The Adventures of Graduate Girl

Computers? Monica does not compute

Take home exams are the best! Well until I'm reminded that I fail at all most things involving modern technology.

Ok one more semester to go... I can make it as long as uni doesn't re-do their system again. =P

They may tell us to turn off our phones but they will never take away our exam notes!

Dear Exam Invigilators,

Please ensure this never happens again.

And that my friends is the sound of one shocked to silence law student and the almost mass heart attack of every law student within a 3 tables radius.

Invigilators you have generally been super great. You get everyone in and start the exam on time and you're there quick smart when I put my hand up for a new script book. When you pull a script book away from a student who won't put their pen down when told I clap for you in my head for preventing such injustice. But for the sake for the sanity of my fellow law students please know your stuff and never again tell a law student to put his notes away for an open book exam because:

a) We're stressed enough as it is... don't make us panic as we sit down;

b) Those four extra pens we bring into the exam may be fashioned into a weapon if you try to pry our notes from us. Those notes are our security blanket and life jacket during these crazy times. They keep us from drowning in the stormy seas of law school. We would trade our first born for them; and

c) We're law students, the cohort most likely to find a legal rule that allows us to sue you for giving us a heart attack right before an exam.

Yep I should totally be studying but this had to be done. Life is hilarious. Ok fun times over... back to study!

Doctor Who

 

"All of time and space; everywhere and anywhere; every star that ever was. Where do you want to start?"

Hehe scribbles on newspaper ads.

Books about Town

My facebook newsfeed has been filing up with lovely photos from friends on making their way through Europe whether its the family holiday (exchanging Melbourne cold for sunny skies), exchange student adventures or going solo travelling. I armchair travel through their travel snaps and am happy that there all having an awesome time even is slightly envious. I think, 'it's ok one day you'll get to that other side of the world too!'

And then this happens... and art + books + park benches + free. Some of my favourite things combine in epic awesomeness! Seriously, it's a park bench in the shape of an open book! I wish I was there in London right now. I'd just wander around, find these benches, sit on them perhaps with a good book to read.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie Source: booksabouttown.org.uk

What is happening is that this London summer, i.e. right now, is a public art event launched by the National Literary Trust and Wild in Art with "50 unique BookBench sculptures, designed by local artists and famous names to celebrate London’s literary heritage and reading for enjoyment".  

Here are some of my favs: 

Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers

It's like a painting!

Samuel Pepy's Diary

The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe by C.S Lewis

I wonder if we'll ever get something like this in Melbourne. I suppose we might not have that same rich literary heritage but reading for fun should always be encouraged!

Books around Town is happening 2 July - 15 September 2014. All images were taken from there webpage at:  http://www.booksabouttown.org.uk/

Previously on X...

Ok so it pretty certain that with my lack of drawing skills I'lll never be a comic book artist. But I'll be happy to read them and watch them adapted on the big screen!

Unless you live somewhere without a local cinema or haven't been near me in the past week, 'So what's up Monica? ...X-men is out this week! eeeeee!', you'll have missed that X-men: Days of Future Past is in cinemas!!

But yes, a comic by yours truly:

You know you're an X-men fan when your even your dad who never grew up with comics knows that X-men is a MARVEL comic. Even if he can't quite get the word right.

And here's the cast back in a photoshoot they did back during Comic-Con. I want James McAvoy's X-men t-shirt. I also like how they've got Ellen Page standing on a box even though she's up the front. That's what I need too. :P

 

x

Happy Easter! The greatest story ever told

Here's a scribble I did a while back. It was so long ago that I've forgotten what came first, the bunny or the egg or the nest or the parachute. Either way here you go:

HAPPY EASTER!

but no, as cool as a super parachuting bunny is and  weekend of too much chocolate. There's the other story of Easter.

Jesus. He is risen! 

Here done kid documentary form:

Meet my mum

... well actually not really as I couldn't figure out how to draw her so she's just a generic person in this latest comic.

Fun times with an ESL mum.

You might ask why this comic is all on individual pieces of paper rather than the usually neatly ruled comics. Well, that would be because I couldn't redraw panel 1. I just could'nt get my TV face right; kept looking too zombie like. Solution, tear out the panels that look better in the draft and arrange it all together!

Can't wait for season 4!!

E-card

So it's been a while but I finally have gotten around to posting this one. I've had this one on the to post list for a while...

My very first original idea engagement card! And it just goes to show how lazy I have been that in the time taken for someone to plan a wedding I have gotten around to uploading this post.

Go here's the thought process...

In brief: GUY---------------GIRL-------------------BENCH-------------------------RING

In not so brief:
Step 1: Google image search 'boy girl on bench cartoon silhouette'  (silhouete because that's the cheat way for those of limited drawing skills!)
Step 2: Get super distracted at how talented people can make somehing so awesome with one colour
Step 3: Find the perfect staring out into the sunset image
Step 4: Light bulb moment! The sun is round. So is an engagment ring.
Step 5- end: Sketch, scan to photoshop. Add some filter thing as grey lead doesn't scan very well. Then realise that colour would be better. Find yellow paper, print again.

A major unforseen moment was realising I had to draw people sitting down. So in the end they kinda have funny legs instead. :P

Then realise I forgot the Congratulations and I can't write it in as I have the worst handwriting. Find more yellow paper. Print. 

TA DA!

Life Lessons @ Project #1: Boys vs. Girls

Ok at this rate my uni work is never going to get done. Which is terrible because as much fun as this blog is I will need to get a proper job one day.

More comic representations of the hilarious moments in life. The actual events may not have been exactly like this (although it's pretty close) but I took some creative licence. Besides the story is always funnier when seen through the lens of my overactive imagnination. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: If there is any resemblance to actual people...then you probably need to get your eyes checked because I'm pretty sure my drawing skills are basic. Everyone I draw has the same face with a slightly different hairdo lol. The only person you're probably ever going to recongise is the comic-verson of me. 
 
Step one 1: Rough pencil sketch so I know how the story will progress. Stuck to simple panels this time as the number of panels itself was complicated enoguh. This is a longer one so there was more room for error when I started to draw in pen. Later I did stuff up but some scissors and sticktape fixed that up ok. =]

 Step 2: Draw away!

 
Scribble space: This is were I test a face I'm unsure of before I attempt it in the panel. Although usually a fair bit of luck is involved. Can't seem to figure out how to do things twice.

Weee!

My comic book life #3: (wo)man vs. fly ft. lego hair

Guys, I'm back with original stuff! 

This happened a while back and I had the idea of turning it into a comic. This comic is propably the least spontaneous to date as I had a think about what happened and how the scenario might play out through the panels. As well as all those comic strip type comics (Peanuts, Garfield, The Adventures of Tintin, Calvin and Hobbes, etc) I'm a big fan of X-men where the story is presented multi-panel format. So I tried to go for an inbetween, still using frames but with different sizes etc. I hope I've done it right so that your eyes find it easy to follow!

Step 1: Think of what's gonna happen and draw up panels.

Step 2: Consider using pencil since all that effort drawing up panel would be wasted if I stuff up 3 panels in.

Step 3: Stuff step 3, use pen and we'll see what happens.

There you go guys I hope that was worth your internet procrastinating time. Using pen worked out ok but I did have scribble space. hehe I've ruined the Melbourne Festival mag.. Although my clapping person looks a bit like it was printed and supposed to be there :P 

On that note. Check out the Melbourne Festival formerly the Melbourne International Arts Festival presenting interesting arts stuff such as dance, theatre, music, visual arts, multimedia etc. There'll be events that a FREE too so that's a bonus!

Picture (book) perfect proposals

Ok its really late and I should catching some much needed shut-eye if I'm going to make to to my 9.30 class tomorrow but there's this thing call the internet and you know how one link leads to another and then another and then awww this IS SO CUTE, me smiling stupidly while eyes twitch from staring at a computer screen too long.

In internet times this story is probably old news but in fitting with the theme of this blog I'm gonna share because it involves picture books. And if you haven't read the description on the right of this blog I'll remind you: I love picture books. You know how people pat their dogs? I pat picture books. Yes it's weird but I just like touching them, having the physical book in my hand, turning the pages, getting half way through the story and then admiring the front cover again. ...pets are cool too. Dogs over cats though. Don't hate me cat lovers. In  my defence my sister who's a cat person has introduced me to the cuteboyswithcats tumblr which we check every now and then for boredoms sake and you know for the cats. Apologies sister if I've let the cat out of the bag (lol) but your my number one reader/probably my only reader so we're probably safe.

But back to the point,  I was on the Huffington Post and some clicks down the track I ended up on Buzz Feed as you do. I came across a story of a guy who proposed to his girlfriend using a picture book planted in the local library.
Source: Buzzfeed
Illustrations by Yoni Limor.  Check out the above link and have a read of the actual picture book if you like.

Which in my books (lol get it?) is super cool! Thoughtfulness, surprises, great illustrations, shelves and shelves of books and captured on camera so I get to share in the adorableness.

Guy 1 had written the story himself and contacted illustrator Yoni Limor who to help him illustrate the book.  Guy 1 had probably gotten the idea from from Original Guy a close friend of the illustrator who asked his friend to help him out with his picture book proposal. Cue more professional photographer happy snaps and cute illustrated animals.




 Source: Buzzfeed

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E

If you want to know/can't be bothered BuzzFeeding it, Original Guy was a turtle to his girlfriend the bunny.

The illustrator Yoni is also on Facebook, so for Facebook savvy people that would rather find out more about his work that way than through the link to his website above here you go. 

That is all. Goodnight guys.

On a side note I learnt a bit about copyright the other day for work and know I'm paranoid if I'm referencing stuff correctly or not. So apologies original owners of copyright if I get it wrong. Let me know if I have. You know, don't sue me I'm poor uni student. Cheers. :)

Oh and I know its been ages, but I promise I've got original work coming soon. Watch this space.

There's something under the spire...

and it's a wonderfully put together exhibition celebrating the long and varied career of Australian stage and screen actor Geoffrey Rush. And its FREE!! The Extraordinary Shapes of Geoffrey Rush is at the Arts Centre until October 27.

This is what I get up to during my holidays. Getting to see all the wonderful exhibitions happening in Melbourne.  I don't think I'll ever get over missing A Day in Pompeii due to studying hard for the final high school exams. My love living this city and getting access to all things arts.

If your thinking 'Geoffrey who'? Then its Barbosa from Pirates or the speech therapist from The Kings Speech. Also if your thinking this you should get yourself to the city and find out just how much stuff this actor has been in.

It's an exhibition featuring heaps of things to take a look at including many costumes, photos, annotaed scripts, awards (yes that's an Acamedy, Tony and Emmy all lined up on the piano) and lovely chalkboard quotes with many exhibits were lent by the man himself. You first get to look at his early years and inspiration before the space is roughly divided into sections by the types of characters that he has played. And there have been many from a pirate to priest to supervillian to yes a woman.

 My favourite things were probably the costumes, those that I had previously seen on screen or stage (yes I saw him on stage!) physically in front of me and the annotated scripts. Not that I would ever now how an actor goes about their craft to bring a character or scene to life but its cool to see those scripts behind the performances.

No pictures allowed so even better hears the man himself giving a tour:

My comic book life #2: Blast from the past

Okay so I'm 22 today. But here's a visual representation of what actually really happened on another birthday of mine from long ago:

LOL. Welcome to the family where nobody ever remembers the exact ages of everybody else.

I still love you sis =P

Sometimes I imagine my life as a comic book...

... complete with punchines made up of awkward moments and epic fails.

Just an idea for a birthday card i drew up recently.Yes I know those people don't have faces; I didn't want to risk stuffing them up. So they shall remember faceless party people.

"All children, except one, grow up."

Today I was a kid again and went along to the Children's Book Festival a FREE event at the State Library in partnership with the Wheeler Centre. At first I was a bit hesitant to go because I figured the event would be mostly attended by children (obviously) and parents, of which I am neither. However, my love for picture books won out and so I hopped on the train into Melbourne.

Fitting for the day I started reading Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie on the ride in. Only got a chapter in but it good so far! I'll tell you more about when I get around to finishing it. I got the title for this post from its opening sentence.

It was a day catered for kids with performances, a petting zoo, face painting, meet the authors/illustrators, book signings and places for kids to created their own comics/books/crafts.

Is that a guy in a orange suit?! YES it IS!! Yay for bright colours!

Make your own book...

or a Great Wall of Comics

nawwww

AND WE ALL KNOW FROGS GO LA-DEE-DA-DEE-DA!!! Is stuck in my head now thanks to a performance by Rhys Muldoon. That guy from playschool! At least I think he's still on playschool judging by the reception he got from the kids who rushed onto the stage.

He was on playschool back when I watched it which was a loonnnng time ago now. And on The Genie From Down Under (any 90's kid remember that show?). He also plays dad characters on Lockie Leonard (one of the best kids shows, based on the books by Aussie Tim Winton) and House Husbands. And now you know that I watch more Australian television than the average Australian and this guy is officially my second favourite Australian entertainer/performer/actor person after Hugh Jackman. Hehe Hugh Jackman should do a playschool episode that would be fun.

Back inside the library and there is a small display of some wonderfully illustrated Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. This one was my favourite. It's a page from a pop-up version. So its 3D and was in a glass box so the photo doesn't do it justice. Pop into the State Library to check it out; its free and there until May 20.

Ducked into the Readings bookstore in the library and wanted to get this T-shirt so badly! It's a T-shirt of one of my favourite picture books that I discovered one day randomly. More on the book in a future post perhaps. Also I would've been perfect for a kids themed party coming up. But alas, I couldn't get itbecause it only came in kids sizes. And even though I'm tiny I looked at this and judged it wouldn't have fit. Sigh :( I bought a book instead (hence the bag in the first photo) which I'll write about some other time.

Final thing for the day, a meet the author session with Rhys Muldoon.  The kids really like the guy and he interviewed a whole bunch of them which was very sweet. The lucky chosen kids loved it and the adults in the audience had a fun time too. Who knew that today's kids favourite foods are couscous, pancakes with spag bol sauce and CAPSICUM?! At least dinosaurs, kid spies, and Going on a Bear Hunt are still favourite stories. Things haven't changed too much :p

Being interviewed by Rhys from Playschool!

Story time! Jasper and Abby & the Great Australia Day Kerfuffle  by Rhys Muldoon, ft. KRudd's cat.

Hehe can you spot the kid in the very Aussie hat??
Well that's it for today! I had a lovely arvo by myself if slightly out of place. I'd recommend anyone with kids to go next year (which said kids of course). The kids wandering around today seemed to have a blast.

To end:

“A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”- C.S. Lewis

Marching towards winter

It's cold! I'd been waiting for a cold day to post this scribble. Didn't think it would be so soon what with the odd heatwave-in-march we've just had in Melbourne.

The photo's taken on an angle becuase the drawing looks better that way hehe. I think this one started with the beanie which got a head which got a body all during a break in my lecture.

I'm excited about colder weather though. Hoodies time!!!! Best item of clothing ever... equal with trackies.
Keep rugged up and don't get sick!

Said the lamp to the cat

This one is a scribble I did one day in a philosophy lecture. It's one of many that I sketched on the page - I'll post the others up slowly - so that makes me think that I did them during a break in the lecture. It's been that long that I've also forgotten if the cat came first or the lampost.

I like this scribble because to me it looks like the lamp, an inanimate object is having a conversation with the cat. Such a scene is not possible in real life but it makes me happy thinking of the wonderful things that can happen in the imaginary/fictional world.

After I finished this scribble another drawing - one done by someone who can draw better than I - came to mind. It's the cover of The Arrival by Shaun Tan. Can you see why I formed such a connection? It's a beautiful picture book with the story told entirely through illustrations. Here's what it looks like. I'd encourage you go wander in a bookstore (yes they still exist!) and have look. Shaun Tan is an amazing illustrator and storyteller. And his Australian! He has written a bunch of books and perhaps I'll post about his work in the future.