Found Objects - The Remnant

deer skull

ram skull

Walking near my home in East Sussex often throws up lovely
 surprises. Skulls are a rarity, however I was lucky to find a deer
skull last weekend. I literally thought of it and there it was ! I
really DID get a surprise! The rams head was from a previous
'hunting' expedition. The nest and egg has triggered a point of
 departure from the figurative within my work to
 circles and spheres.
Circles within the forms and the circle of life.

Figurative Etching
experimental: adhesive tape,
soaking paper in brown inks
pins as objects within the image












Figurative Monoprint
experimental: spilling chemicals
over the plate

egg + nest

 

Water Colours - Inspired by the Water Colour Exhibition at the Tate Britain

I have been to this exhibition twice as it is so extensive. The different colour rooms seemed to overwhelm in some cases, for example the green room ! I prefer the walls to be less over powering and allow the art works animate the space. Also the middle room displaying the painting palettes of artists such as Turner and Queen Victoria seemed misplaced somehow. It distracted from the continuity. I guess it is catering for a audience which is across the board and from this point of view I can understand why the curator incorporated it.
This exhibition covered early British water colour to it's  contemporary uses and exploration of the medium.
Anish Kapoor uses the medium in a very experimental approach. He mixes gouache with earth and creates an intense red and black void. This work was stunningly strong and sexual -  this work demands attention. It is interesting how Kapoor has pushed the boundaries in his use of watercolour allowing it to be more sculptural. http://www.anishkapoor.com/

I was inspired enough to dig out my water colours and re-acquaint myself with a technique I always used in the past as a form of relaxation. Now I will use it to draw and plan my work.

Christiane Baumgartner

 Attending the Private View at Alan Christia Gallery was an interesting experience. I could see first hand the reaction to the work and also the sales zipping through the tills ! I got to meet Antony Gormley and Alan Christia as a bonus.
The work itself had an incredibly powerful sense of quiet. I could imagine the hours spent cutting wood in contemplation - a monumental task. Most of the imagery is taken from banal locations such as tree lined avenues or jet streams. Others signal power and dominance such as the enormous imagery of planes. More recently Baumgartner has decided to use television imagery as her starting point. Photographing the images directly from the television gives her work a new layer of 'interference' - the camera picks up the lines, she in turn, picks them up in her transcription.
These images appear more 'busy' and active as a result - not quite as peaceful as the images prior, however it feels like a new journey for the artist. What I particularly thought was amusing was when the artist was asked what happens when she makes a mistake. She either finds the bit of wood and glues it back into the block or she paints it back in. Refreshing that she could be so honest I thought. Would anyone want to 'start again'  - I think not !
Whatever you do  - go and see for yourself. Fantastic show.
http://www.alancristea.com/artist-Christiane-Baumgartner