Weaving

 

The post today is simply about an amazing installation of weaving by 13 women from Maningrida called Fish Fence. When Fiona and I walked into the room where the installation was housed we were just overwhelmed with its beauty.

I just share a few images I took.

I hope you enjoyed the beauty of this very large and creative installation.

Sometimes art is for giving

 

I have made a stash of wee metal cottages and metal stars for gifting. 

The wee Scottish cottages are 19mm long and 13mm wide - made from recycled pewter with a touch of brass. A small village of cottages is shown in the opening photo and the photo below.

Pouring the cottages can be a bit fiddly - sometime I need to do more than one melt and pour; and sometimes I need to cut and grind surplus material off. Each cottage is unique as each is cast in a one off sand mould. In the photo below you can see the imprint of the sand and imperfections of the moulding process - love it.

The stars measure about 30mm across the widest points. A couple of images of a wee 'constellation' of stars follow. As with the cottages - not every pour equals a good star - but the process is fun. Stars are a bit easier than the cottages as I'm using reusable graphite moulds.

I love being able to go into the workshop and turn out objects that I know will go to folk and hopefully will bring them a bit of joy.

Progress

 

I have completed another postcard sized watercolour; and another is on the way. Each watercolour provides its own challenges and offers me new points of learning along the way.

A photo of the completed watercolour - old green painted corrugated iron church in the Highlands on a misty day. Process photos follow - is above.

The watercolour I'm currently working on is of a fishing boat with some serious reflections. Whilst the grey-white colour of the boat and dark rippling reflections look beautiful, they offer another challenge - yet it is coming along ok.

I must say I'm enjoying learning so much about mixing colours (thanks Megan) and apply the paint sparingly as you can see from the palette in the last photo. 

Beauty close to home

 

Before embarking on my walk this morning I decided that I would pay particular attention to blossom beauty within 100 steps of our front door. The images in this post simply reinforce that beauty can be right in front of us. 

I did alter some of the whitish blossoms to see what additional beauty would emerge - the opening image and the two following made me smile. The third image is very ghostly.

Back to some of that beauty from the 100 steps.

Sometimes I set a theme for my walk photos to help me open my eyes in a different way - this morning did not disappoint.

Beauty of simple forms and rust

 

This sculptural piece (above) is a product of my commitment this year to use up the bits and pieces in the workshop. 

I had a piece of Corten steel left over from my commission to make three large rusted metal leaves - images of leaf sculpture below.

The piece left over was about 1.2m long and .8m wide - see images below of the marking up and cutting the metal. I wanted to go for a simple folded form that can stand in the garden and the owner can enjoy the tall rust form; but also the negative spaces. The metal was hand cut with the side grinder; and folded by clamping it to the cutting bench.

A few more images of the piece follow.

The smaller triangle cut outs are also folded and can with lie down or stand tallish.

Continuing to tell of the cruelty of the aftermath of the Strathnaver Clearances

 

As you can see from the images above Strathnaver Museum are fundraising to ensure that my artwork LOSS is retained and displayed as part of the museum's collection. Displaying the work will contribute to the record and reminder of the injustice and brutality of the Highland Clearances. 

If you would like to contribute to this endeavour click here.

A couple of images of the exhibition flyer and the reference to Donald MacLeod's Gloomy Memories follow.

A gift of woodcarving

 

For my recent birthday Fiona arranged a 3 hour workshop of both of us to learn to carve wood vases with Theresa Darmody as a gift to me. We did the workshop last night - and what a joy it was - great teacher, great medium and good outcomes as you can see from the opening photo.

We started with and introduction to tools, techniques and formed timber blanks similar to those below.

Quite a lot of the carving was done with the drawknife with the timber held in a vase - created lots of timber chips.

The outcome from all 8 students look gorgeous; and Fiona and mine on the work bench.

A couple more images of our completed pieces taken this morning.

There is no doubt woodcarving will continue to be something Fiona and I will share in our Maleny and Scotland workshop. I'm so grateful that Fiona organised this gift. 

If you click Theresa's Instagram link in the opening paragraph you will get to see the class and outcomes etc.