And then there were eight...

I still want to make 2 more Rabbitmen but I'm not sure they'll be sculpted and fired and a mould made before Christmas now... We'll see... Maybe...

Green Man

I've been going through my piles of old artwork lately in a 'use it or lose it' sort of way. Today I've been trying out a bit of green. Not sure about it on this large collagraph print... But I did like how the colour worked when I tried it on the Topiary Tragedy postcards which I made at Uni (my homage to the wonderful Edward Gorey). It's brought them to life more, I think. They are a set of 12. The rest are on my website now if you fancy taking look...

RWA 169 Open

I went to the RWA Open varnishing day on Friday and saw my Trojan horse sculpture, Shielding III, displayed in some esteemed company (including a king!). The galleries are crammed full with lots of really interesting art to see and I recognised many of the names on the labels. I did think at first that my horse was a bit lost amongst all the colourful paintings surrounding it but it actually sold at the Private View later that evening.

During the speeches some new academicians were awarded their certificates, including the sculptor Beth Carter whom I have always admired. She has several pieces in the show and I managed to have a little chat with her as she was taking a photo of my horse!

Romance is in the air...

 I have just found out that my friend is getting married at Christmas and I thought it would be a good time to show you one of my Kissing Couples sculptures. The photos of Kissing Flora were taken just before they were fired.

I also have a couple called Joining the Dots. This is my particular favourite with their inward and outward dots.

New Rabbitmen

 I have been working some new Rabbitmen. They are different to the old ones in that they have larger feet and ears and little tails. Some of them also have a bit of middle-aged spread. After all they are a bit older and wiser but still slightly ponderous...

Big Red Knickers

I have been going through some of my piles of old work and sketchbooks and came across some paper stencil screen prints of an exuberant naked lady which I did quite some time ago (10years?) But something made me think she was in need of some Big Red Knickers - so I gave her some (made from tissue paper). Now I'm thinking I want to make more with different background... and maybe different knickers...

 

Shoe People Lawyers

I recently finished these two rather snooty looking gentlemen. Their bodies are made from vintage wooden shoe trees and the heads are high-fired porcelain. I have a big box of vintage shoe trees (thanks to Stephen) so expect to see a few more 'shoe people' turning up on here...

Seashell Girl

Just thought I'd show you this bust I made for my daughter last Christmas. I only got around to photographing it today. I can remember that it took ages to stick the shells on. It was really tricky getting them to fit together in a pleasing way. I actually made the porcelain head itself years ago and it only took me about 6 years or so to decide what to do with it...!

Papier Mache Trojan Horse

Yet another Trojan Horse! This is quite a large one, approx 50cms x 50cms. It's made from paper mache and a few metal elements. I haven't done much papier mache before and I learned a lot making this horse. I would probably make another one slightly differently but he came out ok. Luckily my sister took a fancy to him so he's gone to live with her. 

More Trojan horses

Before Stephen got too ill, we used to sit at the kitchen table and make stuff out of clay. It was a distraction from everything that was going on at the time. I got a bit obsessed with making Trojan horses. Here are a few more which I made at that time. They were fired for me by the lovely Dawn at Stroud Pottery. 

Stoneware with oxides (30 x 28 x 10 cms)

Terracotta earthenware with oxides (29 x30 x8 cms)

Glazed Stoneware (22 x 28 x 8 cms)

Shoe people - cheeky chappies

I finished these little chaps the other day. I made the heads ages ago but only recently had an idea what to do with them.

They are about 28cms tall. The heads are high-fired porcelain, the bodies are vintage shoe stretchers plus buttons, washers, carpet tacks, reclaimed wood, icing nozzles... and they wobble slightly when moved which is fun (because small shoe trees/stretchers like these are made with sprung steel).

SING with Pat McDonald!

I have just been visiting my lovely friend Pat Mcdonald and I took the opportunity to photograph a little artist's book which I gave her for her birthday a couple of months ago. I forgot to do it at the time. She was quite unwell earlier this year but she always found that being near the sea made her feel so much better. And she does love to sing!

It's like my other little accordian folded books, SWIM and Ladies of Twose (see posts in May 2016) in that it is made using collagraph prints and hand coloured elements. The book is about 12.5cms x 11cms when closed (66cms opened out).

Sculpture selected for 169th RWA Open!

I am really pleased that one of my Trojan Horse sculptures, Shielding III, has been selected for this years RWA Open exhibition. It is a wonderful boost to my tentative efforts at starting up my art practice again after all that has happened.

This was the first one of several Trojan Horses I've made recently. It is glazed stoneware clay and measures 23 x 32 x 10 cms.

Stephen John Brooking - Sculptor and Teacher (among many other things..) 1956 - 2021

I wanted to start off my blog again by showing you some of Stephens artwork. He very rarely exhibited his ceramics and other work but he was an amazing sculptor as well as an excellent art tutor. He was also a dear, dear man whom I miss every day. As I start my own practice again after a long break, I am using some of his tools and materials. I feel like he is encouraging me and telling me that I can do it, even though he is not physically here to consult or guide me. 

Stephen was also good at making things on the wheel and I have lots of bowls and dishes which I use all the time some of which are pictured also.