CONTEMPORARY ENAMEL

I have a couple of galleries after some of my enamel spoons. This means I have had to lock myself in the shed today and crank up the kiln.

 

After preparing the steel spoons with grip coat which is black.

2 coats of white enamel is applied.

Here are some naked spoons waiting to be adorned with screen printed transfers.

I am still beetle obsessed, but I am being seduced by these chintz transfers.

 

 

Just adding a touch of Spring to the fly's and ladybirds.

 

THUS SPOKE THE RAVEN

There has been a flurry of collagraph activity in my shed this month. I have got over the January lull and despite the damp weather, I am feeling the creative Spring urge along with my garden.

I have made the decision to make a print a month, I now have a print in hand after making this raven.

This image comes from a set of drawings made sometime ago. It is always worth looking back through old sketch books, there are often treasures nestling in the pages.

Using grey board, Poly filla, wood glue and carborundum I get the tones and textures I need for the

dark feathers and high lights of the raven.

A really good way to start Sunday morning, cranking collagraphs through my press.

This raven is just how I remember him. My friend Lesley and I spent a thrilling morning getting to know Marley the raven, it brings back lovely memories revisiting this image.

 

Here they are hanging up to dry, my studio always looks organised after a printmaking session!

KING OF THE BIRDS, COLLAGRAPH.

With the weather being so awful it is a relief that my studio is just down the garden with no wading!

So I have spent time on an image that has been in my head for months. This is my take on the old story of how the wren became king of the birds and an excuse to include images of my favourite birds.

 

From the drawing stage comes the plate making, using tile cement and carborundum to create tones and textures.

Tile cement allows me to press real feathers into the birds and the carborundom gives that rich black needed for crows.

The red breast, label and gold crown are added later.

Waiting for these to dry and have details added, they are destined for, Moss Prints, Cheltenham. Junction Gallery, Woodstock. Church House Designs, Congresbury, nr. Bristol and Sky Blue Gallery and Framing, Bristol.

 

COLLAGRAPHS & ENAMELS

I have been busy in the shed editioning some of my favourite collagraphs.

rooks,

doves and coots hang up to dry

after an intensive morning of inking.

I have also been spending time

expanding the Lost Relatives on spoons.

Putting digital transfers

together with sgraffito, screen printed transfers

and commercial ceramic decals.

There is something very satisfying about the shape of a spoon and have you noticed the slight outbreak of colour?

SECOND IMPRESSIONS

In March 2012 I proposed an exhibition idea to the Board of New Brewery Arts in Cirencester. 8 graduates from the Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking MA showing work from their degree show and how they developed their work after graduating from the course.

January 2015, here it is, Second Impressions. Printmaking in it's widest form.

Katie Wallis screen-prints onto fabric to produce one off lamp shades and complex cushions.

A glimpse to show how very different pieces can work together. Gemma's animation is on the right.

I made this enamel installation of Lost Relative labels especially for the show using

screen printed and digital transfers. These are for sale.

It is lovely to see Swarm installed once more, when you go to the show don't forget to put the headphones on and listen to David Julyan's sound track for Swarm. 

Jane Sasanow's screen-printed 3D work.

Gemma Wright produced an animation of her cut and folded screen prints and the gallery has her geometric objects interestingly displayed.

                      Sarah Salaman pushes the boundaries of what we consider printmaking.

 

Luke Salaman's work has developed into making and decorating ceramic vessels and his digital prints are extraordinary.

Coo Geller is displaying interesting work using laser cut orange peel together with exciting work shown in light boxes.

John Lynch uses mixed media printmaking to make his work.

Wendy Rhodes large charcoal drawing and monochrome etchings are full of light and reflections.

 

This is just a brief taster of what this exhibition has to show, we have all had initial support from Aderyn Taylor Roberts and it has been beautifully put together by Hannah Brady, we have also had tremendous support from The New Brewery Arts.

There is lots of interesting work to invest in, if we are all still producing work for this show 2 years on from our graduation what does the future have in store for us?

http://www.newbreweryarts.org.uk/making-a-visit/main-gallery-exhibitions/second-impressions

ENAMEL EXPERIMENTS

At last, back in the shed to experiment with spoons.

I use newly bought spoons so that there are no surprises, prepare them.

Enamel them.

Fired, ready to attach the transfers.

I am still exploring the images of Lost Relatives,

the shape of the spoons lend themselves to supporting photographs.

So far,

so good.

And here are a couple of teaspoons mixing screen printed transfers with commercial ceramic decals.

 

 

 

MAKING AN EXHIBITION OF MYSELF

January can be a dull month after the twinkle and glitter of Christmas, but if you can face the cold and wet it's time to get out and about. Visiting a gallery and treating yourself to a lovely piece of art raises the spirit!!

I have a collection of enamels and collagraphs in the exhibition

Fresh Talent in the Rostra Gallery, Bath. 10-27 January.

 

www.rostragallery.co.uk

The New Brewery Arts, Cirencester is hosting the exhibition, Second Impressions.

18 Jan - 8 March. The exhibition will show case the work of students who graduated in 2012 from the Multi- Disciplinary Printmaking MA course at UWE. I am delivering this light piece and a group of Lost Relative enamels tomorrow. Come and talk to the artists on 18 Jan from 2pm.

www.newbreweryarts.org.uk

These are some of the enamels appearing at the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, Bovey Tracey.

18 Jan -23 March in an exhibition called Narrative Remains.

www.crafts.org.uk

I am so lucky to be exhibiting with such a talented group of artists in all 3 shows, a great start to 2014!