HAPPY SECOND BIRTHDAY

About this time 2 years ago I was contemplating starting a blog, my first post was about the Cheltenham Open Studio event that I and my friends were about to take part in.

So 2 years on here I am again getting ready for Cheltenhams bi-annual artistic frenzy.

This time I am getting together with metal work artist and chum Sharon McSwiney and ceramicist and chum Stephen End. I will be showing collagraphs and there will be a number of enamels available.

We will be snugly fitting into my front room and a short walk through the garden will offer a snoop into my studio. All this takes place in Cheltenham, 4-12 June and we are inviting everyone to our preview evening 2 June 6-9pm.

A RESULT

Thankyou to everyone who took the time to come up with a suggestion for the dome.

I agree with Sarah that the dome creates separation and anything in it will feel special. Jane's idea of painting the dome black to give the impression that the moths are flying out of darkness has a lovely Gothic feel, that's if Gothic and lovely really go together. Sharon's idea for a contrasting, brightly coloured moth works, as does Wendy's moth predator. Narrative will play a large part in what I want to make next.


Other ideas have been suggested to me, a carriage clock although I think that person watches too much Antiques Road Show. A stuffed bird, a dead bird with it's legs in the air. Cruel and not what I would really do, but a fluttering trapped moth has appeal, if I was technically adept a projection of a flying moth would be very clever.


You have all got me thinking and trust me a bare light bulb has not been ruled out as I had already bought a bulb with a curly filament from Baileys last year when I started making the moths. But Lesley's alternative light source using reflective surfaces or glow worms has set me off in a different direction.



As you can see I made 2 moths and drew out 2 names from the up turned dome just after 8pm, so congratulations Wendy and Lesley the moths will be winging their way to you later in the week.


Thankyou everyone.

ENAMEL MOTHS

So I have at last put together an object, this is feeling focused and less experimental.
The steel moths are spot welded together, I have sand blasted some of the enamel off and left

a few moths enamel free. But what would you put in the dome or is less more? I have decided to give a single enamelled moth to the person whose suggestion has possibilities. To make it fair I will pull names out of a hat. I will do the draw on Sunday 8th May at 8pm British summer time.

HAPPY EASTER

PRINTFEST 2011

When Easter bank holiday is over we all have another long weekend to look forward to, so why not pop over to Ulverston in the Lake District and check out Printfest, Britain's only print fair held in a rural location dedicated to exhibiting and selling original contemporary prints.
Printfest will be held at the Coranation Hall, Ulverston on Saturday 30th April and Sunday May 1st between 10am and 5pm.

I will be there exhibiting so come and say hello. If you can't make it check out the Printfest web sight, http://www.printfest.org.uk/

ENAMEL EXPERIMENTS

I have been experimenting with liquid enamel in red, silver and chestnut brown. I like to draw through to colours underneath and wet enamel is easier to handle, sifted colours can create technical difficulties and it is harder to layer. The silver is a revelation, it is soft and subtle and just slightly twinkly. I have also fired glass headed steel pins, this adds another element.
The black letter transfers pull these little abstract compositions together. I can't wait to try these on larger pieces...red spoons? Or the irony of silver enamelled spoons?

SKETCH BOOK PAGES

I have been lent a wonderful resource, an 1867 catalogue from the Paris Exhibition. Thankyou Brian. This has inspired me to try different imagery with the gum arabic transfer technique I like to use in my sketch book.

But I can not help but draw the occasional bird.

So what's in your sketch books at the moment? Check out the blog spot, Wendy Rhodes-Artist, her latest post shows how she turns work from her sketch book into etchings. Fascinating and inspiring.