'Zenith'

'Zenith'

Wednesday 18 December 2013

My Muse

What better way to re-start blogging than to talk about my Muse.
Over the years, my inspiration has come from all over, from other artists, from the media, from books, films, all kinds of places. However there has been a constant force that never fails to get me excited.

I give you Fiona Rae.

Look!!-Look!!-Look!!
Look!! Look!! Look!!
oil and acrylic on canvas, 2006
84 x 69 in / 213.4 x 175.3 cm
© Fiona Rae

I've been to two Fiona Rae shows, once at the Timothy Taylor gallery in London, and once at Leeds Art Gallery. I can't even tell you, I become a kid in a candy store.
Visual bliss they are, just spectacular, vibrant, cute, and yet at the same time oozing with slightly sinister hints, the odd face of a beast, perhaps a dragon; a throwback to her background in Japan perhaps. Running paint that hints of dripping blood, whilst dancing deer, or sometimes collaged cats and dogs peek out at you.

Her ability to take modern imagery, popular culture and manage to unite this with a very painterly approach, to create a formal language in paint astonishes and delights me.
Her colour palette is perfection in my eye, not abashed about using garish street colours against beautifully harmonised taupes, browns and blacks, her ability with colour is phenomenal. If I could attain even a fraction of that in my work I'd be pleased

I am in awe of her work, go and see it if you get the chance, I certainly will be going again.
The next one, hopefully at Nottingham Castle. As you can see by following this link, she's scheduled to do a joint show with Dan Perfect in Spring. Can't wait!
http://www.fiona-rae.com/news/fiona-rae-dan-perfect-joint-exhibition/

You can check out her website here: http://www.fiona-rae.com/

Bye x





Tuesday 17 December 2013

A change of pace

It's been a very long time since I blogged, and I've realised why...
The blog was focusing on my own practice, my scanty competition entries, works in progress etc, but when you work full time, your artwork naturally develops at a slower pace that were you working on it full time and so, I ended up with big gaps in my blogging whilst I built up work to talk about.

However, I now hope to change tack a little and blog about art in general.
Working as I do in the arts sector and enjoying my practice alongside, I live and breathe the subject daily. There's also a whole host of craft projects that I enjoy; sewing, baking and anything else that takes my fancy. so I will make a promise to write more often, as I do have plenty to say!!

Hope you'll come along for the journey :)

Vicki