Monday 14 May 2012

A BIG STATEMENT

Just before Easter I enjoyed 4 days at West Dean College http://www.westdean.org.uk/ where I attended a course about making large scale enamels for public commissions. As part of this experience I spent a day on the Isle of White at A.J. Wells where the signs for the Underground are made. http://www.ajwells.co.uk/
I came away with this panel measuring 50cm x 70cm. Sadly we only had time to do one firing, so I had to work quickly and have a plan 'B' up my sleeve to create a completed piece on my return home.
 And here it is! Unable to fire the panel again as I have no access to such a large kiln I decided to sand blast some further detail into the surface and add further pages to the composition with smaller enamels.
 Each sheet is made from e3 ceramic steel which I have been able to obtain from a really helpful company called Polyvision in Belgium. I have then attached the pieces with small magnets to create this untidy desk feel to the composition.
 As life so often imitates art, my finished enamel does not look a million miles away from the present state of my studio as I endeavour to pull work together for my MA show in 3 weeks time.

4 comments:

LAC EMP 2020 said...

I have never seen your shed look so gorgeously untidy! This is a real work in progress and I am so intrigued by the ideas of sand blasting and using magnets etc. You are always guaranteed to find an unusal take on things and come up with new ways of evolving your work . I have the date in my diary for that degree show and I'm coming to see this in the flesh! All these photos do is make me wish it was next week....

menopausalmusing said...

Those enamelled scissors "do" it for me............

Good luck with your preparations for the show.

Wendy Rhodes said...

I love the fact that the layers are move-able. The playful element is really appealing.

Anonymous said...

wow, Sue,

youhave just opened my eyes to the world of printmaking.

Why did I think it was only paper one could print on? I love the gum arabic tutorial you did, I think I could follow that, if I ever wanted to add one more project to the bulging studio that is mine.