Update // Painting Gallery // 25//06//07

I've just updated the gallery. While it may not be apparent exactly what I have changed, it will make sense when you hear about it.

To get the images in the gallery, the script opens the directory, searches through all the image files in that directory and outputs them. This essentially means that to add an artwork all I need to do is put the new painting in the folder, update the database (for all the information about the painting) and hey presto, I have myself a gallery!

The problem has been, is that when the script outputs the files in the directory, it automatically sorts them into alphabetical order. This means that my latest finished pieces are almost impossible to find, as you never know where to look when you first enter the gallery.

I have put in place a date sorting order in the script, so that now, it will get the date that the piece was uploaded, and so the latest pieces will be displayed down the bottom of the page.

I've been making plans for a couple more changes to the gallery too, including:
- Adding the full image of the latest painting at the top of the gallery...
- Adding in small 'snippet' cards at the bottom of each painting, which upon clicking (or mouseOver) will pop up a tool tip of the information about that painting - almost like those little cards you see in art galleries next to the painting on the wall which tells you the artist, the title, year and how much it wold hurt your back pocket!

Not sure when these changes will be implemented.

'Till next time...

Between the Earth and the Moon

I have just finished my latest work "Heavenly Eclipse; When the Son comes between the Earth and the Moon" (See it here)
Its a painting I started a while back, but did not finish. It was lacking something. While I was happy with how it was, I felt it needed more. I was recently asked to put forward a painting for an art auction which was to held fund a missions trip to Russia for Matt Renata from our church. After thinking about it, and praying about it, I came to the decision to put this piece forward. While I was pleased with how it finished up, because of the time spent in its unfinished state, there was less emotional attachment to it compared to other paintings I have done.
The auction is on Sunday, 1 July 2007 at Lower Hutt Baptist Church, 6 Manuka Ave, Woburn - Lower Hutt. It is after the morning service which starts at 10:30am, so I suspect auctioning will start around 11:30-12:00.
'Till next time...

Exams - are over...

I sat my last art history exam EVER today at 9:30am. It went quite well - at least, I felt it went quite well. It probably needed to be 3 hours instead of 2 - but hey I'm not complaining!
I've been working on some photographs of Vicky and I with Adobe Photoshop CS3 and getting the hang of layers and different effects to make your photos look better.
Go to my Flickr page to see the results.
'Till next time...

Flickr, Study and the eve of 7 months...

Its been a busy time of late.
I've been studying for exams which are next week, Monday 18th and Friday 22nd June. With the amount of reading I've done, I'm a bit out of it at the moment and stress is slowly rising.
I've spent the in-between times integrating Flickr with my own site to take care of my photo gallery and my new design page.
On Saturday Vicky and I, along with Ian, Hannah and Seth and Esther are heading out to the movies to see Shrek the Third. It should be good. I've only met Ian and Seth once before, Hannah is a stranger to me, but it'll be all good I'm sure.
'Till next time...

Exams - are here...

Vicky had her first exam today. Mixed reaction from her, but I'm sure she put her all into what she's done. I 'sat' my first one today too - though it was just a trial run at home - a lotting myself 2 hours to write about the two questions.
Next week I will be spending the week studying for my New Zealand Art History paper, which should be interesting - but for the mean time I have a couple of days off where I can put it out of my mind.
'Till next time...

Update // Dark skin - 8//06//07

I've put up my new skin. It is a darker skin with a kind of grungy feel. I've been in contact with the designer of www.elliotjaystocks.com which is the base of the new skin. I liked it that much!!!
I was going to be looking at a design that was similar in feel any way!!!
So - go on - check it out. Click on the Dark skin button or Click here.
'Till next time...