Pushing my personal practice forward

Work in progress 1

Work in progress 1

Work in progress 2

Work in progress 2

Work in progress 3

Work in progress 3

I’ve always wanted to work on a large scale but not always found the courage to do it. Earlier this week, I spent 3 days on Zoom studying with Katie Sollohub.

She was running a course entitled ‘Embodied Drawing’ at Seawhite Studios. Emily Ball is the owner of this set up and for this course she was participating alongside us.

https://www.emilyballatseawhite.co.uk/

“The course is for students wishing to expand their drawing practice and find new limits, beyond the scale of your average drawing, by working large, freely, involving body and breath. You will be your own model, working on two or three large scale drawings, and guided by Katie’s exercises and meditation…… By connecting the process of drawing to our own physicality, we can harness directly the power and sensations of the body to create marks. The outcome is perhaps not important, it is more about the process than the product in this course. However, the results may surprise and inspire you in your approach to drawing and painting beyond the course, helping you to discover a fresh way of working from the figure, reinventing your visual response to the physical body.”

Climbed a mountain during the course but it was so worthwhile, great group of participants worldwide and we’re staying in touch on social media, supporting and inspiring each other.

My thanks to Emily and Katie and the Seawhite team for putting this on for us. If this description inspires you, they plan to run this course again in the new year.

Latest news from my studio…

I have recently started a new body of work based on ideas and experiences that have been rattling around on the back burner of my brain for a while now.

This ongoing series are currently grouped under the heading Fires in the Mind, and make reference to the source of inspiration of Dave’s installation of the same name.

These autobiographic paintings are attempts to portray the struggles and internal dialogues I am currently going through whilst still receiving counselling to help me come to terms with the traumatic event of Dave’s death that changed absolutely everything in my life.

‘Rabbit Holes’ seeks to express the crazy internal unfocussed state of mind that I found myself enter, heightened over recent months by the solitude of lockdown restrictions.

'Fires in the Mind - Rabbit Holes'

‘Fires in the Mind – Rabbit Holes’

An easing of lockdown restrictions over this summer has highlighted to me the need to find the courage to become more earthed and focussed as the world too begins to feel its way through this pandemic that has changed everything in everyone’s lives forever.

‘Towards Awareness’ expresses the beginning signs of movement towards focus and a more frequent feeling of calm. Still sensing the omnipresent hair trigger of grief that kicks my feet from under me, the slow process of regaining my centre and grounding myself has begun.

'Fires in the Mind - Towards Awareness'

‘Fires in the Mind – Towards Awareness’

Society of Women Artists 159th Annual Exhibition now open online

 Exhibition now open.

The Society of Women Artists
159th Annual Open Exhibition – Online
Honoured to have four pieces of my work selected for this years exhibition which received very high numbers of entries.
You can see the exhibition online from the 22nd September -
31 December 2020
Vote for your favourite painting by clicking the Public Choice Voting button below your favourite artwork.

Remembering Past Successes

2011: SWA The 150th  Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London

2011: SWA The 150th Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London

 

In 2011 I was thrilled to receive the St Cuthberts Mill Award from Princess Michael of Kent. This was before I was elected to full membership of The Society of Women Artists in 2012.

In 2015 my painting ‘Blues Saxophonist’ won the Frank Herring Easel Award.

 

 

 

2014: SWA The153rd Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London. Princess Michael of Kent and then Director Sue Jelley

2014: SWA The 153rd Annual Open Exhibition at the Mall Galleries London. Princess Michael of Kent and then Director Sue Jell

Forthcoming Exhibition: Chalk + Cheese

Flyer front CHALK AND CHEESE

 

Detail from kinetic sculpture 'Horse and Alter Ego - Shadowplay' by Andie Clay

Detail from kinetic sculpture ‘Horse and Alter Ego – Shadowplay’ by Andie Clay

 

Detail from installation 'Fires in the Mind' by Dave Clay

Detail from installation ‘Fires in the Mind’ by Dave Clay

Dave and I had always planned to have a joint exhibition called Chalk + Cheese. Sadly, it didn’t happen while he was alive, so I’m going for it now. It will showcase his installation and sculpture work and a range of my own mixed media work too. There’s also an opportunity for past students of Dave to participate digitally.

The exhibition will take place at The Corn Exchange Gallery in Cardigan from the 15th – 20th February 2021.

Further details nearer the time.

Four paintings selected for the Society of Women Artists 2020 Exhibition

Really pleased to have four paintings selected this year. Unfortunately the exhibition is not able to go ahead at the Mall Galleries due to the current Covid-19 situation.

The Society of Women Artists thank the Mall staff for all their support and look forward to showing there next year with a stronger show than ever.

The exhibition will be open online from Tuesday 22nd September until Wednesday 30th December 2020.

www.society-women-artists.org.uk

Ebb and Flow 2   Ebb and Flow 3Ebb and Flow 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vertigo Surf 2

 

 

My new members page at The Royal Watercolour Society of Wales has gone live!

RWSW screengrab 2Do have a look at my page on the RWSW website which has now gone live. Looking forward to my first exhibition with them in July at Oriel Y Parc, St Davids which will be a virtual exhibition initially, hopefully with a physical exhibition slot later in the year.

Royal Watercolour Society of Wales exhibition at Oriel Y Parc, St Davids

This July, my work will feature in a Royal Watercolour Society of Wales exhibition at Oriel Y Parc, St Davids. Due to the pandemic, the exhibition will be initially held online.

The theme for the show is ‘Vision and Heritage’, displaying work showing the landscape and life of Wales in all it’s varied forms and including images reflecting the diverse beauty of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

We are hoping the exhibition will physically be able to happen either later in the year or next year.

Land Marks-Cliff 5

 

 

 

 

 

Image: ‘Land Marks – Cliff 5′

Honoured to be selected for membership of the Royal Watercolour Society of Wales

I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to exhibit alongside other professional artists whose work contains a focus on the versatility of water-based media on paper.

Showcasing my work within the Society’s lively exhibition programme at quality exhibition venues both within Wales and internationally, will bring new audiences to my work.

https://www.royalwatercoloursocietywales.com/

Being Inquisitive

 Image: ‘Being Inquisitive’

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Boundary Art second anniversary exhibition preview

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Sunny but breezy day in Cardiff earlier today for the Private View at Boundary Art. Interesting mix of work in 2D and 3D and excellent refreshments provided in the Chinese Tea Garden by Joan. First experience of Chinese tea ceremony for me, a great way to relax and soak up the ambience. Really pleased to have my work hung beautifully in front of faceted ceramics by Kin Leung. If you were unable to get to the Private View, the exhibition runs until 30th April. Gallery open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm. www.boundaryart.com