Mixed Media Workshops in Rye

Blast from the past!

Hello and welcome to my revised Blog.
Its been quite some time now since Ive blogged and quite a lot has changed for me during that time.
I'm still a practising Artist, and I live in lovely Rye on the South coast of England with my son Indigo.
I paint mainly and run workshops from my home studio.

Heres my latest commission.

Tinker Tailor - recycled design

Fresh from their debut in Selfridges “Bright Young Things' exhibition, where they re-created their studio space in the window, is design duo Tinker Tailor AKA Katy Gray Rosewarne and Adam Towner.

Now here is a couple after my own heart, as they too specialize in recyling and the re-working of old materials. From a discarded camera to a derelict building, these two can create exciting new products and spaces from virtually anything.

Here are two of their latest designs, The Handi light, and Vinyl Cake Stand.

Finally someone who can make good use of those old records.

Also take a look at their latest Interior project '£500 house.' They set themselves a budget of just £500 to create a stylish interior for this building...now thats creative recycling. More pictures on their site.

Tinker Tailors range of products lights and soft furnishings are available at The Dead dolls club London, which also houses creative studios, or via their website at www.thedeaddollsclub.com

Artist Interior on Boboho

New home featured on Boboho.

After a period of being unable to continue blogging, due to other commitments, I am now back with a new post and aim to update at least every 2-4 weeks, time allowing.

Quirky Dolly Stopper

Some time ago now, we visited the home of sculptor Zoe Rubens, who’s work I featured here in a previous post. She is such a great character and has wonderful and unique sculpture and printmaking.

We did a photo shoot of Zoe’s lovely home, which can now be seen on our Interiors site at boboho.com.

Here is a taster of what is to come.

Living Room with Chandelier 

Window Hangings

Sculpture by Zoe Rubens

Sculpture by Zoe Rubens

Read more about Zoe and see the 360 panoramic images of her House on boboho.com

Brigthon Art Fair

Finally getting back to a normal routine after my move to the UK. After 5 months, have found suitable child care at a Steiner school for my son Indigo, so should have a little more time now to do more regular updates.

Last week was Brighton Art Fair and I went along to check it out as a possible venue to exhibit my own painting next year. I was really impressed with the standard of the exhibitors and a few stood out from the crowd.

One of those was Steve McPherson, a multi talented Artist who was exhibiting his Artworks ‘Marine Plastic”

Steve has collected objects from beaches around the Kent coast for 15yrs, which he collates by type and colour. Some of these then make their way into his unique and very attractive assemblages.

Some are grouped by type such as these tags. Others, a mixture of interesting beach finds.

This was one of my favourites, small pieces of Dymo labels with intriguing messages in crinkled sea washed plastic, probably washed up from many vessels

I was blown away by Steve’s work, of course there are other Artists working with toys and plastics but not in the same way, or with such attention to detail, his work really stands out.

See more Marine Plastics and Steve’s other work here, including photography, 2D and 3D Artworks and Book works. He also has a great blog, which includes a feature in the Brighton and Hove magazine, Latest7.

Multi Talented Artist, Benthe Hoyer Hansen

I first had the pleasure of meeting Benthe a couple of years ago when I was invited to look around her beautiful period apartment.

She was at this time getting ready to finish her ‘kunst akademi' degree in Sculpture. What struck me was how creative she is, as everywhere I looked there was evidence of Artistic endeavours, from ceramics to paintings, mixed media sculptures and handmade paper lamps. The pale backdrop and period details of her amazing apartment show off the work to its best advantage and made me feel very inspired.

During a recent meeting I was delighted to discover that Benthe has also turned her hand to knitting and I’m now pleased to show you her gorgeous knitwear collection from her own designs. She only uses the best quality wool and silk and has many styles and colours to choose from. Items can be bought from her site www.artdress.dk

She also takes orders if your size is unavailable in the style or colours that you like. Prices start at an incredible 700 Danish kroner, which is approx. £80 English money and $140 American dollars, less for a child’s dress.

All her items are completely knitted by hand and are a beautiful quality. She will ship over seas; mail her on benthe@mail.dk for postal charges.

Benthe has now opened a gallery in her Atelier where she shows her own artwork alongside that of her husband Jens, also an accomplished painter, and also guest Artists.

She continues to develop her art and design in many disciplines, not allowing her self to be restricted to any one medium.

She says: “Creativity is a big part of my life and it has always been so, but it is only in these later years that I’ve been able to pursue my art full time and finish my academy education.”

“I’ve never been capable of choosing a discipline or material so I multi task in all forms of expression including painting, knitting, sculpture and ceramics, working with, plastics, clay, fabric, yarn, paint and paper. Of late I’ve begun working also with video and sound.”

“For me, the world is full of possibilities but I don’t know the ‘art’ of limiting myself, luckily”.

Benthe’s Ateleir is at: www.galleri13b.dk for exhibition dates and forth coming events.

Birds and Flowers

The sun is shining today, a welcome change from the dark Danish winter, and I’ve been thinking about flowers and birds.

In fact, I made some as brooches, from vintage newspaper and magazines, then decorated them with ephemera and vintage haberdashery.

There is also a couple of bowls.

Redesigned and reinvented

The following are lamps I’ve made using previously loved materials. The first was a satin peach coloured Danish lamp from the 40s or 50s. I stripped it completely down and reinvented it.

The see through panels look a bit like net but they are in fact ‘scrim”, a tough material used to clean printmaking plates. I like the contrast between the vintage fabrics and the illustrations and photographic additions, think I might develop this idea further in other works.

I have a small collection of previously loved toys which I’ve rescued over the years, some of which I’m using now in smaller works. The next two lamps have been developed from this collection. The shades are completely handstiched to the point of repetitive strain injury on my thumb! but entirely worth it!

I love the yellow pony, bought on a trip to my favourite town Brighton. I’m thinking of adding a knitted yellow fringe to this one, must scour some charity shops for second hand wool.

The shade for both lamps was made from an old Canadian quilt, the colours are just beautiful and the patterns have a wonderful naivety about them.

These lantern lights used to hang in my sons room when he was little! He’s now 23!

I’ve customised and adapted them using ephemera, French sugar papers, and serviettes. The lights are not as bright now but very atmospheric, which I like. They really took ages to do!

I’ll be continuing this week with my photography of the dolls house and will post later this week. Until then, please take a look at the blog, Hens Teeth, discovered recently with the realisation that it is written by and old friend of mine. http://www.hensteethart.blogspot.com/

She makes the most beautiful things from old scraps of vintage everything and stitches them with skill and love. She also has a link to her Etsy shop for all purchases.