MORE PICTURES FROM 'ZEN AND THE ART OF ROAD TANKERS'

'Zen and the Art of Road Tankers' was great fun.  Herewith posts of more Ikebanas which I did enjoy creating although I wasn't expecting my Anthuriums to die within 2 weeks.  I had been told they would last about 2 months!

 'Raindance', 'The Journey', 'Aliens' and 'Golden Sun' silk hangings.  I so enjoyed my travels to source imagery of road tankers and then to 'play' with them to enhance their beauty.  The perceptions of road tankers were never the same for many people and I didn't meet one nasty driver.

My lime green anthuriums with silk hangings, 'Breath of Dawn', 'The Sound of Rain' and 'Spirit', all created in meditation from sound only, a profound experience.  My sheep maaa'd and birds tweeted and cawed.  Pheasants squawked as they rose from the field outside my studio - and I represented them all in the silence, eyes closed.  The 'Zen' Masters do not work with their eyes but from their Soul Centres, according to my research.

Through another lime green Ikebana, my limited edition scarves with 'Planet', a silk hanging and 'Tanker Inside'

Irises form my Ikebana here.

I had so many lovely comments about my work and my prints seemed to go well.

'20's Swing', 'St. Louis Blues' two Limited Edition silk scarves (25) and 'Planet', a striking silk hanging where viewers saw different imagery within it; sheep, dancers, dandelions, monkey on the moon etcetera, an intriguing piece.

'20's Swing', a pure silk Deco inspired scarf, limited edition of 25, signed and dated with a signed dated and numbered certificate.

'St. Louis Blues' another pure silk scarf, as above.

'ZEN AND THE ART OF ROAD TANKERS' Exhibition at the Devon Guild, Bovey Tracey 17th April - 7th June

'ZEN AND THE ART OF ROAD TANKERS'  And the exhibition is up, apart from the labels.  Big thank you's to Taja and Flora.  Putting up the exhibition was like a magic ballet with each piece appearing without too many hitches.  It opens tomorrow, 17th April.  The Devon Guild of Craftsmen is always worth a visit anyway having several galleries and a large shop.

'SPIRIT'' 'BREATH OF DAWN' and 'THE SOUND OF RAIN' are three hangings created in meditation from sound.  I opened the doors and windows to my studio.  My pet sheep crowded around the double doors to their field at the back.  I could hear soft maaa's as they cudded contentedly.  Silk prepared, I surrounded myself with a selection of brushes and tools and often incompatible dyes.  Once at peace, I was astonished at how the sounds were isolated and magnified.  Without opening my eyes, I 'painted' the sounds; a little wren who invades my studio, crows diving on a pair of buzzards, a lone pheasant, and found that the marks I made looked a little like the birds.  And some like the maaa of my lambs.

From left to right, Round disk, 'TANKER INSIDE', an image of the making of a huge tanker where enormous sheets of stainless steel are rolled and joined to make the body of the tanker, the birth.  Then '20'S SWING' and 'ST. LOUIS BLUES' two New Orleans inspired black and white scarves with an Art Deco feel.  These scarves are Limited Edition, (25) signed and dated with a signed and numbered certificate.  I love them and am going to have one myself, very unusual as I never wear scarves!  Finally, 'PLANET'. a special silk hanging with a question, 'What do you think it is?'

   

'BIRTH OF CHOCOLATE'.  Road tankers carry liquid chocolate.  This hanging is so simplified from its complicated beginnings, milk, white and plain chocolate with a touch of orange.

'DESTINY' and 'ONENESS'  Again two pieces greatly simplified

'TANKER PURITY' and 'TANKER INSIDE''  Tanker Purity shows a beautiful white tanker coming straight out of the paint shop, as pure as an Anish Kapoor sculpture.

FRAMED PRINTS:  'TANKER MYSTERY', 'THE BEAUTY OF THE TANKER', 'AND THE TANKER ROCKED' and 'AND THE VODKA FLOWED'.  Tankers being strangled by their pipes like a huge serpent.  I followed many tankers and all of the drivers seemed to love their jobs.  I asked one where 'dead' tankers go as we don't see them in scrap yards?  He said, 'Oh, those go to the third world where they are cleaned out and then they carry vodka'.  Noooo.  'Not yours?', I said noticing that he was carrying toxic waste.  'Oh yes', he said, 'They just give them a good clean'.  I haven't drunk vodka since but I am guessing he was teasing.

My first ever Ikebana!  in front of 'ALIENS' and 'GOLDEN SUN' two silk hangings inspired by ginormous backs of tankers in Whale Tanker's yard, one, stainless steel and the other rusted mild steel.

My Ikebana creating beautiful shadows.

Ikebana with two other hangings, 'RAINDANCE' on the left, where shadows appeared of a 'cat' and then a 'mouse' with a trailing stainless steel tanker wheel, falling like rain.  

Then, one of my favourites 'THE JOURNEY'. As I travelled on the motorway at night, often to Bath Spa University or Falmouth where I did my Masters, the rear lights danced like butterflies.  I loved the image of the shadow of branches on the back of the tanker.  An old crone leans over a cot obviously containing 'Rosemary's Baby', the Devil incarnate!

NEW SCARF BOXES

I have had unbelievable difficulties in creating a presentation box for my scarves. My print table is littered with paper cutouts of boxes of varying sizes, all recommended by box companies, galleries, etc. but my scarves just wouldn't fit. some were long, some too deep. Eventually, I found a size I liked and which seemed to be right for my scarves.

Then I created so many designs, finally choosing this one - but the company templates only went up to this size and I had to reduce the image considerably. But, I like it better. I like the ambiguity of it. Some like to look at it with the name across the top and others, like me, see it down the right hand side with Made in England at the bottom. Job done - for now.

Now working on a new card.

Greetings cards on their way.

'Cosmic Tankers' pure silk crepe de chine scarf in newly designed presentation box

'Cosmic Swirls' beautiful silk scarf in it's new presentation box.

Silk Scarf with no name - yet

'Cosmic Swirls' scarf to be treasured with presentation box.

AFTER THE DAY OF PHOTOGRAPHY WITH DAVE GREEN

The problem is remembering all of the settings etc.  I tried to set up something similar in my studio but somehow, not as good.  I need more reflection.  I was amazed at the difference that made.  Anyway, here are a couple of the pictures I took in my studio.

 'Angels on Lime'  This design is created from 'Zen' imagery designed in meditation.  Each image is unique and special.  The colours have come from the David Hockney paintings in his exhibition at the Royal Academy, London.   Pure crepe de chine silk scarf.  90 x 90 cms  £169

 'Honey birds'  Lovat green border.  More 'Zen' imagery created in medition from the sound of my sheep maaing and the birds playing.  As above.  More subtle colours.

 'Cosmic Swirls.  Whilst on my M.A. I became mesmerised by the geometry of the backs of road tankers, much to everyone's amusement.  That circle again.  This is a tanker design and it is truly stunning.  Next step, a live model to display them.

'Hawaiin Night'  Can you see that hot red sun over the sea.  Sigh!  I didn't seem to be able to get that white background here.  A long pure silk stole.  £159.

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 'Hawaiin Night' long stole again.  This one is better.  I love the way the white background still has a faint shadow around it.  If I take out the background and make it white, it is so stark.

And this one is 'Hawaiin Dawn'.  Can you imagine  the sound of the sea and the sun rising.  I would love to go to Hawaii, wouldn't you?  90 x 90cms of shear, unique luxury.  Beautiful, quality silk that will last a lifetime.  £169.

DAY OF PHOTOGRAPHY WITH DAVE GREEN

I find my new Sony Cybershot Bridge camera really difficult to use and alter the settings so I have kept it on auto.  I enjoyed spending a day learning how to understand the settings on my camera, how to work with natural lighting and reflectors, white backgrounds for press releases, magazines etc.  We talked about websites and just how important it is that your photographs are stunning, noticeable and that they show your work off to the best advantage.  After all, we all want our designs to look spectacular.  Because my supporting study was photography, I feel I should be able to take great photos.  Ugh.  I have files of rubbish.  Not giving in yet though.  Remembering all of the settings is the problem!

Here are a couple of pictures I took at David's.  The colour isn't 100% accurate, but to get acceptable white backgrounds without fiddling is fantastic.The objective, for me, was not to expect to take great pictures, but just to come home with a new knowledge.  I was quite pleased with them though.

'Shrimps and Mermaids' 1

'Shrimps and Mermaids' 2

'Shrimps and Mermaids' is a wearable art scarf in pure, quality crepe de chine silk, a bespoke design created from 'Zen' imagery drawn and painted in meditation.  I overlayed incompatible dyes, pigments and inks onto the silk, steaming them altogether.  Some of the imagery is so beautiful.  This is one of my favourites, so stunning to wear next to the skin.   £169.

'Hawaiin Night'.  A long pure silk stole.  Gorgeous!  £159.

Also, I wanted to know what settings to use to take a close up picture with a blurred background.  I might need to ask Dave to remind me of that one.

Durrh!  I HAVE got a migrane but I am besotted with the work of German Sculptor, Tobias Rehberger.  He has created several cafe interiors in optical black and white with a touch of scarlet. (plenty of text on the internet so I am only going to share some pictures).  He inspires me to get back to my black and white work which I absolutely adore.  I think his work is brave, out there being judged.  It takes guts to create such striking work.  Imagine having a coffee in these environments.

'PREPARING TO SELL' Seminar, Bovey Castle.

I found the 'Preparing to Sell' seminar at Bovey Castle so informative yesterday.  I thought I had learnt a lot about Facebook and Twitter.  However, I am feeling a bit of a twit trying to set up a Business Page on Facebook!  What a 'nana!

It is always great to meet and connect with other Crafts People.  Learning the necessary points of doing a show, be professional, smile, no eating on your stand or sitting in a corner being uncommunicative.  Don't forget your Wholesale Price List for Galleries etc.  Make sure they are genuine.  Also, do have a Press Pack ready with top quality images and interesting meaningful blurb.

Note:  Magazines want images on a white ground so that they can lift them straight on to their white page.

When applying for shows (or anything), keep it simple.  Keep your images of a top quality, uncluttered and not too diverse.  Keep it simple.

Re. your website, make sure your web designer is in tune with Art and Design.  Nothing too clinical or too flashy.  Do what YOU want, keep it simple, let the pictures do the talking.  Make sure your metatags are meaningful and that you have access to update them.  This is important for Google to pick you up.  Google loves links and blogs.

If I understood it, I would say more about links and shares on Facebook but I am still struggling.  However, I do know we should post regularly, i.e. once or twice a week to be noticed, not too much or people will get bored.