Saturday 30 June 2012

Helen Chatterton - Image of the Day


Helen Chatterton - City on Cloth.   
Silk Scarf printed with images from a 1929 A-Z of London. 150x28cm, £100.00.
Helen Chatterton will be exhibiting at MADE12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair










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Friday 29 June 2012

Claire Armitage - Image of the Day

Claire Armitage - Sea Swept,
 Silk Scarf, 180 x 34 cm, digitally printed silk, 
printed with illustrations inspired by the Cornish Coast.
Claire Armitage will be exhibiting at MADE12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair

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Thursday 28 June 2012

Tessa Pearson - Image of the Day


Around the Garden 1
Oil on paper monotype with woodblock
40x40cm
Tessa Pearson will be exhibiting at Brighton Art Fair in November

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Wednesday 27 June 2012

Paul Wadsworth - Image of the Day

Paul Wadsworth 'A Good Day'   40 - 40inch   oil   
"A painting I did on the beach at Porthtowan near my studio capturing a surfer coming out of the sea. Oil painting worked with brushes, pallet knife and hands.
Paul Wadsworth will be exhibiting at Brighton Art Fair in September

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Tuesday 26 June 2012

The Aesthetica Art Prize


SUBMIT YOUR ART


The Aesthetica Art Prize is hosted by Aesthetica Magazine. Committed to innovation in the arts, the magazine welcomes entries from artists working in all media who are pushing the boundaries of their chosen discipline. With a group exhibition, editorial coverage in Aesthetica and cash prizes at stake, the Art Prize is an outstanding opportunity to develop your presence in the international art world through a variety of media.

The 4 categories for entry are:

  • Photographic & Digital Art.
  • Three Dimensional Design & Sculpture.
  • Painting & Drawing.
  • Installation & Performance
DEADLINE AUGUST 31st, 2012

For further information, terms, conditions, and guidelines, please visit:
www.aestheticamagazine.com/artprize



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Katrin Moye - Image of the Day


Arboretum platter  approx 45 cm diameter, 
Earthenware clay hand decorated with coloured slips and underglazes.
Katrin Moye will be exhibiting at MADE LONDON - The Design and Craft Fair (as part of the Sarah Young group) and at MADE12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair
 

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Monday 25 June 2012

Artist of the Week - Jazmin Velasco


Jazmin Velasco is an illustrator, printmaker and ceramicist. She will be exhibting her work alongside Colin Moore at the Brighton Art Fair.

Where did you train? What did training teach you and what do you wish it had taught you?
My life has been a path of constant learning. While studying graphic design I was already drawing comic strips and cartoons for magazines and newspapers. Then, when I moved to Mexico City while illustrating children books, I started learning painting and printmaking. Afterwards when I moved to London I was still a full time illustrator and studying multimedia. Then I saw an ad in a gallery looking for artists for an exhibition so I quickly made some prints dusting from memory the rudiments of relief printmaking and from then on I became a full time printmaker. In this section of my life I have been learning several printmaking techniques, mostly relief, like lino, woodcut and engraving.



Is being an artist your only job, or do you have other employment?
Being an artist is enough to keep me busy because I want to do as much as I can. I may do too much, actually. I try to concentrate most of the time in my printmaking work, but I also knit a lot, do ceramics, embroider, paint a bit and lately I am also trying to sew my own dresses. While I don't do any of that I dedicate the rest of my time to martial arts. I am a teacher of t'ai chi chuan. I find that both things complement each other. 


One favourite living artist?
It updates and changes a lot,  (as I discover different artists or depending on what I am doing at the moment) right now I see Grayson Perry as a great, great artist, I like his work a lot and the way he thinks.

 One favourite historical artist?
That doesn't change much. I have a long lists of favourite artists, but the king of them all, for me, it's Saul Steinberg.

What is the most interesting / fun job you have had?
I don't think if it was fun at the time, but now it is when I recall it. I had a real poor time several years ago and had to do loads of different jobs, like modelling for artists or sellling sandwiches on a bike. The bike was stolen on my second day and it was very embarrasing to drag the trolley back to the shop.

If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
Oooh, with Saul Steinberg, of course. I would even just make him coffee or whatever to see him working, observe his creative process etc. Another one would be David Bowie, I kind of did that once, making a comic of a story he wrote for his album Outside. Someone called us from his record company asking for my drawing of the cover as David Bowie wanted it. I sent it of course, but I still wonder if that was true...



At age 16 who most influenced your style?
When I was sixteen I was starting to make and publish cartoons and comic strips. Back then I was heavily influenced by Mexican cartoonists like Abel Quezada. 

Last book / film that blew your mind?
I am right now finishing the 20th and last book of the Master & Commander saga. It took me a while to get into them, specially with my problems with the nautical language, but as I knew that Patrick O'Brian was a keen admirer of Jane Austen prose and use her books -which had previously blowed my mind- as models to make his characters speak, I then oblige myself to read them all. 
And I don't see as much cinema as I used to. So when I see a good film I then buy it and watch it again and again. The last one was a nice little film called Beginners, with Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer in it. 

What music are you currently listening to?
Right now I am listening to glorious silence. It is more and more difficult to get hold of some silence, specially living in a big city like London, so whenever I find myself on my own I try to enjoy it. When my husband is at home and we are together in the studio we listen to Baroque music most of the time. Bach being our main printing soundtrack guest.


How many hours do you waste on the internet each day?
Oooh, I hate this question. Unfortunately I am a victim of internet procrastination... 

If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
I moved to this country because of London. I came with my backpack in the nineties and I knew this was the city I wanted to live in. So it took me a few years but here I am, and it's been 12 years living here now. If I HAD to choose any other place, it may probably be Cornwall.

Where and what is your studio?
Tile Kiln Studio is in the North of London, in Highgate and we are a team of two members, plus a cat. At the beginning Colin had a big press that we used for the big relief prints we do in lino. But I've been accumulating small little presses, including a very heavy proofing press I brought from Mexico.


Do you have a good work/life balance?
I do indeed, I feel happy, content and grateful. I am married to a lovely grumpy Scotsman, we have the nicest, affectionate and handsome of cats. I have health and good friends and live in a great city. And I live in the place I work, I like that. The most important thing is that I really like my two jobs artist/teacher and I don't get to see that as work either. 

What would your dream commission be?
Oh my God, so many. Last week I was dreaming that some nice restaurant or cafe or the Savoy or something of the sort would commission me to design and make the whole tableware, I even started to draw some of the pieces. Dreams dreams.

If you could exhibit in any gallery in the world which would it be?
In the Victoria & Albert because it's one of my favourite places in London. I try to go there at least once every other week.


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Marion Brandis - Image of the Day



Porcelain cake stand with knitted design
Marion Brandis will be exhibiting at MADE12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair

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Sunday 24 June 2012

Kate Jenkins - Image of the Day




Sewson's Wool Vinegar
Created for an exhibition at Pallant House Gallery Restaurant, Chichester
"Stitched Fish" - 23rd June -7th Oct
Kate Jenkins and Cardigan will be exhibiting at MADE 12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair in November


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Saturday 23 June 2012

Maggie Williams - Image of the Day



Daisy Chain wall hanging 50cmx50cm. 
Hot formed glass flowers bonded to sheet glass and mounted onto a white back board.
Maggie Williams will be exhibiting at MADE LONDON - The Design and Craft Fair in October and MADE12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair in November

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Friday 22 June 2012

Ele Pack - Image of the day

"Floating with you" 
Acrylic on canvas 90 x 80cms.
Ele Pack will be exhibiting at Brighton Art Fair in September

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Thursday 21 June 2012

Catherine Jacobs - Image of the Day


Catherine Jacobs
Above and Beyond 1
Mixed Media painting on wooden board
30 x 15 x 3 cm
Catherine Jacobs will be exhibiting at Brighton Art Fair in September

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Wednesday 20 June 2012

Jessica Hewitt - Image of the day

"Susan charm bracelet" - laser marked acrylic, resin and silver, 
approx size of each charm is 18mm diameter.

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Tuesday 19 June 2012

Worthing Open Houses - Chesswood Middle School

On Monday we were very pleased to be asked to award Brighton Art Fair Rosettes to pupils at Chesswood Middle School, who have been taking part in the Worthing Open Houses

From the moment we entered the hall it was very obvious that this would not be an easy task! We were truly bowled over by the childrens' work. It was fascinating to see the different approaches to particular subjects. The effort, enthusiasm and detail were very inspiring and it was lovely to see work enjoyed rather than forced out.


We only had 4 rosettes (we could have given out so many more!) and made the very difficult decision to give these to, in no particular order...

A Bayeaux like tapestry made by a class in year 7.  Each child had made one segment telling a story of the maker's experience at school. These had then been joined up to make a quite beautiful piece of artwork.


A very striking picture of the Mary Rose - we liked so many of these!


A model of a castle with moat straw and animals.


A very demure picture of the Queen.


All this work and plenty more, can be seen at Chesswood School this Saturday from 11am - 3pm.

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Adam Hussain - Image of the Day

An abstract cityscape constructed of 1mm glass stringers and kiln-formed.

Adam Hussain
A Fine Line - Concrete Jungle
'Bullseye' Glass
H 40cm x W 60cm 

Adam Hussein will be exhibiting at MADE12 - Brighton's Design and Craft Fair in November





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Monday 18 June 2012

The Making of Harry Potter

I am not the biggest Harry Potter fan. I have read one and a half of the books, and seen the first and last of the films. My children however have seen them all - probably quite a few times - and love them.


The Making of Harry Potter, the Warner Bros Studio Tour, opened at the end of March to enable fans to go behind the scenes of the film making process and understand more fully what made all eight films so successful.

The tour is not a disappointment. It is interesting, enjoyable and incredibly inspiring. It shows just how much creativity, detail, craft, intelligence, vision and hard graft went into making the films so visually entrancing. Sets, props, mask making, remote controlled characters, animal training, make up, special effects, thought processes from the directors and producers, cars, models, costumes, you name it, it is all there to see and hear.


There is so much I want to write about, and so many pictures I want to show, yet so much I don't want to give away. We weren't given the offical souvenir guide until after the tour, which as a member of staff told us was the best way - so that everything was a surprise - it certainly was.

All I can do is highly recommend it to fans, artists, dreamers, craft folk, film buffs, parents, educators, in fact anyone. The studio showcases levels of creativity as I have never seen before, so much so that all my children just wanted all of it to be real!

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Artist of the Week - Hugh Ribbans

Hugh Ribbans produces woodcuts and linocuts, mixing heavily grained wood - often driftwood - and lino in his prints. Hugh will be exhibiting at the Brighton Art Fair.


Where did you train? What did training teach you and what do you wish it had taught you?
I trained at Canterbury College of Art in the early sixties when you had to pass an exam in everything from Life Drawing to Architecture - the training was heavily drawing-based and so I suppose that has stood me in good stead over the years - I would have liked a bit more of a commercial insight as I was destined for the commercial art world.

Is being an artist your only job, or do you have other employment?
I have been a designer/illustrator/printmaker since 1963 but now I am a full time printmaker.

One favourite living artist?
Peter Blake. He was at his Pop Art peak in the sixties and seventies when I was working in London advertising agencies in the Carnaby Street area. We went to his launch previews at all the galleries. He was and still is a constantly innovative creative practitioner.

One favourite historical artist?
Like many printmakers I am very much influenced by the work of Edward Bawden. He was a truly commercial artist but always holding on to a fine art pedigree.

What is the most interesting / fun job you have had?
I have been asked to produce many interesting linocut commissions - for a national brewer, a museum collection of stuffed animals and currently for the national fruit collection in Kent. I had a bit of fun with an enlarged linocut on a banner to feature on a lamp post on London's South Bank - of a green woodpecker - 25 feet deep and pecking at the post. Another fun job was redesigning Blackpool Tower Aquarium.

If you could collaborate with anyone living or dead, who would it be and what would you do?
It would be daunting but inspirational to work with Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden on one of their famous murals.


At age 16 who most influenced your style?
I would spend hours looking at the bold poster work of Tom Eckersley.

What music are you currently listening to?
I am currently playing Dory Previn and the work of Eric Coates in my car.

How many hours do you waste on the internet each day?
The internet is a delicious curse.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
I am happy with my home base now but if I was younger then the Far East (Bali?) might appeal.

Where and what is your studio?
I have a studio/workshop in my house on Conyer Creek near Faversham in Kent. This is home to my Columbian press.

Do you have a good work/life balance?
I think maybe I am getting it right at last.

What one word would describe your feeling of doing your work?
When a print is going well - complete satisfaction. Until it is finished and then it's on to the next one to do it better.

What would your dream commission be?
A complete hand printed book with linocut illustrations and metal typesetting of the poems of John Betjeman.

If you could exhibit in any gallery in the world which would it be?
To achieve an improvement on 'Selected but not Hung' at the Royal Academy.

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David Rhys Jones - Image of the Day


'Prospect Cottage' - David Rhys Jones - Ceramic with transfer printing
12cms x 14cms
David Rhys Jones will be exhibiting at Brighton Art Fair in September

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Sunday 17 June 2012

Nigel Hills - Image of the Day


'On The Beach' - Nigel Hills - Oils  50 by 40 cm.
"Is a painting of the skeletal remains of a fish found while walking along the beach at Goring"

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Saturday 16 June 2012

Liz Willis - Image of the Day


Liz Willis - "Pebbles" brooch, Silver & hand stitched silk thread, with stainless steel brooch pin, inspired by the flat slate pebbles on Pendower Beach, Cornwall.

Forthcoming events:
Liz Wilis will be exhibiting at The Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey NOW! and MADE12 in November

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Friday 15 June 2012

Elaine Pamphilon & John Maltby at Yew Tree Gallery


One of the best galleries in the country is also one of the most remote. Go to the end of the country and keep going. The Yew Tree Gallery is beyond Penzance, beyond St Ives in a farmyard on a moor beyond Zennor. However its well worth a trip as Gilly Wyatt Smith has created a beautiful, light, warm gallery and stocked it with a lovely selection of work by top British artists and makers.


 We happened to be about for the Private View of 'Jubilation' (the weekend of the Queens Jubilee) and met the lovely John Maltby and Elaine Pamphillon.


 It was lovely to see Elaine's large paintings of the local West Penwith landscape, which look great in the gallery which looks over similar countryside.


We also met John Maltby having seen (and bought) his work in various galleries over the years. He progressed from functional to sculptural ceramics some years ago and now produces free standing sculptures of figures, angels, animals which to me seem inspired by ancient and celtic art.





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Norman Yap - Image Of The Day



Thrown, footed wide rimmed stoneware bowl by Norman Yap made from stained clay with matte blue green and black feldspathic glazes, raw glazed and once fired in reduction to 1220C. Up to 30cm wide and 25cm high.

Norman Yap will be exhibiting at MADELONDON in October and at MADE12 in November 

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Thursday 14 June 2012

Ben Yates and Rolf Paints

Ben Yates, who is exhibiting at the Brighton Art Fair, was part of the Rolf Paints... the Diamond Jubilee BBC art project that was on TV last week.

Ben demostrated his artwork, along with other artists at Rolf Harris's pop-up art school in the Old Vic Tunnels. The artists had a day to put together a picture inspired by Her Majesty. Portraits, still lifes, abstracts and pop art was produced. Ben made his trademark Photo-Cubism with a Photomosaic portrait of the Queen made up from 286 different images of her and her family taken from the web.

The piece will definitely be coming to Brighton with him.

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Jennie Ing - Image of the Day

St Paul's Cathedral from Ludgate Hill, a linocut print in an edition of 45.  
The image measures 33cm x 23cm.  

"I consider it ones that I'm most proud of. I was pleased with how it turned out, you're never quite sure through the print process and it's got three main London icons: St Paul's, a bus and a cab!"

Jennie Ing is exhibiting at Brighton Art Fair in September

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Wednesday 13 June 2012

Contemporary Craft Festival - Bovey Tracey Starts Friday


The Contemporary Craft Festival starts this Friday at Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, Devon.
It is a highlight of the summer and one of the best craft shows in the country, getting bigger and better every year. If you haven't been yet get down there this weekend! The weather's not good enough for the beach but will be ideal for spending time in marquees looking at the work of 200 makers.
Helen Brice
Set in idyllic surrounding at the edge of Dartmoor, The Contemporary Craft Festival is brimming with opportunities to meet and buy work directly from nearly 200 of your favourite or newly-found maker.  Craftspeople from cross Devon and the whole of the UK get together for a celebration of craft and making.

Gareth Neal

One Year On, a brand new feature, is the Contemporary Craft Festival's chance to showcase emerging makers and give these young businesses some support in their early years. Just 20 businesses have been hand picked to be part of this new, exciting development.

Kirsty Elson

The Contemporary Craft Festival will be hosting The Great Windsor Chair Race, a collective of some the UK’s most exciting, award winning furniture designers getting back to basics making Windsor Chairs, featuring Gareth Neal, Chris Eckersley, Carl Clerkin and William Warren. Who can make the most chairs over the weekend? It's a test of speed and skill as only the best will win!


Sally Ann Provan

The Blacksmithing Guild will be at Bovey Tracey for the first time. Completing the line up of Champions of Craft will be demonstrations of ceramics, glass blowing, stone carving, weaving, knitting, spoon carving, blacksmithing, furniture making & calligraphy.
May Selway

The Children’s Craft Tent is inspired by the textile collection at The Royal Albert Museum in Exeter. Children will learn to weave, print, knit & paint on cloth complimented by a variety of workshops for adults.

Emma Purdie

Suet Yi


For full details and how to book a workshop go to  www.craftsatboveytracey.co.uk or phone 01626830612 craftfair@craftsatboveytracey.co.uk

The Contemporary Craft Festival, Mill Marsh Park, Bovey Tracey, Devon, UK
15-17 June 2012
Open 10am-5pm daily
Adult daily ticket £7, concession £6
Adult weekend ticket £12, concessions £10, Accompanied Under 14s FREE

John Luff

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