Where my head's at...

Kwon Seulgi - Untitled - Brooch - 2011
silicone, pigment, plastic, thread, wood, stainless steel


Kwon Seulgi - Untitled - Brooch - 2011
silicone, pigment sterling silver, thread, stone, glass bead, stainless steel


Kwon Seulgi - Cell 10 Brooch - Oct 2009
silicone, pigment, plastic, stainless steel



Chanel Spring 2012 Under the Sea


Studio Bertjan Pot - Cluster Light 2009


Ernesto Neto - "Simple and light as a dream...the gravity don’t lie...just loves the time" 2006
Installation view fromTanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York
Photo: Fabian Birgfeld, photoTECTONICS.
Courtesy of the artist and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York (Via Moment/C)

Halloween costume inspiration - black & red

Sylvia Ji 'La Adelita' 2010 via the Joshua Liner Gallery.

I love this Sylvia Ji painting. Although it has much deeper meaning it also makes for great Halloween inspiration and it combines my love of dressing up, Dia de los Muertos and Freda Kahlo in one glorious image. These are large painting in Acrylic and gold leaf on wood panels and you can read more about the background to the works in the Las Adelitas exhibition on the Joshua Liner Gallery flickr page for the show.


Sylvia Ji 'Red Quechquemitls' 2010 see full exhibition at the Joshua Liner Gallery.


Sylvia Ji 'La Madrina' 2010 see full exhibition at the Joshua Liner Gallery.


Andrea Peira's winning Photo in the World Body Painting Festival 2011

This is exactly the sort of thing I like to do, but when you live in a mobile home and like candles it's just not practical, so I make do with enjoying the work of others unless I'm invite to things in large open spaces. The Photograph above was by Andrea Peira and the costume and body painting was by Birgit Mörtl+Melanie Rodel Body Painting Festival 2011


Birgit Mörtl+Melanie Rodel - Body painting & costume for the World Body PaintingFestival 2011 (via weddingphotography.com)


Halloween make-up via Hairdresser-Models.eu

Scottish jewellers

Not posted jewellery/metalwork in ages, in fact, for the first time in my life I actually forgot about Degree shows entirely this year (says something about the 'brain fog' taking over me this year, which I find worse than the physical symptoms of M.E./CFS).

Found a few online that I liked. Some from this year, some from previous years, here are two and I'll post more when my brain gets going:


Hannah Eccles - Brooches - ECA graduate 2010


Roisin Connolly - Edinburgh Street - DJCA graduate 2011

Chelsea Flower Show 2011

Yes it's that time of year again and as I batten down the hatches and staking my tall irises and alliums for the gale due tomorrow (on the back of 2 solid weeks of gusting winds) I don't mind being kept inside when Chelsea is on the TV (BBC Chelsea coverage times here red button coverage details here).



From the preview program I'm liking the look of The Times Eureka Garden in conjunction with Kew Gardens. Plant cells and capillaries (which always fascinate me) play a major part in the design by Marcus Barnett and this is especially reflected in The Times Eureka Pavillion. The initial sketches didn't show much colour but on the BBC coverage it seemed to have some lovely a lot of low purple spires (Salvias?) poking through what initially looks like quite a loose almost cottage style of planting, the plants intermingling to create the kind of patchwork that usually reveals more and more on closer inspection.

The Laurent Perrier Garden also looks to have some beautiful, softly bulging planting but I'm not at all keen on the wooden structure which looks like a copy of the moving panels in one of the smaller gardens last year (I liked the original version). I'll need to watch tomorrow and see what it looks like properly.

It was grounded by the wind but I'll be interested to see what this structure will look like in the air for Diarmuid Gavin’s Irish Sky Garden. Lots more to see and hopefully more ideas that are based on sustainability, bees and being green.

Hanna Hedman + Sanna Lindberg

Hanna Hedman: Jewellery 2007-2008. Photography: Sanna Lindberg

Sanna Lindberg shot these striking photo's of great jewellery by Hanna Hedman which Karin showed on her Flickr pages of the 2008 Degree Show at Konstfack. Karin blogged about her visit. Read what Hanna says about her work here, also shows a really good photo of her work in 3d sketch form.

White wallpieces with shadows

Still have lots of white work that never got shown in January, but just not got the focus for blogging much just now. Lisa, these ones are here with you in mind (Lisa and I love to work with shadows in our artwork).

*Update* Lisa is in a book! Read more here. Congratulations Lisa.
Also read an interview with her at Crafty Synergy.


Sarah Rebekah Byrd Mizer: thesis show, detail, glass and pins
Sarah created a wall covered in glass writing for her thesis exhibition. Absolutely amazing.


Guy Michael Davis: Branches detail


Gina Tibbott: Untitled, porcelain, 2007 via Project 4 Gallery

Tina Rose, the Acting Project Manager for Craftscotland at Collect has sent me these images and text on the work of Dierdre Nelson (thanks Tina). Dierdre is one of 13 Scottish artists who exhibited at Collect in January. I fist became aware of her work on her 2006 residency blog, and her later 2007 blog ( I collect thimbles so there was lots to like there).

During a residency in Australia textile artist Deirdre Nelson used the idea of a convict's love tokens, pierced coins left behind with loved ones, and pierced other objects, such as spoons, one of the few belongings convicts were allowed.


Deirdre Nelson: Liberty Spoons, plastic

'It is said that Blackwork embroidery was employed in order to disguise dirty fabrics and the bad hygiene of the Elizabethans.'

Inspired by this quote textile artist Dierdre Nelson created a hygiene kit for an Elizabethan for her exhibition ' The Dangers of Sewing and Knitting'.

Deirdre Nelson: Elizabethan hygiene kit and Elizabethan Nit Comb
found objects, linen stitched with silk and dental floss

2 shows...

Click image to see larger with detail of the yellow and white loveliness created by Lisa and Aurora then read more on the SQFT gallery site. I've been a bit slack at publicising shows since I've not been checking sites but Lisa mailed me about this one and you know how I am obsessed with her work. What I also loved was discovering Aurora's work, fabulous and the way they have collaborated to have their pieces work together is just brilliant. Oh how I love a good collab. And hey, the poster fits with my white postings.

Susan also mailed me about Lovely Hearts 2 at Artstream Gallery, Rochester NH. The show will feature small artworks to benefit breast cancer research. Read more about the show on the Artstream site which also has details about submitting artwork to the show over the next few weeks. The show opens on February 1st.

Laura Darling- Illustration, Edinburgh Degree Show 2007

For me, the absolute highlight of the Edinburgh Degree Show 2007 was the work of Laura Darling in the Illustration Department...


Laura Darling: "Eat your peas please, Leonard."
From her book 'Leonard'

Laura has written and illustrated the most wonderful, observant and highly amusing books which will be enjoyed as much by parents as by children. I cannot wait till she gets a publishing deal so I can add her books to my treasured collection. I must just say that the tiny little jpegs I am showing here simply don't do justice to the quality and feel of her illustrations. The really need to be seen on paper and in the context of her witty stories.


Laura Darling: "Don't scuff you feet please, Leonard."
From her book 'Leonard'

The first book I read was the story of 'Leonard' which had me and my mum in fits of giggles. We kept going back for another look. 'Leonard' was Highly Commended in the Macmillan Children's Picture Book Awards. It was so wonderful I had to take Mr P there the next day even though I was pretty ill, and it just got funnier the more I looked at it. Leonard, if I remember correctly, is described as 'a thoroughly deplorable fellow'. Laura's use of language is all part of the charm. Here is Leonard's response to his mum asking him not to scuff his feet. I'm sure a lot of you recognise this scene all too well!...


Laura Darling: From her book 'Leonard'



Laura Darling:
From her book 'The School Trip'

'The School Trip' is the funniest little story about the ridiculous state of affairs regarding Health and Safety these days. The children are taken on a trip to a farm where they have to wear 'special clothes' and wash their hands, a lot. The way she ties up the story on the last page is just the funniest ending I have ever read. It was really hard trying to laugh quietly in the hushed exhibition space. Luckily her stand was full of equally appreciative visitors so I don't think we were too annoying.


Laura Darling: The Jamie Oliver Effect

For anyone beyond the UK this illustration refers to the story of parents rebelling against Jamie Oliver's healthy School Dinners campaign by passing junk food to their kids through the bars of the school fence! (sorry, that was the 1st junk food link I found and I'm pushed for time).

As well as being in the middle of her Degree Show (which ends tomorrow, Tuesday so run and see it if you can) she is also showing at D&AD New Blood in London from today 'till Wednesday (25-27 June). Next post, degree show jewellery.

Andy Goldsworthy

originally uploaded by thom watson

Ok I'm meant to off my blog this week and only sending pre-drafted posts but I HAD to do this one while Mr P and the visitors go off to rent Little Miss Sunshine for our viewing pleasure tonight.

Thanks to Shari for this link to an article about one of the biggest influences in my artistic life - Andy Goldsworthy, who is doing a retrospective at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park! Installation slideshow here.

When I first saw Andy's work at his 'Hand to Earth' exhibition in Edinburgh's Botanic Gardens in 1990. I was blown away by what I saw. I found it so amazing and so beautiful that I was, literally, nearly sick. I still get like that about a few things, if they are totally visually new and exciting to me.


originally uploaded by sfsweetness

I loved all his pieces and later found out about land artist Richard Long ( and others) who had been doing similar work for decades. But the pieces that most amazed me were ones I've never seen the like of before or since, leaf horns and a twig wall based on the same techniques as this one over water...


originally uploaded by quanticmove

Had had created this curtain of twigs right across the gallery, held together only with thorns. It was more random and delicate than the one shown above and the twigs were smaller. To this day I still can hardly believe it stayed in place. I was utterly in awe. It was the year before I started art College and it blew my mind and I'm sure contributed to my not following the 'rules' of making when I started college. He is recreating a version of that wall for his retrospective, this one uses over 10,000 thorns to hold the twigs in place. Now that is dedication to your art.

I actually got the chance to work with him in '93. He was in my final dissertation 'Art and the Environment' and when I wrote to ask him some questions for it I mentioned I'd love to work with him (he has an army of willing workers, paid and volunteers). He wrote back answering my questions and inviting me to come down in person! Unfortunately the timing was impossible, but I REALLY would have loved it. I think he was working at Grizedale Forest at the time, he has some really nice pieces there as do many other's like Richard Harris and Kees Bierman. I will try and find my photo's (all pre digital).

Because he worked so much in Scotland I'm lucky to have access to many of his permanent works in places I visit regularly, even where I walk Marley . This piece is at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh...


Originaly uploaded by Happy Dave

Jack Cunningham

I haven't blogged about Jack Cunningham for a while so when I saw that Galerie Hélène Porée had some of his work inc. the two shown below I thought I ought to do a quick search to see what he's up to this year. Lo and behold he is part of an exhibition called The Cutting Edge on right now in Edinburgh at the National Museum of Scotland until the 29th of April.

The piece above is from that exhibition I think, found via Craft Scotland. He's someone who's work I'd like to be able to buy one day, but Grainne Morton is still at the top of my list with this piece that I am forever harping on about. It'll have to remain a dream for now, but if I ever met someone who wanted to marry me, or something, then I'd have that piece rather than a ring anyday (any Scandi looking blonde Eco men reading this, now you know how to win me over!).

Here's some more Jack from Galerie Hélène Porée ...(please excuse pre prepared posts, I knew I wouldn't have time to work fresh this week).

Lisa Solomon

....

These are the wonderful paint chip embroidery works from one of my absolute favourite bloggers, the delightful Lisa Solomon. Blogger won't import these full size but they are too beautiful to be stretched and fuzzy. You can see them clearly (please do) plus more of her paint chips over at The Beholder. And if you don't know Lisa already Design Sponge has a good up to date mini-interview with her here.

Lisa has been a huge inspiration to me by sharing so much of herself, her work, her thoughts and feelings on her blog and I was really saddened that it may be gone forever but I saw yesterday that there is a post there, tentative steps, I am so happy. It's a big thing to open yourself up to the world when you blog, it can be a very vulnerable place. Lisa has her reasons to pull back from her blog but I hope that the support of the blogging community that loves her and that she has given so much to, will, in turn, help her to feel ok about sharing more of herself with us again. Like I say, tentative steps, she's still there, even though we can't see her past posts just now.

Lisa, thank you so much for your generosity in letting me post these two paint chips, are truly beautiful. And I wish you all the best as you prepare for TWO exhibitions (what a gal!). I'm glad we can stay in touch and meeting someone like you is what has made all the scary-ness off blogging worthwhile.

As Lisa knows, I do so love blue and orange but I wasn't quite quick enough to pair this post up with my post last week. I remembered that last year I posted these images as part of what made me want to use blue and orange as the probable colour combo for my kitchen (with the rest of the house being almond white).

Israeli exhibition

Some interesting looking work from an exhibition called Foreplay shown here on the Iraeli Design Centre site.

Spencer Tunick

Sorry for rushing off and leaving a half written and almost link free blog yesterday. I don't watch much TV so if I'm hooked on a thing I really hate to miss it.

So to fill out the previous post, yes, it was a Spencer Tunick project with all the pale pink UK residents baring all in Newcastle and Gateshead in the North East of England. The exhibition (running until sunday) was at the Baltic Mill in Gateshead. I've not been in the best of health so I never managed the trip down to see it, but apparently it doesn't matter since the news on TV the other day was that the local Police have been selling close-ups taken on CCTV in the local pubs! As long as they don't sell to my granny, lucky for me she lives elsewhere and doesn't go to pubs.

The photo I posted was one of several poses we did that morning and has us in front of the SAGE building which I really loved, I'd never even heard of it before. Here is a photo of the undulating roof, I took about 40!



The Alnwick Castle Treehouse website is here. I'm trying to persuade someone to hire it for a wedding, any takers? I bet it costs a fortune because when I asked they wouldn't even tell me on the spot, they said I had to phone. It would be a fantastic venue as it has a restaurant inside it (with log fire). In the summer the gardens are stunning with formal and informal areas, lots of scented roses, a beautiful area of flowers at the top (stayed there about 2 hours) and the serpent garden shown her (I think that was it's name).



There is also the impressive cascade waterfall and several fun and stylish water features. The day we were there turned out to have record temperatures so the water sculptures were full of children (and me!) trying to cool down and just having a LOT of fun!