Taking Time

Taking Time – Craft and the Slow Revolution

I went to see this show in Birmingham at the Waterhall with my Nan, and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. I was especially impressed by the work of Sue Lawty. There were tiny stones collected and positioned together to make this large scale image. Every stone represents it’s only period of time. It is explained perfectly by Sue Lawty herself on the ‘Making a Slow Revolution‘ blog.

Calculus 2009 – 2 x 3 m – natural stone on gesso (photo credit: John Coombes)

Calculas - Sue Lawty

My Dad Steve collects stones mainly from Scotland. They are such amazing objects and do make you think about how long they have been around and what experiences have moulded their shape and pattern. By taking them out of their natural environment you are almost freezing them in time, because they won’t be weathered and ground into sand.

I'm an amateur, but a happy one

After going to the butterfly farm in Stratford this weekend, I had a huge urge to paint watercolour butterflies. I bought myself one of those boxes that you get when you’re a child, with all the essentials to get you started. I can see looking at the photo and my first attempt side by side that I haven’t quite finished and I have a long way to go. However, I am extremely happy to have had a go.

Butterfly 10.11.09Original

I have found this website www.watercolorpainting.com which has lots of advice and ways of using watercolour (with a toothbrush for example) that I would never have thought of.

I have always had a strained relationship with painting. I think this is because your first experiences of art at school is painting and I never felt like I could get my ideas across successfully through it. One of the reasons that I am drawn to giving it a go again is probably my feeling of lacking in skill. A part of me thinks that if I can watercolour, I will have a skill that is more widely accepted.

Which makes me think, maybe I should take up the cello again…

Doppelgänger

My brother Theo found two doppelgänger sofa’s a couple of weeks ago, two days apart from each other. I think this was an amazing coincidence as I would have said that they were quite unique looking. The only difference between them is that the first one has a broken arm.

First Doppelgänger – 22nd October 2009 – Daytime

Rebi_Sofa

Second Doppelgänger – 23rd October 2009 – night-time

Doppelganger 2

doppelganger 2 close up

I think Theo takes such good photographs! I recently had to answer the question ‘What kind of art do you make?’ and I could confidently say ‘Sculpture and video’ but I felt I had to write ‘amateur photography’. I hope to get better and develop my photography skills.