FROM NEW DESIGNERS TO FUNKY AARDVARK TEXTILE EXHIBITION

"Faded Lilies"

Sorry it's been so long since I last blogged but work for my Final Show and getting ready to go to New Designers just went crazy.   FINALLY  I have completed my degree and my graduation is on Friday.  Looking forward to seeing all my uni friends and proud to graduate.

It has been a very busy few months.  New Designers was brilliant.  It has given me lots of leads and contacts to follow up and given me the confidence to push myself to follow my dream of becoming a designer artist/maker.

One of the contacts I made was with  Bex Raven at FUNKY AARDVARK a gallery in Chester.  They are having a textile exhibition during August and I shall be exhibiting some of my work there.  Very excited.

I have been playing around with some images that explore the use of appliqué for a project I am working on.  The image above is part of this collection from a series of work that I have called "Reflections" based on some airmail letters that my mother sent to my father in India while he was serving in the RAF during the Second World War.

"LETTERS OF LOVE"

"DARLING NORMAN"

"WHY HAVEN'T YOU WRITTEN!"

I have used paper, fabric and stitch to knit together different images and thoughts that I have about these letters.

I have also been working on my new website and as soon as it is live I will connect it to my blog!

Crafts Council Hothouse Taster Day Workshop

Today has been a long but interesting day at one of the Craft Council Hothouse Taster Days.  There were several guest speakers including Rachel Kelly of Interactive Wallpaper, Jane Dzsiesiewski Jewellery Designer both giving their personal view of working in creative craft and Ruth Raban of Creative Lancashire and Angela Mann of Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair.

It was extremely useful for networking and talking to other graduates and creatives.   I will definitely go on more of there courses.

Another speaker was Alison Branigan who has written books on "Business for Creatives" who gave a seven step guide to starting up in business.   I have several leads and information to follow up from today.

IT's ALL IN THE DETAIL

PLATE

Finally sent my images to Foto Ceramics a digital ceramic transfer company.  Luckily spoke to a really helpful man who advised me about  the plates.   The plates I have bought (cheap and cheerful) may not give the best results so I have been trying to source an alternative.   He suggested speaking (to another very nice man) Jeff from Pottery4-U who was very knowledgable about the firing process.  Want to get this right will be disappointed if they don't have the right finish.

ON-GOING WORK - LISTS AND MORE LISTS

Detail from Design

This week I have to get back to the work.  I have a lot to do to either finish designs, alter them and create a few more.

MY LIST OF THINGS TO DO IS GETTING BIGGER BY THE DAY.

LIST


First there is the work to finish and start.

I have four images I need to do for my larger stands.

Source bolts.

Send blog to print.

Pull together the press pack.

File   -paper work.

Send off images for Digital Ceramics for plates.


NEED TO GET ON!



Get stands to Joiner to make me the bases.

PRESS PACK BLUES

PAGE FROM PORTFOLIO

Finally pulling together all the images for my press pack and portfolio  -  I find this not an easy task but I've just got to push myself in these last few weeks.

Time seems to be passing so quickly towards the end and final show and there is so much to do before then!

I'm just blogging a couple of more pages then I need to send my blog off to print!

It just seems too many lose ends at the moment!

 NOT THAT I'M PANICKING!

PERSPEX FREE-STANDING UNITS

For the past few weeks now I have been working on a design for a  free-standing perspex stand to hold my art work.  I have found a local company that makes stands for shops etc., and they have been very helpful.    I wanted three stands 4 ft high (l ft wide) and two at 6ft high (l ft wide)  but they would not stand upright by simply placing them in a wooden stand as I had hoped.    To get round this problem I had to have a T-junction shape (as above  - without wooden base).  Once the pieces are completed I will get the joiner to complete the bases.

Peron Plastics

I need to source suitable bolts for these and size the images correctly.  Need to do more work on this.

Denis Whiteside at Neoartists

Denis Whiteside at Neoartists

Denis Whiteside is an artist working at Neoartists.  He very kindly agreed to answer a few questions for my research file about being a creative working from a studio.  He is an artist who does not like to be categorised.  He works in all media but currently, printmaking is his most frequently used medium.   

Work by Denis Whiteside

Work by Denis Whiteside

Neoartists have a great set-up in Bolton.  The Gallery is excellent.  They have a website, the print room has good resources and they are very helpful.  They have the neo:art prize which has an excellent reputation and a prize of a thousand pounds.  Below is a picture of Loraine Morley's work who was a finalist in 2012.

52 Bowls of the Year by Loraine Morley (Re-cycled materials)