Beach finds
Beach find from a walk earlier in the week.
Beach find
Today’s little beach treasures- screws and nails patinated by the sea (found despite telling myself I wouldn’t collect anything today…)
News
I have confirmed two more exhibitions – the first is The Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition at the Ulster Museum, opening 19th of October, it’s been a few years since I’ve shown with the RUA so it’s nice to be back and in such a great venue.
Next is ‘New Directions in Contemporary Crafts’ at Mottisfont – a beautiful National Trust property in Hampshire from 1 December 2012 to 27 January 2013. I plan on sending over 5 pieces and will be showing some of my drawings alongside the objects.
Hopefully people won’t get sick of the sight of my work popping up everywhere! I am working on a number of new pieces so the upcoming shows will feature new, fresh work- and on that note I’m off to the workshop….
Drawings 27/8/12
These are the drawings i made with the tools-
These where made with the screw head tool, the first was using the top as a stamp, the second using it more like a compass creating circular lines with the handle acting as a centre point and adding it’s own marks.
These were made with the hair pin tool, the second one I feel is more successful.
With the deadhead brush- difficult to use initially, but I got a sense of it after a while- I like how abstract the drawing is and it suggests something ephemeral and raw.
Drawing tools, a first attempt.
As I said last week- I have started making drawing/mark making tools. Quite quick things – mainly tied as I try and avoid using glue or tape to join things.
The lack of control has been interesting and I can imagine how I use these objects will evolve as I get used to using them as applying them to my usual drawing approach doesn’t necessarily bring out the character of the elements selected.
I used a screw, drilled into an old paintbrush and tied together with linen thread as the wood split, a hair pin tied on to an old paint brush and some gathered dried seed heads tied to to a dowel which slowly broke down as it was used.
I quite like the aesthetics of these pieces- it is a bit of a departure as my objects usually have function as an implied thing, whereas these have to function , and the elements are chosen to pursue this goal of functionality. Additionally they can be changed by the process- breaking down, marked or coated with a build up of pigment. Interested to see where these take me.
Beach find
Monday- new drawings, fresh ideas..
Not much making in the last week unfortunately due to illness but I have a few new drawings. With the drawings I am experimenting with form and composition- making 2 dimensional marks with a variety of materials conscious of how they might be made in 3 dimensions- what materials might reflect the marks or the colour tones. With that- how might these materials be worked, assembled or formed which will be influenced by the nature of the selected materials. Recently I have been pushing towards larger drawings- the latest trio are 3 different sizes and I have some heavy weight, full size water colour paper for future drawings. Additionally I have also been considering alternative ways of making marks, with this in mind I am going to make my own drawing tools -forming a circle of making drawings of objects, making objects of the drawings and making objects to make the drawings then back to the drawings….[Head spinning yet?]. Pretty excited by the possibilities of this – would make a good solo show I think.
Watch this space. 😉
Stu.
Exhibition News
Apologies for the lack of blog posts I have been busy with other work which has taken me away from my practice for a few weeks. Back now and with news!
Utensil, curated by Angela O’Kelly, opened in the National Craft Gallery as part of the Kilkenny Arts festival on saturday and features 5 of my pieces alongside some amazing makers like David Clarke, Simone Ten Hompel, Maike Dahl among others. Unfortunately I couldn’t make the opening but hopefully I’ll make it down at some point.
In addition I have been confirmed in three more exhibitions – RUA Red Annual open show in Dublin, Opening the 26th of October which will feature two pairs of object I showed at Collect. I have also been invited to show with the amazing Gallery RA in Amsterdam in the group show New Silver,from 15 December 2012 till 30 January 2013. Finally I have been asked to participate in a show in Cardiff at Craft On the Bay focusing on Utensils- this will run from the 12th January to 3rd March ’13.
I’m really delighted to be showing in such great exhibitions and venues, obviously I need to keep up with my making, RA in particular will be getting some brand new work. Back drawing again- this time with found objects.. more updates soon.
Stu. 😉
Monday Drawings brought to you by the letter I.
Mondays drawings -the results of insomnia so done at 2 in the morning when I was thinking of the pieces I’m planning to do. So sneak peaks at the end of the week of some new objects… These are water colour and ink on watercolour paper.
Drawings 18/07/12
Three new drawings, two larger drawings of utensils- I am moving up scale to try larger mark making, waiting on some heavy weight fabriano paper coming. The last one is a comb drawing, I have a beach found broken comb in the studio which I plan on re working and so I thought I’d explore the form through my drawing- freshly done- paint is still wet. [Although it is fresh it is not from the future- I labelled it 19/7/12- got ahead of myself a bit!]. I plan on putting up some some the collected lines and objects I have at the studio that I’m working with at the moment. Over and out.
Stuart Cairns 