So you missed my blether…..

well I had another one up my sleeve just for you!

Ther week has ended with this…

White walling at Art One for degree show
White walling at Art One for degree show

….

Can't fit anymore in...
Can’t fit anymore in…

but began like this….

..after taking down my studio space last week…it’s still mostly in the car boot..unfortunately didn’t manage to sneak it past him indoors as he helped me get it into the car…so he actually knows how much c..p I need to get back in to the house.  Does anyone know any altruistic patrons out there who would like to give me a studio space in Petersfield for  6 months or so for a nominal fee? I can move out quickly! The search is definitely on.  If this year has taught me one thing it is that  I need a space to work in…game on…

Can't fit much more in...
Things pretty tight here too….by the way this is the other bit of the same room not another room!!!

I got  two more screens printed up..one of which I managed to wash away with the pressure washer..oops…then made ten purses.. and after thatI spent Friday felting and drinking tea in the new forest with sarah waters..(didn’t I Sarah?..look what we made…very creative!!)

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Can’t get photo off my phone put yours on sarah..sorry!

imageI had intended to go to the Pallant Open House  onSaturday but got waylaid  by birthday shopping expedition with 12 year old  going on 21 year old…so instead spent time in New Look and Hennes, Claires  and Accessorise..very inspirational.

What I missed…

Wood Engraving and the Brook Green School
Wood Engraving and the Brook Green School
Leon Underwood: Figure and Rhythm
Alice Kettle: Odyssey

along with free coffee and workshops….

…what I got….

Strangely it is very hard to download pictures of H & M stores and Claires Accessories..funny that!!! However the experience is imprinted on my mind so only wanted them for the benefit of you dear reader – you’ll have to make do without#!!
Sunday went to Brockenhurst Needlework Fiesta to see Caroline Bell and Alison Hulme.  Lovely show.   Really glad I made the trip.  Bumped into Sue Hawkins who had a stand there and told her had made her  scissor saver up.   Said hello to Fay  Maxwell.  Hadn’t seen her for ages – she inspired me to do the art college thing when she showed me her lovely sketch books and let me spend a day with her in her studio…showed me how to make cords too!!!
Alison Hulme Textiles
Caroline Bell Textiles

 

Needle Work Fiesta
Beautiful quilt at the Fiesta….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The great hing about going to a show like this is that it really fires me up.  I want to make loads of things with my materials and be creative.  Have got a  definitive list of things to make up this week…started with another cell work picture and going to make some more things to sell as well as two more exhibition pieces which will be shown at Eastleigh College and Romsey Abbey later this year.

 

 

Monday, went to Ramster with Abi. Every two years Ramster hosts an exhibition of textile artwork.  Its on until 30 Apr 2015 17:00 Google Calendar  - Ramster Embroidery and  Textile Art Exhibition - 2015-04-17 10:00:00 Yahoo Calendar - Ramster Embroidery and  Textile Art Exhibition - 2015-04-17 10:00:00 Hotmail / Windows Live Calendar - Ramster Embroidery and  Textile Art Exhibition - 2015-04-17 10:00:00 iCalendar - Ramster Embroidery and  Textile Art Exhibition - 2015-04-17 10:00:00 .  Abi and I are  applying next time..wonder if we’ll get in?   Actually I shouldn’t have said anything cos if wedon’t now you’ll know!   Jane Simms from Liss in SticheS was successful there as was Consuleo Simpson(room6).  Sorry no photographs of their work as  I was too stingy to pay for the photo pass…these are from the Ramster website…  http://www.02textiles.co.uk/Images/Ramster%202015%20Pieces/index.html

Lovely hall to hang work in
these figures were lovely
sorry no idea who..great colours tho!
P.S only joking this is in my kitchen!
P.S only joking this is in my kitchen!

 

My shortest blog ever…..honest

What’s done is done….. a years work?

Ribi's Jacket I and Cell Work
‘Ribi’s Jacket’ I and ‘Cell Work’
more stuff..portfolio and samples..
more stuff..portfolio and samples..
Cell Work cloth...
Cell Work cloth…
 a bit of the wall...
a bit of(f) the wall…
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What next? Watch this space…

 

My ISA

Instagram for a struggling artist
Instagram for a struggling artist (ISA) 
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Manorbier …very beautiful (vb)

Just back from Wales -it’s not Cambodia thread fairy – but it was rather beautiful..spent this morning finishing my foray into acrylic and drawing..been talking to a wonderful painter who is next to my studio space in uni.  She uses acrylic beautifully.. sadly I do not,  but it has inspired me to have a go with other media..really like the way it turned out.   Will be putting it into my studio space tomorrow to finish off my work for my final module at uni before I intermit for a year or so. Just need to take in my sketch books too, all the rest is done..what will be will be….looking forward to seeing what the exhibition space looks like with all the other’s work and happy that I know what I would have put in the space…..

Every cell has a different meaning
Every cell has a different meaning

anyway whilst away….. I wasn’t idle. I did loads of drawing, which was a total luxury and I finished my Sue  Hawkin’s scissor saver.  You didn’t think I would did you Sarah!!!  Not as beautiful as her scissor saver with all my tent stitch going the right ways – its haphazard but I love it. reminds me of a chatelaine which is a bit apt considering all the research I have been doing in that area.

Tah dah!!!
Tah dah!!!
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Check me out I can do bullion stitch !

Also spent a lot of time shisha mirror attaching. Why I hear you ask? When I bought some silk it came with a beautiful scarf with glued in mirrors …so courtesy of Mr Finch I tapped into http://www.myjoyfulabode.com and learnt how  to shisha courtesy of u-tube and Tenby library. Only another 160 to go…

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Just about doable on the beach whilst keeping one eye on the children…

 

Shisha a la me...
Shisha a la me…

Back to my ISA and why I need a studio which is uppermost in my mind at the moment ..painting on the floor whilst watching Britain’s got talent’ or at my kitchen table..is not necessarily  condusive to the production of fine art …however it does make one rather inventive….I am open  to sharing with my seven year old …constructing Lego ninjago at the other end of my kitchen table .. fortunately it’s large  – the cat walking over wet acrylic and changing my design, – attaching my picture to the wall with masking tape to see if it looks right – it falls mercy to the wind ….the picture not the cat…. and blows it off the wall onto the sofa depositing acrylic paint all over the sofa and the cushions to whit I then spend rather long time trying to remove the acrylic from said sofa and cushions and not being very artistic at all. However you do end up with a running commentary and feedback on everything you do and inbuilt quirkiness. So there are some pluses.

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Fine cell work?

So in my bid for my studio fund and my first million I have started my dressmaking class with Lyn Onions. I am currently making purses and bags soon to be followed by copying Alison Hulme’s dress.

image  Will this lead to  paying off my uni fees and first million ? Who knows …perhaps not …but its rather fun and very enjoyable. Maybe one day I will get my 4ft wide concrete staircase and mirrored ceiling watch out VB….I have a business name and everything!!!

VB's flagship store.. I want the chains....
VB’s flagship store.. I want the chains….

P.S. hope too see you this week Sarah

P.P. S. When are you up for the McQueen exhib?

P. P.P.S. My screens have arrived!! Exciting! What will I burn into them?image

You wait all week for a post

then two turn up at once
then two turn up at once

Call it serendipty but there’s a picture of the London skyline in my kitchen and I have been hanging my precious silk screened silk over it all week to try and make my mind up with what to do to it next and him indoors has been saying all week ‘mind that’s just hanging on a nail and not up properly so be careful’.  And reader I was, up until about 8am this morning when I decided, in a fit of bravado I was going to tug it down and do something to it…guess who forgot it was hanging on a nail..?

Half an hour, two children and a cat fed and a lot of glass in a dustpan and brush later I decided I have been prevaricating over making a jacket for too long and …..put the silk away. Spurred on  by Dibenkorn’s ‘don’t make what is certain’ or something a bit like that –  I decided to just go for it with what I had in the house. Child care duties called so needed to make do.

I raided my wardrobe  for ‘clothes that are going to fit again one day/never going to fit me again actually’ .

imageCut a paper pattern out of newspaper, got my trusty fabric dyes out and some screened and heat press scraps…

imageimageand sat in the garden and sewed….

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Ribi’s Jacket mark 1

Tah dah!

I’m quite pleased considering I haven’t really done anything like this before.

PS Wish it still fitted me!

PPS forgot to feed the children and the cat so was a bit in the dog house ..fish fingers to the rescue….

PPPS what do you think Sarah?

oops forgot to post in all the eggscitement

image… this flipping being an artist ‘in the round ‘ is a bit like being a circus entertainer …more balls anyone? ( it’s supposed to be a juggling analogy but not sure it works!)   I am ok at doing the painty stuff but the outward media face thingy selling yourself stuff I not so good at… (just incase anyone else is reading apart from Sarah)…a bit over due with this post but here we go….Easter got in the way slightly. Last weekend started off brilliantly with the very poorly advertised (in my humble opinion anyway!) world textiles day in Wickham …….as no one at uni knew about it…  That has now been changed and its on the map for next year!!! Thank you Vicky! Everyone who lives.. oops I mean loves textiles (or do I?)  should go next year..they happen all over the country and are free events… talks cost £2 which is a flippin bargain!  The range of textiles on show was amazing and the stall holders  graciously allowed me and my two … (11 and 9 ) year old textile fans to touch…and were happy to explain about everything. The book lady was great and met Helen Murchie who sells amongst other things, beautiful cushions..we had a good chat about textiles in general and will look out for her at Brockenhurst…talks were really great…didn’t think I was going to get to listen to them but I bribed the kids with cake and a fiver to spend on the stalls in order to make them sit for an hour…we listened  to how baskets were brought from Ghana,  all about weaving and the puma claw design on textiles from Peru and John Gillow’s travels in Pakistan. It really was quite fascinating to hear the stories behind the businesses. Just incase the kids felt hard done by I bought them more cake afterwards and gave them my last three quid to spend on Chinese coins and a wooden stamp which I have since purloined…well I had to make up for not having enough cash to spend on books to make books. Yes, I know pure torture for me Sarah! (Alison and Teri were there too!)

Anyway check out …..the African Fabric Shop – Bob Irwin…go Canada!

Tukuru textiles – Meri Hunneyball – great name, really interesting talk and John Gillow….apologies for any typos and for pinching images from any websites without permission… I think everthing I heard was great and gladly support theses businesses!!!

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John’s bolga baskets

 

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Peruvian textiles..no puma claw tho

 

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Peruvian gourd – fantastic illustration
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Traditional Ghanaian (?) dress
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Can’t remember where from but it’s lovelly . Then I popped into the Granary Studios to wish Sue and Lyn good luck with their new venue and venture for textile work shops, I have signed up for a dress making course …I need to learn how to do stuff properly!!! They do loads of other stuff too. Finished the day.. .yes this is all in one day ..by speeding home with my sat nav to help the boy cut this fantastic Lego cake…hey this is why I am not a cake designer.. It tasted good tho!
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..what lies beneath..when Oreos come in handy

Then a busy week getting my final modules together for uni this year. No exhibition to do so just trying to pull all my background work together to tell a story. Now I’ve decided I need to take time out I am getting more into everything! Think it’s called being less stressed.  Really wish I could keep going. I do have a cunning plan ( watch this space! I have news Sarah. ) Spent a whole day prepping screens and hot pressing fabrics.. Great.  No photos here, as left screens and my portfolio at uni will post next time. Another  day spent screen printing and being experimental…..have been learning how to transfer my images to a screen using photocopies of my work…love the process. Have screen printed before but not using my own photo screened images. I love it!  Been experimenting with different dyes..don’t need to worry about colour fastness as not intending to wash so interesting to see what happens to the surface of the material. Was really scared to just go for it on the beautiful silk but in the end I bit the bullet and just went for it…want to but my own screens now…got to sell some stuff on eBay to fund….so worth it!! Have nearly forgotten I have lost one of my jobs!

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Pretty good for a drop cloth eh?
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Preparation is all
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ribi’s jacket
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There is some kantha on this..if you look really hard you might spot it.

The  facilities are really are amazing and it’s great to actually have the time to take advantage! image image

Also managed to make some frames….image image Now trying to see if stitch works on top of the silk or if I leave it alone….this is what I did with some extra bits I put onto painted calico the detail is lovely..the photos are sadly notimage

By the way Alison Hulme acrylic wax did not do the business although it did produce some interest interesting effects… ..just not the ones I wanted!!

PS have tickets now available for Jae Maries talk in June….just contact me if you want – £12 – interesting  talk with great cake…

PPS still looking for studio space…..

PPS and just incase Sarah, you think I have been neglecting familial duties,  I have managed to cram in three National Trust visits and two Easter egg hunts so there X

PPPS I did listen to your advice about getting someone to proof read my blog but I haven’t got anyone to do it so it is what it is! I am sure my huge readership will be forgiving.

 

I’m available for top gear….

O
http://www..juko.com

image image image image image image

Just back from  the NEC Birmingham.  Had a great time at the show.  Just realised my photos are rubbish and don’t show all the work! But hey! Wish had been able to go up for longer. Worked out how to do selfie on new phone. Have permanently deleted the totally gross ones!

Managed to find the lovely ladies from  Juko….www.jukodesigns.co.uk and told them about their bag that appeared in my final year shows as well as in London, Dublin and Harrogate Knittting and Stitching Shows and  also more recently with cake exhibition at Southampton Art Gallery.   They sell beautiful weaving kits. (Photo at top of page can’t manage to manipulate and losing will to live with this blog so it’s staying where it is!) I made a bag up and put it in one of my acrylic boxes..along with other things that are precious to me…reminded me of the chat I had with one of the ladies last year about their business and how they kept going-  inspiring and kept me going!)They were chuffed and wanted me to send a photo of it…need to get a good one!!

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Juko bag bottom right

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Am so glad I only sold 5 of my boxes …going to hang on to them all now!

Lots of nice things to see.  Too many to mention – kept nipping round the corner to visit Susan Chapman,  liked Kim Thittachai’s Experimental Textiles..had seen the cloak on facebook- really touching story behind it…lots of nice sketch books too!  Also the ladies on stand opposite from Castanea were lovely! So friendly and a hoot into the bargain….maybe one day I can teach on their holidays? …heels you need oxygen for…was the quote of the day. They had rather nice chocolate fudge too.

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imageTook this lovely photo of a kimono for my research- owned by the embroiders guild managed to knab Annette just before she packed it up..thank you for holding it!!   Strangely mine was at home when I got back….I can’t cut up up though! I will wear it. .Bought a rather lovely sewing kit of for  embroidered scissor savers from  Sue Hawkins (suehawkins.com).    Will post a picture when/if I ever finish it..off to wales in few weeks so thats what I will be doing in the evenings when I am not doing my own stuff…its called ‘eat your greens’.  Bought to remind me I need to give up wheat.  (Thanks Lyn)  Watch this space. Made sarah spend money on beautiful earrings by Harriet Stiles..she didn’t need much persuasion … I want a huge brooch!

Have bought rather a lot of paint too! Managed to push Lyn Onions off of ARt Van go stand for a little bit so I could have a play with their gelli plates…she was very generous..they are addictive!!  I have now bought my own.  Also managed to do a double act with both lyn and sarah…goodness only knows what the punters thought but it was fun! Builds wah… wah well and truely built up.  Also got my wonder web and some acid dyes to use with the children onplanets books that I am doing with them when I get back to work.. I will photo them and post!( is there anything that viv does not know about paint?!) am sure they will be the only 8 year olds in Hampshire using acid dyes and wonder web..need to get them while they are young!

And back to reality…to any talent scouts reading I am available to be a to be a tv presenter after Easter as I have more time on my hands but just incase  the call doesn’t come I am looking for my new direction. Still need to complete this semester and am looking for studio space.

Just had a talk from  Laura Ford at uni.  Fantastic pieces and so prolific..she reckons the trick is  to have  several things on the go at once….

Laura Ford
Image result for laura ford artist
Head Thinkers Laura Ford or how I feel now!
Days of Judgement Laura Ford
…so I have my top 4 /5 ideas and going to make a start on the two I am just thinking about… the others  are up and running…watch this space
  • the 60 dollar shirt ( this started life as the jacket!!) but has become a 60 dollar shirt thanks to the mad canadian
  • the women…yes I have started!!!
  • the calico circles….been thinking about for a while
  • the  flat boxes…ditto
  • 5 more drawing!!!

Had tutorial and was posted in the direction of Richard Diebenkorm image‘notes to self’ … they are definately worth a look! And just to say I have always tolerated cha0s…my other half keeps tidying it up though.

PS have actively been looking for a studio

PPS been trying to workout what workshops I can do…

PPPS I want to see your fantasy hat Sarah…perhaps Laura Ford can inspire…look at her girls with guns…

Bit sad …bit happy

If you look really carefully three noses in the glass cabinet and two pictures on the wall close by.. I really must learn to take photos.. Too busy looking at stuff that's my problem!
If you look really carefully three boxes in the glass cabinet to the right and two pictures on the wall close by.. I really must learn to take photos.. Too busy looking at stuff that’s my problem!

have learnt two new words this year at university..one was semester ..we didn’t have those at polytechnic …and the other one is intermit- which is evidently what you do when you take a break from uni- which means I have decided I can’t get into even more debt for my fine art degree dream.

So, after this semester,  it is on hold until I can save up to pay off what I owe and then find the where- with -all to go back and finish my final year ..so close and yet so far or close but no cigar? I don’t know!  Who said life as an artist was easy? It certainly ain’t cheap! But anyone who bothers to read my blog knows that!  Where are the multi millionaires when you need them aye? ( been sneakily watching POLDARK sorry!)   I will be making and exhibiting when I can tho. Have two open studios coming up after Birmingham and an exhibition at Romsey.

image image image image image image image image image

Anyway my default is books so thanks to Zoe and her fab ideas  and Abi telling me how to start I made a book to spur me on. Thank god for pritt stick and envelopes!!!

I will make my coat or jacket or what ever it is I just won’t beable to exhibit  at uni!

Books make me happy…

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been looking a lot lot at hearts too.. More screen printing on Monday while I still can.  Off to brum  in the morning

p.s see you at 6am sarah!

p.p.s watch this space ……

p.p.p.s come and say if you’re at the NEC this weekend

 

Orange is the new red…

Fashion Embroidery & Stitch

Been busy this week. Packing all my stuff up for exhibition at the NEC next week.   Check out the website to see what’s on.  Am exhibiting with the Eastleigh College stand….which is a showcase of our Graduate Show 2014.  I will be there Saturday and Sunday.  (http://www.fashionembroidery.co.uk/birmingham/).  Done a few extra pictures. No boxes…you’ll be glad to know! Most still on show at Southampton till the end of March.  I might take a couple with me when I go up at the weekend with you Sarah. Have been experimenting using some gold work techniques. Want to develop further.  Otherwise some of my pictures and books will be there.

Bosch. Think this one is the most successful. Now need to work out why!
image I think the Bosch. …the top one is the most successful. Now I just need to need to work out why!

.image Photos not great. Note to self remember to photograph before framing.

Next did some printing.  These bits were supposed to be scarlet. I love the Orange!  Hence the title..is orange my red?…or am I digressing again?

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Oops comes out backwards…if you use the wrong piece of paper

Bit disappointed as my screen printing session got postponed..scaffolding needed to be built …don’t ask!…hopefully will get to do next week… but needed to make the most of being at uni so madly used the heat press and did I little bit of screening on a borrowed screen. (not my work so didn’t seem right to add a photo here. )   Love the orange – it  was supposed to be red (yes! also don’t ask!).  Started to go off on a totally different track and yearned to have everything orange instead of red…then reigned myself in. These next few weeks are all about being focussed..I think! Red silk is on order and on its way!!! Perhaps orange can be my red for next year?  imageimageimageimage

Two sessions of life drawing and tried to do something different…

Ink..really hard to do when drawing from life..to work at copies at home..
Ink..really hard to do when drawing from life..to work at copies at home..
Really small heavy heavy charcoal
Really small heavy heavy charcoal
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Why do hands end up looking like bananas? Answers on a postcard please!
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This is my favourite.. Barry
Barry
Barry

.

Not Barry
Not Barry

..before heading back to charcoal..sorry Barry…. I do try to be experimental sometimes..honest! I just love charcoal  and it makes me draw big! Which is what I want.

Hey I look like I am floating in the air or doing some kind of weird leg push up cos the duffs who drew me forgot to put in the stool
Hey I look like I am floating in the air or doing some kind of weird leg push up cos the dufus who drew me forgot to put in the stool

Received my silk… more on way from Japan!.  Going to practice screening before brave enough to have a go on the real stuff. Have actually worked out how I’m going to piece my coat together! Thank you Lyn oh wise one…need to buy some cheap stuff for a mock up first. Still got a massive to do list….. but a plan to go forward. Exhibition only x weeks away! (The x is there cause I am in denial not because I don’t know!)  Crikey! Shame I’ve got to work too!

And finally, just as an aside, cos it’s quite amusing, especally for you Sarah… I decided that I would try to make science more interesting by getting kids to make books out of envelopes for  ‘planets’ work…ala Zoe’s workshop ( hi Zoe..nicking your ideas!)…any excuse to use webbing spray….warning do not try when it’s just you and thirty 8 year olds! As the words ‘this really isn’t difficult’ popped out of my mouth about 20 children proved me SO wrong…..you really would not believe how many different ways there are to actually stick envelopes together! Great Tuesday…

Next task to work on a personal statement… when I haven’t made my mind up on my final selection. I  reserve the right to change right up until the last minute! Ask Luisa!

P.S. See you a week on Saturday Sarah. I will bring photographic evidence of 30 books…

P.P.S.  Can’t believe this all been done since Sunday!

Crisis of confidence

Shy Girl - Copy

We all go through it and I’ve been having my own over the last week or so which is why I couldn’t blog,…thank goodness I hear you say (ha!ha!)  well I’m back all because some good things have been happening…

1. Got some work accepted in to the Oxmarket in Chichester.  (Sue will be pleased to know that I am causing confusion at Chichester now too by using my real name here!! (Dowdeswell- Sill -Sill -Dowdeswell)  The exhibition has now finished.  Blink and you missed it but I was there!  It was a great space.  Three of my boxes and a couple of pictures.  Was nice to use the boxes in a different way and interesting to see them in a Fine Art setting.

Fake it 'till..image

2. I had a tutorial at college and have decided I have got lots of ideas but I need to start making for the exhibition on May!!!  You need to go forward and not backwards.  Still in a bit of a quandary about all that but I’m getting there.  Have got too much stuff going on in my head but whilst researching all things red and madder  have found a great story about a man called Ribbi…watch this space!

3.  Made my first frame.  Very PROUD!! No pictures to upload as left my precious iPad in doors today…see post Feb 4.

3. Was totally thinking about jacking the whole thing in…the course not the art… but went to my other exhibition at Southampton Art Gallery…more boxes.  Evidently a lady had come in and said that she didn’t really ‘get’ art ….but she really like my boxes…they were her favourite and she didn’t realise art could be like that.  Now I suppose there are two ways to look a this….but I reckon if  she liked it then that’s great!!  Will keep plodding on at least for the time being.

Talking about my work and the reason behind it to a receptive audience and meeting the other artists there was a great re -energiser.  The exhibition is being run by a really great group of women  who are really starting to do things with female art in the Southampton area.  Raise the profile and get people networking and talking about women’s issues in a really positive way.  Really inspiring.  Do go along and see it of you can.  On till the end of March though sadly not advertised on the Gallery website.  There are other things going on around Southampton which are connected see http://www.cakesouthampton.wix.com/2015/ for  further info.  Oh, I also listened to the Louise Bourgeois talk while there.  Also v.v. good!

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4. Went to this woman’s exhibition on the Wirral.  Rachel Howard.  Redwork.  Great!

Image result for rachel howard artistImage result for rachel howard artist

Off to do some screen printing!

P.S. See you in Birmingham Sarah!

P.S. And make some more frames!

art is cheap

or in other words my way of ‘doing’ art on the cheap and pack it in to get vfm from a day trip to London.!!!

newsflash:   Bit of a hiccup with exhibition delay in opening at Southampton Art Gallery….but I think the boxes should be on display now……

 boxes
boxes

please see  http://www.cakesouthampton.wix.com/2015/ for details of this and other events taking place around the city this month to celebrate International Women’s Day (free)

Monday…..my day ended with my private view of the Marlene  Dumas exhibition at the Tate and the photography exhibition on conflict based on slaughter house five ( I got in cheap!)  Truely fantastic.   I love what she does and what she says.  Real narrative to her work.  Love the way she uses found images and  the way she talks about her work…. it is all captioned in her own words..no arty bollo*ks here just real speak.  I have a ticket for her talk in April. (cheap) Can’t wait. Including some images twice on purpose..ok it’s my blog!

Image result for marlene dumasImage result for marlene dumasImage result for marlene dumas

Image result for marlene dumasImage result for marlene dumasImage result for marlene dumas the day started off well….past the ‘totally over priced i’m not paying 25 quid to go up that even though i want to Shard’

Image result for the shard and on into my heavily discounted admission (national trust/student card) to the old operating theatre…lots of source material here… am continuing with my body narrative… listened to really fascinating lecture on the ‘birth’ of the surgeon(free). Learned lots. Very glad morphine readily available when I had my op on my back!

 

Image result for the old operating theatreImage result for the old operating theatreImage result for the old operating theatreImage result for the old operating theatreImage result for the old operating theatre

some great images that I will purloin, love the chatelaine…..every woman should still have one!

Swift walk (free!) down the Thames to the Courtald at Somerset House

I went to see the the newly finished Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Drawings Gallery which showcases the incredible breadth of the Courtauld’s collection and it truly was amazing!  This was my favourite and I couldn’t stop looking at it.  I even tried to draw it until this woman came up to me and stood so close and hrumphed and tried to get in front of me that I had to leave..obviously she didn’t appreciate an artist in the making…did Reuben’s have this problem? Ok ok he’s probably a bit better then me……and well it is a public art gallery and  I did get in free..(thank you student card!) It reminded me that I haven’t drawn in a gallery for ages, just been note  taking on the last few visits and I need to get back into the groove.  Hoping to visit the Walker and Williamson next week in Liverpool so watch this space. (also free!)

Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Drawings Gallery, Courtauld Gallery, London
15 January – 29 March 2015

And of course you can’t go to the Courtauld with out pouring over their permanent collection here’s some edited highlights

 

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The Gauguin never fails to amaze me with its light. I am not a painter and would love to know how he did it! Answers on a postcard please!! (One of his paintings has just sold for a cool 3 million..wow!) I do have some more pictures on my lovely new phone but I can work out how to get them off said phone on to my site..one day I will understand Bluetooth but not yet! (Actually probably never) I need a teenager! Hurry up M!

This is not from anywhere I saw but the church under the old operating theatre had some picassoesque images on cushions which were great and I saw this and it reminded me of them even though its homage a Matisse so  I am sorry an unknown artist who came up when I was researching Kees Van Dongen but I cant find you anywhere now!!! Image result for kees van dongen portraits at the courtauld

Everonward I went – and back up past St Pauls and over the Wobbly Bridge then to Dumas and the Conflict Exhibition…severe sciatica and my pereneous longus is killing me (very free!) but it was worth it!!!

PS I nearly finished Strangeland on the train..(Amazon 1p)

PS….and finally on Friday to the Coastguard Studio in Southsea (free private view )…going to actually meet my dog sighs…watch this space!

PPS can I just say Nokia 725 with a free fit bit! Whoopee!

PPPS I will email you Sarah!

Louise made me do it
Louise made me do it