brendanobrien

I'm a 39-year-old Aussie male who has a passion for art of all kinds, most particularly music and visual art.

A generally friendly and happy-go-lucky person, I'm sometimes insecure, and far from perfect. I value people who are genuine, sensible, and considerate of others, but still know how to let their hair down and have a bit of fun.

I play a little guitar and like to write as well. Have written a few songs over the years but nothing "chartbusting" as yet.

I've always been one to challenge people's comfort zones, especially those that are instilled in them by "societally accepted" influences. I so enjoy pushing the boundaries, so to speak...

Things I like to do art-wise:

Write songs and poetry, Draw, paint, collage (especially for postcards or greeting cards), "alter" things (take something already created and "change" it...not into something else, but alter it so you know what it is but so it looks totally unlike it once did. Favourites to alter: guitars, and shoes), I've made tons of ATCs over the years (I'm a little past it now and seek to do new stuff, but given the right theme, I might be tempted to go again), And making and sharing themed CD mixes (I take great pleasure in designing covers and CD art as well)

MY POSTAL ADDRESS (just to save trouble):

Brendan O'Brien PO Box 4034 Marketplace Bendigo, Victoria. 3550 AUSTRALIA

Hmmm...this could be asking for types, or for particular artists. And doesn't everyone say that they like all kinds??? Hahaha. I have a very diverse spectrum of musical tastes, although not all kinds appeal to me.

I appreciate primarily "story-telling music", which can be from any genre though most of the time it seems to be most prevalent in folky, country, and rock music. Music is a huge part in my life so I'll give you a bit of a list of music I own (have over 800 CDs so I'll constrain the list):

• Tom Waits
• Paul Kelly
• Weddings Parties Anything
• Overnight Jones
• Dave Matthews Band
• Steve Earle
• Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing
• Johnny Cash
• Bruce Springsteen
• The Doors
• Roy Orbison
• Christy Moore
• The Cat Empire
• Mark Knopfler
• Chris Wilson
• Todd Snider
• Chris Knight
• Ani DiFranco
• Bob Dylan
• Ben Harper
• Aretha Franklin
• Louis Armstrong
• Ella Fitzgerald
• John Butler Trio
• Dance Hall Crashers
• Great Big Sea
• INXS
• Jewel
• Jimi Hendrix
• Martyn Joseph
• Lou Reed
• Nora Jones
• Queen
• Reel Big Fish
• The Eels
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
• Lowest of The Low
• Michelle Shocked
• Sally Dastey
• Rory McLeod
• The Kooks
• Scouting For Girls
• The Ramones
• Van Morrison
• The Rolling Stones
• Warren Zevon
• The Traveling Wilburys
• David Hosking
• Iggy Pop
• Elvis Costello
• John Lee Hooker
• Cold Chisel
• Black47

ok, that's enough...you get the drift?

I've seen many good movies, so it is too hard to have absolute favourites. But some of the ones that gave me much pleasure, in no particular order:

• When Harry Met Sally
• Breaker Morant
• The Big Chill
• Ferris Bueller's Day Off
• Sin City
• Black Snake Moan
• Shortbus
• Fight Club
• Die Hard (all four are good)
• Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress
• The Princess Bride
• Dead Poets Society
• Bad Boy Bubby
• Kingdom of Heaven
• Highlander
• Life is Beautiful
• Poolhall Junkies
• Hudson Hawk
• The Sting
• P.S. I Love You
• The Man From Earth
• August Rush
• Feast of Love
• The Bucket List

• Griffin & Sabine trilogy by Nick Bantock
• The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom
• The Power Of One by Bryce Courtenay
• River God by Wilbur Smith
• True History of The Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
• The Call by Martin Flanagan
• Doghouse Roses by Steve Earle
• A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
• The Source by James A Michener
• Clan of The Cave Bear series by Jean M Auel
• "Prey" series by John Sandford

I love sending and receiving postcards, which is a lot of fun, but most of all I enjoy making postcards, and receiving other's hand-made postcards. You know, it's like getting pocket-sized pieces of original art!

And just for a swap I'm in at the moment, personal favourites for themes of postcards are:

Music (artists, albums, tracks, instruments), Nudity (preferably tasteful if it is sent as a postcard, in the open, but I think any nude art is wonderful), Photography, Trees, and Comics and Cartoons!