Cat Cloud Invasion
There seems to be something odd going on in the skies around here. Look I took these images this week.
I didn’t really want to bring it up but secretly I’m thinking Alien Invasions and spaceships like in
‘War or the Worlds’ or ‘Dark Skies’ but I hesitate to say anything for fear of spooking the nation !
What do you think ?
Perhaps the Cat Cloud God is angry with us ?….
Help !!
Fishink Spring Walks
The weather has been sooo lovely the past few days that I’ve abandoned all notions
or working inside and have taken to the great outdoors in search of inspiration and
sunnier climes. Four Walks come to mind and that I’ve included some images from.
Great Budworth to Astley Hall in Cheshire was the first.
Around Ruthin, including the Crafts Centre then a hilly walk around Edale.
These wonderful rock formations on the Edale walk.
And finally a sunny walk along Formby Beach.
Fields, Forests, Village and Beach life all in a few days. Lots to see and think about.
Hugo Colville and Annette De Mestre Two artists Together
Through a reading a great descriptive passage on a blog called Bird In The House,
I was directed to the work and curious website of Hugo Colville. It appears that Hugo lives with Neti
(Annette De Mestre) who is also an artist and they have a little studio and shop. This is Netis’ Work.
Neti says this, ” When asked what I am trying to say with my paintbrush,
I’m embarrassed because I am not trying to say anything – I’m trying to find something.
I believe that if I could find that something that I am looking for, then maybe –
the painting might say something – something that I had not an idea about in the first place.
In the process of painting, I worry away at the paint, pushing it here and there,
the subject matter permanently in peril of transformation or even obliteration.
The painting could end up upside down, or even sideways on.
I feel intensely that if I scrub away hard enough and work the canvas hard with my paintbrush,
I might eventually get behind the subject and the paint,
and there I might just find what I am looking for.”
This is Hugos’ work.
I like their description of the shop…….
The shop that is our Circus, A shop that really isn’t a shop.
A shop that never really closes but never really opens.
A shop that opens most days about 9 or 10,
occasionally as early as 7,
but some days as late as 12 or 1.
It closes about 5.30 or 6,
sometimes as late as 11 or 12.
Some days we aren’t here at all.
Some days we are just empty –
thus we become sellers of nothing.
It will open if you are really desperate – at any time
What we have is a kind of shop, but not what you think.
Some days the shop is just in a box, but the box may not be in the shop.
Sometimes it’s all up together
and sometimes just a mess.
If you want to brave it
Phone Hugo and Neti : 01239 881649
Sounds like it’s worth a visit if you’re around Pembrokeshire at all.
Julian Trevelyan . Artist, Illustrator and Printmaker
Julian Trevelyan, was born in Surrey in 1910, a renowned artist and printmaker.
Initially gaining recognition for his 1930s Surrealist prints, he later found true enjoyment
and pleasure as an artist in rural and industrial landscapes.
It wasn’t until 1931, when he joined S.W.Hayter’s famous print workshop, Atelier 17, in Montparnasse,
Paris, that Trevelyan had any formal training. Whilst under the guidance of Hayter, Trevelyan developed
a keen understanding for printmaking and etching. During the early 1930s Trevelyan worked alongside
Ernst, Kokoschka, Miró, Masson and Picasso. During that time Trevelyan’s work was experimental and
he began to develop his own unique style, incorporating everyday objects and portraying them with a
dreamlike and childlike quality.
In early 1934 Trevelyan returned to England but continued to rely on technical advice from Hayter.
In 1935 he set up his etching studio at Durham Wharf in Hammersmith, where he remained until
his death in 1988. It was here that he continued with the methods of etching learnt from Hayter,
and developed a certain intimacy with the medium, constantly pushing it in new directions.
From 1955-63, Trevelyan worked at the Royal College of Art and became Head of the
Etching Department. Because of his enthusiasm in his work and the desire to share it with others,
Trevelyan became a highly influential teacher, with students including David Hockney, Ron Kitaj
and Norman Ackroyd. He was an important leader of modern print techniques and today is
regarded as a silent driving force behind the etching revolution of the 1960s.
More Vintage Modern Matte Stephens !
I love the work of Matte Stephens so much that I’m already on my second blog post about him,
the first one was here for those of you who may have missed it. It’s the colours, vintage feel and
quirky characters, that really make me smile everytime I look at his work.
There are prints galore on his Etsy site here.
Great work as ever Matte, Keep it up.
Fishink Friends
Here are a few new ideas from the pages of my sketchbook.
There may well be some new fox ceramics on the way, watch this space !
Other ceramics available here.
Rachael Elwell Line Artist
I met Rachael Elwell at the weekend and was introduced to a world where the artist meets the line,
whether it takes the form of wool, pencil or other mark making objects,
Rachael seems to have it covered.
On her drawing site Rachael’s she explains that her work explores the perceptual connections between
line, form and space through contemporary drawing processes. Focussing on the relationship between
chance as an essential dimension of art, and an interest in control and structure in the composition of
image making.
For all the craft folk interested in knitting, her blog ArtYarn is worth a look and for
those of you who want to learn to Knit and are based in Manchester (or near about) check out
Rachael’s classes at the Ministry Of Craft.
There’s more info about Rachaels’ work and ideas on Design Splat.
Connor Maguire. Irish Illustrator.
Connor Maguire was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1977.
He studied at the University of Ulster in Belfast before taking a year away from his studies
to work and travel where he spent a period of time in New York working in the United States.
Returning home Connor has now been working steadily as a freelance artist specialising in Illustration,
Ceramics, Website design, framing as well as working in every type of medium that is accessible to him
in regards of painting and drawing. Connors paintings are inspired from anything ranging from
everyday events, personal experiences, friends or family.
Connor says…”I originally became interested in art at an early age where I would watch my Grandfather
sketch and draw out ideas for projects as well as for the mere pleasure of drawing.
My Grandfather, an accomplished Draughtsman,carpenter, designer and watercolorist introduced me
to pencil drawing and charcoal. Inspired and hooked seeing what he could accomplish with a pencil
and a paintbrush I too attempted to paint as good as he did….. Still trying”
I’m sure you’ll all agree that he doesn’t really need to try much harder, I think he’s there already !
Great work Connor.
Kenojuak Ashevak Inuit Artist
Kenojuak Ashevak is probably the best known and most acclaimed of all the remarkable Inuit artists
who have emerged in the North in the last half century. Her own story is as remarkable as the story
of Cape Dorset and its printmakers and sculptors. Many of Kenojuak Ashevak’s drawings, prints and
sculptures have become icons, etched into the public consciousness.
Her bold shapes, bright colours and fantastical creatures have endured for some 50 years,
reflecting a unique vision and a special relationship to the land. Born in 1927 in Ikerrasak, a campsite
on southern Baffin Island, she lived a traditional nomadic life on the land before settling her family
in Cape Dorset, where she still lives. Kenojuak Ashevak was featured
in a National Film Board production, Eskimo Artist – Kenojuak.
Her graphic images have been used on Canadian stamps and coins.
She is a Companion of the Order of Canada, a member of the Royal Canadian Academy
and the recipient of two honorary doctorates. It’s amazing how her work remains so contemporary.
Fishink Ceramics, a collaboration with Tone Von Krogh
Exciting news……………………. I’ve finally managed to get some of the new ceramics onto Etsy !
Please have a look and perhaps treat yourself or a friend to something ceramic and quirky.
The collaboration is between myself and fellow artist/ceramist Tone Von Krogh, it’s called the
‘Craig & Tone’ range.
We design the shapes together, Tone then makes them by hand on a potters wheel in her studio .
They then dry and are bisque fired, then glazed and fired again. I have drawn a range of
quirky birds, (rabbits and foxes still to come) specifically for the range we’ve created together.
So I then illustrate the glazed ceramics with digital transfers before they’re fired for a third time
to fix them. We’ve made Vases, Bowls, Mugs, Egg Cups and Tiles to date.
More items to be listed in the next few weeks.
You can see the ceramic range here or there’s Fishink Stationery products available here.
I’d really appreciate you passing these onto a friend too.
fishinkblog.com 