Monday 8 September 2014

Positive Reactions!

A Very Successful Weekend

 
I have been quite apprehensive about being part of Wirksworth Art and Architecture Trail. But it was a very successful weekend
with some lovely comments from people and some sales so all very positive.
 
 
Work on display for the festival
 
 
 
I was also very pleased with the frames I had done for some pieces of work - what a difference a frame makes! Many thanks to John Carnall at Leabrooks Gallery for these.
 
All in all I am really glad that I did the trail - listening to people's comments has been really encouraging and a real confidence boost.

Sunday 31 August 2014

More Timanfaya

Further Explorations




I am still finding lots to explore in the volcanic landscapes. I have been exploring some more subtle colours and gentler textures.
 

 

This piece  was an experiment incorporating some sections of text from the eyewitness report of the volcanic eruptions written by the local priest. He uses some wonderfully descriptive and poetic language
 
'New eruptions started on January 7, 1731, with spontaneous fireworks embellishing the sadness and desolation of the south. Powerful eruptions with incandescent lava and blue and red lighting crossed the night sky.'
 
 


 
 
 These small pieces use the more subtle colours and sections of the text, they weren't intended as a triptych but they do work quite well together. I think I might develop this on a larger scale - the triptych idea could be a first stage to worker larger and creating more impact.
 
 
 This is the latest piece that I have done which I think works well and brings together the ideas and techniques that I have been exploring. I just hope that the paint is dry for Wirksworth next weekend!
 

Tuesday 22 July 2014

And now for something a little bit different!

Timanfaya


I have been taking inspiration from some photographs I took in Lanzarote and the wonderful colours and textures of the volcanic landscape.
 

 
After some time spent working in my sketchbook and trying out different ideas this was the first piece I created. There are areas created with tissue paper, sand, torn card, there are small Ares highlighted in gold.
 
 
This is another piece with the addition of an area of modroc to create more defined texture through the central area.
 
 
This piece is quite small (20cm x 20cm)and has an area of needle felting running through it enhanced with machine embroidery, hand embroidery and tiny beads.
 

 
And finally, for the moment, a slightly larger piece with an irregular shaped area of needle felt and embroidery running through the central section (shown in the bottom photograph)
 
 
 


Saturday 12 April 2014

The Next Stage

The Next Stage

I created a central section for this picture using needle felting - I really like this technique as it is like painting with fibres I added details using both hand and machine embroidery.
I think there is lots of potential in this idea - I need to get out with my camera and sketchbook to find some new inspiration now that spring has finally sprung!  

Wednesday 26 March 2014

Moving on a bit more...

A Few New Pieces

I am still struggling to really move my work forward. These are the latest pieces I have created.
 
 
This is the biggest piece that I have done in the garden series. It measures 60cm x 60cm and I have tried to accentuate the central photograph in some areas rather than making it blend in completely. It seems to work quite well and I am pleased with the size.
 
 
This piece is based on one of a series of photographs which I took on holiday in France - I think these will be the 'Jardin' paintings!
 

 
These two smaller pieces are also from the French photographs and have a fabric section with embroidered detail.



Tuesday 14 January 2014

Trying to Move on......

Having sold some pieces of work before Christmas I was feeling quite elated, but then had to start asking myself where next. The temptation is just to repeat the pictures I have sold - but what is the point of that! I had to remind myself of something I have often said to students: 'repetition is not development'
So I have taken my own advice and gone back to my sketchbook
 
 
 
The idea is still the same but I am using different photographs, the bottom one is a photograph taken on holiday in France and I really like the composition.
I have also been trying out some sections of these using felting but it is proving to be a bit of a challenge so more of that later!
 
 
I have also been working on some more of the Scottish landscape ideas, trying to incorporate more texture using tissue paper and torn fabric. All very much work in progress at the moment but I do feel that I am starting to move forward - slowly!