Liquorice Rope

Today Oli and I made it back to Christchurch to stay with our family for a week. Somehow, we managed to be on the same flight as our friend, and top bloke, Jono. So, naturally, we made a movie with him on my cell phone camera.

You're welcome.

The Egg King

My brother Oli has conquered eggs.

I have conquered mayonnaise, and recently (read: last Christmas) discovered I have by association conquered hollandiase sauce. Perhaps all of the naise's.

Together, we make breakfast the greatest meal of the day.

On a related note, Sunday has become "breakfast for dinner" day, and as a result, my new favourite day of the week.

AKL CITY

Callum, Paige and the Trust Experiment

I finally convinced Paige to let me cut her hair. I was totally confident, spurred on by that Regina Spektor song, and also by Terry Devlin, my grandpa.

"Do you know what the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut is?"

"No."

"Three weeks! (laughs)"

Paige prepares.

AND...

(she was actually way happier when she saw it)

(babe)

    

After trying to make the sides even and ending up cutting it WAY shorter then intended, I decided to go for asymmetry. WAY easier. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but it was a bit touch and go for a minute there.

Anyway, anyone who wants me to cut their hair, step right up. I've got a lot of karma to make up on from the amount of times Steven's cut mine.

smoulder

 Today I bought a suit jacket. I was showing Oli and he liked it so much that he decided to put his on to remind everyone how good he looks in a suit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In other news Oli has perfected his Cary Grant smoulder.

pproccess

Thought ya'll might appreciate some process photos, to understand just how state of the art my latest set of white paintings are. In case you're wondering, they're pretty much necessitated by my large collection of white acrylic paint. As well as a cautioned journey away from the highly saturated palette I'm accustomed to dealing with. I don't mean to undersell them. I'm actually really thrilled with how they turned out. They represent an exploration around a set of rules, and really feel like the first works in some sort of larger idea. However, my painting brief just finished, which is extremely bad timing. I would have loved to experiment further, but no doubt the distractions and priorities of next semester may hinder this slightly. Anyway, I see it as a door left open. Who knows?

white # 4 - acrylic on board

Happy Birthday Stephen

Callum Versus The Sea

So. I'm making video art. Yeah... not so sure. Be worried. Potential disaster ahead.

Coming Soon.

Right

acrylic on gouache on corrugated cardboard taped to wall  feat. wet paint

The Continuing Story

Fred's Dilemma

As promised (for once) here follows the illustrations I did for my grandpa Terry's book. IN SUPER LARGE!!

Chapter One (and front cover) - The mysterious island where it all takes place. Note: scary cliffs, huts on beach, cliche distant flying birds, super dramatic lighting.


The Scary Cliffs: A BODY?!! Oh heavens no! What a terrible accident. Definately an accident... Or was it?? We may never know. Unless a selfless hero becomes a detective to try and solve this dilemma.

Giorgio: What a bully... what a coward... What a fiend! (if you read the book you'd understand my hatred for him. Jerk). The island has it's own laws now, and you will face cage-related consequences if you disobey!


The End: Lot's more stuff happens on the island, but I won't ruin it (or let you know if they get to freedom or descend into savagery). This is a perfect circle-wipe ending, showing the now idylic island. Cue bright sky and a calm mist.


I'll happily illustrate your book if you wrote one. Not that I'm advertising or anything. I'm just super happy with these drawings. I hope you like them and they make you want to buy my grandpa's book. I'll let you know how when I figure it out myself.

Currantly*

(*man do I love currants!)

So, as things tend to do for me occasionally, I've found myself with some projects on the go. The latest completed is the one below, Grand Spectacular.

I'm also working on some illustrations for an adventure book my grandpa Terry is getting printed. It's called Fred's Dillema and is set on an island where a bunch of survivors from a sunken cruise ship try to survive each other and mysterious goings on. I'm doing sick Brett Helquist ish pencil sketches. Except way less dramatic and classy. I'll upload them onto here when I've scanned them, I'm pretty happy with them.

Also on the go is me painting. I have to get back into practice for art school, and I'm in the process of assembling my portfolio for my interview so it's as good a time as any.

The other exciting thing happening is band related. Hans Pucket played at a party the other week which was super fun. I bashed my knuckles on the edge of the drums and spattered blood over the snare and floor tom. It was super punk. Highlight was our Jungle Book medley. We're playing at thom's previously mentioned leaving thing, with all of the bands in the world, so that should be cool.

Also, Custard Bear returned from the depths of nothing-whatsoever to play a paid gig with THE FUCKING BATS! (aka The Bats). It was in the hagley park fanzone (yeah!). Jack had some wedding on an island, so we got our good pal Kurt in as a more than capable substitute, who proceeded to kick ass in every respect. So much fun. I missed playing bass more than I realised. We played a couple oldies, but a new rock song oli wrote that tuesday. My brother dishes them out like the best of them, really. It's insane.

So, all of this, AND full time working going down. In case you were wondering from my absence of posts, I do keep myself occupied, really.

(Photo from Hans flat party gig below)

Reminder

Shit's been getting kind of real lately, which has been super lame. In the midst of all the stress and horror and depression and angst you kind of forget the simple things that can really help. Like listening to music.

I HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING TO MUSIC.

How did I not spot this??

Anyway, Oli downloaded Smith Westerns' Dye It Blonde for me, and seriously, within the first three seconds of the first track I remembered...

MUSIC IS AWESOME.

Really.

I feel better now.

tick tick tick tick

Today I "officially" finished work on both my art folios. Yup. Both of them. I had a mammoth couple of weeks getting them finished, but ultimately I am extremely happy with how both of them turned out. It kind of makes me realise what it would be like to be a parent; creating and raising these two beautiful creatures to fully developed independent entities. And now, after a brief period of fond appreciation, I must part with them, and they from me, wishing them luck upon their journeys to Wellington (absurd parallels to my own parents current experience: noted).

I would complain about how little sleep I've gotten this past month, and how hard it all was, and the stress and all, but, honestly, I'd be exaggerating. It wasn't really that bad. Sure, I didn't sleep, and I was pretty exhausted for a while, and I almost completely disregarded all of my friends, but I made it. And looking back from this end, I don't know why I was whinging so much. I was totally capable of this thing. It was a challenge, sure. It pretty much dominated my thoughts all year, yeah, granted. But now it's over, I'll be stoked to be able to do it again. This year has made me want to go to art school. Not just to see how it goes, or because it's the next logical step. But because I REALLY WANT TO GO. It's also made me way more confident in this next year; because I have a plan to come out of it. Something to look forward to.

If, next year, I end up finding a life, changing my path, becoming a person or whatever this idealistic unformed human expects from non high school life, then that's awesome. I will continue that path. But if I go and completely fall of the rails, like, wipe out, shit hitting fan, end up miserable, lonely and without direction... then I get to pack up and go to art school. Bam. Solved. I think taking a year to play the 'come what may" card is not a bad plan. Because, ultimately, I'm not drifting. I'm doing.

I got to tick two big red ticks through my to-do list today. It's amazing how quickly the feeling of accomplishment turns to fear, of shit yet to do. I better get working. I still have to Schol Art submissions to finish.

Speaking of finishing; I finished reading Mayor of Casterbridge. And I have two more days of high school. Ever. Yeah.

Theatresports party tomorrow!

I'll be sure to put up photos of my babies soon.

Time for a celebration sandwich.

Things Today

These holidays are going splendidly. I climbed a hill with a bunch of complete strangers and yet hat wiked fun, ran down Moorhouse Ave with some little kids, got in a parade and took lols of photos, walked far far too much (which I always enjoy), got over my fear of dogs and intersections, almost wrote a book and watched the end of Amilie with Paige (who, just so you know, is awesome. She explained to me her big awesome ingenious theory about the personality traits of all the numbers. It's brilliant. Next time you see me, ask me about it), walked more, watched more movies, watched Were the Wild Things Are and ate far too much popcorn (which I always really enjoy), and then slept in too far. MOST interstingly, my hatred of Letterman turned into a strange obsesive addiction. Hmmm... he's still not funny but the show somehow comforts me. Then I had minor surgery.

I had this weird mole thing on my neck that sprung up during exam week. I picked at it (yes... hate me) and it bled. And then it scabbed so I picked more (Go on! i know im a terrible person) and it bled more and grew and grew into something monstrous and disgusting. Luckily I kept it hidden behind a slick badass bandaid. Today I finally got it removed. I got a sick local anisthetic and they cut it all out. Amazingly they didn't get blood all over my tshirt which I was most worried about. The moles on my neck, and so quite close to all these delicate arteries and things. So, the other day, when I was all nervous about the operation, Sam and Oli were teasing me. Worst call came from Sam; "Hey Callum, you know what's going to be fun? Bleeding out."

Bastard. Luckily, he's moving out today. Party starts now.

ps. Photos coming soon. I tried to upload the video of Oli jumping the river but gave up. Il get it eventually. It is badass, I promise.

Dude, I got no time for haters.

Man. Man oh man. Things are great.

It really takes the awesomeness of the first two days of non-school to make me realise how soul destroying school life actually is, for me anyway. Such a weight is gone. And it kicks fucking ass. Oh, no no... of course I'm not thinking about how much crazy shit I have to get done next year. I'll let future Callum sort that shit out. Two days. I can't believe it.

Oli and I were talking about on the way home from nothing today (as we often do on such a lovely walking day) that we're slowly conquering our little fears. Like when Oli jumped that river (it SOO happened! Totes). Or at least he is. But I will too. From now on. It's just stupid to avoid them because they mean nothing, and they change nothing if you stick to them. But if you break them, it feels so damn good. That little self pride of conquering fear really sets you up to enjoy awesomeness and notice the little things. Noticing serendipitous moments. Making fun out of anything. Turning things into games (NB. ANYTHING can become a game. Just add some rule too it that makes it fun... a punishment, a bet, even a tally graph to keep score of something boring. Its childish, but thats exactly the point). Sure I sound pretentious and self uppity but dammit I'm happy.

Oh, I can't believe I havn't told you this story yet. Its another duck feeding story. With Paige. Thats our thing. So there we were, jelly park pond, feeding swarms of crazy ducks. Like swarms. They were going nutto over this bread, honestly. It was a little scary. Well for me, lots of things are scary. But they were so competitive and nasty. So we turned it into a kick ass game (which i'll talk about in my next post... its honestly amazing. I cant understand why I haven't told you!). When we ran out of bread there was a lull in conversation. Not akward or anything... just a break from the intense action of the moments preceeding. I picked up a stick and prepared to aimlessly throw it into the water. "Man, it would be so awesome if we had a dog" I said, slightly bored as the stick splashed into the water. And then, in a streak of black fur a crazed happy mass of paws bolted past and bundled into the river. It was only when the thing had dropped the retrieved stick at our feet and prepared to shake the water off that I realised...

I had summoned a dog.

Unbelievable? Believe it. I told Oli this story today on the way home from nowhere today and he said "Wow... what did you do to deserve that sort of awesomness? Thats like three fonterra guys worth of good fortune."

Oh the fonterra guy... you wouldnt get that reference would you? Oh ill tell you the story later. First, the game.

Good luck wth the next one Mr Brown.

lol

I spent the entire weekend studying classics (read: reading Dan Browns new encyclopaedia). For those of you who are unaware, classics was sort of my one subject this year that I could miss. See, I couldn't miss art because i love it and it loves me. And I couldnt miss English and Music because those were sort of important to my future... and my "PLAN". And I couldnt miss maths because im scared of my maths teacher. And Art historys awesome, and far far too much fun (well... was. *tear*.) and thats it. SOO, whenever I had a music lesson or was really hungry or had far too much art to do, it seemed Classics had to bite the bullet, despite the fact that Mr Drurys the man, and I even went to Italy early this year on the class trips of all class trips. Well, it didnt stop Classics from going straight through me. I cant remember why I did it, I mean, I didnt really do very well at history last year... wait.... so, why DID I do classics this year?? If I knew I was going to be bad at it. Hmmmm....

OH WAIT!!

So that brings me to today. The Odyssey went quite well (its pretty much english) and so did the pompeiian art bit. Everythign was going actually pretty smoothly, so by the time I got to the essay on Athenian democracy I was in a pretty good mood. But unfortunately Athenian Democracy as a subject doesn't hold the delights that you would expect from a topic that examines political developments of a era that we found underground. And plus I was sort of accidentaly absent for the good part of the topic. Oh, and dont forget Dan Brown fucking things up. And I didnt have a big breakfast. And the exam examiner lady was reading a book on GRAMMAR which made me laugh for a solid hour.

ANYway. Like halfway through my fluff filled essay on male citizenship I sort of, gave up. Mid sentence even... I just sort of realised I didnt know nearly enough to help me pass. This is sort of what happened (I'll note with a * where I gave up);

The punishments towards Athenians who broke the rules of Citizenship were incredibly strict. If a person broke the rules of citizenship, or pretended to be a citizen the * Athenian Police would arrest him. Then, they would make the offender sit in a small steel box in the sun for a week to think about what he had done. Then, if by the end of the week the non citizen had completely repented for his sins, they would give him a ten minute head start. After which the townspeople would chase him with long swords and sharpened wooden poles to the edge of the city limits. Then, the townspeople would celebrate with a strict and rigidly coreographed dance. The End... Well, I'm hungry. I'm thinking I might go get a sushi ball.

I get my results in January, so I'll defs let you know how I went. God I love NCEA.

PS. I still cant find that fucking chord. I guess no one will ever believe that Oli truely jumped that river... he did btw.

EDIT: I got my results back!!!! AAAAAAND Not Achieved. Ha. Saw that coming. I got very excited when I saw that it had been moderated, but Sam kindly reminded me that thats random. Huh. Next year!

Los Cappuccios - Thom's guest post..?

Today I hung out with Thom. So he's going to tell you what went down. And other things that are on his mind. Take his word for gold....

Rolled up to town. Met up with the Custard Boys, they were at the library, went to.. Yellow Rocket's Coffee and Bagels cafe.. We had coffee and bagels.. Callum got.. basil pesto with garlic and herb cream cheese and a cappuccino. I (thom) had a.. Hazelnut with boysenberry jam and cream cheese bagel and.. a flat white (i'm boring and bad at coffee/it was the cheapest).
After an hour of organising our RDU application form (I have a spew on my blog about RDUing stuff if you're realy bored.. which you must be if you're reading a blog :) and some awkward interjections by Oli about it all.. After a spell of this, and a pretty wee Danish lassy signing us up for a petition involving the world and saving it (well.. might as well give it a shot) we were finally off to UC for RDUing..
After a pleasant walk through the campus we got there. Seeing as we hadn't actually met Benet (the boss man), we're pretty sure we passed him in the stairs, he was carrying soup.
The reception lady took our mix tapes and our form for us, Benet was out to lunch you see.. He's gonna call us and get shit properly sorted.
Off we were back to the cave (it's what I call the Custard boy's home.. Where else do bears live?) via waiting for half an hour for Oli to man up enough to jump a wee.. not even 6 foot wide river via an ice cream stop via checking out their section (they're building a house you see..) we were finally home.
Not much else happened. We nibbled on some grainwaves on our walk.

[*]ENDE[*]

Thanks Thom. Very brief.

Dear Blog

Today I did something dreadful.

Anyone who really knows me will tell you that I'm a helpless nostalgic. I keep everything. Too much paper shit is everywhere in my life, and more obviously, my room. I have come to actually throwing a lot of things away recently, things I like but know I wont need in five years time. Something that makes me laugh but wont when I find it in five months time. Or will it? Usually I just sit there rereading it over and over feeling sad and mopey about how fun and carefree my life was when I was (five months) younger... until I realise its just a drawing from a friend, or a ticket stub, or a real old magazine I read lots.

When we moved into this house at the start of Year 9 I decided to cover my door with shit (posters, ticket stubs... mostly school events and shit for my wicked covers band JORC with Joel and Rory). My mum didn't like it at first because it was a rental place because we had a property we were going to be building on soon and we'd be moving and I'd have to rip it all down and probably peel off paint. But I did anyway... a way of making Bryndweird feel like home. Well, fast forward four years down the line and here I am, nearing the start of my 5th year of high school, were still in Bryndwr which has become well and truly home for me (despite the whole no vowel things... SOMETIMES Y IS A LIE!!), Joel and Rory are now in a r ridiculously scary (read 'good') Deathcore (or something) band and we're in (giggle inducing) Custard Bear. Plus, my door is still covered in shit from four years ago. So I took it all off.

Mum noticed straight away (the paint was fine fyi). Dad walked past twice before he did. But they were both sort of shocked. And so was I, kind of. It may not seem like a big deal, but to a hopeless nostalgic its pretty much the worst. But I didn't throw everything away. I kept the JORC posters. In like twenty years time when Behold Thy End is like crazy famous for biting the heads off of bats and Custard Bear (read 'Way Better Band Name') is mediocre famous for playing in librarys and touring the South Island, we can show people that poster and they'd be like "Woah shit, man... thats nutsbuckle*" and we'd be all "Yup... totes. We taught them everything they know".

Can I get a YEHAW for capitalising on friends success??? Nope.

I got scared at my overly clean door so I started blu tacking photo copies of work from my folio. Im liking it, to be honest. Waaaay better than JORC shit.


*future slang term. Trust me, everyone's going to be saying it. Its the new pish posh.


ps. tune into RDU tonight at like 1am. THOMS ON!!!

Math the Never

Okay okay... Okay. I'm very very excited and stoked right now. But I'm getting ahead of myself (lols for reference)...

Today I was doing my level two maths exam. It went pretty all right. I did a suitable amount of revision in the weekend. On Saturday I taught myself how to do logarithms. For those of you who avoided year 12 maths logarithms are special magic numbers which make algebra awesome. Needless to say I spent all day doing examples and getting real awesome at it (sidebar. there were two logarithm questions out of the whole six papers. I could have done the second one another way but I kinda forced it. It was awesome). Sunday I did calculus. For those of you who dont know anything, calculus is a maths on meth. Its not healthy. But it is kind of magic. But dont go thinking I'm a fan of math. I'm really not... maths is stupid. Well, high school maths is. I've been doing maths all my living memory. From counting... to subtracting... to MULTIPLICUNTION... long division. fractions. adding/subtracting fractions. algebra (giggles)

...

it was a long, long journey. Lots of "why??!"'s were had. I struggled to understand the point for long periods of my life when I was certain that I wanted to do music/film/art/things that Im naturally good at and wont take long periods of academic struggling. But I wont go on and on...everyone feels this way. Even maths teachers... but they would never admit it.

So there I was, halfway through my trigonometric equation paper when I realised... this wwas the LAST TIME I WAS EVER DOING MATHS! EVER!!! EVER EVER!!!! EEEVVVVEEEERRRRRR!!!!!!!

And then I got Los Campesinos! stuck in my head and my day was perfect forever amen.