Dana Gray.

This photo is from a series of photos I took based on the American serial killer Dana Gray. Gray stole the credit cards of her victims and shouted herself to a manicure, shopping and lunch after strangling them with her bare hands. In this series I re-enacted the activities she did after killing.

Madeline and Hannah's day out.

After recently blogging about Picton and daisies my amazing boss Hannah decided a trip to Picton was in order. So whilst we had a quiet moment at work we whipped up a couple of outfits inspired by our trip-to-be. We plan to drink tea on the ferry and laze around for the weekend.

Madeline and Hannah's Boat trip to Picton. by madeline O'Donoghue featuring Lipsy dresses

Items in this set:
Two-tone mini dress, $245
Lipsy Check Halterneck Dress Online | Shop at Style Compare, 50 GBP
Organic Alpaca Wool Cardigan, 73 GBP
London Boy boyfriend jeans, $105
REPETTO Ballerina shoes, 145 EUR

Daisy.

Daisies. Happiness. Smiles.
Marc Jacobs perfume Daisy advertising campaign. Fresh, lively, youthful and everything a daisy stands for. They almost have a Virgin Suicide's feel, pure, clean and white. I just adore it....

Picton.

I am dying to return to the beautiful Picton. Little boats in the harbour, modest architecture, a local outdoor swimming pool and the best 2nd hand store around. I may make a day trip down there just to walk around to Bobs Bay and eat a picnic lunch whilst sitting on a checkered blanket. This little town is simply stunning and I feel extremely connected to it as a place. So cute. I will catch the ferry and relax for just a day.

Garden Party.

I don't have much to say about these other than how lovely they are.

Alex Katz/ Changing Seasons.

After posting Raymond McIntyre I couldn't help but post some Katz. The works are two of my favourites and I can never decide which I prefer. The winter rain? or the summer and the sunglasses? Anyway I think they are both just wonderful and capture the two seasons and moods associated with them perfectly.

Raymond McIntyre.

Raymond McIntyre was a NZ born painter who I was recently introduced to in my Art History lecture. I absolutely fell in love with his work and could even see resemblances to one of my favourite painters Alex Katz. The works are so alluring and have a timeless quality. The fashion/beauty portrait is very close to my heart. Plus they are little reminders of Modigliani too!

Rain.

Rain, it's not all that bad. The smell of the pavement, the blue-grey haze and cosy interiors. This work by Alex Katz paints the perfect picture of a rainy day. Sitting inside playing cards and drinking cocoa. I'ts the little things like the sound of rain which make me smile. Beat the blues.

Tea.

I have endless cups of tea on the brain. It could be due to the weather as nothing beats sitting down to a cup of tea, putting a cosy jumper on, getting under a blanket and watching a good film while it rains. This is my new favourite........lovely tin, lovely flavour.

Genova.

Genova by madeline O'Donoghue featuring Oasis swimwear

I have just recently seen the film Genova which was absolutely beautiful. One memorable scene is located at a little beach (suprise suprise!) where little sailing boats and a little red metal table are depicted. The film's location really is gorgeous and made me want to flee to Italy so I could lounge about in the sun, swim in the clear waters and scoot back to my hotel room in the evenings. Other than a shameful want for a holiday in Italy, the film was a wonderful and emotional watch. The little girl's acting was particularly impressive.....

Sailing in a spoonful of water.

What a lovely saying "sailing in a spoonful of water". I can't decide whether it's a half glass full or a half glass empty attitude. Quite nice anyhow.

The man in the hat.

Whilst i'm on a tangent about looking backwards and creating our own narratives I thought it would be a good time to mention the latest film I watched. The Man in the Hat directed by Luit Beiringa is a beautiful documentary about Wellington art dealer Peter McLeavey. The film follows him on his everyday journey to his Cuba Street gallery with experts from his childhood and letters from Colin McCahon. The film talks directly to ideas about past and present and the constant flux which is life. It was a pleasure to watch such a film.

Forwards.

Yet another inspirational theme from my art history paper.......... "It is necessary to go back in order to go forward."

Narrators

"We are the narrators of our lives. We create the stories we live in. Everyday you must set out to make something happen in your story." Some thought provoking words of wisdom from my last few lectures. They all seem to have some sort of bigger message than the topic itself recently, which is just super with me.

New York skies.

The New York Sky, photo taken whilst on a boat ride out to Staten Island. Quite a nice transitory moment I thought.

New York, how I love you.

After travelling to New York in 2008 I officialy fell in love with the city. Here are some of the photos I took on my trip. New York changed the way I make art, it reignited my love of painting.

More Painting.

Some more of my final paintings. I must do more, these are all far too old and I have so many new ideas for more work...........anyhow here they are.

Painting.

Here are some of my paintings. Inspired by the Chloe advertising campaign they are my works from my final year at Massey, I will soon start attempting to paint landscapes and maybe even the 2010 Prada campaign........... I am excited. There are lots and lots of things I want to start painting but I can't due to having no space! so frustrating.

Leave The City.

Leave The City
Broke my heart to leave the city
I mean it broke what wasn’t broken in there already
Thought of all my great reasons for leaving
Now I can’t think of any
It’s true it was a hard time that I’ve come through
It’s made me thankful for the blues
Half my life spent on a highway
Half my life I didn’t choose
And I have seen the North Star
Shining in the freight yard
And I knew it was a hard time that it’d come through
It’s made him thankful for the blues
It broke my heart to know you waited
I had so many things to do
It’s true as far as a lot of stuff
You could have had a little better luck
You just called and just hung it up
One of us has had enough
It’s true as far as a lot of stuff
You could have had a little better luck
You just called and just hung it up
Baby both of us have had enough

Lyrics by Magnolia Electric Company. I Wish I could leave the city and spend a year at this lighthouse dwelling. Sitting by the fire in winter and fishing off the rocks in summer, what a life. I am getting more and more keen to start painting some of these images.

If I was in a Vernon Ward painting.

The ideal garden party wedding outfit by madeline O'Donoghue featuring Carolee jewelry

If I was in a Vernon Ward painting this is what I would wear........

Vernon Ward.

Just seeing the Vernon Ward in my bedroom forced me to post some more beautiful pieces by him. The Swans and flowers are highlights but he also does some beautiful flying ducks. All of the works remind me of the riverside scene from the Audrey Hepburn film "Funny Face". Just Gorgeous.

Boudoir.

Because I loved the "And God Created Woman" vogue shoot so much, one of the pages takes centre stage in my boudoir, alongside Vernon Ward "Swans" and china animals ofcourse. I really am hoping I get a bigger boudoir soon as I have recently purchased a gorgeous cowboy themed print from an op-shop.

God created woman.

Now I know this is a very old shoot but i'm still not over it. The colours, the fabrics, the hair. I love the chair in the first photo, it's such a nice suburban nautical shoot.

Spring time in Cape Cod.

Cape Cod by madeline O'Donoghue featuring See by Chloe

Spring afternoon in Cape Cod.

Sailing Away to Bellport, NYC

Sail Away by madeline O'Donoghue featuring Miu Miu skirts

Heres my dream outfit to wear whilst watching the boats and eating club sandwhiches and watermelon at the race.

Edward Hopper visits Cape Cod.

Edward Hopper visited Cape Cod and produced these paintings. I adore the open door leading out to nothing but water. Like a house boat. The colours and the light are just stunning. Inspiration to start painting landscapes.

Cape Cod.

I am currently obsessed with Cape Cod and Long Island/ Bellport / the Hampton's and thought I would share a few suburban-nautical inspired images that I have fallen in love with. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

I am sailing.

Welcome to Je Navigue / I am Sailing; This blog will showcase everything that is influencing me at different moments in time. Navigation, travel, journeys, stories, narratives, change, transition, pasts and presents are all themes throughout this blog. Art, fashion, photography,print media and the visual world will make appearances. This blog is a journey in itself.

Evening race in Bellport, Isn't it just gorgeous? If only every evening could be spent wrapped up in a woolen blue and white gingham blanket watching this scene........It could easily be transformed into a marvellous painting (once I have set up a new studio) I'll see how I go.