Working in Abstract

I have been aiming to work more toward the abstract .  To help me along

the way I have joined an Abstract Challenge group

and this months challenge following the 

storms in the U.S.A  is 'Sandy'.

This is an exercise in Sketch book design so I don't have 

to complete a textile mixed media piece.

So this is the start of my first piece.  Dark stormy skies in soft pastels with 

isobars based on a manipulated copy of my thumb print.  I have also decided to

include text within each piece.  Thinking about the devastation that 

a storm such a Sandy would bring made me think about all the people 

that are important in my life.  So the text is a stamp of 

'How do I love thee, let me count the ways'

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Things To Come

Posting here has been a bit haphazard lately due to computer problems.

I have been working on the next body of work for the exhibition next May

so here is a sneaky peek of things to come!

Lots more work to be done on these before they are finished

 but they are coming along nicely.

Collaboration....

A very mixed ability group I am part of decided to make a 

small wall hanging, with each person making one strip 4" x 18"

Round Robin style.  So we all chose our fabrics and made the 

first strip before sending our fabrics on to the next person.

So here is my finished pieces.  All the girls did a lovely job on their strips

despite a few having some collywobbles to start with.  

Olympic Panel

As part of the Cultural Olympic celebrations 

a group of 77 artists from the Open Studios 

scheme, myself included collaborated in making a panel

celebrating the Olympics and Paralympics.

All the artworks measure 20 cm square and 

are created using various mediums. 

 Paint, ceramic, glass, textiles, metal,perspex and wood

all feature withing the panel.

 The panel will be on show in the Balcony Bar

of the Corn Exchange in Newbury until the 15th Sept.

It's well worth a look.

A Little Bit Of Crochet

During the day I have been very busy working on

 my next body of work to be exhibited next year.

Come the evening time I've been creating this piece of loveliness,

a blanket make out of crocheted hexagons...very easy to do .

There's a long way to go yet to make it into a usable blanket but I'm

looking forward to working on it through the winter when it will keep my 

knees warm as I'm working on it!

Off The Beaten Track

As we are hosting the Olympic Games this year

there have  been a number of Cultural Olympiad Events 

occurring up and down the country.

For us, the big one is was the Fire Garden at one of our most

important heritage sights, Stonehenge.

We were greeted by the sight of huge spheres lit up, massive fire candles 

and chaps manipulating fire, all amongst the massive stones which are normally 

roped off and can only be viewed from a distance.  

The atmosphere was amazing!

 One of the many fire candles, each one had a different

design on it along with writing in 

different languages.

 Fire balls, these could be clearly seen from the road

and were an impressive sight for those driving past!

The automatons made amazing shadows on the stones.

 

Below, some of the lanterns that were hanging amongst the stones.

These had all been made out of t-shirts!!

 

 One of the chaps 'playing with fire'

This had to be one of the best ways to spend a cold damp English Summer Evening,

with all that fire around we we're never going to be cold!!!

A Bouquet of Loveliness

I have spent a lovely day crafting with paper, not something 

I tend to do very often.....

The result of my efforts is a beautiful bouquet of loveliness...

Each one will be given as a gift at some point over the next few months...