I have recently attended a couple of Alumi days at West Dean College. They have been excellent – two tutors Kate Boucher and Mark Anstee have guided, assisted and otherwise inspire a group of us whilst we work on our own projects. The day starts with a statement of intention and closes with a look at how each of us have got on achieving those objectives – a great opportunity to work with a group of like minded people all working on different projects in different ways. I hope that we have many more opportunities to do this at West Dean.
I have already posted about the first of these days. On the second day, I wanted to explore gesso so started by preparing a host of postcards by adding gesso. This was either left to dry or was scratched and scraped into first. Once day, I added ink and wax and scraped and scratched some more. Here is an example of the outcome:
At the end of the day, I was set two challenges – firstly, to try (for the first time) working with oil paint and the other was to think about working both very small and very large.
I decided to start with very small and an idea was borne! Next year my husband and I will exhibit at the Oxmarket Gallery in Chichester. As he is a photographer, I decided to set about creating a body of work responding to his photography by working in my own way using mixed media but utilising photographic equipment. To date, I have acquired two ancient cameras (the box brownie brings back childhood memories!), a hundred plastic slides, several hundred slide holders and some lovely vintage spools. Paper slide cases are on order and I shall have fun deciding how best to work with all of these. Whilst the objects are not found, I like the ethos of re-using vintage items in a new way. Here is a taster of what I have in mind:
I am creating a quantity of similar pieces to display in groups.
The next challenge – oils. I have just three tubes of oil paint and some cold wax medium. Should be fun!
I plan to experiment with working big at College in July.
The Chichester Art Trail has finished! For the first time, Alan and I opened our home for five days over the first two weekends in May. We had a great time! Whilst the volume of sales was not huge, we both did sell work and, what was just as important, received some fantastic comments from people who came round. We had 194 visitors – some came to see Alan’s monochrome photographs including those of Chichester Harbour and church interiors; some came to see my found object and mixed media work and most enjoyed both. Although our work is very different it does complement each other. There is a similar colour palette i.e. simple, earthy tones – I describe his work as precise and perfect whilst mine is distressed, tattered and torn and yet the two seem to work together.
Helen Frost Artist 