Friday 29 June 2018

'Summer Dreamings'...



I hope that you don't mind me mentioning, but I'm having a little Etsy exhibition on Monday.
All of the paintings have been painted during the Spring/ Summer months, and it still surprises me just how important the seasons' influence is to my work.


'When Rabbit Girls' Dream'
Acrylic and mixed media on plywood panel

Looking back, I can see how this painting is about waiting for the holidays, longing for the time when you can just sit and close your eyes in the sun.
Sometimes I think that the waiting for a holiday can be just as good as being on the holiday itself...


'Queen Of The May'
Acrylic and mixed media on MDF board.

This was painted just on the cusp of Spring and Summer, when all the colours outside are fresh and exciting.
This is the time when Mother Nature is at her most dazzling, and only She can offer a dress befitting the Queen Of The May.



'Season's Call'
Acrylic and mixed media on plywood panel.

This painting is multi-layered, much like the changing Seasons themselves, and is a reminder to enjoy every day to its fullest.
Soon Summer's colours will fade and become muted, turning into a different kind of beauty.
It's a reminder not to mourn the passing of a particular Season, but to enjoy the interconnection of all things.

I hope that you've enjoyed having a little look at these chuck.
Wishing you a very happy weekend, whichever hemisphere and Season you may be living in.

X

Friday 22 June 2018

It's the John Leggott College Art Foundation End Of Year Exhibition! (Part One!)


Last Friday was the John Leggott College Foundation Diploma In Art & Design's End Of Year Exhibition.
The students had been raising funds all year to pay for the venue, materials and refreshments for their show.
We were so lucky to have the whole top floor of Cafe Indie for the social event of the year!

There are eighteen students on the course, and each of their projects are so different, as the group comprises of fine artists, fashion designers, digital and graphic designers, photographers, textiles and surface pattern designers.


I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of the students and I feel privileged to be part of the team who support and tutor them.
I'm going to have to split this exhibition write-up into two or three posts as there is so much to see!
So, make yourself a brew, start humming the 'Take Hart' theme tune and let's begin...

Estrella is a fashion design student who re-interpreted the 'Wizard Of Oz' film.
What I love about Estrella's work is that she can mix humour and melancholy in her designs, as the film could be viewed as Dorothy's journey through childhood, whose magical adventure has to end when the realities of adult life catch up with her...



Estrella has also demonstrated a real talent for fashion photography, visual display and styling.





Love these shoes so much!



Leo discovered his love for fashion during the course, and had never sewn anything before he joined us this year!
This capsule collection explores the sometimes over-protective nature of a mother's love, the impending sense of independence on the onset of adulthood and that sickly combination of wearing your favourite Disney Princess dress to a party and eating too much cake!



Leo has a real flair for combining seemingly random contextual references, (such as children's birthday parties and a scold's bridle!) and unifying them into garment designs.
There is a sense of 'edginess' to his work, and the fashion world had better watch out for this new talent!






Lewis is a graphic designer whose work is based on the American cult 'Jonestown' that was led by the Reverend Jim Jones in the 1970's.
Beautifully designed and illustrated, the work is imbued with hidden messages and warnings that create a deeply sinister quality.


For example, this poster, when viewed through the red 'decoder', reveals the hidden warning:

 'Don't trust in Jim Jones'.


Lewis' zine is also filled with these hidden messages and clues.








Paulius' graphic design project explores the way Western society bombards us with news about international atrocities everyday, so much so we become 'immune' and de-sensitised to it.

However, if you buy this new 'wonder' product or just simply ignore what is happening around you, 'everything will be ok'...







There were so many elements to this installation, comprising of graphic design, film and 3D.


The private view was a huge success, thank you to all of you that showed the students such support.







Sam is a fine artist who is deeply concerned about the issue of child labour, something that, as consumers in contemporary society we should be very aware of.
Sam researched the ethical sources of all the materials he used, highlighting  how difficult it is to actually find the facts behind the manufacturing methods of everyday items that are essential in our lives.


As well as producing a series of stunning paintings, he created a film warning about the treatment of children in the Third World, set in the not too distant future.







Alex is a concept artist/ illustrator for game and film design who created a 'science fiction space opera about a crew of bounty hunters travelling worlds ruined by industrialisation, war and natural disaster.'






You can see how Alex's talent for fine art, digital painting, illustration and sculpture have all merged together to create this amazing concept and series of work.
(I have to admit to being very little help indeed when it came to the digital aspects of Alex's studies, not that there was any cheeky banter about my 'skillz' in that area!!!!)




Can't wait to share the next part of the exhibition with you, all the students did so well and achieved well deserved, brilliant results.

Friday 8 June 2018

When Rabbit Girls Dream...


As I'm sure I've mentioned before, when I begin a painting I never know how it will turn out.
I thought I'd share some photos of how 'When Rabbit Girls Dream' evolved...


I'd prepared the background the day before, I love that stage of a painting, just throwing paint around without a care in the world!
(Before this face emerged, it had been a dog, magpie and many other things before she began to appear...)


A little hair style tweak...
but I really wasn't happy with her eyes, something was wrong.


She wanted a nap!
I think she seems much happier now!


Now to block in some tonal variations... and there needs to be a little bit of something at the top of the composition.


I love painting in the negative spaces and see the image clarifying.


Time to step back, have a think and a cup of tea...


A little bit of balancing in the background and I think she's done!
Hope you like!

Wishing you a very creative and merry weekend indeed chucks x