Cyanotypes

New statement:  

I renew the connection between textiles and human experience.   

I’m fascinated by the link that cloth has with creativity, storytelling and the transmission of culture.  

I use historical textiles combined with contemporary items in order to re-connect with undervalued aspects of everyday life, beginning with the craft of weaving.

Capturing traces: Putting together cyanotypes of loom parts and ronaldsay fleece felt.

Rob did his ice bucket challenge today.  Countdown for hol: 5 days, for uni: 15 days!

New Year. New Me.

Time to disregard all that has preceded, as that was a rehearsal. Moving on now.

Watercolours again

Finding time to do some painting at last, and gearing up to try something new

Lots has happened since my last post. I've completed my two training courses, and not only taken part in successful end of course shows for each, but managed to put an additional show on at the Waterloo Gallery. Hard work, but good fun. I've been accepted as a member of the Digswell Arts Trust, and just awaiting confirmation of studio space. I'm also a member of the Willow Watercolour group. So have I been making and doing a lot of fine art? NO! Too busy catching up with everything else in life, and reorganising my workshop and mini home studio. Been gathering lots of ideas and artefacts though, to see me through the autumn. So here's a few from the summer for the time being...

Other matters

My son has just turned 18, and is enjoying his Music Performance course. He's done several successful gigs now, and seems to take it all in his stride. My daughter is reluctantly studying for GCSEs, but also putting most of her energy into Music (and changing her hairstyles!) Everything else stays the same for now.

End of Autumn term

So what can I tell you? My course is still going well, and I have a clear idea in my mind of what I need to do for my final project/exhibition. My theme is Art and Anthropology - It's about the ancient skills which have shaped what we are today. I'm going to work with the materials which ancient people used so that people will understand why they mean so much to me. The above are just a selection of my exploratory pieces, using flint, beeswax, charcoal and stitch. Everyone's tired of the smell of beeswax - except me!

Welcome back

Oops - it's been a long time since the last post. Where has the summer gone? My tutorial at college went very well, so I'll be back for year 2. The initial year's sketching has now passed (while I was at Hatfield House Country Show, where I started - but this year I was too busy demonstrating spinning on my new wheel to do any sketching). It served it's purpose, but I've move way beyond that now. This year I'm going to bring textiles into my work. Also, last weekend I made an ash longbow, and loved working with wood so much I want to include that too.

My son is in the process of auditioning for music courses, and has left school. My daughter has started GCSEs, so here we go again with books all over the kitchen table and bad moods.

I spent the summer teaching archery and catching up at home. Almost there apart from a few ceramics to finish. Then I'll be able to devote all my spare time to art...