Pages

Sunday 26 March 2017

Unexpectedly wonderful.......

Blossom at Swiss Cottage Library, 

20170325_101808

EU hat at the March for Europe

20170325_122537

Eye-dazzling euphorbia

20170325_120022

Crystalline glaze ceramics by Matt Horne

20170323_133645

Sunset on the River Thames

20170323_170319

School of gentle protest by the Craftivist Collective

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2893/33436762611_bd9c04b57f.jpg

Wonderful British watercolour landscapes at the British Museum, free , on until 27th August. Rewards quiet contemplation.

Friday 17 March 2017

Journal quilts 2017, January to March, completed

I did not take part in last year’s journal challenge organised by the Contemporary Quilt Group, mostly down to problems with my Yahoo account. These problems’ to be partially resolved, so I signed up for this year’s challenge.  This year, the size is 11” square, with a theme to be decided by each participant.  On the last date of signing up, there were 170 participants for 2017.

My theme is “Microscopic” and I will be attempting to work in 4 series with 3 quilts on each theme.

The first is “Plankton” as I already had some shapes in mind from previous work and from current sketchbook activities. The plan is to start with a shoal of plankton ( is that the correct term?), then focus on an individual plankton (I think plankton is both a singular and a plural noun) and then show a close-up detail of the single plankton. the additional challenge I have set myself is to buy no new materials, and to use my hand-dyed cloth wherever possible.

January

Planning

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2838/33033963810_6fc0be4f88.jpg

Deconstruction-printed cloth, then masks and stencils applied and overlaid with oil paint sticks.

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3905/32574226914_80995b72e6.jpg

Machine-quilting

20170314_130828

20170314_130812

Back

20170314_132919

Overlapping stencil and mask

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/33362447951_200941acfe.jpg

Finished. I really enjoy random textile processes, and interpreting these when I use them in a final piece. In this one, I like how the circular blobs suggest the plastic waste polluting our oceans, affecting even the smallest life forms.

Plankton

February

Appliqué cut with scissors and scalpel

20170314_120010

Experimenting with foiling ( the foil a generous gift from Helen Howes)

20170314_120155

Choosing the orientation of the appliqué - first time using Steam-a-Seam 2- I’m impressed - the temporary surface stickieness, makes this very easy to use.

20170314_141342

Quilting before stitching the applique

20170314_145329

Machine applique

20170314_150450 

Finished. I like how the foil dots can suggest either the light on the water or the dots of micro plastic pollution - depending on how optimistic one feels!

Plankton single

March

A magnified detail of the single plankton, machine appliqué again

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3946/33490688215_6474aabe68.jpg

More foiling

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/33490686045_b1a2133226.jpg

Finished, but pondering  whether I should go back and quilt the lower edge.  I’ll live with it for a few days then decide.

Plankton detail

On top of all of that, I went to see the exhibition by LondonQuilters on until 15th April. Very generously, there are photos of all of the quilts on their website, here. I was drawn to the works by Jane Steward, Rachel Tyndall, Vivien Kernath and Martha Crouch.  Well worth a visit.

Thursday 9 March 2017

Stunning stitches at Victoria Miro Gallery , Whitechapel

On a beautfully sunny day, I was able to get to the Victoria Miro Gallery to see the work of Do Ho Suh.  Stitched, gauzy cloth in glowing colours, replicating some of the places where he has lived. On until 18th March, well worth a visit.  Not so sure about the exhibits at the next door Parasol Unit, where the stitch is poorly-executed and looks like an afterthought.

20170309_142615

20170309_142544

20170309_142459

20170309_142641

20170309_142735

20170309_142440

20170309_142343

And on the way home,more colour to make the heart sing.

20170309_161256

Monday 6 March 2017

Our drawing tutor is back

Our inspiring tutor, Abigail Downer ha been absent for a few weeks.  Her cover teachers have been good, but not as stimulating ( for me anyway).  A complex still-life this week, with reflections, shapes, tones, 

WP_20170302_12_46_46_Pro

rendered in charcoal

WP_20170302_12_46_28_Pro

We are supposed to be working further in to this next week, inspired by the collage and layering of Rauschenberg. I’m not sure where that will take me, but let’s see.