Because it's pretty

I just wanted to share this photograph that I took this morning of the lavender growing on my balcony. It's spring here in Sydney, and there is much to celebrate. I hope to have more recipes, ideas and decorations for the Steampunk-style party I'm planning soon.

Add to your reading list...

I haven't read any of Adam Browne's work before, but I'm very tempted to pick up a copy of this just-published book, which includes gorgeous illustrations by the author. For more information, and to see some of the artwork, click on the image and you'll be taken to the publisher's blog.

Tattoo you

I'm a bit ambivalent about tattoos. On one hand, I love them as a form of self-expression; on the other hand, I'm a bit scared by the fact that, once you've got one, you can't change it... ever. As a bit of a fashion butterfly, changing my tastes from one season to the next, I can't imagine ever being certain enough of a particular passion or image to have it permanently imprinted on my skin.

What I do like about tattoos is the thought behind them: people who have them almost always have stories to tell about why they chose them and which image they chose. I particularly like the kind of tattoos where it looks as though the skin has been peeled back to reveal the inner workings of the arm (or leg, or abdomen). My very favourite was one I briefly considered getting for myself, pictured here (I always knew I had a book in me!) -- click the image to see more of this artist's work.

There are a bunch of great steampunk-style tattoos out there, including ones where the skin is peeled back to reveal cogs, pistons and pulleys. But if, like me, you're too much of a wimp to get something permanently etched into your skin, take a look at Victoria Welch's Steampunk Henna Designs and go down the temporary tattoo path.

Friday fashion parade

American Gothic goes steampunk. This T-shirt is a bit of fun from the Threadless collection. Click on the picture to go to the website, or check out some of their other steampunk style offerings.

Friday fashion parade

Loking for some steampunk-style inspiration led me to the wonderful illustrations of Brian Kesinger. His Tea Girls are so sassy and sexy! Take a look at his gallery to get some ideas of your own.

Practical printmaking

Today I attended an art class at Culture at Work, where we were learning to make prints using foam sheets. The technique is to draw quite heavily on the foam with an ordinary pencil, making deep gouges in the surface, then roll on ink and print onto paper in the same way as a lino print. I haven't done this type of printmaking since high school, and I was quite pleased with my effort. So pleased, in fact, that I'm selling the three copies I made in my Etsy shop.

The image is a freehand drawing based on a photograph in today's newspaper. I've called it Steelwork.

Culture at Work runs art classes featuring all sorts of art techniques on Wednesday mornings at 10.30. It's located in Pyrmont, Sydney. Click on the link to the website for more details and join us if you live nearby.

Steampunk art

One of my favourite steampunk-style artists is Don Stewart, a medical doctor turned creator of whimsical pen-and-ink drawings. The highly detailed images are made up of layers of mechanical objects and other items related to the subject of the drawing; check out his gallery for examples like the Fire Engine, Stagecoach or Time Flies.

If you like Don's work, consider buying a print for your wall. He's just released a new work called Follow Me that features an infantry soldier comprising guns and other war machines. Half the proceeds from sales of this print will go to help the recovery of wounded war veterans.