A busy week of workshops at Llanover Hall and Wales Millennium Centre. Yesterday, a full class for the Storytelling and Art session for children aged 8-12. I asked them to count down from ten and write the first three words that came into their mind. Then to choose the word they liked best and do … Continue reading Summer Workshops
Art
The Wonderful Weaving Tree
Here it is! The Weaving Tree created by Flow Maugran is finished. Flow has been working on the tree since February, and it is an amazing achievement. In collaboration with the technicians from Wales Millennium Centre, it is now secured centre stage in one of the central theatres at WMC. Art and craft works created … Continue reading The Wonderful Weaving Tree
Cut-out Critters
I've been cutting out creatures from the experimental print textures as examples of what can be added to The Weaving Tree, an exciting project at Wales Millennium Centre. I planned the birds and hare, but the two creatures below emerged from random marks made in the print-making process, and I love how kooky they are. … Continue reading Cut-out Critters
Art on the Hill
My friend transformed his flat into a gallery space for local artists as part of Art on the Hill in Newport. 11:00 – 18:00 : Art House #1, 26 Bryngwyn Road (19) *PG* The first in a series of mixed media events that focus upon the more outer edges of Newport’s developing art scene. Featuring … Continue reading Art on the Hill
New Work
Once again using set parameters of reclaimed tile 50x50cm, and circular form, I am continuing to experiment with elements of relief using plaster and glue to create texture (inspired by Ernst's experiments). The composition, apart from these self-defined limits, is automatic. “The joy in every successful metamorphosis conforms . . . with the intellect’s age-old … Continue reading New Work
New Studio Space
For a few years, when the Kings Road Artists have had open studio days, I have visited, and always come away thinking how wonderful it would be to have a permanent space in a building dedicated to working artists. I was warned that spaces were much in demand and hardly ever became available, so I was … Continue reading New Studio Space
Close Your Eyes and Sing
Our workshop 'Close Your Eyes and Sing: Expressive Painting,' for the community arts festival, Made in Roath was a great success. More than fifty abstract works of art were created by individuals using the backs of old carpet tiles, and Picasso's advice that 'to draw you must close your eyes and sing'. Our first participants … Continue reading Close Your Eyes and Sing
New Work
I have been revisiting Max Ernst's work, specifically his frottage, grattage and coulage techniques that prioritised automatism. Using his grattage (scraping) technique, Ernst covered his canvases completely with pattern and then interpreted the images that emerged, thus allowing texture to suggest composition in a spontaneous fashion. In The Forest the artist probably placed the canvas … Continue reading New Work
Painting the Tiles
This year, the fabulous Made in Roath festival have received funding from the Welsh Arts Council, and invited artists to apply to run workshops or exhibitions throughout the festival. I decided to expand on the theme of my last year's workshop, using one of Picasso's quotes: 'To draw, you must close your eyes and sing,' … Continue reading Painting the Tiles
Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Visionary Modernist
I first came across this artist at Tate Modern in 2013, surprised that this was the first exhibition there dedicated to African Modernism. Ibrahim El-Salahi has recently had a solo exhibition at the Ashmolean, Oxford where he now lives. I stood in front of this 8 foot square painting: Reborn Sounds of Childhood Dreams I (1961–5) … Continue reading Ibrahim El-Salahi: A Visionary Modernist
