Autumn Shades

I haven't taken that many photos this Autumn, the weather has been pretty dreadful, rain, rain and more rain it's been a bit of a grey year.

Sneak Peek

Just a quick post with some close up photos of my painting from the e course. Not sure how much I can write about what we are doing but I am having lots of fun and it is very liberating, at last I am painting larger canvasses. My first week with Emily went well apart from her having a cold, and as babies like to share she thought I would like it as well!! To much cuddling I think!

Squeak Carnwath: Painting is no Ordinary Object.

Recently I have come across some artists that are new to me, and one that really interests me is American artist Squeak Carnwath. I first saw her paintings here and was intrigued, so I decided to do a little research.

Her career began with an interest in ceramics, and she gained her MFA in 1977 with high distinction but a few years after graduation she began painting and this has been her main focus for the past 30 years. I think it was the squares and the patchwork nature of her paintings that initially attracted me, on closer inspection the paintings are heavily laden with symbolism, words, numbers, record discs, Greek urns, money and rabbits all have special meaning. I especially like the way everything is done in paint even the words written onto what look like pieces of lined paper are all oil paint.
The following interview from 2009 was made to coincide with a major exhibition organized by the Oakland Museum of California, PAINTING IS NO ORDINARY OBJECT. In the video she talks about art making as a kind of self making, a journey of self discovery, and that she likes to be afraid when starting a painting, she loves not knowing what she is going to do so that she can follow any path. This is a really interesting video and you get to see her applying paint to canvas which she does in many layers, and if you watch it on full screen you get to see how beautiful these paintings really are.

I also decided to send for the catalogue that accompanied the exhibition, published by Pomegranate it covers her early career and has some really good essays and good full colour reproductions of her paintings, and traces the development of her distinctive style.

On her website there is a page of online resources with links to some good essays and to galleries that show her work. I also found some paintings that had been made into tapestries and these can be seen at Magnolia Editions which have some fabulous images. Her latest work will be on show at the James Harris Gallery from June 7th to July 7th

Antique Textile Fair: Part 2 Indian Bag

My second post about the Antique Textile Fair is dedicated to an Indian Bag. I love all the colours and patterns on this bag, also the lovely aged bits were the stitching is coming apart. Apologies for the amount of photographs it just looked good from so many different angles.

The inside of the bag is just as beautiful showing the reverse of the stitching.

It has these lovely tassels made of scraps of torn fabric.

And appliquéd bits of old saris, and worn stitching.

Another Palette

More sketching and just having fun, not trying to think to much about the actual paintings but trying to get the colours and composition right. I am working on some paintings and will post some photos soon.

Colour Palette

Had a back to basics day yesterday, sketching with pencil, charcoal, ink and graphite, and then working on some colour palettes. It was a beautiful day sitting outside surrounded by all my lovely paints and pastels.

Feeling Floral

I am feeling in a floral still life kind of mood today, I think it's something to do with the weather the sun is shining and the sky is blue but it doesn't really have the intensity of Summer it has a slightly faded feel to it.

Elaine Pamphilon one of my absolute favourites she always captures the perfect mood.

Mhairi McGregor's beautiful thickly painted oils are bold yet still sensitive to the subject matter.

Christine McArthur's mixed media collages have a quiet and soft appearance.

Alice Mumford paints these lovely romantic paintings of ordinary objects from around the home.

Jessica Cooper simple but elegant acrylics and pencil on canvas.

I couldn't leave out a lovely painting by Emma Dunbar, I love anemones and the colour combination is a favourite of mine.

Maggie Matthews

I have long been a fan of the welsh artist Maggie Matthews. Now based in Cornwall she is one of the areas leading abstract painters. Inspired by the coastline, indigenous and exotic plant life, and collections of pebbles and shells, Maggie sketches while out on cliff walks, recording the shapes and patterns below her. Returning to the studio she works on abstracting her experience reducing her sketches down to flat areas of space and colour. You can see more of Maggie's work at Cornwall Contemporary Penzance.

Abstracts

Here are just a few photographs taken whilst sitting on the beach or on the harbour front. My main focus was looking at colour, pattern and texture for future inspiration.

Another garden visit

Yes I have visited Tatton Park yet again, partly to see how the hydrangea plant that I have been following through the seasons is fairing, but also my youngest daughter who is into growing her own vegetables wanted to check out the walled kitchen garden.

We were met by a beautiful display of cottage garden plants that were incredibly colourful and just so lovely.

There were chrysanthemums and some very impressive asparagus.