Fishink in Tatton Park and Fishink Artwork
Nestled within Cheshire and set in 1,000 acres of open park land, lies Tatton Park. We took the hound there last week on a quest for crocodiles!
To mark the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth, there is a whole host of things to do and see at Tatton this year. Including this ‘Enormous Crocodile’ trail. We weren’t, disappointingly, the most excited ones to be there ! The two very smartly dressed girls (below), kept literally screaming, every time they spotted a crocodile paw print along the route… and believe you me, there were many !
Here’s a few other ‘partly disguised’ crocodiles in the woods. It was all, light green, delicately leafy and full of surprises.
What a great idea to have a hunt in the woods for these scaly critters.
And right at the end… a photo opportunity, to pose with this Enormous Crocodile. Alas Boo wasn’t even tempted !
She was much more interested in the groups of Red and Fallow deer that we encountered during our walk. Heck we even saw some Vikings, who knows what you’ll encounter during a walk in the park these days.
I was wondering who these burrows belonged to, but as there were plenty of them, I assumed rabbits.
I’d never even heard of Ice houses let alone seen one for myself. The first one built at Tatton was in 1770, although this one was built later in 1856. The site was chosen in the shade to help keep temperatures low. The ice from the pond in front of the Mansion was taken to the Ice House via horse and cart. It was packed in layers of straw for use in the kitchens and for the storage of food. Ice stored in this way could last a full twelve months. When electric fridges were introduced the Ice Houses became redundant.
Lord Egerton of Tatton began to experiment with silage production for winter feeding of the cattle. Fresh grass and a mild salt mixture would be packed into the the Ice House. This feed would keep milk yields up during the winter. It is thought that this was one of the first attempts to make silage, which is now common farming practice.
There is a host of quite beautiful trees to marvel at whilst walking around and we were lucky with the sunshine too.
Boo, as usual seemed to enjoy it all and doesn’t stop until she gets home and then her legs won’t work any longer lol
See what I mean lol. An early date for your diaries all you local folk, is the weekend of the 9th and 10th July when I’ll be taking part in the wonderfully ever growing Sale Arts Trail once again. It was so popular last year that they’re expecting an even better turn out of both artists and customers. I’ve started getting some early ideas together.
Always inspired by my cool hound, I thought some foxes would be a welcome alternative.
I’m still taking on commissions if anyone has their own favourite animal they would like to hang on their walls. More options here on my Fishink site.
Fishink In Manchester
I missed telling you all about this at the time and now it’s a little dated, but still interesting. I was in Manchester around the time of the Chinese New Year. The Portico Library had a wonderful exhibition by Syrian artist Ousama Lazkani of imagery and laser cut outs to celebrate the four guardians of the sky. Pity there weren’t any monkeys : )
Beautiful bold lines and patterning, always grabs my attention.
It’s such a great space to exhibit too.
The best piece was this dynamic wooden laser-cut of the snake, dragon, tiger and bird. I loved how you could see through one to the other, so nicely done.
Now I’ve been bursting to tell you my news about Helen Borten for the last 2 years ! Boy do I know how to keep a secret lol
Any regular readers will know that I’ve been captivated and raving about Helen’s work on Fishink blog since 2012. The publisher Flying Eye Books got in touch with me as they were interested in Helen’s work, after seeing it on my blog. Two years later, a selection of Helen’s books are finally being republished for today’s generation to enjoy. I got a lovely ‘Thank You’ email from Helen for making the whole thing possible, but I was just overjoyed that my blogging had helped more people to see the beauty and illustrative genius of her books. Well done Helen.
Whilst in the Manchester Art Gallery I wandered around the exhibitions and events. This little robot chap caught my eye as he was whirring around the room. Little did we know, that he was being controlled by some unruly kids one floor above us, who could see what he was doing and direct him too. It was interesting to see people’s reactions, one girl in her twenties went running in the opposite direction (looking a little anxious) when it slowly followed her down the corridor. Which did make me laugh.
There were some rather creepy, animated, skeletal-figures who were deep in conversation with one another. I’m surprised the little kids watching didn’t have nightmares after seeing these.
In another room were James Capper’s rather ferocious looking machines. These spider / snap-dragon looking mechanical sculptures would have a great time patrolling your garden or home interior… if you trusted them to be left alone ! I’d have to take the plugs off just in case they sprang to life and went wild : )
I even made it onto the TV with Lizzie my blogging friend. So much to see and do in Manchester. When is the last time you wandered around your home town and discovered something new ? I’m also making the most of this sunny spell too.
Hope you enjoyed the mini heatwave whilst it lasted everyone.
Beatrice Cerocchi Architect – Artist
Beatrice Cerocchi isn’t just content with one career as a qualified Architect, she’s also a pretty fine Illustrator too. I came across her Tumblr page and thought I’d share her work with you. Somehow it’s not surprising that buildings often feature in her paintings !
From a brief resume on her agent’s site over at Plum Pudding Illustration, Beatrice says that she born in Rome in 1989. “I took a degree in Architecture in Rome at the university “Roma Tre” and then I went to Milan to take a post graduation course at MiMaster where I obtained a master in editorial illustration. During my university years I’ve never stopped cultivating my inclination towards illustration taking part in a number of illustration courses and competitions, in order to keep challenging and improving my skills. In 2012 I won the second prize at the contest Talent Next at Pisa Book Festival and I was selected at Secret7″ contest. Thanks to MiMaster my works have been featured on The New York Times, Liber Magazine and Picame Mag. ”
Her observations are superb, these kids above made me smile by they way that they were saying ..”but I want cake”. The placement of her characters is also very clever. Bringing the viewpoint down to the child’s perspective, makes the viewer see things differently and gives the child more importance in the illustration too. Like in the illustration below where the headless adults get on with their day to day life, whilst our world stops for the little girl to notice a bee.
Beatrice does like to play with different drawing media, textures and pattern. Probably another reason I spotted her work.
Her scenes have a serenity about them. Calm not chaos, peaceful both in their colour and perspective.
Her collections also caught my eye, I love the way that some of these birds are just outlines and that they are drawn differently, even within the same illustration.
Plants and space.
And people.
We are just the casual observers of the world Beatrice wants us to see. Sometimes it’s great just to be taken on that journey and not have to get there on your own : ) Keep up the wonderful work Beatrice and good luck with your two careers!
If you enjoyed this, you may also like the work of Laura Carlin.
Eric Gaskell Landscapes and waterscapes
I first came across the splendid work of Eric Gaskell whilst looking at some images of waterways and canals on google. His Narrowboat print stood out from the cover of a book on the subject and I was then instantly placed on a mission to track his work down. Look at these wonderful lino cut prints.
Such depth and colour. I can really feel the skies reflection in the print above and I love Eric’s stylised watery movement too.
Eric was born in Wigan, England in 1957 and studied painting and printmaking at Wigan College and Sunderland University. He left art college in 1980 winning two painting scholarships, one to New York and one to Istanbul, as well as the Sunderland Echo Fine Art prize.
Eric has a wealth of styles kept under his ‘artistic belt’, including sketching, water-colour, ink work, lino-cut, painting to name but a few. These sketches show what an accomplished artist he is. Such confident lines and flowing movement.
Many images from Eric’s travels appear in his work. Sometimes ink lines, sometimes water-colours and
sometimes they find their way onto Lino.
I hope Eric won’t be offended if I said that I can definitely see elements of Raoul Dufy in his work.
Also a smattering of David Hockney too. I wonder if these artists were sub-conscious influences, if at all ?
Eric says “I have been painting and exhibiting since 1980 and believe good draftsmanship is a prerequisite of good art and I always have a drawing book in use, drawing from life and experience. Generally the “life” helps to realise form and structure, while the “experience” lets me move ideas forward.
My work is about the process of making a picture. I let the works swap ideas each picture influencing the next. When an idea, a mark, or a colour works on one, I use it on others. I work on board (mdf) were I like to feel the resistance of the surface and I use acrylics which lets me reform the painting, block out areas and change colour balances fast, but I also use canvas and oil, when the picture lets me. I am interested in letting the picture develop from within itself. Allowing shape and colour, texture and mark to suggest the next, letting the image dictate and change the form. The lino cut has become an important part of my work, where the graphic and immediate mark-making suit the way I think. So far.”
More aerial views of rolling hills for our delight.
And finally, some coloured-pencil trees and wonderful watery meanderings as prints. See more on Eric’s Facebook page and do say hello from me when you visit : )
Fishink Walks Broadbottom to Coombes Ridge
Hello to you all, how was Easter and how spring-like is the weather where you are ? It’s being very British here at the moment and fluctuating daily between April showers and some sunshine, at least it’s a step in the right direction lol
We made the most of a warmer day recently and caught up with a relative and did a walk together. We started off in Broadbottom, a village in Tameside, Greater Manchester. Historically in Cheshire, it stands on the River Etherow which forms the border with Derbyshire.
Just seeing these yellow Primroses and the sunlit daffodils, made me know that Spring had officially arrived.
Of course Boo my dog was always eagerly ahead of the game, checking out the route and smells on (and off) the pathway.
Seeing these lambs, made me smile again. Yet another ‘chocolate box opportunity’ and spring-like sign.
It’s about a 7 mile walk from Broadbottom to Coombes Edge, through a few villages and up the steep ridge to the top by Coombes Rocks. Always a great view from there.
Even the sheep seem to admire the view.
This (below) is from the bottom of the Edge and then a couple (below that) taken from the top.
I liked how the lines of trees formed stripes on the landscape … always the textile designer lol.
There was a ‘beam me up Scotty’ moment on a neighbouring hilltop and plenty of craggy rocks and wonderful views to take in.
I doubt these ducks have viewed life from the edge lol Great to get out and about again. Tell me about your travels, what have you seen lately that has reminded you of Spring ?
Lynn Chadwick Dark Sculptures, Metallic Forces
Happy Easter Monday everyone, I hope you’re enjoying your part-time sunny break and making the most of some time away from the routine and working week… at least until tomorrow !
Lynn Russell Chadwick was born in London on 24 November 1914. After attending the Merchant Taylor School and a stay in France, Chadwick worked for several London architect’s practices between 1933 and 1939. At that time he focused on techniques of draughtsmanship and watercolour as well as oil painting.
During the second world war, Lynn Chadwick served for a while as a land labourer before volunteering as a Royal Navy pilot and serving between 1941 and 1945. On his return to London, he began to experiment with mobiles and earned a living, quite successfully, as a freelance designer until 1952. Collaboration with the architect Rodney Thomas proved a formative influence on Chadwick and from 1951, Chadwick received commissions for sculpture. He had a solo show at Gimpel Fils in 1950. For his figures, Lynn Chadwick mainly used pieces of iron welded together, which, as mobiles, are reminiscent of Calder’s work but as stabiles (Stabiles are a form of modern sculpture invented by Alexander Calder) filled with concrete stand on long legs and resemble a cross between abstract constructs and figurative skeletal beings.
I think some of his work is quite primeval, almost bat or bird-like and quite ‘dark’ in terms of the feeling they emit. There’s a strange almost fascinating air of foreboding about them, which only makes me want to find out more.
Chadwick achieved instant recognition in the 1950s when his objects were awarded numerous prizes (Venice 1956, Padua 1959, Lugano 1960) and were shown at exhibitions of international stature (1952 and 1956 Venice Biennales). He received commissions for more monumental sculptures, gradually transforming his rough, often aggressive-looking animal figures into softer, even more sentimental compositions with anthropomorphic features. While continuing to do standing figures, Chadwick turned increasingly often to recumbent or seated pairs of figures.
These seated figures remind me of Kings and Queens. Not dissimilar to the ideas and scultural forms of Henry Moore.
At home in Lypiatt Park, Gloucestershire, Chadwick established a sculpture park of his own. Long since a Commander of the British Empire (1964), Chadwick was also made an Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 1985. Although his work was in its heyday in the 1950s, Chadwick continued to develop his figures within the context of his material idiom until the century closed. By the time Lynn Chadwick died in Stroud, Gloucestershire in 2003, he was one of the best-known sculptors of the post-war era.
More strong and assertive bat-women figures here. Confident, dark and striding ahead.
Many thanks to Art Directory for the information on Lynn, used in this article. Wonderful work. I’d love to hear what emotions they stirr in you all.
Fishink at The Print Fair, The People’s History Museum
Saturday was a treat to pop into the People’s History Museum and take in the delights of the eleventh Manchester Print Fair. With over 40 artists attending and showing their work, there was a great cross-section of styles to be found. Like these beautiful lino cuts by James Green. I did love his donkeys.
A couple more from James including some Sheffield landscapes and some fetching woodland animals.
Another James working with linocuts and screen prints, was Leeds based illustrator James Bywood.
I liked his use of layering and textural techniques very much. Great colour sense too.
This serene capture of the Boathouse on Crummock Water (above) was probably my favourite.
I discovered more intricately-styled Cards, prints of 3-d birds and flowers by the organisor of the Girls Who Draw collection, Karoline Rerrie.
We worked out that we had spoken before but it must have been about 8 years previously at one of the Manchester Book Fairs, great to chat again and see her work going from strength to strength.
A new company to me was The Lost Fox showing their range of simplistic, yet elegantly sophisticated, limited edition screen prints.
Artist Kim Hubball working as Northern Sun, creates some wonderfully retro-modern designs. Starting out drawing commissions of mothers with their babies, Kim is moving into the world of textile designs and all over repeat designs. Great colours again.
Finally, from the brief selection of artists who caught my eye today, was the work of The Owlery and Sheffield designer and self taught pattern-maker, Ben Partridge. Ben is branching out from working with children with learning difficulties to creating new ranges of designs and inter-connecting prints on animal themes. He has a great attic space where he can work from and already sells through other shops and outlets. The best of luck Ben, it’s a great collection.
Thanks to everyone I chatted to and who let me show their work to you, the Fishink readers. I hope you’ll visit their websites and buy a little something too.
Fishink at The Print Fair, The People’s History Museum
Just a quick mention that I went to the Print Fair at The People’s History Museum in Manchester yesterday and it’s on again today, well worth popping in if you’re in the area and it’s Free entry too. Will be putting up the photos tomorrow… watch this space ! : )
Aduna and Yara Kono Illustration and Colour
Well I wandered into Chorlton and smack bang in the window of the local Holland and Barrett there’s my packaging shouting out for all it’s worth lol.
The company are going from strength to strength after becoming runners up in the Virgin ‘Pitch to Rich’ competition and landing themselves a cool £100,000 which is being channelled into their Make Baobab Famous campaign. Apparently close sources tell me that the bars were larging it up backstage at the Oscars recently so they’re certainly on their way.
Since Working on the Baobab packaging, I also created the Moringa one too, and now they have Super Cacao.. whatever next! Well done guys, keep up the great work.
This next artist I discovered when in Lisbon, yet Yara Kono was born in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1972. She started making her first drawings on the wall of the sitting room. Her mother, who at first was not too pleased, finally gave in to the “artistic talents” of her daughter. From wall to paper, from paper to the computer the years have gone by. Since 2004 she has been part of the Planeta Tangerina team.
Yara has illustrated many books.
I like her style and the way that she creates her animal shapes.
There’s also a softer pencil style to her imagery.
Great work, will keep an eye out for more developments with Yara’s work. More photographs on her Instagram page.
Jonathan Edwards and his Felt Mistress
I first noticed the work of Jonathan Edwards whilst on Instagram. His beautiful pencil drawings of Joni Mitchell caught my eye. Then later, his watercolours of trees and his fabulously loose, fifties-feeling sketchbook pages, all made me want to discover more.
His characters are perfect, you can spot everyone so easily.
He has worked in the comic world, appearing in 1993 in Deadline and Tank Girl Magazine with strips such as Dandy Dilemma, Simon Creem, The Squabbling Dandies (with Richard Holland) and one pagers about, amongst others, Scott Walker, Sly Stone, Nancy Sinatra, Kraftwerk and The Beach Boys. Also doing editorial illustrations for various company products and magazine articles.
He’s got a thing for orange floaty spacesuits, and I’m sure he’s not alone! lol : )
I love his watercolours, a couple here of Welsh landscapes.
A few from his travels in Tokyo and other places.
His sketchbook work is vibrant, expressive and wonderfully stylised.
These yellow and grey sheets were amongst my personal favourites. How fifties and calming.
Funnily he was in Lisbon around the same time as me, we might have had a coffee at the next table and never known lol.
His creations and creatures have no boundaries. Jonathan often teams up with his talented partner Louise Evans aka Felt Mistress, to create some 3-D versions of his illustrated characters. How amazing are these ?
I’ve a feeling this is the talented lady herself… (the one on the left that is!)
Louise is a UK based stitcher and prolific tea drinker who creates a range of one-off bespoke creatures. Originally trained in fashion design and millinery, Louise has brought many of the skills learnt through years of work as a couture dress maker to the world of character design.
What a wonderful combination, to be able to turn your drawings into something real and huggable !
A few more of Jonathan’s vivid sketchbook pages.
Such beautiful tones and movement, you can feel the warmth of the sun on the dappled pavement beneath this great old tree.
Stunning work. You can see more on Jonathan’s Instagram page here.
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