TELLING TALES

Three Little Pigs

2012-03-03T17:02:00.002Z

I've been thinking about fairytales recently, and about the dark side that most of them have - or originally had before Disney etc got their hands on them.

Anyway, this new advert for The Guardian is a fantastic example of this, translated into a contemporary context.

Short, sweet and scruffy.

2012-02-29T22:46:00.001Z

The title perhaps describes myself, but actually refers to these animations I've been making!

These are quick little things, done alongside my illustration / 3D work.

Country Fox? City Fox?

2012-02-29T22:13:00.003Z

Lately, I'm working on some illustrations based on a narrative which emerged around the fox mask I created. Although I want to work on some more full-head animal masks soon, and possibly some more bits and pieces of the same nature (sculptural things rather than masks, but using the same technique), I'm happy for the moment to focus on telling his tale.

Maurice is a dapper country gent, living in a small village in the hills. When a harsh Winter falls, he begins to feel that Spring isn't coming, and leaves in search of a better life in the city. Upon arrival, he's overwhelmed by the harsh reality of city life and soon realises he's out of place here, causing him to return to his rural home, finding that a glorious Spring has arrived and the hills have burst into bloom. Finally, he feels happy and at home in his surroundings.

I'm not using much text in the story, maybe key 'mood' words but no descriptive sentences, as I feel this will push me to create stronger images with clearer visual narratives.

I'm also dabbling in very low-tech animation, as this is something I've tried before but always pushed aside as this isn't my background. However, I think there is some potential in this and may start to produce some better quality animation at a later date.

Apologies for the bad quality scans and photos!

Panic at the Station

2012-02-15T12:36:00.000Z

An accidental animation, created when taking photos to use in collage illustrations.

Mr Fox is getting frustrated, why is his train so late?!

Perseverance

2012-02-09T23:45:00.000Z

I started working on an owl puppet last week, which will become part of some of my illustrative work as well as the 'Susie and the Owl' show I'm working on as part of Zoo Case Theatre (follow the link to keep up with us on Facebook! We also tweet @zoocasetheatre, occasionally!)

Making the head was straightforward, but for some reason the body has been a struggle - most likely because I've never made a moving owl before! I was trying to make the body and wings from paper mache like the head, but it just dragged on and on and didn't feel right, so I decided I needed to get away from it for a little while.

So I got out of my space and decided to do something large scale with the fox head, to try and loosen me up a bit. The way I work is usually really free and intuitive, which I think is why trying to figure out this puppet had been draining the life out of me.

This was a nice afternoon task, and I'm going to use a better quality photo than this to collage into other illustrations.

The blobs on the wall are left over from Ella Kate Harrison's degree show. I love her work, and you can check it out here.

So, after a nice distraction period, I went back to thinking about the owl and decided I needed to get back into textiles, with a nice stuffed, podgy body. Here he is in progress...

I know it looks really weird at the moment, but it will hopefully be much better when the wings are added! I've run rods through the centre of his body so he'll have a turning head.

Hoping to finish this guy by Weds next week at the latest, so we can rehearse and I can get stuck in with collage images again!

New stuff!

2012-02-04T22:04:00.001Z

I've appliqued a few cosy 'Love Birds' scarves this weekend, perfect Valentine's gifts! They're available here on my Folksy store: http://folksy.com/items/2949126-Valentine-s-Special-Love-Birds-Hand-Embroidered-Fleecey-Scarf-Yellow-

And here's what my studio space looked like for my January assessment...

I hope to get the triptych photographed/scanned and made into one continous image, to be printed as a concertina book at some point.

I'm currently working on an owl puppet for the Susie and the Owl show with Zoo Case Theatre, but also to use in some illustrations. Here's the start of the head...

And this is one of the children from the triptych, strolling in a patchwork world...

That's all for now, thanks for reading!

'Bill the Bear-Faced Liar' available online!

2012-01-21T15:15:00.003Z

You can now buy copies of my handmade story book on my Folksy shop!

See the link for full item description:

http://www.folksy.com/items/2889114-Bill-the-Bear-Faced-Liar-ltd-edition-mini-book-paperback-version-

I'll throw in some free postcards too for anyone who buys it!

Please note there are far more than 5 copies available - this is just the Folksy maximum quantity per listing!

Foxy!

2012-01-20T21:16:00.001Z

I'd like to introduce you to my foxy new friend.

Her head is made of paper mache and she enjoys reading. She'll no doubt be appearing soon in another of my tall tales!

Zoo Case Theatre

2012-01-13T23:46:00.001Z

I've been working on a collaborative theatre project with my friend Rosa Vaughan, from Interactive Arts. Turning my silly animal poems into puppet shows! We go by the name of Zoo Case Theatre, and you can find us here:
Twitter: @zoocasetheatre
Facebook.com/zoocasetheatre

Lots of ideas flying about at the moment for our trio of tales, 'The Creature Chronicles'. We're thinking big for this one, wish us luck!

Catch us at Strummercamp this year!

Last year at Strummercamp, after performing 'Jason and the Pelican'.

This year, we're pleased to announce that the fabulous Miss Rosie Cotton will be joining us for musical mayhem!

Young explorers

2012-01-07T17:40:00.000Z

Some children from a triptych story I'm working on. I think I accidentally based the two older children on myself and Shaun!

Fox and Rabbit

2012-01-03T23:57:00.000Z

Tiger

2012-01-03T23:27:00.001Z

This was my submission for the postcard fundraising exhibition.

Just me, as a tiger, prowling the urban jungle... Yep...

It's on pins in foamboard, to give it different levels and a bit of depth.

Handstitched Hare

2011-12-31T15:34:00.000Z

This little fella is based on a sketch I did on a visit to the taxidermy collection at Manchester Museum.

He's going to be one of the many different bits which make up a triptych I'm currently working on. It involves the rabbit theatre, and a journey into the woods...

Almost forgot about this!

2011-12-05T16:34:00.001Z

I made a handkerchief with an embroidery in French knots based on a human rhinovirus, for the handkerchief exhibition organised by Sophie Herxheimer, at the London Printworks Trust.

It's hanging on the washing line there until 14th December.

See it on their blog HERE!

Progress - layering, scanning, layering....

2011-12-02T23:30:00.000Z

This scanner has done something very strange to the image, but I thought it'd be ok just for a blog update.

Now I'm off to another building with (hopefully) better scanners!

Something weird is happening with my blogger...

2011-11-26T20:23:00.001Z

People who I have recently followed / have recently followed me sometimes don't show up on my reading list / followers list, but sometimes they do!

Anyone else having this problem? I wonder if I am disappearing and reappearing from people's followers lists...

Rabbit Gymnastics - work in progress

2011-11-24T14:02:00.000Z

New work from this week. The figures are based on life drawings of contortionist Iona at Dr Sketchy's last month, hence the weird poses! I decided to give them rabbit heads and stripey, circus-style costumes, and construct a stage for them from thin plywood with velvet curtains. I like this play between the drawn and the constructed, unreal and real - it's something I'm consistently playing with in my work these days. Layering is also really important - little things like adding real tulle for the skirt on the rabbit at the front - and I'm taking this forward working with photographs of this setup, rather than adding to the real thing.

Time to get back into collage and resume my love affair with photocopying...

One more thing - Scary Panda

2011-11-23T17:01:00.001Z

The lovely Mary, of Kyaa Bakaru, bought the mask I had come to think of as 'Scary Panda'.

The panda was always intended to be cute, but oh no! Something went horribly wrong along the way and it turned out looking pretty terrifying. I never loved this panda, I'm afraid to say.

I almost didn't bring him to Thought Bubble with me. I didn't even put him on the table, because I didn't want to scare away potential customers. But Mary asked to view it after seeing 'Scary Panda' on the price list, and exclaimed that it wasn't cute, it was "adorable!" I remain unconvinced, but at least she is happy.

I was glad to see him go.

But I hope he will be very happy in his new life with a hot girl.

I'm sure that's what every neglected Scary Panda wants.

5.8x4.1 Exhibition

2011-11-23T16:41:00.001Z

Anyone around Manchester, come check out our exhibition next week! Click poster for info.

All welcome, free entry, with silent auction of anonymous (until after purchase) artworks to raise money for our degree show.

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed work, including Aya Kakeda, Alice Kettle and Nanniiebim, amongst many others - we have around 120 now!

If anyone wants to send us a postcard sized piece of work, the official deadline has passed but send it first class and we can probably still exhibit it!

Thought Bubble 2011

2011-11-21T10:37:00.001Z

I had an amazing weekend at Thought Bubble, Leeds Sequential Art Festival.

Sorry it's such a wordy blog, will crack on with some actual work after so should have plenty of images for next time!

It was incredibly helpful to properly put my work in this context and get some feedback, and it's left me feeling really positive about moving my work forward in this direction. I know there's plenty I need to work on, but I know what's really working in my illustrations, as well as what isn't, and that's pretty reassuring.

The best thing about Thought Bubble was meeting some inspiring, talented, and generally cool people... (click names to see their awesome work!)

Jennie Gyllblad - generally gorgeous illustrations, by an amazing lady who shares my love for David Mack. Check out her work with writer Corey Brotherson.
Ryan and his Ryanimals - Must be seen to be bekieved - cute and creepy, cuddly animals with bizarre human faces. He was kind enough to trade me a penguin for the turtle backpack I made.
Biz Horne - a lady who will save the world with her comics, sharing a stall with the fabulous Jordan Collver and Rik Worth.
The lovely George, creator of amazing outfits and fantastic illustrations, aka The Tragic Ugly Duckling.
Colin of Mild Peril Media, to whom I can only apologise for forgetting to come back and buy one of his awesome cityscape prints!
Mary of Kyaa Bakaru, who inexplicably fell in love with my scary panda mask, which I was so glad to have taken off my hands for a bargain price! Follow their blog and help them take over the world...
Rufus Dayglo, of Tank Girl. An incredibly talented artist and generally cool guy, whose compliments about my work were pretty much the glace cherry on top of the tasty cake that was Thought Bubble.
Jacqueline, Mark and Andrew of Ostragoth Publishing, whose book Boys Don't Cry was one of my favourites last year. Comics that give beautiful illustrations room to breathe. Thanks to these guys for giving me so much advice and encouragement, and general chit-chat. Probably the icing, which we all know is essential if you want the cherries to stick on.

And finally, our lovely con neighbours:

The Lou Scannon trio, with their genre straddling and witty banter (and backflips...?)
Mister Hope and Rachel, thanks for not putting us in detention for elastic band flinging.
Jade, whose colour palette I adore, and Eve, aka Mimi, who told me an amazing dog and duck related story which will haunt me forever..

And massive super thanks to Curis of Ninjabread for sharing the stall (I could not afford to do this without you!), driving us about and having a cracking sense of humour.

Super duper thanks to Shaun Hartley, who is pretty much a superhero as far as I'm concerned. Without him, I would not be heading in the direction of comics, and my stall would have been unmanned on numerous occasions whilst I was off on various 'networking' jaunts! He's so supportive, and just keeps me going.

Thanks to everyone who bought my book (including Jeff Lemire, wooop!) and various bits and bobs! Hope to get some up for sale on Folksy soon...

New book! 'Bill the Bear-Faced Liar'

2011-11-01T21:54:00.000Z

Today I finished the prototype of my new (comic?) book, Bill the Bear-Faced Liar, so should hopefully have some copies ready for my stall at Thought Bubble Festival! After having the printing done commercially, I will hand assemble the folding books and finish with handmade fabric covers.

I also hope to have my Folksy (like Etsy, but British!) shop up and running soon, but will keep you updated.

Here's a sneak preview of one of the panels from the new book. It's a slightly silly, very playful poem, quite child-like, but not quite for children.. I've experimented throughout the story with drawing, collage and handstitch, to create a very textural tale which will hopefully nurture your inner child!

Action for ASD workshop

2011-10-14T22:37:00.000+01:00

Tonight was my fifth in a series of weekly workshops at Horse and Bamboo with a group from Action for ASD.

As well as playing with clay and plasticine, some of the children made some animations. This was a fun and rewarding session, I'm really enjoying working with this group!

Bear face

2011-10-03T14:13:00.000+01:00

Hand-stiched bear character I've just finished. Rawr!

2011-09-25T14:44:00.001+01:00

I now have a Facebook page you can 'Like'! Find it at http://www.facebook.com/laniirvingart

Skeleton band

2011-09-17T16:59:00.001+01:00

Just finished my band of skeletons - inspired by Jason Webley's song 'Dance While the Sky Crashes Down.'

Magical animals

2011-09-17T14:02:00.000+01:00

2011-09-17T13:00:00.000+01:00

2011-07-25T22:00:00.000+01:00

Today I made felt superhero finger puppets. Need to finish a few things tomorrow, including stitching stars on Wonder Woman's skirt.

Also thought I'd upload pictures from London Film and Comic Con earlier this month - the Delorean, the Batmobile (including Bat Tax Disk!), and me being very green in front of a grey wall.

You wait 2 months for a blog post, then 2 come along at once!

2011-07-25T03:10:00.000+01:00

Thankfully I've been really in the mood for drawing lately, hence the quick succession of posts!

This is developed from a sketch I did at Dr Sketchy's at Victoria Baths in April. It was a really interesting night and, although I always have life drawing tantrums at the time ("I CAN'T DRAW! WHY DO I BOTHER??!"), when I come back to the drawings there's usually at least something worth going back to.

Again, it's a rather poor quality image so the colour subtleties are completely lost, but it gives the gist of drawing at least!

"Don't act like you don't know the tune..."

2011-07-24T23:38:00.000+01:00

So, it's been a while since I posted anything on here...

I've recently returned from an amazing week in Scotland, the forests and waters of Argyll have refreshed and inspired me. I'm also currently working as part of the BEAT:TENT:HOOKcommunity arts project, which is becoming pretty exciting! (Follow link for more info)

Last night I finally managed to do some work for an idea that's been kicking around in my brain for ages. These are some preliminary sketches for a band of skeletons, inspired by lines from Jason Webley's 'Dance While The Sky Crashes Down' -

Our band of skeletons are playing; don't act like you don't know the tune!"

Apologies for poor photo quality!

Once I've worked out a composition and have the whole band together, I want to transfer the gang onto a t-shirt with the phrase "DON'T ACT LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW THE TUNE"

Check out Jason Webley's wonderful music HERE

Mighty Harajuku

2011-05-20T23:40:00.000+01:00

Here are some sketches I did a while ago. They're all based on photographs from Shoichi Aoki's fantastic book 'Fresh Fruits' (Phaidon publishing); a treasury of mad Harajuku street fashion.

Check out http://tokyofashion.com/photos/ for more quirky Japanese fashion photographs. Be sure to check out the Mighty Harajuku campaign, aiming to offer support and strength to affected areas of Japan following the tsunami.

Susie and the Owl

2011-03-28T15:33:00.000+01:00

Some images from an idea for a children's book I'm working on.

WARNING: Contains feeble humour

2011-03-04T23:12:00.000Z

Dr Sketchy's is amazing.

I won a prize during the 'product placement' drawing game - I drew the gorgeous burlesque performer Emerald Ace advertising Tena Lady, and she nearly wet herself laughing.

I'm finally feeling that things have calmed down - Consequences was a very busy time. I will return with a more work-related post soon, as I think images of recent work are now long overdue!

My friend Rosa and I also have something very exciting up our sleeves.

Also, I have some life drawings up in a little exhibition kicking off this weekend at Valley Arts in Rossendale.

Animation test for Jason and the Pelican

2011-01-19T18:49:00.001Z

Finished product hopefully coming soon! This was a test-run for one particular scene. The patchwork at the end is used as a transition to the next scene, as the shapes appear and drop down to form part of the next image.

This is based on the narrative illustrative piece I exhibited for Consequences. It has an accompanying poem and is the story of a naughty boy who gets eaten by a pelican.

Consequences exhibtion

2011-01-04T21:22:00.000Z

I have some work in this group exhibition:

This beautiful poster was designed by Jason Edmunds - mycardboardskies.blogspot.com

A stitched parrot

2010-11-29T11:07:00.000Z

I don't really do much embroidery in the conventional sense, but here's something.

Fun with the photocopier

2010-11-25T21:31:00.000Z

I've been playing around with collage/montage lately; combining drawing, photos, bits and bobs and hopefully soon, some stitch. This is all inspired by a photograph of a beautiful derelict house I saw one year in Tarbert, which has since been destroyed, with a few imaginary elements thrown in for good measure.

I'm creating a palette of different visual elements (cutout parrots, leaves, sketched flamingoes, patchwork etc) with which I can play around and create numerous outcomes.

I'm trying to explore the fragmented nature of memory by using this house as an example. Our memory tends to fill in the gaps of things we don't fully remember, so I've been thinking about the inside of the house - of which I have no memory - and using images of exotic birds etc to hint at the possibilities of what could have been inside. Bunny and The Bull is an amazing film which explores a similar theme in a very beautiful way, using meticulously constructed sets with live action as well as stop-motion animation. It's also hilarious.

Anyway, I've found that photocopying collages does something magical to collages, flattening them beautifully.

Work and play

2010-10-23T00:15:00.000+01:00

Alter ego photographs... There are hundreds of more embarrassing ones which I won't post here.

Zoe.

Jean.

Greenstar.

Stephanie.

I've managed to disguise my love of fancy dress as WORK! Haha! Seriously, for the portraiture project, I decided to explore the idea of identity as 'performative' - we choose and act out our identity, through the clothes we wear etc - rather than identity being fixed. I think the most significant aspects of a portrait are clothing, make-up, hair, piercings etc - as we have control over these elements; we ourselves make an active decision about these aspects of our appearance, whereas, obviously, we have no choice about our faces! (Generally speaking - cosmetic surgery aside, as that's a whole separate essay!)

So the focus of my project has been to use clothes, hair etc. as signifiers of identity in portraiture, drawing only these aspects and not the actual facial features and so on. I've also been considering how factors in portraiture such as background, composition, posture and technique affect our interpretation of the subject's identity, and how I can take advantage of these factors as providers of additional information about a character.

So... the way I explored these ideas was through creating 4 alter egos, dressing up, taking photographs and then bringing this more performative work back to drawing, working from photographs...

This week

2010-10-02T17:48:00.000+01:00

I've just found out that Against Me! have cancelled their tour. I was supposed to be seeing them twice, I adore them and I'm totally gutted!

Anyway, we've started a portraiture project this week at uni. Here is a small selection of my work...

I've also found out that the university have decided to scrap my course... Not whilst I'm on it - students already on the course won't be affected - but next year there will be no new Embroidery students. They've decided to merge with Textiles and Textile Design For Fashion, to create 'Textiles in Practice' - a more generic course which will no doubt cost less money to run.

It is a sad time for this course, especially as it is the only course of its kind in the UK.

It's good to be back.

2010-09-24T22:17:00.000+01:00

First week of Second Year Embroidery. Honestly, the more time I spend in that studio, the more thrilled I am to be on the course. I love it, there's nothing I'd rather be doing. It's scary to think that I will at some point have to fly the Embroidery nest and try to make a living in the Real World.

We had a week-long cross-course project, just to get everyone warmed up and break the ice a bit. The theme was gloves. I got thinking about beekeeping gloves, and consequently, our tragic dying bees. I love bees, but they are sadly in decline in the UK. We need our bees. Help

In other news...
1) I really love that song about the tiger in The Hangover, I have been singing it all day. It reminds me of the 'Peter You Suck' song in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which has been hanging around in my brain too. I wish I could play the piano.

2) I love busting badass disco moves with my pal Rosa at punk gigs. Acid Drop 's tunes have been making me very happy since I bought their CD.

3) I hate commuting. I don't know why I haven't hated it for the past 2 years. I have developed a wonderful system of avoiding said commute. It's called 'Pretty Much Living at Shaun's House During the Week.' It makes us happy.

4) Courtney makes awesome elephant gloves.

5) Shaun bought me two bunches of roses. Red and yellow. He's a proper sweetie. I love him.

As promised...

2010-09-14T18:18:00.000+01:00

This is just silly really... I have plenty of other work to be doing!

I am going to...

2010-09-11T23:08:00.000+01:00

...crochet a silly little mouse!

And then make a silly little animation, starring the silly little crochet mouse!

I was kept awake last night by an actual real mouse scrabbling around Shaun's bedroom, rustling carrier bags and chewing holes.

So I got thinking about mice. I crocheted a couple for my lovely young cousins a while back... I thought I had a photo, but I can't find one! Anyway, watch this space!

Teenage Anarchist

2010-09-09T17:49:00.001+01:00

Inspired by the Against Me! song 'I Was A Teenage Anarchist'.

Drawings from Yesterday

2010-09-07T15:31:00.000+01:00

I had a REALLY bad day with regards to drawing. After leaving the museum with some really rather dodgy drawings of birds, I sat around in Piccadilly Gardens and spied on people... It was fun, trying to sketch people really quickly without them noticing.

These are not good drawings, but it was a fun exercise.

Donating my hair to Little Princesses

2010-09-07T14:16:00.000+01:00

I donated my hair to the Little Princess Trust - a charity which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatments. The minimum donation is 10 inches (any less than that is not useful for wig-making), and I've been growing my hair for about 2 years for this reason.

Bits and Bobs from my Summer Sketchbook

2010-09-03T00:14:00.000+01:00

I drew this with my left hand and without taking the pen off the page. I liked it - there's just something charming about those wobbly lines

Then here I tried adding colour and working on a more interesting ground... I actually like it less.

Then I decided I wanted to simplify it even more, and try to make a papercut image of it. I didn't think it was great, but it was not a total disaster.

I want to make more and more papercuts developed from different drawings, so that through practice I'll get better at it and be able to include more and more detail.

Bees in the museum.

Tarbert.

Punk cabaret is freedom!

2010-08-30T14:50:00.001+01:00

Some photos my dad took of my entry for the Amanda Palmer contest on Creative Allies.

Mary

2010-08-12T00:47:00.001+01:00

Based on a life drawing, and basically just doodling swirly patterns. I think it suggests something about daydreaming/imagination/escapism.

I did this yesterday with the intention of submitting it to Papergirl - an exhibiton Nexus Art Cafe are running, then all the works are rolled up and distributed by paperboys/girls on bicycles - but I just couldn't let it go. The concept of Papergirl is brilliant, but the reality is, someone might just throw it in the bin, and I can't stand the thought of that.

Shaun really liked it too, so we just stuck it on the back of his bedroom door and kept it there.

Long Live the Punk Cabaret.

2010-08-10T00:52:00.000+01:00

Another Normal Sunday...?

2010-08-08T19:10:00.000+01:00

Out and About with Horse and Bamboo

2010-08-07T20:04:00.000+01:00

I've been volunteering with the Horse and Bamboo theatre company since the end of June.

Today, we took some of our friends out and about on East Lancs Railway...

Over-Tired and Out of Practice

2010-07-27T23:45:00.000+01:00

I'm trying to get better at drawing again. My standards have slipped since I kept missing life drawing sessions for one reason or another, but I'm trying to get back into the habit of it.

Also, I've never really mastered the tonal qualities of watercolours, and have been really inspired by David Mack's sketches lately, so I've been having a go at that too.

There are a few things wrong with this, but I thought it may get worse as I tried to make it better - that's often the case with life drawing!
(I did stupidly overpowering hair in ink, hence why the face has been cut out and stuck onto a fresh sketchbook page.)

I've also been spending time enjoying the peace of the Whitworth Gallery, Manchester. I sat and happily drew for quite a while, listening to Jason Webley.

The following was a very enjoyable pencil scribble from Judith Duffey's knitted wonder, 'Sheep in Wolf's Clothing'.

ALSO - EXCITING NEWS FOR THE CONSEQUENCES COLLECTIVE! Our proposed group exhibition has been approved by Woodend Creative space in Scarborough so we shall hopefully be exhibiting there in the future.

I NEED TO DO SOME WORK!

2010-07-18T23:30:00.000+01:00

After watching that last animation several days after creating it, I've realised I can't continue with that and need to start again. But it was useful as a trial run and has helped me figure a few things out, especially as this is my first non-illustrated animation.

I cringe at the thought of the amount of work I have to do.... Handstitch and drawing projects for uni, projects for myself, hopes for a group exhibition....

Here's what I've been up to...

2010-07-14T21:54:00.000+01:00

This is a work in progress - there will be more stuff happening and some music. But it's essentially Amanda Palmer's face with some flowers growing around it, inspired by the creative freedom of her being dropped by her record label! There's a contest happening on creativeallies.com celebrating this theme - I don't think I can enter videos, but I'm going to enter a photograph of this setup once everything has fallen into place.

I've also been doing some voluntary work with Horse and Bamboo Theatre, which has been a lot of fun, particularly during the puppet festival last weekend. There were some really brilliant shows which have really inspired me to make things! So I am keeping myself busy, which is brilliant because it's so easy to become lazy.

'Reveal' Open Studios weekend

2010-06-22T20:43:00.000+01:00

I recently exhibited some work at Globe Arts, Rossendale, as part of the 'Reveal' open studios weekend (12th/13th June), alongside work by Ruth Evans and John Spedding.

Tomorrow is my birthday.

2010-06-14T18:23:00.000+01:00

I will be 20 years old.
This is my last day of being a teenager - I feel like I should be doing something more than this.
Such is life.

This song makes me happy to be young...

ANIMATION FINISHED!

2010-05-29T20:35:00.000+01:00

It was a rather painful process towards the end and I've discovered how much I hate having to rely on technology to let me create things, but it's finally done! It's really low-tech and kinda jumpy, but not bad for my first proper attempt at animation. So ladies and gentlemen (all 3 of you who actually read my blog - so ladies and 1 gentleman, rather), without further ado.............. my animation!

Be sure to check out Evelyn Evelyn's website for more beautiful music and fan art.

Patience is a virtue.

2010-05-25T17:39:00.000+01:00

Still soldiering on with the Evelyn Evelyn animation. Progress is slow but rewarding and my intention is starting to seem more achievable. Who knows, perhaps this may not be my only animation. I'm going to upload the whole thing to youtube when it's done, but for now... stills...

To be an art student, you basically just have to be good at carrying things.

2010-05-24T18:29:00.000+01:00

I had to cart all of my stuff home from the studio today, after having everything marked for assessment. There was rather a lot to carry - too much, in fact. Thankfully, being Not Quite Good Enough At Carrying Things, I was assisted by the wonderful Mr Shaun Tyrel Hartley, whom I love dearly. He changed his shift at work especially so he could come to Manc with me and help me bring everything home, only to have to travel back again (50 mins on the bus) to go to work. He's sweet and selfless and I don't know what I'd do without him.

Here's a picture he didn't realise I was taking:

The Stuff we had to carry home between us:

Evelyn

2010-05-20T18:03:00.000+01:00

1 minute sketch... a preliminary study for a stop-motion animation I'm making for the following Evelyn Evelyn song...

Trying to do animation!

2010-05-15T22:00:00.000+01:00

I've been wanting to try stop motion animation for a while, this is my first attempt. The drawing itself is pretty terrible but it was more about trying to figure out the process... I'm working on something much better, hopefully ready within the next 2 weeks!

Animal Crackers

2010-04-08T23:09:00.000+01:00

Amanda Palmer in a lion costume, gouache, graphite, Parker ink, stitch. Inspired by the song 'Pierre' where she sings the lion's part...

The other is a handstitched applique/embroidery patch, inspired by lovely Evelyn Evelyn...

Belated drawing blog!

2010-03-12T12:34:00.000Z

I'm so rubbish at blogging. Basically, here are some drawings, from quite a few weeks ago now... It was a 3 week drawing project for Supporting Study (- where we have the option to choose a different area to work in), taught by Sally the textiles tutor and Tim Jones, aka Mit Senoj - a somewhat eccentric and entertaining man who won the Jerwood Prize for drawing. He is seriously good at drawing.

The theme for this project was to choose an object which represented us, and really delve into the meaning of that object. I chose my Doc Martens, which I have worn almost every day for over a year and a half, alternating between 2 pairs. I had a slow start but, once I got into the swing of things, really enjoyed it and I'm really happy with the work I produced.

It became a project about memory, emotion and narrative, about the places I have been and the things I've experienced, the feelings that these boots carry around with them. The lines (so many lines...) are basically a metaphor for footsteps, they give the work a rhythmic quality which I rather like.

So now, I proudly present, a visual love letter to my DMs...

Women, communism, skeletons, gore...

2010-02-16T17:53:00.000Z

Today, my mind has been preoccupied with Frida and Marina....

Frida Kahlo....

Marina Abramovic...

I read a great article about Marina Abramovic in Artnews (Dec 09 issue)
http://artnews.com/issues/article.asp?art_id=2801

earlier today and have since hardly stopped thinking about how lucky I was to be on the front row, almost face to face with this amazing, captivating woman at 'Marina Abramovic Presents...' this summer (Manchester Whitworth Gallery, as part of Manchester International Festival).

Frida. Some obvious links.

I've left out the gory stuff.

It would be good to have some of my own work to post today...

Featured on Myartspace home page!

2010-02-09T21:43:00.000Z

One of my pieces has been added to the gallery on the Myartspace home page, which is quite exciting for me! I'm the blondie in the dress made of rubbish on the right hand side of the page...

Last Year's Spring.

2010-01-27T18:48:00.001Z

I preserved a bit of Spring last year to brighten up darker days like these....

"Wake me up when the bluebells are ringing..."

Another Year.

2010-01-18T18:36:00.000Z

(Click image to enlarge)

"The Winter makes things hard enough, I think I'll wait another year..."
- Amanda Palmer

I developed this flat cutout idea into something more installation-based, hanging the letters from branches in my space. At first I found it frustrating how the letters rotate on their threads, but began to consider this more as a positive thing, encouraging a viewer to interact with the piece by moving round trying to decipher the message. The words are suspended as leaves frozen in time, cascading down onto the miniature forest below.
The photos at this stage are not so great, but I will soon post better ones provided by my good friend and brilliant photographer Katie Hilton.

I needed lyrics/poetry to work with after moving on from John Keats' 'To Autumn' to look for something more wintry. The song was too perfect not to use, and the leaves seemed so symbolic of the passing of time and the dying of the year.

Leafy dress.

2010-01-10T18:04:00.000Z

Photos by my lovely dad.

New drawings and things!

2009-11-09T23:40:00.000Z

What I find most interesting about this drawing is the way people interpret it. It's based on accidental marks, but when we look into it, the shapes appear as skeletons, rabbits, faces... Maybe it shows us what's inside our heads more than what's actually on the paper.

Wheeeeeee!

2009-10-07T19:16:00.000+01:00

AFP Tarot

2009-09-28T23:22:00.000+01:00

Finally finished my design for the Princess of Wands for the Amanda Palmer tarot deck :)

Apparently we're supposed to keep final designs secret for now, but I'm sure I can post an image at some later date! Here are some notes on the symbolisms used in the card, all will become clear later!

- The needle is used to symbolise the Wand, it's also a reference to Amanda Palmer's song 'The Point Of It All'
- The threading of the needle represents new beginnings, change and using one's energies in a constructive way
- Amanda's face is used to depict strength, honesty, determination and the abscence of fear
- The element of Fire is alluded to through the tones of the design, most obviously through Amanda's eyeshadow
- Broken stitches are used to symbolise breaking old habitual patterns and setting oneself free

Really pleased with how this turned out! The cards should be available in time for Christmas and it's an amazing project, a massive collection of brilliant artists - I can't wait!

www.amandapalmer.net
www.theshadowbox.net
for more info