Fishink’s ‘Boo Ring’ and Manchester visit.
It’s been a whizz of a week and sorry but I’m so totally unprepared for today’s post, that I wondered… how on earth did I manage to post three times a week in the past? It seems like a previous life that somehow wasn’t possible lol
I popped into Manchester for some inspirational art gallery visits and apres birthday spending. There was an interesting exhibition of photography called ‘Strange and Familiar’ at Manchester Art Gallery .
“Curated by the iconic British photographer Martin Parr, Strange and Familiar considers how international photographers from the 1930s onwards have captured the social, cultural and political identity of the UK. From social documentary and portraiture to street and architectural photography, the exhibition celebrates the work of leading photographers, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Rineke Dijkstra, and Garry Winogrand. Bringing together over 250 compelling photographs and previously unseen bodies of work, Strange and Familiar presents a vibrant portrait of modern Britain.” It’s on until the end of May if you are passing.
All of these shots are mine, the faces were taken in the exhibition.
I’m still busy sketching and trying different apps and software packages on the i-pad for some variation in style and technique.
Remember me telling you I was working with Jeweller Heather Fox ? Well these were the initial drawings I sent to her to start the ball rolling on a commissioned ring based on Boo my dog.
There’s a lot of thought that needs to go into making imagery work, especially once it’s been filtered down to such a small scale. The drawing with Boo all curled up, I now realise, doesn’t work in metal as it’s too difficult to read what is happening with her legs.. they look more like the roots of a tree lol. I love the other images and think they are working well.
So I did another drawing, and once again I had to reconsider the position of her ears, in order to help make the small metal shape of the dog, more descriptive and easy to identify. When I saw just how tiny the cutting tools were that Heather was using, I was amazed that she still has any eyesight left at all !!
Well done Heather, so far so great!
Shopping wise, I was very delighted to find a half price calendar by Miroslav Sasek, one of my fav artists. A lovely diary with illustrations by Robert Gillmor and a book recommended by a friend to read. A pretty good haul if I do say so myself. Riding home on the tram, I noticed that practically everyone had their eyes glued to their phones. Sad to say that they all missed the fact that the sky was the most amazing shade of organges, pinks and purples, I wanted to shout out…. ‘Look everyone at what you are missing, whilst you gaze at your little pieces of metal and glass.. beautiful real life passing you by’ but I didn’t and just sat gazing at the sky quietly by myself : )
Looking forward to seeing the next jewellery developments. Have a great week everyone.
fishinkblog.com 
Loving all the pics of Boo, she’s an absolute star!
Thanks Lizzie, she keeps asking when she’ll get to see you next too 😉
I chose of graphic design as a major because graphic images are the real deals pared down to their most basic elements yet still present a full picture. My favorite is the very last. I’m a cat person but I’d wear a ring of that dog (running) wrapped around a digit any day. 🙂
Yes, too many people miss out on the best things Mom Nature offers. I love the sky. It’s the first thing I see in the morning, I watch it during the day, and we say goodbye at sunset. Those sky apps are absolutely wonderful! They help us see the stars in the night sky even when they are obscure.
Nature is alive even in the dead of winter. Cameras and cell phones are wonders in themselves; they allow me to photograph images I’ll pore over later. The Internet opens up the world. Moderation, moderation, moderation.
Thank you.
Well said, I enjoyed reading your thoughts, I know I’m not alone in my Mother Nature admiration society but it’s still nice to know lol