What I’m up to this week…

Working on…

My biggest project at the moment is a YouTube video I’m making about identity, clothes, and the external presentation of internal ‘difference’. Not only is it a fabulous excuse to play dress-up on camera, I think presenting these ideas in a crystallised format is another piece of the puzzle in terms of my next body of work (I’ve mentioned that previously in this video and this post). Another layer of ‘inspirational potato peelings’ for the compost heap.

In other news, I really want to get the book of The Flourishing story completed this month - I started it ages ago and it got put on the back burner whilst I was dealing with the Things… exhibition. But I would like it done now.

Also, at the end of this month it’s my 45th birthday, which surprised me because I thought I was already 45! And it’s also the first anniversary of the Haus of Cats! So, to celebrate all of that I’m doing a 45% off sale of paintings for 45 hours - it’ll be happening at the end of May and will be a rare opportunity to nab an original painting at almost half the cost. As you know I never do sales so take advantage whilst you have the chance! I’ll be in your inbox with all the details later this month.

Thinking about…

The need for a spring reset. There’s something about the return of the light at this time of year which seems to illuminate all the dusty corners of my life. I’m trying to heal my sleep cycle now that the construction outside our apartment has finally stopped, and I’ve realised that not sleeping properly for a while has knocked all of my routines and workflows out of whack - and as those of you who also have a touch of the ‘tism will understand, without my routines I am nothing but a dysfunctional shell of a person.

So this month (which as a May baby happens to also be my personal New Year) I am rejigging, reorganising, and rearranging everything from my fridge to my work schedule to make sure I’m the happiest, sanest, and most creative I can be.

Reading…

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

This book had me at ‘middle-aged lady pirate’, and brought it home by not only including some fabulous queer representation but also not making the lead some drippy bint who just needed ‘the love of a good man’. She’s a total badass the whole way through, and I can’t wait for the sequel to be published so I can go and hang out with her some more. Highly recommended.

Watching…

Lars has been choosing the movies in our house lately (mostly to make up for my mad John Waters spree as detailed in my last missive), and he likes to try out a lot of weird, experimental, under-rated/represented stuff - which is, of course, awesome in theory (and has led to us finding some absolute gems) but in practice can be a bit hit and miss. This week has been mostly misses - as in, I don’t think we’ve finished a single movie in the last two weeks.

We did go to see Project Hail Mary at the cinema, though, and apparently sometimes I do like the things everyone else likes. I loved this movie and sobbed almost the whole way through. So good to see a modern film use practical effects instead of just relying on CGI for everything. And it’s got a PUPPET!

We’re finally back in the sketchbook, bitches!!