Tag: Art

Sculptures

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There are various sculptures in Trentham gardens. Each time I visit there seem to be more.

From fairies to birds, animals, plants.

The original sculpture in the gardens is Persius and Medusa. A gory sculpture of Persius holding the gorgons head. The body of Medusa is draped over the column he stands on.

Later additions are several wire fairies holding dandelion heads, the seeds are floating into the air. Then there are snails sculpted onto plant leaves and a hare twisting round to look out of tall grasses. The latest ones I’ve seen are a huge kingfisher sculpture and a tree trunk that has been carved into the shape of a frog. I got lots of ideas of things to add to our garden from this visit.

Old painting, maiden castle

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Painted several years ago, my painting of Maiden Castle Hill Fort imagined a woman dancing in the landscape, and also her bones as if they were found in the land.

The idea was inspired by visiting Maiden Castle in the 1990s,thinking about it being a hill Fort and part of the Celtic world.

It is located in Dorset near Dorchester. If I remember correctly it is reached by a small road, then you walk up through the ditches and mounds that lead up to the top of the hill Fort.

I think I got the idea from watching archaeology programmes on TV. I imagined the woman being aware of the changing seasons and how time passes. The little skull below her is a rabbit skull we found on a walk.

It’s a bit weird, but I wanted to include a figure in the dramatic landscape.

Today at the BCB

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Too much to see! There were many interesting and beautiful pieces at the BCB (British Ceramic Biennial) being held in Spode over the next four weeks, ending I think on 14 October. The BCB sees the China Halls at Kingsway Stoke taken over and turned into a massive gallery to showcase ceramics, with hands on experiences making solid flat back figures and more abstract work.

There is also access from the Eleanora Street entrance of Spode. Useful to know if the car park in front of the building is full.

It’s great to see this asset being used and bringing much needed visitors into Stoke Town centre.

No doubt I will post more photos later…

 

 

 

Phil Hardakers’ Piano.

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I hope I’ve got his name correct. He’s a really unique artist who uses found pottery and hand made pieces together in large mosaics on various objects. In this case a grand piano. I wonder how much more it weighs with all the tiles and broken pots. It’s on display at the hotel on Spode site.

Hopefully I will be going round the BCB (British Ceramic Biannual event). There is lots going on there. Will see what’s on display.

Lilies

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I’ve duplicated this image multiplying it by four to extend the pattern. It’s another older painting. I think I was channelling Georgia O’keefe when I painted it. It is acrylic on canvas. FB_IMG_1568676663736

I was given a book about her art as a birthday present. Sadly the book was damaged when I spilt a mug of coffee over it. It’s only a small, square paperback and now some of the images are stuck together.

O’keefe was controversial as an artist. Some of her art was seen as erotic even though she was painting flowers. I am more interested in her use of colour and blending techniques. Her work is beautiful and striking.

My painting of lilies is also slightly based on images from the start if the twentieth century. I do like art nouveau. I was also trying to use fresh colours rather than a more realistic background.

Long weekend

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What a long weekend! Two days manning the pop up exhibition at Etruria. I didn’t have much time to look at the static steam engines on display yesterday or the classic cars today. The place wasn’t buzzing but there was a constant stream of people coming in. Most of them were interested in what we were doing, what the building used to be used for, or decided to let their children make things with clay. A few people walked in took one look and walked out again. Sometimes they even asked where the tea room was.

Etruria Artists had paintings, photos, ceramics, jewellery and even painted stones on display. It was good to share the space with other artists there. I even bought a pottery frog, a mug and a whale.

So many people to talk to, to help, to explain to. I also helped a bit children with modelling clay. My friends usually do this and I just helped when they were not around. We made frogs and ladybirds, and an owl. Sadly I didn’t take any photos of the pieces as I forgot my phone.

 

 

Dragon?

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I saw this today above Etruria. It looks a bit like the Welsh Dragon. The head end is a bit wispy… But if you squint?

White hot dragon,

Flying above

Breath of flame spinning out

Into the sky.

Cloudy dragon

Seen on high,

Your wings encompass

Your claws slash,

Icy dragon

Cold and serene

Flying veins of snow

Fire and steam

Melts your heart

Makes mine beat.

Been out most of today

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A couple of friends visiting my exhibition at the Waiting room gallery today. I’ve spent most of the time sleep deprived because of my hubby waking me up in the middle of the night worrying about something, then the cats decided to break my favourite glass bowl. When I finally got a bit of sleep it was time to do things like running round trying to organise things including visiting the vets about our stray cat in the garden problem (has he got somewhere to live), getting organised about a performance next weekend in Newcastle-under-Lyme, visiting the shop to get snacks and drinks for my solo exhibition. (who knew no one seems to sell little bottles of beer anymore, they used to be all the rage? Then the main dual carriageway, to where the exhibition is, was coned off and closed to traffic! Got there a few minutes late feeling like a wet weekend in Whitby (which is actually beautiful before anyone asks). A  few hours chatting to people  about painting. Now to rest. Tomorrow is busy too! 

Slides

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One of the many slides I found last year of my art in the 1980s. I like playing with perspective and I used to do many more portraits than I get to do these days. Maybe selfies have taken over. But wouldn’t you want a special portrait with things that are significant to you included in it? I’m also good at amalgamating photos, so if there are three people each on a different photo who want to be together in an image I can do it – and I don’t need photo shop!

Get in touch, commissions welcomed.