Here are some photos of the exhibition...
...and finally proof it wasn't just us - some customers
Friday, August 27, 2010
Superfluity - photos
The Superfluity exhibition went really well and we sold stuff! We found that it was mainly the cheaper more crafty things that we sold (e.g. I sold loads of greetings cards, completely selling out of one design) We are hoping to get together to start going to craft fairs and sales as a group - I have already applied for a stall at clutter city at Norwich Arts Centre so hope to hear back about that soon.
Here are some photos of the exhibition...
The back wall of the barn - showing Suzi's mosaics, Kim's sculptures and my bunting!
Some of Suzi's beautiful mosaics - I particularly love the tree and am thinking of asking her to make me one as she swapped this one for one of Charlie's bubble bowls
Mark's pots and paintings. He sold his little bird... the telegraph pole painting as used in our poster. His ceramics are beautiful and very tactile - and can be used outside.
Kim's lurcher - almost impossible to believe that this is made from wire and modrock! I'm very glad as my lurcher loving (and very discerning) parents bought this so I will get to see it every time I visit them. Below is Kim's hare again made from modrock on a wire skeleton - they look like bronze casts even close up...
Charlie's jewellery that she has been making with Tuesday Club (a group of her friends from art school) They are really lovely and Charlie is starting to make her own designs to complement the range they have. She has also made these lovely bubble bowls using a technique that she has perfected over time.
My main table with my Joy pictures and cards (plus a few baby blankets at the bottom!)
A selection of my cards - I sold loads and now need to get them on to Folksy and maybe find out if anywhere in the city would be interested in selling them for me.
Some of my textiley bits - some bunting that I made - in the future I want to make themed bunting e.g pirate. I am also going to steal (borrow) Charlie's idea for her wedding bunting and make some outdoor stuff using the plasticy table covering vinyl stuff (not sure what it is called!) Also my little felt strawberry brooches - I think these are more suitable for children and have some other ideas for children's felt badges. But have also started a range of my adult jewellery using reclaimed (i.e. scraps I have in my fabric drawer) fabric to make corsages.
...and finally proof it wasn't just us - some customers
Here are some photos of the exhibition...
...and finally proof it wasn't just us - some customers
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Folksy
I have just set up my online shop on folksy
or go directly to my shop rachalulabelle on folksy
I have put on some of my Joy prints and a few textiles but plan to add more soon.
or go directly to my shop rachalulabelle on folksy
I have put on some of my Joy prints and a few textiles but plan to add more soon.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Links to websites with art techniques/info
Norwich print fair - although about the print fair this site has a page with information about different printing techniques
Norwich Print Fair
Norwich Print Fair
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Check these out!!!
Look at this amazing projection mapping. The video is what people who were there would have actually seen on the building that is being projected on to. Amazing, beautiful, eye popping use of technolgy...
Projection art video
The projection mapping made me think of this short film - watch the world get pixelated as the computer games take over!
Pixels by Patrick Jean
An arty music video - this is brilliant and also informative! The band have created masterpieces for their music video - see how many you know....
70 million - Hold Your Horses video
I was introduced to both Pixels and the 70 million video at BUG in Norwich. Adam Buxton of Adam and Joe fame puts on this 'evolution of music video' event for the BFI in London each month and then fortunately as he lives nearby does a best off every few months in Norwich at the Playhouse. We are gradually introducing our friends to this event and will soon be buying a few rows of tickets at a time as they all love it. If you like music videos then check out the website as you can watch the vids from past shows. Check em out before showing the kids as some are more raunchy/scary/wierd than others!
BUG website
Projection art video
The projection mapping made me think of this short film - watch the world get pixelated as the computer games take over!
Pixels by Patrick Jean
An arty music video - this is brilliant and also informative! The band have created masterpieces for their music video - see how many you know....
70 million - Hold Your Horses video
I was introduced to both Pixels and the 70 million video at BUG in Norwich. Adam Buxton of Adam and Joe fame puts on this 'evolution of music video' event for the BFI in London each month and then fortunately as he lives nearby does a best off every few months in Norwich at the Playhouse. We are gradually introducing our friends to this event and will soon be buying a few rows of tickets at a time as they all love it. If you like music videos then check out the website as you can watch the vids from past shows. Check em out before showing the kids as some are more raunchy/scary/wierd than others!
BUG website
Sainsbury Centre - exhibitions 15/08/2010
Just got back from a lovely afternoon out with my friend looking at the current exhibitions at the Sainsbury Centre in Norwich. have been meaning to visit the Henry Moore Textiles exhibition for ages and have just got in in time, fortunately the unearthed exhibition had started so we were able to look at both. As an added bonus the reserve collection was open - a real mix match of items which were very interesting to wander round.
Unearthed exhibition
The exhibition holds many figures from Japan and Romania dating from 3000BC. Although geographically distant there were similarities between the cultures and between the figures found at both sites.
The exhibition made me think about the collective unconsciousness relating to both art and music. I find it incredibly interesting that cultures and communities, where the peoples would never have traveled and met each other, have produced art and music that is surprisingly similar.
The figures in the exhibition were small and the majority where of the female human form (breast mounds signified this). The Japanese figures are called Dogu. There are similarities between the figures in that they are of a similar range of sizes, where found in similar areas within the sites and are on the whole basic representations of humans.
Seeing the figures has made me think about the air drying clay I have sitting in my art cupboard and that I would maybe like to try to make some similar as some of them are so very beautiful.
Henry Moore Textiles
Until I saw this exhibition advertised I wasn't aware that Henry Moore had designed any textiles (I was not alone - a fact noted by the curators in the introduction area!)
Moore designed large wall hangings as well as a number of fabric designs and one of the silk squares or scarves for Ascher. Ascher printed Moore's fabrics using screen printing techniques onto silk, linen,cotton and rayon.
I found out that a serigraph describes an artist's screen printed fabric - this distinguishes it from a commercial screen print.
There are a number of links between his sculptures, ideas for sculptures and his fabric designs.
I noted how interesting it is too see how different the same design looks in different colourways and look forward to trying this out when I do printing and textile courses in the future. I have some ideas from his designs that I would like to try out myself - some of the designs are almost batik like and I have already been thinking that I would like to create some contemporary and not 'hippyish' batiks. It has made me think even more about an idea I have to use old plain fabrics from charity shops (sheets, duvet covers etc) and then print on to these to use for bunting, patchwork, quilts etc.
There were pages from his sketchbooks to look at this and this has made me think about how I will be able to use a lot of different media when I start my own textile sketchbooks - I noted that he had used pencil, wax crayons, watercolour, chalk, ink, pen and washes often within the same design - I must remember to use lots of diff things and see how the diff effects are and how they relate to diff aspects of the design and different techniques e.g I might use a wash for the background colour, wax crayon around batik, felt tip pen to show embroidery, stick on bits to show sequins, beads etc.
Unearthed exhibition
The exhibition holds many figures from Japan and Romania dating from 3000BC. Although geographically distant there were similarities between the cultures and between the figures found at both sites.
The exhibition made me think about the collective unconsciousness relating to both art and music. I find it incredibly interesting that cultures and communities, where the peoples would never have traveled and met each other, have produced art and music that is surprisingly similar.
The figures in the exhibition were small and the majority where of the female human form (breast mounds signified this). The Japanese figures are called Dogu. There are similarities between the figures in that they are of a similar range of sizes, where found in similar areas within the sites and are on the whole basic representations of humans.
Seeing the figures has made me think about the air drying clay I have sitting in my art cupboard and that I would maybe like to try to make some similar as some of them are so very beautiful.
Henry Moore Textiles
Until I saw this exhibition advertised I wasn't aware that Henry Moore had designed any textiles (I was not alone - a fact noted by the curators in the introduction area!)
Moore designed large wall hangings as well as a number of fabric designs and one of the silk squares or scarves for Ascher. Ascher printed Moore's fabrics using screen printing techniques onto silk, linen,cotton and rayon.
I found out that a serigraph describes an artist's screen printed fabric - this distinguishes it from a commercial screen print.
There are a number of links between his sculptures, ideas for sculptures and his fabric designs.
I noted how interesting it is too see how different the same design looks in different colourways and look forward to trying this out when I do printing and textile courses in the future. I have some ideas from his designs that I would like to try out myself - some of the designs are almost batik like and I have already been thinking that I would like to create some contemporary and not 'hippyish' batiks. It has made me think even more about an idea I have to use old plain fabrics from charity shops (sheets, duvet covers etc) and then print on to these to use for bunting, patchwork, quilts etc.
There were pages from his sketchbooks to look at this and this has made me think about how I will be able to use a lot of different media when I start my own textile sketchbooks - I noted that he had used pencil, wax crayons, watercolour, chalk, ink, pen and washes often within the same design - I must remember to use lots of diff things and see how the diff effects are and how they relate to diff aspects of the design and different techniques e.g I might use a wash for the background colour, wax crayon around batik, felt tip pen to show embroidery, stick on bits to show sequins, beads etc.
JOY prints
If you would like to order a JOY print please email me rachalulabelle@yahoo.co.uk
Prices are without postage&packing and for unframed prints. A4 and A5 prints would be posted to you in hard backed envelopes - standard first class would cost £1.50 and an A3 print would be posted in a tube and this would cost £5.00.
If you would like your print framed please get in touch regarding postage costs.
PRINTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
JOY - A4 - Moments - £10.00
JOY - A3 - Matches - £20 (sorry for picture quality this is a photograph rather than a scanned image!)
JOY - A4 - Parenthood - £10. All the background words and phrases are on the theme of parenthood so makes a great and unusual gift for new parents.
JOY - A4 - Music to my Ears - £10. Completely themed around music - an ideal gift for any music lovers out there.
JOY - A4 - Rainbows - £10. This print is black and white and then hand coloured. This means you can choose any colour way you like (as long as I have or can get the special light-fast artist brush pens that I use.)
JOY - A5 - Wonders - £5. This print is black and white and then hand coloured. This means you can choose any colour way you like (as long as I have or can get the special light-fast artist brush pens that I use.)
If you think of a theme that you would like to see as a print please let me know as I may be able to produce it for you.
Prices are without postage&packing and for unframed prints. A4 and A5 prints would be posted to you in hard backed envelopes - standard first class would cost £1.50 and an A3 print would be posted in a tube and this would cost £5.00.
If you would like your print framed please get in touch regarding postage costs.
PRINTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
JOY - A4 - Moments - £10.00
JOY - A3 - Matches - £20 (sorry for picture quality this is a photograph rather than a scanned image!)
JOY - A4 - Parenthood - £10. All the background words and phrases are on the theme of parenthood so makes a great and unusual gift for new parents.
JOY - A4 - Music to my Ears - £10. Completely themed around music - an ideal gift for any music lovers out there.
JOY - A4 - Rainbows - £10. This print is black and white and then hand coloured. This means you can choose any colour way you like (as long as I have or can get the special light-fast artist brush pens that I use.)
JOY - A5 - Wonders - £5. This print is black and white and then hand coloured. This means you can choose any colour way you like (as long as I have or can get the special light-fast artist brush pens that I use.)
If you think of a theme that you would like to see as a print please let me know as I may be able to produce it for you.
Superfluity - an arts and crafts exhibition
5 friends have got together to put on this exhibition as part of the Loddon and Chedgrave summer art programme.
Come along to see Suzi's beautiful mosaics, Mark's wonderful pots and paintings, Charlie's fantastic bowls, my JOY pics plus some other bits and bobs and Kim's amazing animal sculptures.
We are very lucky as Gloria has let us have the use of her lovely barn which makes an ideal setting. There is a car park next to the church (on the main street in Loddon) and there will be signs directing visitors from the church yard.
We are very lucky as Gloria has let us have the use of her lovely barn which makes an ideal setting. There is a car park next to the church (on the main street in Loddon) and there will be signs directing visitors from the church yard.
How to order a JOY picture
If you would like a JOY picture created for yourself or as a gift please email me rachalulabelle@yahoo.co.uk
Prices for unique JOY pictures
Other sizes available - prices available on request.
You can also order prints, some of which are hand coloured (so you can select your own colours if you wish.)
Print prices start from £5 for an unframed A5.
Prices for unique JOY pictures
Size | Unframed | Clip frame | Framed |
A5 - 210 x 148 mm | £20 | £25 | £35 |
A4 - 297 x 210 mm | £35 | £40 | £50 |
A3 - 420 x 297 mm | £60 | £65 | £80 |
Other sizes available - prices available on request.
You can also order prints, some of which are hand coloured (so you can select your own colours if you wish.)
Print prices start from £5 for an unframed A5.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Life Drawing Day
On Saturday 12th June I went to a life drawing day in Wisbech with my 2 OCA friends, Paul and Rachel. Rachel lives in Wisbech and goes to regular life drawing classes which this was an extension of. I'd never done any life drawing before and this was a great experience - just lovely to sit and draw and paint all day!
Here are some of my efforts....
We started with some quick 5 minute sketches - I like doing these as I enjoy working quickly. I also think that when you make mistakes or you aren't so happy with the results you feel more comfortable with yourself knowing you only had five minutes to do it in!
These 2 were my favourites - both in charcoal, felt I got a good grasp of the body shape and use of tone.
We then went on to some longer poses. Originally she planned to pose for an hour or more for a couple of them but the room was freezing cold so she only did up to 30 minutes. I was happy with this as would have struggled to fill an hour with one picture. In fact osme of the 30 minute poses I broke down in to 2 or more pics.
I had watched a video on the OCA website about starting a life drawing with shapes - squares, triangles, sausages etc so decided to try this method out. I think it worked well as my best proportioned piece but perhaps not my favourite as slightly stiffer and more formal than the others. I do think it would be useful though if doing preparatory sketches or if working for a longer time.
Here are 3 diff pics of the same pose. I found this really tricky to work with as it looked very unnatural to me.
The last one is a pen drawing with an acrylic wash over the top. I like using the 'wrong' colour in a monochrome as it forces me to think about the tones - dark and light rather than in colours.
I liked this effect so did some more.
I hope to join another class soon. Some friends at work have talked about the possibility of joining together and hiring a model ourselves which would be great - must remind them and see if we can do it soon.
Here are some of my efforts....
We started with some quick 5 minute sketches - I like doing these as I enjoy working quickly. I also think that when you make mistakes or you aren't so happy with the results you feel more comfortable with yourself knowing you only had five minutes to do it in!
We then went on to some longer poses. Originally she planned to pose for an hour or more for a couple of them but the room was freezing cold so she only did up to 30 minutes. I was happy with this as would have struggled to fill an hour with one picture. In fact osme of the 30 minute poses I broke down in to 2 or more pics.
I had watched a video on the OCA website about starting a life drawing with shapes - squares, triangles, sausages etc so decided to try this method out. I think it worked well as my best proportioned piece but perhaps not my favourite as slightly stiffer and more formal than the others. I do think it would be useful though if doing preparatory sketches or if working for a longer time.
I then tried some pen drawings as my favourite medium. Maybe because you can't make any changes and it is pretty unforgiving so you just have to get on with it
Here are 3 diff pics of the same pose. I found this really tricky to work with as it looked very unnatural to me.
I liked this effect so did some more.
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Sculpture Option
I think I'm pretty much at the end of my sculpture option now and will be booking in for a tutorial soon.
Don't think sculpture is really my thing but glad I've tried it and will make more wire fish with and without modrock as like the ones I've done but think I can def improve on them...
Started off with some reliefs - was going to try being completely abstract but I need to work on my abstractness! So instead I have an abstracted rainbow...
...and an abstracted sunshine...
My next project was to start creating 3d sculpture. The book said to get some bits and bobs from around the house/found object and glue them together in an interesting way. I ignored the book and had a go at some wire and modrock stuff as someone at work has made some dogs, chickens and hares and they are beautiful so I wanted to give it a go. My first attempt was interesting! Looks like a little child has made it from playdoh - but helped my learn about the materials ready for the next time.
For some reason fish just came naturally to me when I got started so I went with the flow... I kept adding wire to the first one then liked the way it looked so decided not to modrock - instead I added 124yards of copper wire (which I think is what I will call this fish if it ever needs a name)
It's hard to see from these photos but has a lovely coppery thread running through it. The tail has a bit of a blob in it and the end fins need to be more refined. I'm thinking of trying another with a more fomalised pattern of wire going around the main shape - but not too formal and patterny. Trying to think of ideas to make the tail fins better - have thought about making them from a different material - maybe plastic but firstly need them to balance the fish and secondly not sure how two materials would look together - could try weaving the plastic through parts of the body too....
Next fish I made I stopped with the wire and modrocked it - then used scraps of newspaper to cover it before coating with a mother of pearl glaze.
I'm going to try out using different coloured bits of tissue paper and making a coloured fish next - also want to do a pure white mother of pearl one - not quite sure where I'm going to put all these fish - note to self - put up a new shelf in the bathroom.
Finally I had a go at some modelling using DAS - think I'll have another go but not v impressed by my results!
Here is a little, scary, creature, baby thingy - bad quality images...
My foot...
and finally a fish that I decided to stick bits of mirror ball into randomly - I don't think there is much chance of them staying in it but as it is likely to end up in my very own art bin - whatever!!!
Next project is textiles and then I'll have completed the course - Didn't start til mid July last year so will have done it in just over a year which was my target (and I've been doing another course alongside) so woot a root toot!!!
Don't think sculpture is really my thing but glad I've tried it and will make more wire fish with and without modrock as like the ones I've done but think I can def improve on them...
Started off with some reliefs - was going to try being completely abstract but I need to work on my abstractness! So instead I have an abstracted rainbow...
...and an abstracted sunshine...
My next project was to start creating 3d sculpture. The book said to get some bits and bobs from around the house/found object and glue them together in an interesting way. I ignored the book and had a go at some wire and modrock stuff as someone at work has made some dogs, chickens and hares and they are beautiful so I wanted to give it a go. My first attempt was interesting! Looks like a little child has made it from playdoh - but helped my learn about the materials ready for the next time.
For some reason fish just came naturally to me when I got started so I went with the flow... I kept adding wire to the first one then liked the way it looked so decided not to modrock - instead I added 124yards of copper wire (which I think is what I will call this fish if it ever needs a name)
It's hard to see from these photos but has a lovely coppery thread running through it. The tail has a bit of a blob in it and the end fins need to be more refined. I'm thinking of trying another with a more fomalised pattern of wire going around the main shape - but not too formal and patterny. Trying to think of ideas to make the tail fins better - have thought about making them from a different material - maybe plastic but firstly need them to balance the fish and secondly not sure how two materials would look together - could try weaving the plastic through parts of the body too....
Next fish I made I stopped with the wire and modrocked it - then used scraps of newspaper to cover it before coating with a mother of pearl glaze.
I'm going to try out using different coloured bits of tissue paper and making a coloured fish next - also want to do a pure white mother of pearl one - not quite sure where I'm going to put all these fish - note to self - put up a new shelf in the bathroom.
Finally I had a go at some modelling using DAS - think I'll have another go but not v impressed by my results!
Here is a little, scary, creature, baby thingy - bad quality images...
MCM Comics and Japanese bit
Went to the MCM Expo in London last weekend and my most definitely favorite bit was the Comic area.
Had been really looking forward to the Japanese area as it advertised calligraphy and origami workshops, kimono demonstrations, tea ceremonies and more but it was complete and utter pants - we tried to do some origami at a table that was less than a meter wide, with a book that you couldn't keep open and the instructions were in Japanese. When we were obviously stuck the guy on the stall ignored us and made his own thing - rubbish. The kimono stall said "try on a kimono and then pay £5 for a photo" - no thanks and the calligraphy workshops seemed to be people charging to write your name for you - big disappointment.....good job the comics were nearby to cheer us up.
One of the first stalls we visited belonged to the lovely Timothy Winchester aka to us at the time as lovely comic book guy! He sorted us out with our Dino-Saw-Us passports and off we went collecting stickers, chatting, looking at and a little bit of buying (wish could have spent more but teenage son is a pricey fella to take to the capital!). Here is my completed passport - big thank you to all the sticker people and the organisers - this was officially my best bit of the whole expo...
Had been really looking forward to the Japanese area as it advertised calligraphy and origami workshops, kimono demonstrations, tea ceremonies and more but it was complete and utter pants - we tried to do some origami at a table that was less than a meter wide, with a book that you couldn't keep open and the instructions were in Japanese. When we were obviously stuck the guy on the stall ignored us and made his own thing - rubbish. The kimono stall said "try on a kimono and then pay £5 for a photo" - no thanks and the calligraphy workshops seemed to be people charging to write your name for you - big disappointment.....good job the comics were nearby to cheer us up.
One of the first stalls we visited belonged to the lovely Timothy Winchester aka to us at the time as lovely comic book guy! He sorted us out with our Dino-Saw-Us passports and off we went collecting stickers, chatting, looking at and a little bit of buying (wish could have spent more but teenage son is a pricey fella to take to the capital!). Here is my completed passport - big thank you to all the sticker people and the organisers - this was officially my best bit of the whole expo...
Here are some links to website for some of the stalls we stopped at along the way...
http://www.pbrainey.com/ Really wanted to buy his 'Book of Lists' but ran out of money - may order it soon as can do from website.
http://www.chibi-reki-earth.deviantart.com/ Check out the super cool painted boots and shoes on this site. They were only £12 a pair so had pretty much sold out before we got there. I'm going to give it a go as have been thinking about customising some footwear - just need to get some waterproofing spray
http://www.coucouheart.blogspot.com/ beautiful jewellery and also some felt things - I love making things from felt too. Have checked out this site and has given me the idea to start putting some bits for sale on folksy and etsy - Will def be checking this out in the summer when I have time to get making
http://www.kickass-peanut.com/ Lovely little badges and bits but even better this site should soon have a link to her magical forest designs - these were beautiful laser cut rings, necklaces and key chains. Will keep an eye on it as want to buy one of the key necklaces (had run out of cash at the time...)
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Joy Pictures
My first “JOY” picture was made for a graphic design project during my Foundation Art and Design course. Over a few days I jotted down loads of words and phrases to remind me of the things that make me glad to be alive –some are fairly generic and some are quite personal to me. I love looking back over what I wrote as it makes me smile to remember there are so many things to make me cheerful. I’m also shocked to find things in there I can’t remember writing!
I’ve since done music and parenthood related pictures as presents for friends and have been commissioned to make pictures too.
I've put together a box of joy which I hope to sell - maybe at the Superfluity Exhibition or at a Clutter City (local crafty event). The box contains instructions for making your own picture, an order form for me to make it and other nice bits and bobs.
Here are some photos of the pics I have made so far...
My first - presently hanging on my wall
A gift for friends who were about to have their first baby - on a children, baby, family theme
A gift for friends who were about to have their first baby - on a children, baby, family theme
My first commission - woo!!!
FIRST exhibition
A few months ago a group of my colleagues were offered the use of an empty shop to put on an exhibition. Some of my co workers have artistic backgrounds and teach art but the majority of us are just doing bits from home.
The work was so varied ranging from textiles, pottery, prints, mosaics, paintings, drawings, jewelery plus more. It was a great experience and very liberating to show others some of my own work.
I WILL UPLOAD SOME PICS OF THE EXHIBITION HERE
A small group of us have a further summer exhibition planned under the name Superfluity.... Further details to be posted soon.
Materclass with Chen Hong
On Saturday 22nd May - I attended a masterclass with a Chinese artist Chen Hong. Chen Hong specialises in fish paintings and was artist in residence at Norwich Castle Museum during May. There were about 15 students at the class which ran from 10.30 to 1 (but actually finished closer to 1.45)
Chen Hong doesn't speak any English so had an interpreter with him - this meant it was difficult to ask him questions as the interpreter was not always with him particularly when he came round to comment on our work - we had to guess at what he was saying! Also at one point he asked the class if we would like to start with something simple but somehow our answer was lost in translation as we started with the more difficult big fish before trying out the much easier little fish at the end of the class.
We were first given a demonstration of a fish painting which not only includes the fish but also calligraphy and stamps. We were then told about the basic brushstrokes before being given a chance to try some out for ourselves. After this we were shown how to paint some simple bamboo and blossom and all had a go.
Mark making
Bamboo
After grabbing a quick cup of tea and a biscuit it was back to work to try out painting our own fish. It was pretty difficult but we were reminded that Chen Hong has been practicing for 30 years! And also that he had a very expensive brush and higher quality paper (bad workmen...!) It was said that Chinese artists develop close relationships with their brushes which can cost up to £1000!
My big fish
My little fish
The time went far too quickly and it would have been nice to have had more time to keep working on our pictures. Although each picture is quick to do as you work quickly I think with some more support and maybe further demonstration so we could see where we were going wrong as individuals we may have improved further. It was only at the end that I realised I had been making a mistake with my brushstrokes on the body of the fish.
Chen Hong is clearly a master of this specialist type of art but I'm not sure I would want to paint the same thing over and over again!
My notes on the class
Chen Hong's website (in Chinese!)
Chen Hong doesn't speak any English so had an interpreter with him - this meant it was difficult to ask him questions as the interpreter was not always with him particularly when he came round to comment on our work - we had to guess at what he was saying! Also at one point he asked the class if we would like to start with something simple but somehow our answer was lost in translation as we started with the more difficult big fish before trying out the much easier little fish at the end of the class.
We were first given a demonstration of a fish painting which not only includes the fish but also calligraphy and stamps. We were then told about the basic brushstrokes before being given a chance to try some out for ourselves. After this we were shown how to paint some simple bamboo and blossom and all had a go.
Mark making
After grabbing a quick cup of tea and a biscuit it was back to work to try out painting our own fish. It was pretty difficult but we were reminded that Chen Hong has been practicing for 30 years! And also that he had a very expensive brush and higher quality paper (bad workmen...!) It was said that Chinese artists develop close relationships with their brushes which can cost up to £1000!
My big fish
The time went far too quickly and it would have been nice to have had more time to keep working on our pictures. Although each picture is quick to do as you work quickly I think with some more support and maybe further demonstration so we could see where we were going wrong as individuals we may have improved further. It was only at the end that I realised I had been making a mistake with my brushstrokes on the body of the fish.
Chen Hong is clearly a master of this specialist type of art but I'm not sure I would want to paint the same thing over and over again!
My notes on the class
Chen Hong's website (in Chinese!)
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