last half hour or so making a new moodboard from all my current favourite images from tumblr (with that being said, I do not own any of these images – all my respects to their authors) I really like all these images for my new one. They’re all about uplifting my mood and encouraging me to be brave and go out there and make something of myself. Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m just getting stuck and too comfortable in this work cycle routine – where I just wake up, go to work, go home, rest, sleep and start all over again! I really gotta get a move on with completing my online portfolio and start looking for new work placement! Let’s graduate already Julie!

My New Babies :)

Say hello to my new pair of heels! Fell in love with it when I first saw it at Rubi (>_<) Couldn’t help but go ahead and spoil myself! I wore these out last Saturday for Anthony’s birthday dinner at Sofia’s Very comfy! I like it how it’s black as night. Would have love to buy the other tan brown pair as well but one’s enough.

Painting is Love

Just yesterday I painted for Kim’s 22nd birthday cardboard cut outs and it felt pretty nice. It’s been such a long time since I’ve painted anything. It was great fun painting and having company of the girls and watching movies <3

Domo-kun Onigiri + cute looking onigiri painted by Sarah and Kimu ~

Totoro painted by Cat!! <3 I can’t wait to take him home! >.<

Ninjaaaaa painted by Sarah! HIYAH!!

My 6 hours + work on Hatsune Miku gonna finish her eyes this Friday!

Spent a good 5-6 hours or more working on these! Proud to say that everything’s looking really good Getting excited about this Saturday! It’s been a while since I’ve been to a birthday party! XD

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Sitting in my room right now is a square canvas that I painted gold a few months back, but never got around to adding any content to this blank background. Now that Ive experienced the nice feeling of painting something and finishing something that I can be proud of, Im rolling with ideas on what to paint

I really do like this feeling. I should have known sooner. I started painting to take a break from life in the first place. A reminder is always nice. I believe its time for my wall to have a new addition to its company

Be Brave

I have to stop caring what other people think of me. I have to stop comparing myself to others who ‘seem’ to have it all. I have to stop being negative and pessimistic about things.

I have to let go.

Back from overseas, back to reality

the morning!, did I return to Melbourne on our overnight flight from Hong Kong. Seemed like a dream. I remember having to stand and wait in line with my mum for nearly an hour for customs (=_=) and when we finally did reach our turn, the guy was like: “Got any drugs? Like real ones? Not the Chinese medicine kind?” (-_____-) bleb.

Anyway, I was very very happy to be home finally. It was only 12 days away, but it felt kind of never ending, because we were on a tour group – and to be honest, I was getting tired of constantly being with my parents and little brother. Needless to say, it was an overall good trip. Definitely had plenty of time to just chill and take it easy (except for having to wake up so freaking early every morning!!) I definitely had a great time sight seeing, even if it was tiring with all the travelling. We got to see some very beautiful and breathtaking sights, and I’m glad I was able to take photos of them! In total, I went crazy and snapped up to 1700+ photos! LMAO! Yeah, they’re not all quality shots, believe me!

Here are some of my favourites

I discovered that I really do enjoy taking photos of flowers~ So lucky for me, we got to visit a couple of gardens in Wuxi for me to take some nice shots! I even got some cool shots of a peacock! (Further down haha)

Quang and I on the tour bus – First day in Beijing!

Me at the Great Wall of China – Ju Yong Guan Pass
Me running with Buzz Lightyear at HK Disneyland One of the temples at the Summer Palace – Beijing Visit to the Forbidden City! (It was freaking over 40 degrees that day!!)This is when I really started to love taking photos of flowers!Our visit to a Tea Plantation in Hang Zhou

Okay, there are just too many favourites for me to upload here on this blog! I really gotta get around to uploading them on Facebook!! (>_<)

So what have I been up to since I’ve returned? Definitely caught up with my hunny bun over the phone I can’t wait to see him tomorrow!! We skyped the night I returned, and I got to show him all the things that I bought! But I kept my presents for him as a surprise for when he comes.

Work work work!

Also went back to working at the cafe – it was more last minute helping out because they were short on people, and man oh man were they busy on Friday! I remember we were flat out of all the food at the front counters! >_< And it was so busy busy in the kitchen too for Greg and Vinh! Rah! So it was great to know that it was Friday! That night, went to go celebrate Hayleh’s 24th birthday at Dumplings Plus, and then ice skating at Docklands. Went with Quang (minus Jenny and Anna) – we represent the Nguyen gang! hahaha How lame.. Anyway! I haven’t been ice skating for nearly two years! So yeah… I definitely felt pretty old as I wobbled and jiggled on the ice rink (-_-) but after changing my shoes to a smaller size, it was much more fun! Plus, the ice rink was iced over again by the ice man! So it was smooooooooooooth sailing for about 2 minutes! Lmao!

Hachi Sounds Winter Live!

On Saturday night, got to see my friends again at Hachi Sounds Winter Live! Even if I’m not KPop crazy like they all are, I was very happy to see everyone again, and show my support in their love for Asian pop. I wasn’t expecting much, but I had a great time having the chance to just be with everyone again!! Everyone did a great job cosplaying! Usher was a beautiful brown haired doll Sarah was an adorable maid, Cat was Pikachuuuuuuuu and Alice & Phuong just looked gorgeous!! And oh yeah! There was Keith, and his scary shirtless vampire look hahahaha! Highlights of the night were watching Janelle and Ira perform, along with Cat and Alice dance on stage! Along with having our mini after party at Maccas! XD MADE BY GUCCI WE ARE!!

Here are some photos from Sarah’s awesome DSLR camera! Seriously loved her flash! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Look at them dorks in the background lmao!

Driving!

I’ve also have had 2 driving lessons since I’ve returned.. the first time driving again, I did a pretty damn good job! All my teacher said was that I just needed to build my confidence, but it’s good that I’m still a conscious and careful driver. My second lesson, just wasn’t good. I’m gonna have to blame the fact that I didn’t catch enough sleep… or I just felt too bigheaded from my first lesson (-_-) whatever the reason.. I was a little shaken up, and I wanted to cry when I kept making mistakes. My teacher reassured me that it was okay, that my mistakes were worth making because now I know better. True that. My driving test is in 3 weeks! I was lucky to have even passed my Hazard and Perception test! 57%! >_< AJA AJA FIGHTING JULIE!!

Anyway, wow, this blog entry has become a major essay! Love it haha! Big week this is going to be – Aaron and I have made plans that pretty much fill up all of our time! I can’t wait to finally watch Harry Potter Pt 2 and Cars 2 !!!! How exciting! He’s leaving on Friday afternoon.. I don’t even wanna think about that just yet – just wanna make sure I make every moment together with him count.. I miss him so much. I don’t even know how I’m suppose to sleep tonight! Is it a little odd that I feel a little nervous seeing him again? It has been over 2 months now.. (>____<)

A keyring that I bought for Aaron – because the hair reminded me of him XD