Cayla Christiansen (Artist)

Has it been so long?

Almost a year since I last posted anything here. Bad Cayla.

I apologize.

What a thing to do.

Why have I been gone so long?

Well… I guess I could say I have been busy. But Thats never a good enough excuse to stop doing something you love. Yes, thats right. I havent just quit blogging but painting as well!

Can you believe it?

Months passed and I never picked up a paint brush once to do something of my own work.

I am in constant contact with painting and drawing and other mediums at the teaching studio where I instruct. However, Ive missed out on doing things simply for the joy of it. for the sake of it. Just because.

but the painters block is over.

Ive been working steadily on a new project which you can view in progress on my instagram @callmecayla or here on the #hairpost page.

I am having the time of my life working on these small paintings. It feels amazing. Im stretching my creative muscles. Pushing myself. Experimenting with colour. IM using a small brush and painting the human figure!!! CRAZY! What a departure from last years work. Keep an eye out. Ive been posting regularly on instagram and hope to carry that over to here !

10th Jun 2012

Adult Artist to- do list

Sometimes I need to make myself a list of things to do on my day off or else… I don’t do anything.

1) Price posters for gladstone show

2) begin labels for gladstone show

3) price label sheets for gladstone show

4) continue advertising for show

5) upload poster to group email

6) Buy D rings for show at the Gladstone

7) sit outside and paint !!!

8) splatter nails.

10th Jun 2012

Adventures in Adult Artist Land : Adult Milestones

This week was a huge one for me.

This was an amazing week full of new experiences for me. As a baby in your first year, your parents tend to mark the milestones. Well here I am in my first year post University. My first year as what what we in the studio came to call ‘real adult’. These are my milestones this week…My Adventures in Adult Artist Land!!!

1) Successfully completed my G Licence! Hooray for lower insurance!!

2) Officially Graduated OCADU!! Hooray for University Degrees!!

3) Collaboratively Curated my first ever show! Hooray for awesome team mates!

4) Drove to Toronto and parked in an underground parking GARAGE!!! Hooray for not being scared of the big bad wolf aka Toronto Drivers.

What a busy week!! Next week will be even bigger!

xoxo

callmecayla

30th May 2012

My Grown Up Artists To Do list:

~~Process money transfers for Group Show~~

~~Make Hard Decisions About Group Show~~

~~Post Decisions made about group show in forum~~

~~Read Montessori Book~~

~~Do Montessori Homework~~

~~Wash Dishes~~

Make Lunch for my Into all hours of the night night shift

~~Think about Painting (but maybe not actually paint… that stuffs messy})~~

Motivate myself to work out! (cant do this now… there are strangers in my work out space… :( )

Stuff I didnt list:

Watch video

complete homework for that section

Filmed a new Hair Tutorial

Edited and Posted online for you all to see!

YAY!

18th May 2012

What is home

Home is the four of us all on one bed huddled watching kings and queens on a screen across the room. Home is the super moon rising outside above the perfect view of a rooftop garden where we sat and attempted to summarize a year of our lives down into four pages. That was never enough space.

Home is a sectional where we cuddle on Saturday nights after arguing over who has to pick the movie this time even though we both know you will be asleep before the opening credits role out and i will follow close behind.

Home is the steps i walked twice a day almost every day for two years , past the field where we watch the dogs run free and the lady who builds her home everynight at 930 from the same boxes and bags as the night before

Home is a sign at the entrance of the park. Under the floor of the box in the sky that i journey past but rarely enter.

Home is a red wall, covered in guilded frames and in the corner a waterhouse woman admiring herself and a ghost ship and red head and glass covered table covered in the finger prints of children.

Home is a small pink suitcase with worn wheels and a tote on the top for my shoes or shampoo or laptop on the days i feel brave enough to carry the weight to school.

Home is a headache a slow crawling grip that eases its way through my shoulders and neck. It sits there sometimes at the base of my skull and waits there to see if ill give in and sleep and while that pain is often unbearable it forces everything out except itself causing me to live in that moment which i so often fail to do

Home is the smacking noise my dog makes when he sits at the end of my bed licking his paws before i kick him out of my room for disturbing the silence.

Home is the second level on the go train. Two seats together facing a wall. One for my purse the other for me and my feet propped up on that same pink suitcase

25th Apr 2012

How do you feel today? April 25, 2012

I have been out of the big city for almost a week and while I was nervous coming into this I feel better now.

There was a moment at the beginning of the week where I was sitting down and I just said outloud to myself, “Youre going to be ok.”

Just like that.

You are going to be OK.

And I believe it.

So I am heading back into the city tomorrow to prepare to move the rest of my things home and close that chapter of my life. It is kind of exciting. At the same time, I am not looking forward to it. Packing is.. not fun. Moving is… less fun.

Also set up for the awards exhibition which is a precursor to the OCADU grad ex is happening on Friday I believe. I have been on the search for affordable and appropriate frames for my work but apparently I work in a size that is impossible so no dice. Also, there is a large part of me that is really hoping I win one of those awards. I cant help it. People always say grades don’t matter. but for some reason they do to me.

I suppose that might come from the fact that most profs look at me like they cant remember im even in their classes, or remember my name… yes.

So id I get a good grade I know I made some semblance of an impact on their life. Enough to look that fiesty bell curve in the face and say “take it.”

Yes. thats how I feel today.