PAINTING COMPLETE!!!

So sorry i haven't posted in...well.. ages. I am extremely busy with school and exams at the moment (oh the joys of nearing the end of high school). Anywho i thought i should share my painting that i just completed :)

(please click on the painting to view it in its full glory!)

 ”Life Sparkles like a City at Night”

Caitlin Rooker

Acrylic on Canvas

A boring, dull, repetitive life is no life worth living. Like an unlit city it sits there with so much potential, swathed in darkness. To a picture of took of a dull, boring street in the Perth CBD I added glittering Christmas lights, which really make the city itself glow. The holiday spirit which these Christmas lights represent is full of joy and excitement. A life lived to the fullest embodies these traits, glowing with passion and glittering with excitement. I used bright, exhilarating colours in my painting to express the euphoria of Christmas spirit. In my brash application of paint I was influenced by expressionism and fauvism as well as post-impressionism, in particular Van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night. I love the milieu of a big city at night, specifically how the darkness exaggerates the kaleidoscope of polychromatic, glimmering streetlights and the prevalent urban ambiance. In my painting I have juxtaposed the confined, geometrically structured cityscape with the frenzied application of paint which distorts the shapes and adds to the exciting atmosphere.

Also you might have noticed that this painting has the same title as my blog :) that was very intentional!

~Caitlin

Red Dog!

So this movie recently came out here in Australia :)

anyone and everyone,

Please see the movie “Red Dog” its not just for aussies and dog lovers, its a movie for everyone! Hilarious, heartfelt, romantic, gorgeous scenery, wonderful cast. 

I could really relate to the story of the main character John. I’m an American who moved out to Perth Australia two and a half years ago. Less than two months after living here i set out to get a puppy. Initially i wanted a ‘proper’ border collie, or some other lovely purebred dog. While looking at all of the dogs at the RSPCA i came across the cutest little brown dog i had ever set eyes on. Her bright yellow eyes and high strung nature captured my heart :) Ruby the Red Cloud Kelpie. She’s my mate, my best friend, the most incredible dog in the entire world. I feel so special to be her master, but more special to be her playmate, running buddy and fellow nap taker :) As i sit here on my couch writing this post she is lying with her upper body on my lap, my arm around her neck, and her head resting on my arm even while i’m typing. 

Basically what i’m here to say is that Ruby, my “red dog,” and my ‘lil ruby,

I love you!

(Ruby at approx 6 months old, gorgeous 'lil gal!)

(And finally a very recent picture of ruby at about 3 years old, during a wander on the beach at sunset :) )

Melbourne Day 4 (Last full day in Melbourne)

So unfortunately today was my last full day in melbourne, and i intended to make the most of it! I went into the city early to go to the INCREDIBLE Tutankamun exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, it was really cool! soo much gold! After the i walked to the University of Melbourne via Lygon St where i got a lovely brunch of a Chocolate Criossant and a white hot chocolate, SO FRIGGIN YUMMY! then i walked over to the University but i was a bit early for my appointment with the very helpful information person so i walked around the outside of the University, looking at the Residential Colleges of the uni. They're all really gorgeous!

Queens College

I didnt get close to this college but its so pretty from far away :)

Janet Clarke Hall

So after passign that ^ building i walked past some people walking around with filming equipment! i kept walking and who other but Kat Stewart walked right past me! (Billie Proudman from the Australian TV show Offspring, Nina's sister, its such a good tv show! i love it!) i really could NOT believe it was her! ahhh! sadly i didnt get a pic, but still, it was REALLY COOL!

Thenn i walked back to the Museum where i saw Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two in IMAX! apparently its the 3rd largest IMAX screen in the world! 7 stories high! it was really really great! i love harry potter so much, and i cried at least 4 times during the entire movie ...so sad...the end of an era!

Then i walked back to the city via Drummond St, where another of the University of Melbourne's residential colleges is, Ormond College, its AMAZINGLY PRETTY!!!! it just stands out so boldly on the street! my gosh...i wish i could live there next year!

then i walked back into the city, going through melbourne's little china town area which is really interesting and different to the rest of the city :)

Further into the city and i came across the Theosophical Society...i have no idea what it is!

More wandering and i got my last Starbucks in Melbourne (a tall Caramel Frappucino-YUM!)

and i also was walking up Bourke St and i walked down a little side street full of cafes and restaurants and i stopped in the most adorable little Macaroon shop where i had a lovely chat with a French guy while he put my macaroons in the cutest little gift box!

The bag

Up close the outside of the box

The outside of the box (yes i was at the train station)

opening the box :)

ohmygosh...the macaroons are wrapped in tissue paper with a little sticker!

open that up and voila! 6 macaroons!

...Lemon...Strawberry...Rose...Raspberry...Caramel...Chocolate

YUM!



lemme tell ya, they are SO YUMMY!!!!! ahhh!!! gosh what a fabulous day...the perfect way to end my adventures in Melbourne city :) and then tomorrow morning i am off to Queenstown NZ! lots more pictures to come! goodnight :)

~Caity

Melbourne Day 3

Soo day 3 in melbourne :) fun stuff! started off the day at the Australian NGV to see lots of amazing Australian art, Rupert Bunny, Frederick McCubbin, John Brack, Brett Whitely, Eugene von Geurard, very amazing :)

After a logn time at the art gallery i got the train to Prahran, a cute little suburb of Melbourne  with a ton of high fashion shopping on Chapel St. Its such a charming area with gorgeous architecture :)

and they just happened to have the wonderful store American Apparel! So i did a bit 'cough cough' of shopping :)

i think this building was maybe the town hall? if not its some important building :)

i liked the sign of this shop :)

I had a lovely lunch a sidestreet cafe and made my way back to the train station to get back to the city

this is Prahran Train station

Back in the city i hopped on the free city circle tram to get to the Carlton Gardens and the Melbourne Museum

lots of things to see on the tram ride :)

Pretty sure this is the Victoria Parliament bulding-its purty!

and some pretty tower church thingy in the distance

So then i hopped off the tram and wandered through the lovely Carlton Gardens up to the the gorgeous Royal Exhibition Building

Behind the Royal Exhibition Building is the Melbourne Museum, where i got tickets for the next day for the Tutankamun Exhibition and seeing Harry Potter 7 part 2 in IMAX 3D!

Soo then i wandered over to the University of Melbourne, passing by the cafe and restaurant busy Lygon St

So then  i walked around the University, having no idea where i was and just wandered aimlessly, getting a feel for the campus and the Uni itself :)

Gottu take a few artsy pictures for effect :) this building is AMAZING

This is the old arts building which if i end up going there is where most of my classes would be :)  (Assuming i major in art history)

The grass is SO green!!!

more of the old arts building :)

Pretty reflecting pool :)

builings outside of the Uni campus

lovely park across from the uni :)

Its really pretty :) i really like it here!

So then i wandered back tho the city and it was a lovely long scenic walk :)

Some old bath house...with a tram infront of it :)

It was a VERY busy full long day :) locing melbourne so much! tomorrow is the last day...gonna be so sad to leave, but hey, i'll be back! and goin to queenstown thursday morning :)

~Caity