OBSERVATIONALS AND MIXED MEDIA

Just a quick update of what I have been up to- some observational drawings and experimentation in mixed media. A few (ok, a fair few) are unfinished, so will probably appear again once I have sewn/ worked into them.

Some Mono-printing, the bottom one is a print that I scanned in then emulsion printed onto fabric with a subtle outline of a flower, not sure if that's visible in the photo.
Acetone prints onto fabric- these are of my own photos, of Monet's garden in Giverny (as well as one of my more recent photo's of flowers for this project). All are unfinished and need sewing into and collaging over, perhaps with buttons and fabric.
More stitching, after the last project, I found that I rather enjoy it. I love sewing and creating line with thread, to quote Debbie Smyth 'it's a really lovely drawing medium'.
Sellotape prints on pretty backgrounds. Both have a little was on them (another favourite of mine).
Moving away from my own photo's, but staying with the wax, there are just a few mixed media pieces that I completed last lesson. The one directly below needs sewing into (outline of the carnation), as does the small buttercup piece. Plenty to keep me busy! Next I am going to look at my first contextual link, Hollie Caley- focusing on fabrics/textiles and the creation of layers.

THE SECRET GARDEN

Finished reading it at last! What a fabulous book though- worth a read if you have some spare time and like an easy read with a happy ending! Here's a summary (just in case you want the jist of the story without reading it) and a few key quotes that will probably appear in my work at some point.

• · Mary comes over to England (Yorkshire) from India. She is spoilt, thin, and sickly.
• · Her Uncle (Mr Craven) is uninterested in her well being, as he is preparing to leave to travel Europe. He provides nothing for her to do, no games, no books etc.
• · The servants send Mary outside to amuse herself and she meets Ben Weatherstaff (gardener) and the robin.
• · Martha, Mary’s maid, takes a shine to Mary as her temper improves and buys her a skipping rope out of her wages. Mary begins to skip in the garden for most of the day and grows stronger.
• · One day, while skipping she discovers a key and realizes it is the key to the garden that Ben had told her about. The garden that no one had been into (supposedly) after Mr Craven’s death.
• · The robin, who loves in the garden, shows Mary where the hidden door is and she goes into the garden. Finding it covered in dead branches and creepers, she begins to garden and improve it.
• · Dickon (Martha’s brother) at Mary request buys her gardening tools and seeds to plant in the garden Dickon is an animal charmer and can talk to the robin and is followed by a squirrel and a rabbit.
• · Mary tells Dickon about the garden and they begin to improve it together.
• · During this time, Mary frequently hears someone crying in the night but it told it is the wind or a servant. One day she follows the crying and finds her sick cousin, Colin, who she didn’t even know existed.
• · Spoilt (like Mary was when she first arrived) Colin as all the servants at his command and expects Mary to do the same. However, when demanded to come to see Colin she refuses and goes into the garden with Dickon. When she returns, Colin has worked himself into hysteria and is screaming and crying.
• · Mary, unable to sleep from the noise and tired from a days gardening, shouts at her cousin. Which does him good, as none of the servants can disobey him.
• · As he improves, Mary tells Colin about Dickon and his animals and, hypothetically, the garden, as she does not know if Colin can be trusted.
• · Dickon visits Colin in his room and brings all his animals and birds, including an abandoned lamb that needs feeding.
• · Colin begins to want to go outside, in the ‘fresh air’ and Dickon and Mary take him out in his wheel chair and show him the garden (as they decide he can be trusted on the visit).
• · During this first visit, they are discovered by Ben the gardener, who is angry with them for disturbing the garden. Colin, with newfound strength stands and orders Ben to come inside. Shocked that the ‘cripple’ and ‘half-it’ can stand, be obeys.
• · It turns out that it was Ben who has been tending the garden over the last ten years, by climbing over the wall. Old age, however, has prevented him from getting into the garden for the last two years.
• · Ben agrees to keep their secret and helps them garden.
• · Spring has arrived and the garden has blossomed and grown. All four work together on the garden.
• · The servants and the doctor are surprised by Colin’s improvement (and appetite) and put it down to fresh air and Mary.
• · Colin grows stronger each day and the housekeeper, Mrs Medlock, ask Dickon and Martha’s mother to find our what the children are getting up to in the garden (normal, doesn’t know about the secret garden).
• · Dickon, as a good boy would, when asked tells his mother everything and she too goes into the garden and brings food for everyone to have a picnic.
• · Colin no longer needs his chair, but still uses it to trick the servants and keep their secret.
• · Far away in Italy Mr Craven begins to dream about the garden and when he receives a letter from Dickon and Martha’s mother say that he should return and that he would be great surprised, he begins his journey home.
• · As soon as he arrives, he heads straight towards his wife’s garden, the secret garden and as he approaches Colin runs out and flies straight into him. Both are surprised to see each other and Dickon and Mary soon follow Colin out of the garden as won they were racing (but Colin had won).
• · Colin and Mr Craven (his father), walk across the lawn towards the house. The servants can hardly believe that it is the same sick boy they thought they were nursing. Ben, however, just smiles.

Not really a brief summary but I think that sums the book up pretty well! Now, onto the key quotes:

‘Perhaps it has been buried for ten years’ she said in a whisper, ‘perhaps it is the key to the garden!’

There are flowers uncurling and buds on everything and a green veil ha covered nearly all the grey.

Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle will not grow.

‘Where are you?’ ‘In the garden…. In the garden!’

When the summer comes there will be curtains and fountains of roses… Now the spring has begun perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…

And, of course:

Mistress Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells, and cockles shells, and Marigolds in a row.

Enjoy!

FLOWERS

A recent photo-shoot for The Secret Garden project- I love them (every girl likes flowers) especially the ones that are duller, the pink rose was pretty bright (that's Valentine's Day for you) so I grey-slated and desaturated a few images, just to calm the colours down a bit. Enjoy!

ECA FILM

NEW PROJECT- NEW SKETCHBOOK

This is a little something that Father Christmas brought me, it's from a little shop in Keswick (at the end of the high street, if your interested) that has the most beautiful handmade crafts from Nepal and other exotic places across the world. The things they have really are beautiful, I was literally drooling. It wasn't cheap, so a little birdy tells me, but you can pay a fair bit for sketchbooks anyway and as this is my last A Level art project, we decided it was time for a little indulgence!We also had a look at a few artists during class who might fit well with our theme (the exam question I chose is 'Natural Form' as that links really well with flowers, beauty in nature and the Secret Garden), so here are some links to artists that I wrote down who I thought were of some interest (also linked on the right); Becky Shander,(gorgeous collage's and pieces with birds- look at her blog and the wire mouse, adorable!), Maria Walker (especially her garments and 'Objects of Remembrance' series), Caren Garfen (very feministic/ domestic pieces- she wants us to consider a woman's role in the home and in society), Michelle Caplan (mixed media artist) and finally William Morris (who I am sure you have heard of, if not google him!). I am very much looking forward to this project and can't wait to get my teeth into it! First off, though, is to complete a photo-shoot (probably of flowers) and finish reading The Secret Garden- I am currently collecting quotes for use in my work. It is a fabulous book (I have read it before, but was very young) and I an thoroughly enjoying it! Spring has finally arrived in the Garden and Mary is so excited to see her flowers grow- I can't wait til the end!!

PIECES IN THE WINDOW

All of the final hoops are now hanging in the art room window at college (except the larger ones, which will be hung up on Thursday- I just can't reach the ceiling and need to borrow the ladders) and the pot will (eventually) be painted white so that it's all pristine and 'pure'. I don't think these photo's quite do them justice but never mind! Everything is finished (yah!), so enjoy!

FINAL PHOTO-SHOOT

It is the last day of January and I have completed my final response for the project based on birds! Over the weekend (a very busy weekend) I completed a photo-shoot of the final (almost) finished pieces, I just need to cut out the acetate birds and then we're all sorted! I think they look lovely thought, even if there are still a few finishing touches to add. I like how alone and deserted they look in the wood, against the brittle branches- so much better than in leafy summer!

JANE AUSTEN DAY

Amelia Critchlow set a challenge on her blog to be someone else for the day, so here I am! Today I am Emma from the well known Austen novel. I dressed up as her (as best as I could) and I took a trip to the beach. I am sure she would very much approve as Emma had only ever been as far as 'Box Hill' and had never seen the sea. I walked up and down the beach and had a sit down (as Georgian ladies get tired easily and do not wear the best shoes for walking on sand). What did I discover? That flimsy dresses get cold very easily and that no matter how graceful you try to be, sand will always get into your shoes!

GOLDEN PINS

Exciting news (well I think so) I have switched from silver to gold pins for my final response, as they go better with the colour scheme and are also stronger pins (the silver ones kept bending when I hammered them into wood), so they should last a bit longer! Still working away at the final pieces, here are some more photos of what I have been up to.

TATE ECT.

Tate magazine arrived today- yah! I got a two year subscription for my 17th Birthday and it was definately a good present. It's good to daty updated on the art world (even if most of it is miles away in London). Other exciting news- i ahve a window display at college!!!!!! It's right next to the main entrance and I will be workng on it over the next few days- so photo's will be arriving soon!

18TH BIRTHDAY CARD

Just a quick card for a friends birthday tomorrow- first card I have made since selling my Christmas cards! It felt good to get back into making them plus it's nice and pink and girly. It didn't take too long either which is good as I am meant to be revising for my English Exam on Monday- wish me luck!!