New Project

It's been a long time since I've posted on my blog! I have been busy being creative in my job at Grayshott Pottery, and am now juggling that with being a mummy. Both of which I love!!

I now feel I am ready to start a new project. I've recently started paper cutting, a very relaxing hobby which feeds my need for the precise and delicate!! So when I started designing and cutting designs which turned out to look rather effective, some friends encouraged me to put them out there to see if I would have any interest from people wanting to buy/commission them.

As I design these paper cuts myself, they can be personalised to suit exactly what the customer would want, text, colour and theme. The thought of working in collaboration with the buyer is very exciting as I can ensure customer satisfaction everytime! So please take a look at these initial pieces and do comment with your thoughts. Thank you.

 

 

Recycled ring-pull jewellery

When I was out and about one day I had an idea to create some jewellery using recycled materials. I decided that coke can ring-pulls were readily available and created this bracelet. I have had quite a few comments from the general public about how unique it is. This is an image of the finished piece.

Dyeing with Natural Products.

You will have seen my 'tea bag embroidery' post earlier, and now I want to show you the actual results from dyeing with the tea, and other natural products.

This first photo shows the results from different herbal teas used to dye sample materials. Some of them are natural materials and others synthetic and it was interesting to see which ones worked better.

I then moved on to dyeing various yarns so I could use them in my project. This image shows some of them.

  



















After using the tea I tried to think of other natural and everyday dyes. I thought about herbs and spices, and other plants which may give their colour to yarns. This shows a few of the dyes which I tried. As you can see these are, listed from the front, lily pollen, paprika, cumin, curry plant and curry powder. I was particularly impressed with the curry plant, however as expected the curry powder worked very well.

Paper Twine Chair

This is now the finished chair. I think it is rather effective as it is not altogether obvious that has been mended. Some people may not even notice, but it is that subtlety that I am after.

Paper Twine Chair

These next few images are the different stages of threading the twine through.

 












This first part took longer than I thought it would, but it was nothing compared to the next part when I would have to weave it through these threads.


















This was my progress after a 10 hours of threading.




These next few are from the next day after a couple more hours of work. They are at the same stage but from different angles.

It was taking me forever to thread the twine inbetween each string, so I came up with this straw-like contraption to speed up the process, unfortunately it didn't speed it up very much. 

Paper Twine Chair

I found a pair of chairs which were slightly broken, and originally I wanted to use this one to replace the seat. 

Though after photographing this chair I feel that it has it's own personality with its broken leg etc. and decided that this one would be left as it is. The second chair in the pair is exactly the same, but without a broken leg.

I started to use my twine to create the seat not realising how long it would actually take me, as the twine is quite delicate, and having to thread it through the rather small holes did create some stress.

As I have said the twine is rather delicate meaning I had to take my time so that it would not break.

Paper Twine

I started to notice how much junk mail was being posted through the door and what a waste of paper this was. I decided to use the junk mail as part of my recycle and reuse project, and started using the leaflets to make paper twine.

I wanted to then use this twine to mend or fix something which was broken. As my chair project was sucessful last year I started to look into mending a different type of chair, I found an appropriate chair, which once had a rattan cane seat allowing the chair to be functional, and wanted to recreate the seat. However, I don't think the paper twine will be strong enough to make this chair functional again, it will be simply used to make the point about waste and how much we throw away.

Origin of Species

In my final year I have to complete a creative project as well as my modules for Art and Textiles. Originally this was going to be a research project on sustainability and waste, however when I found I wasn't really getting into my research as it seemed to merge too closely with my other modules, I changed my ideas. 

I am right-handed and wanted to see if it would be possible to train myself to write with my left hand. As this idea developed, I decided I would use Charles Darwin's book 'Origin of Species' and as I progressed through the book my handwriting would, in theory, evolve! It is a rather long book and I do realise that I have, yet again, set myself a long, repetitive and meticulous task, nevertheless, fingers crossed at the end of the project I might be ambidextrous.

In order to document this development, I am going to use a single roll of paper, approx. 60cm wide, so that when finished I can display the piece unravelled allowing people to see the whole process of my progress. 

At the same time as writing I will video myself, to see if I acquire any subconscious habits in which to facilitate my learning, and I also believe that when displaying my work it would complete the installation to have the video, the actual piece, and the pens which I have used.

Wish me luck!!

Tea Bag Embroidery

I decided to look at sustainability and recycling this year in textiles. I wanted to dye my own materials using natural dyes. I started off using tea, and when I was given a large quantity of tea bags I was very pleased. I got some material ready to dye and then opened the tea bag sachet. I was so surprised at how beautiful the actual tea bag was I took a photo of it! It wasn't made from paper but a material mesh and it was machine sewn round the edges to keep the tea in. Straight away I knew that once I had used the tea bags to dye, I couldn't just throw them away and tried to come up with an idea as to how I could use them. I decided to try and embroider them and the following are the first two that I made.

Since making these I have made a few more and feel my technique is improving, as shown in the next image. This is by far my favourite one to date due to the detail.

Rice Sculpture of The Eiffel Tower

For my art project this year I looked at structure and multi-culturalism in the modern society. This rice eiffel tower was a much bigger project than I first anticipated and find that the photos of it do not do it justice, however I am pleased with the final result and that I persevered to get it finished. I felt it was important to show the making of it by leaving one of the sides open. It is made up of over 11500 grains of rice, glued together individually with a pin and PVA glue.

 

Inspired - An Exhibition At The American Museum

Since starting my blog I have posted various times under the title "Chair Project". These have been documenting the main parts of the preparation throughout the year for a mixed-media textiles exhibition at the American Museum in Bath. Inspired is the second exhibition which I am taking part in, and runs from 28/05/2011 - 05/06/2011, I hope it will be as successful as the first. This is the finished piece 'United' and my statement describing it below.

'United' is a piece inspired by the symbolism of America and the George P.A. Healy 1868 painting, 'The Peacemakers'.

I originally looked at how I could use symbolism; the buildings, the eagle and the flag to create a unique piece, however as I was working I narrowed my ideas down to the colours in the American flag.

The painting depicts a meeting which took place during the final days of the American Civil War in which the main figures in America decided what was to happen.

The three colours used are taken from the flag however I want them to hold specific meanings; Red symbolises valour, hardiness and the bloodshed, Blue symbolises perseverance and power and White represents the innocence of people caught up in this war and the peace agreed on at the end.

The leaders 'United' in order to end the war, as the colours unite to make the National flag.

 The peacemakers

Tom Friedman

Tom Friedman is an American artist who creates art using the everyday and mundane. His obssessive and meticulous detail is what interests me most about his work. Here are a few of his artworks which I particularly like.

This is a starburst made from over 30,000 wooden toothpicks.

A self-portrait made using sugar cubes.

A self-portrait carved in an aspirin tablet.

A whole pencil sharpened in one long coil.

Sheila Fournier

When taking part in 'Between the Lines' exhibition, one visitor commented on my "Feathered Cauliflower Bowl" and how it reminded him of the work of potter Sheila Fournier (1930-2000). I was intrigued as to what she had created and found her online. The beautiful layered effect of "Torn" relates hugely to "Feathered Cauliflower Bowl" whilst also having a very different feel. It's appearance is very serene and tranquil and has been made so delicately and exquisitely.

"Torn"

My First Exhibition at The Walcot Chapel

I am taking part in my first exhibition "Between the Lines". It is a collaboration of work by 10 students from Bath Spa University and included a variety of mediums. The private view was on Tuesday 12th April 2011 and was a great success. Here are a few pictures of the exhibition and the work I have entered.

                                                     The Walcot Chapel

'Feathered Cauliflower Bowl' and 'Wonky Bowls'

'Hand'

 This is my drawing 'Fashion'. As the graphite lines are so faint, it does not show up well on photographs.

The Guestbook

Thank you to these businesses who sponsored us.

This has been a fantastic opportunity for me and I have really enjoyed getting a taste of the practicing artist's world. I have learnt a lot about myself and acquired many new skills throughout the process of putting this exhibition on, appreciating the hard work involved and learning the importance of teamwork.

Magazine Publication

One of my ceramic bowls has been chosen by The Bath Magazine to advertise the exhibition "Between the Lines" which I am taking part in. Please click on the link to see the ad and try to drop by the exhibition at the Walcot Chapel 13th-16th April. http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/53a2e9e8#/53a2e9e8/34.

Textured Surfaces

I have been playing around with everyday, recognisable materials to create textures, to see how I would want to cover the chair. These are a few of the samples I have made. Chocolate cardboard boxes, Chocolate wrappers, Aluminium drink cans and plastic milk bottles.

Chair project

This is some fabric I created to cover the chair.

I wanted to get a very textured surface which is also intricate and interesting to look at. Although a time consuming process, I think it works well, what do think?

Awesome Sculptures

www.willard-wigan.com


This is the website of Willard Wigan, occasionally the website is down and therefore does not link. He is an amazing sculptor who creates minute sculptures from individual grains of rice, he is able to work in between heartbeats as he has taught himself how to slow his heart down! Amazing!

Chair project

I have blisters on my fingers and they
feel quite bruised but after much
fighting and perseverance I have
managed to un-staple the fabric from
the chair!

Chair project

I have now removed the beading from the edges of the all of the fabric on the chair.

Chair project

This is the chair which, over several months, I will be re-upholstering with my handmade fabrics. It is Part of a project in conjunction with Textiles and the American museum. The photo shows the chair in its current, original state.

Drawing

My drawing has always been a weak part of my work and today I have started to rectify this by reading and following "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards. I am hoping that this will drastically improve my skills as my mind starts to see things from a different perspective. We shall soon see if it works!

My Work

Sculpture 
The paper clip hand is made from over 3600 paperclips glued together.

Ceramics

 'Wonky Bowls' is four bowls progressively getting larger, they can be arranged as indiviual pieces or combined as shown.









I made 'Feathered Cauliflower Bowl' using the pinching technique and then joined them together when glazing them in the raku firing.

Reduction glaze on a thrown bowl.

I handbuilt the house and raku fired it. At the time I did not realise how difficult it would be to raku this piece and if doing it again, I might try a different glazing method to get the same result. 

After some snowfall in Bath, I spontaneously went out and decided to sculpt some of it. I was looking at the heart in my art at the time hence this photo.