Hello there, this year feels like it’s been running away with me, so much so, that I came across a whole collection of images from trips I had made and not even got around to sharing them with you. Apologies if they’re a little ‘been and gone’ but better late than never eh !
Let’s start with the vintage fair set in Victoria Baths, Manchester, at the back end of October. Apparently the Vintage Home Show is on three times a year now in Manchester alone, they also set up in Leeds and the Midlands. How popular it’s become and well worth checking out if you like your retro.
I loved this middle record cover for Tchaikovsky below.
All in all I was very reserved at the fair and even though I saw a couple of interesting pieces, I resisted buying anything I didn’t really need. Can you believe there was ever a board game called Libido ? Only in the sixties lol
Always interesting to see what other folk have found to display and sell.
And speaking of findings.. I looked into the artist who did the record sleeve above and tracked them down to a lady called Miriam Schottland. Initially I just found her name and the fact that she was a New York artist of book and record covers. Here’s some of her illustrations.
Her work is particularly attributed to classical records in the mid sixties.
Then I came across this photo of her standing by a James Bond Porche and my interest was again peaked.
This led me to the website for the American Society of Avaition Artists and this rather interesting blurb from 2013 …
“Most of us drive automobiles and feel we are good drivers…but are we? This will be an experience not to be missed! Miriam Schottland is a New York commercial artist and civilian Air Force Art combat veteran who moved to Washington 20 years ago. She bought a Porche 911 as her first automobile, and joined the Porche Club to learn how to drive. Within a year she was teaching diplomats and military personnel counter-terrorism driving tactics, off-road, ice driving skills and accident avoidance. Miriam is the Chief Driving Instructor for the Washington DC metropolitan Audi, Cadillac, Corvette, Porche and Volvo Driving Clubs.”
Wow you go Miriam !!! Isn’t it amazing what you can discover once you start. I still love this sleeve too.
Ok side stepping done, I also went off to the Whitworth Art Gallery for a look around.
Lovely shaped leaves everywhere in the grounds. Some rather strange figures running about inside too.
There was a glittering display of work by Raqib Shaw. Not really my thing, but amazingly intricate work with stuck on sequins and diamantes. Very lavish and rather over the top.
It was like glistening snow everywhere.
My favourite exhibition today was a section of South Asian Modernists from between 1953-63.
This exhibition is on until April 15th next year.
There’s always some great discoveries at the Whitworth, still one of my favourite spaces of all time.
Finally today, is a quick visit to the Manchester Science Festival which was on around the same time.
A great opportunity to see inside the University of Salford building and even though the fair is focused mostly for children, it’s encouraging adults to engage their kids too. This is the view from the back of the building looking onto the Imperial War Museum and Salford Quays.
There was plenty of interactive games and activities, as well as a whole area showing retro and vintage computers like the Spectrum ZX, Commodore 64 and Amiga with games like Mario Brothers, PacMan and Lemmings ! A techie’s dream world lol
Other areas had focused events on animal welfare, fitness, fake news, green and environmental concerns and an interesting section for me asking people to draw their pain/fears and trying to understand what colour people perceive their pain to be. Obviously a lot of red seemed to be popular.
Finally a great section where there was a whole room converted into an underwater kingdom with sharks swimming on the walls. My first opportunity to try out a head console and visualise what it’s like to be under the sea, interacting with fish and divers. A great first for me and very popular with children and adults alike.
I hope you enjoyed sharing my trips today. Last of this years catch up travels later this week.
Sale Arts Trail 2017
Last weekend, when the snow was trying to stick for the first time this winter in Manchester, myself and 40 other designer-makers took part in the Sale Arts Trail
https://saleartstrail.com/christmas-bazaar-2017/
I’ve pieced together a quick collection of a few of the folk who were exhibiting alongside me. Starting off with graphic designers Netty & Di, showing a range of buildings and bees. Next door, some beautiful seashore/rockpool ceramics from the talented Alasdair Nelson.
I was rather taken by this little Hare and in general by the beautifully designed/ hand printed work by Nell Smith.
Really enjoyed the work of Paul Browne, particularly his seafaring inky sketches.
I’ve mentioned previously the stunning embroidered vegetables from Cabbages and Nettles.
Also another favourite is the work of Liliane Taylor, who uses recycled fabrics to create her colourful landscapes.
Wonderful constructions from (lucy Porter) or Lucy Elisabeth. Birds, bees and hanging baskets, all in wire.
Claire from Dunnknit Designs, had some amazing,extra chunky knits, made using Merino wool and some 2 metre knitting needles… I kid you not. They certainly looked very toasty and warm in this bitterly cold spell. I wonder if she does a range of men’s ponchos or better still, sleeping bags ; )
I’m always wow’d by Lisa Ellul‘s beautiful ceramics. Delicate, floral and wonderfully made.
Some local fine art illustration (above) from Liz’s Scribbles.
Beautiful, land and cloud-scapes from artist Jen Orpin.
Finally, the work of Sophie Nixon, who’s imagery and style I’ve loved from her early days of painting at Bankley Art Studios in Levenshulme.
This was my stall, and I’m hoping for the next show to have a range of ceramics to exhibit there too… watch this space : ) Many thanks to the organisers Jo and Sophie and all the other exhibitors and everyone who came, purchased, tweeted, instagramed, facebooked or generally just enjoyed the space alongside us all.
Finally, I traded one of my hand-drawn birds for this fun mobile Owl from talented artist and animator Lucy Gell. He’s already hanging around my studio, tooting quietly and generally making me smile, I’m hoping he’ll get along ok with the ceramic lions !
Fishink Ceramics
Hi everyone, I hope this finds you well, warm and enjoying the quieter run up to the December Christmas madness lol. I spent the weekend at the Sale Arts Trail, Christmas Bazaar, more about that later in the week.
In the meantime i’ve been busily beavering away, getting back to an old love of mine.. ceramics. More importantly, being able to make things from home and not have to be part of a class, course or group. Of course there’s nothing wrong with any of those options, but as I have to pick and choose the times I can devote to my clay work, it’s far easier if I can just get my bits and pieces out when I’ve a spare hour or two and not have to dedicate a specific day to going elsewhere to do it. Of course, this also has it’s limitations. I’ve no potters wheel, so the work I’m making is either flat or sculpted.
You might remember me mentioning my Sunbirds (above) at the end of August ? Slowly we are getting there. I love the idea of combining bird shapes with the sun, nature, plant forms or just textures. I like the retro feel to them (of course) and have begun to decorate (glaze) and had a few early ones out of the kiln too. It’s a long process which begins with drawings and then transforming the ideas into clay.
I’ve had great fun accumulating strange little tools to make a variety of imprints in the surface of the clay. I even took some speakers apart that I was throwing out and discovered a whole variety of new shapes I can use lol It’s a wonderful way to recycle !
I’ve made a whole array of different shapes and styles, to get a feel for which ones I like the best. The round ones are my bird-stones and are more like paintings on a smooth surface. Other forms are 3-d, curvy or even stand upright.
I created raised illustrations using a thin spongy felt, that I can use to roll into the flat clay, again I like the relief nature of this.
Most of the birds are unique, the shape being cut from the rolled out clay and then decorated, smoothed before the initial glazing can take place.
My Birdheads were another drawing idea brought to life and made 3-d.
A few other shapes and animals I’ve been playing with.
My friend Sarah who runs Sllipblog had some of her work in the kiln too. I love her sheep.
Finally some images that Sarah kindly took of my work going in and coming out of the various firings from her kiln.
I can’t wait to pop over and see the first fully completed set…. exciting times ! Any views or comments most welcome as usual and tune in later this week to see more from the Sale Arts Fair.
Fishink Illustration and Sale Arts Fair Christmas Bazaar 2017
It’s that time of year for festive trips to Craft Fairs and Christmas Bazaars.
I’m busy preparing work and will be exhibiting in the fourth Sale Arts Fair Christmas Bazaar.
The bazaar is open this coming weekend, i.e. on the 9th & 10th December.
It’s taking place at the Claremont Centre, Sale, Manchester, U.K, M337DZ.
Featuring around 40 designers and artisans, it’s free to visit and shop.
Opening times are 10am til 5pm (Saturday) and 10am til 4pm (Sunday)
Here’s a selection of the work that will be on show.
Last year I was comissioned to create all sizes of original artwork, from a 100 cm x 70 cm framed wall illustration, right down to a 10 cm x 15 cm small art-card piece.
This year I’m prepared for most requests lol. Even some handmade greeting cards.
A few new faces are making their debut appearance too and with original art ranging from £130 to £8, there’s something to suit everyone’s pocket.
Alongside a couple of older favourites.
Black and white through to more colourful art. The same dog and cat scenarios, they never do learn how to get along ! 🙂
Please feel free to share the date/event online and with your friends too.
Of course there will be dogs ! Woof !
If you’re in the Manchester area and free next weekend (on the 9th or 10th December), do pop over, say hello and introduce yourself.
I’ll also be accepting pre-Christmas comissions again. Looking forward to seeing you there.
David Semple Today’s Illustration from a retro age
https://saleartstrail.com/christmas-bazaar-2017/
as part of the Sale Arts Trail, Manchester. It’s at the Claremont Centre, M337DZ and open from 10 til 4 both days. More info on that soon. Hope to see you there.
Porto, Portugal. Part 2
Hi everyone, well well… so you have survived and made it to the final post about Porto in Portugal. Have you enjoyed the journey, do you feel like you’ve seen Porto in a new light or just simply discovered it’s charms for the first time… impressed ?
Considering I was only there for four days, it does feel like I’ve managed to pack a fair bit into the trip. All this time was helpful.
There was so much to see and around every second corner, a new discovery, another huge building to work out what it was for, a park, sculptures or some very weird trees ! (Perhaps they’re Portuguese Daleks lol)
I felt like the arts scene is really beginning to take a hold here, it wasn’t as developed as in Lisbon and my disappointment was not to discover many contemporary ceramic artists making something other than touristy items, fish, sardines or swallows. In a country famous for it’s pottery, I hope to see a development there in the next 5 years.
Also well known for it’s numerous (and very impressive) bridges crossing the busy river Douro.
You can even take a river cruise that explores six of the nearby bridges or head out further into the wine growing regions.
I discovered an italian festival on the far bank and a host of busy chefs trying to set a pizza record !
Boats, ships and cruisers everywhere.
Of course in the back streets you can pop into one of the distilleries and sample a glass or three of their beautiful Port… when in Rome etc. I was enjoying the port and the light whilst everyone else seemed to be playing with their mobile phones lol
But sadly, all too soon, all good things must come to an end.
Before heading to the stary sky and seeing Porto from above.
Via this futuristic airport, which looked like I’d just entered a sci fi movie set !
I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey with me, do tell me what were your highlights ?
Porto, Portugal. Part 1
Happy Monday everyone and welcome to the last double post about my recent trip to Porto in Portugal.
I find it easier to judge how I feel about a place after I’ve returned from it and go through the exercise of sifting through my photographs. Pictures have such strong connections to my memories, visual prompts I guess, I find they trigger thoughts and ideas much more than descriptions or words ever do. Porto, for me, is all about contrasts. New and old, up and down, tradition verses contemporary. Lots of empty buildings, some with scaffolding, some being refurbished and others just being bought. It’s a city, very much in the process of change and being redefined.
Snaking alleyways and winding stairways lead people to and from their homes to the city centre. Like tributaries running to the river.
You don’t just have to travel on foot !
The locals still like to hang out !
Almost everywhere you look, there’s always an up and down buildingwise.
Colour scaling the grey.
Warm tones.
Life in the busy city.
An amazing cafe (below) called Backsons who do fine Burgers and Mussels, well worth a visit. And a couple of views from a train journey to Pinhao which I didn’t cover in the posts. Watch out for Part two later this week.
Serralves Park and Villa, Porto. Part 2
Welcome to the last but one post concerning my travels around Porto in Portugal. For those of you who are regulars to my blog, I imagine that by now, you feel like you’ve traveled with me ? lol If you’ve missed my previous write ups about the Architecture, Design, Ceramics, Graffiti of the city itself, you can find them by searching for my past posts on Porto, using the search function on the right of the blog.
That’s quite a view.
Inside the villa, it’s all cool tones and sunlight splashes.
Art deco ironwork, greets you.
Some great details, I wonder what it was like to live here back in the 1930’s ?
The parkland surrounding the villa and museum is worth a visit alone.
Everywhere you look nature is bursting out in it’s finery.
Bark, birds and pine cones.
Hundreds of conkers in their cases, looked like a sea of small furry creatures.
The trees and forests were wonderful too.
I loved these skeletal leaf shadows.
Colour, texture and pattern everywhere.
After all that, a brief but glorious sunset, whilst enjoying a beer on the beach.
Next week, Porto the city and all it’s ups and downs… literally ! Catch up on Monday, hope you’ve been enjoying this series of posts about life in Portugal.
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Serralves Art Museum, Porto. Part 1
Welcome to the last but one, two-part post about my recent trip to Porto in Portugal. Today I’d like to show you around the main Art Museum and Gallery in Portugal… the Serralves Museum.
Architecture in Porto
Good morning everyone and welcome to another week. I hope you are still enjoying seeing as much of Porto as I did, just a few more posts to endure if you’ve had your fill already lol.
Just a ponder today on some of the beautiful architectural details I spotted a few weeks ago. Such a wild mix of styles, classical, deco, nouveau and at time a little bizarre !
I found the rich layers of gold and guilt work in the churches, far too much for me. Classical and Baroque overkill as far as I’m concerned.
Some wonderful buildings as part of the main shopping streets.
This veranda caught my eye as did the strange little flourishes on the glass domes on numerous rooftops across the city, I can only think they might be used to allow extra light into stairwells etc.. anyone else know what these structures are for ?
Some fab door details, scrolled ironwork and architecture.
A handy knocker !
This pink door can only be used by local pixies, as the top of it came up to my chest height !
Lovely weather worn carvings in this church doorway.
This impressive statue ” The Monument to the Heroes of the Peninsular War ” site in the middle of the large rotunda in the Boavista district of Porto. Despite being in the middle of a busy round-a-bout the monument is set in a peaceful tree-lined garden.
The statue celebrates the Portuguese and British victory against the French forces of Napoleon during the 1808-1814 Peninsular War. Set atop the impressive column is a lion, representing the Portuguese and British, dominating an eagle, representing the forces of Napoleon.
The figures at the base create a real sense of the tortures of war and the struggles during this period.
A few beautiful staircases spotted on my travels.
One of my favourite stop offs was in the Cafe de Paris. Filled to the brim with vintage memorabilia of old toys, cameras, lamps, soda streams and hundred of other bits and bobs. Great food, atmosphere and a free pianist thrown in with your glass of Port !
What’s not to like lol.
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