Day Two: Comares

We visited the village of Comares today and travelled along a winding dirt track to get there. As we drove along we stumbled across this ruin of a farmhouse: 

It was the perfect spot for a mark-making explore!

I used some of the ideas from the trip last year...taking the colours that were around (and that I'd seen the day before) and translated those into the darker interiors of the ruin. So considering composition I looked at this crumbling roof:

and explored colour, line and texture:

Here is another abstracted pattern taking in the shape and colour of the prickly pears and weed like flowers growing amidst the ruin, it's looking a little angie lewin!:

Then we travelled on to the village. Stopping for lunch at this beautiful hillside, just look at that blue!:

There was plenty to photograph and compose along the way:

I have found that my photographs have improved since going on these drawing trips. They have enabled my eyes to see better, select better and 'draw' better with the camera....

We then stopped and spent some time drawing the rooftops. I continued exploring line:

But felt this one to work better, the suggestion of shape over specified line makes it a much stronger image and exploration:

I explored colour a bit more:

 And different media when we got back to the house, here is a mixed composition of conte crayon, pen and watercolour:

In tutorial we explored ideas behind creating form. Can you find shapes and 3D forms in your drawings? Is this almost a reverse type of layering? Abstracting shapes and forms to inform further alterations, through scale, stitch and other media? This really got me thinking about what I want to develop over this next year...

Drawing in Spain: Round 2!

It was my second time Drawing In Spain this summer and it was just as good as my first! Having been to Gdansk at the beginning of the summer too, this felt like the perfect close.

Visiting familiar places but with a heightened appreciation for drawing, here begins my journey... Day 1: Cutar

Settling into the village, we had a walk round to find some things to draw. I had a few unsuccessful drawings but started finding my way as I got to this one:

I'm not a huge fan of it, but there are some interesting things going on. The heavy line vs painterly abstraction and the attention to the hillside landscape. I started to explore this a bit more:

The pattern and colour that is coming out here is interesting. The changing combinations of large, small, dark and light, and circles, again, are playing a key part. 

At our tutorial in the evening we talked about making 'useful drawing' over 'picture making'. I think this is exactly what I've been battling with. Having produced a lot of drawings over the summer but not really knowing what to 'do' with them, the idea of really thinking about how to use what you are going to translate, really opens up your ability to create work. 

I took this on and started really thinking about what I wanted to get out of this last year at uni...What is it that I am enjoying drawing? What are my 'pictures' telling me? This was the perfect time to be away and being objective about my work - yippeee, so glad I'm here! 

Is there a problem with pattern?

During my travels this summer I've tried to keep a sketchbook with me. Whilst away in France I had the view of the Beaujolais Hills and started abstracting pattern and line:

The houses sprawling across the valley

and a compositional train journey, capturing elements of the landscape as I passed through

Flattening the landscape seemed to come naturally, absorbing what was in front of me and translating this into line. It feels very graphical, which has its own quality, yet feels removed from what I might want to achieve in 3-dimensional form. Time for experiments, when I get back in the workshops and studio, but for the time being I am enjoying, paper, line and pen.

The Dinner Party (from designing to install)

I have neglected my updates on here of late, but with sell out performances of The Dinner Party this weekend I thought it right to re-establish contact and chart the design and install of the piece. 

After meeting with Ella and Stuart to discuss ideas, I was given a set of objects that had been collected through research dinners and donations. This was a rather odd selection ranging from brass ornaments to cookie cutters (?!) but it was from this collection that I had to consider the centrepiece for the 4 metre long table. 

The location for the piece was at George House B&B and the collection of objects consisted of: 

brass ornaments

fabric t-light holders

faux-flower vase

cookie-cutters

plastic water bottles

stacked playing cards

and fresh gladioli

My initial thoughts were that I wanted to include * everything * that had been donated; recycling and reusing as much as possible, from drying out the flower heads to cutting up plastic bottles. Resourcefulness was going to be key to this project as there was a very small budget to pay for materials. I really enjoyed the challenge though, and finally had some use for all those things I have held on to over the years! 

So, I began drawing out some ideas: 

I pressed the gladioli: 

And on the minimal budget took a trip to the 99p store where I found a bumper pack of doilies...

these got a new lick of paint!

The bottles got cut up and doilies attached. 

I then secured a cork in the neck of each bottle so that they could stand on their head. This also provided an elevation for placing an LED t-light, which made them look pretty smart.

 There was also a set of pencils donated, so I cut these up and gave them a painted tip. 

Leaving them to dry on top of some corks, I really liked the look of this set up, so whilst I was waiting I had a brief sketch whilst playing around with some new ink nibs - I'm quite pleased with the result:

Dance4 had requested that the audience members would have something to take away at the end/part of the performance. With this in mind I created a decorative envelope that included a postcard (with inscription), flower pressing, pencil, and interactive doilie! The idea here being that the audience could write down some thoughts on the doilie and leave it with the piece, creating an ever expanding centrepiece that becomes a growing 'interactive' conversation.

I collected all the re-purposed objects for install:

The card stack has been dis-assembled and made in place holders; the cookie cutters fashioned into a t-light holder and the flower pressings left to be scattered across the length of the table.

Then it was time for the install -  it looked great!

initial layout

a scattering of the dried petals

the take-away keepsakes in their place holders

So there you have it - an opulent looking table setting, all ready for a great evening's performance! 

Overall, this has been a really interesting project for me....To be working collaboratively on a project that is out of my comfort zone; to be reacting to a collection of objects and repurposing materials anew, whilst creating an outcome on such a small budget - it has been just the challenge I've needed to get my head into gear for UNI YEAR 3! 

I even had a photo taken for the Derbyshire Times so all in all a brilliant opportunity!

There are hopes for the Dinner Party to become a travelling performance so fingers crossed and watch this space!

Dare to make and dance?

I was sent this email a few weeks ago: 

---- Fwd: Looking for artist/maker ----

Dance4 are going to be working with Ella Hurman to develop her piece based on the 7 deadly sins.  

As part of the piece we are inviting people in advance to send an item that they might use as a table centre (some very odd ideas!). The work is going to be centered around a dinning table. The idea being that all the objects are then kept and made into a table sculpture for the shows. 

Do you know any artists/makers who might be interested on working on this? The concept will simply be to create something 'spectacular' out of what's given… 

I got in touch, had a chat about the work and am currently in the process of making the centrepiece! The performance will preview at Wirksworth Festival 6th and 8th September! See details below for booking a place!

The Dinner Party
Places are limited. Call 0115 941 0773 or www.dance4.co.uk to book your places.

Friday 6 September, 7pm & Sunday 8 September, 1pm
George House, Coldwell Street, Wirksworth, DE4 4FB
Tickets £25 (includes three course dinner, and wine)
Places are limited. Call 0115 941 0773 or www.dance4.co.uk to book your places.

Duration: 90+ minutes

Suitable for 18+

Produced by Dance4. Co-commissioned by Dance4 and Wirksworth Festival

Urbansketchers

Some exciting developments in terms of online presence today, I found out I've been featured on the UrbanSketchers banner on their webpage! 

Timing could not have been more perfect as it's about a year ago that I became aware of their existence.   Really great news after a difficult few weeks. Lets keep that drawing, rolling!

Drawing to a Close

Our family will be saying goodbye to a very important house this summer, so as a way of remembering, I have spent some time drawing it. This is such a wonderful way to connect with a space and I had not fully realised the importance and power that this process can give you.