The Garden Photos III

A busy family week and in between visitors and travelling, I have been pressing on with the garden photos and thinking about using the images. I am enjoying grabbing the camera and getting a few shots as the flowers appear and its good to do something positive when I just don't have enough time to spend in the studio.

I like the fact that flowers are so unfashionable in the artworld, naff, twee, kitsch and all that stuff. Sometimes, you get sick of 'the concept' and sometimes you just want to see what's going on under your nose and not have to explain the 'outcomes' and intellectualise everything.

I'm not in a bad mood - honestly.

The Garden Photos II

I have been getting some quite good results with the garden photos and if it ever stops raining might get out to take some more. I am experimenting with layering and building the image from the base photo.

The Garden Photos

Spent the evening looking at more of the garden photos that I have collected over the last few weeks and playing with them digitally to consider as many options as possible. I am not a photographer but I do find it really useful as a 'sketchbook' tool and love what you can achieve with digital imagery. I like the fact that you can explore ideas and often see so much more in the dull photo you started with. Sometimes it is just a dull photo - I do have limitations! My main aim is to consider ideas for printmaking with the garden images.

RSI stops play

Its been a wierd summer thus far. I've been struggling with painting on a stop/start basis and trying to carve time out in the studio when I can. To add to the interruptions of life, my wrists have succumbed to repetitive strain injury making computer-use a pain - literally that is.

So it is is through gritted teeth...

I am back with the flowers, the garden is summer-full and is such a rich source of colour and form. Photographing, manipulating and researching other media.

That's what I'm up to right now - less time online and more thinking about work but hey that might be good for the soul and output!

Playing Around

It's been a more productive week and I have lots of bits drying tonight. Just been playing around and getting back into work mode and thinking my way through a few ideas. Finished this pot made from garden magazine pages. Kind of daft but seemed a shame to throw these high definition pages into the recycling bin.

Think I will play with the image digitally and see if I can have some more fun with it.

Regional Print Centre - Print Out

Private View last night for the Print Out Exhibition at The Regional Print Centre, Wrexham. It was great to see the work of all the artists showing. Although I have to declare an interest - I began the Professional Printmakers' programme last year but had to put it on hold due to 'stuff' beyond my control.

The six artists had produced mature and innovative work - each piece held its own place individually with no weak links and some nice sculptural work from Frances Carlile. It is well worth a visit if you are in the area. Ends 14th July.

It was also good to catch up with the artists and chat a bit about how the year had gone. I am hovering over what to do about continuing with the programme. The standard of the show and the relaxed pleasure of the artists was evidence enough that this would be time well spent and an opportunity not to be missed.

Kinetic Sculpture

Came across this amazing kinetic sculpture through a Twitter contact. It's magical.

I will try and find out who the artist is.

Work in Progress

Eventually got into the studio late today. I have some building work about to start on the house and that needed some preparation but the fog began to clear this evening and I've been working on some ideas for prints (one shown here).

I was interested to see an item in the newspaper today about David Hockney using digital imagery for his new work and particularly his iPhone to 'paint' images. It is something I have become increasingly fascinated with, in preparing images for the website or blog. "The Computer is a terrific medium..." said Hockney and I have to agree. It is becoming an increasingly important tool for my work. The ability to keep pushing the boundaries of an image and also to retrieve the original when it goes horribly wrong is brilliant and it often gives me the courage to try something new and different.

Hockney says he messages his iPhone paintings of flowers to friends.