Mini-Makers session at MK gallery

 

 

This was my first mini-makers session at Milton Keynes gallery and it was a real success. We were working on the themes of painting techniques and Milton Keynes architecture. Instead of paint brushes, we used a range of household implements to make marks with including straws, balloons, sponges, plastic cutlery and Clingfilm! Everyone loved getting really messy and it was great to see them realise that paint could be used in such experimental ways. We then looked at and discussed different buildings and spaces in Milton Keynes, thinking about shapes in particular. Everyone then took scissors to their paintings, creating buildings, trees, sun, rain, cars and people out of them and composed them into beautiful unique cityscapes.

 

We also worked on one large collaborative piece (see top image) which went through the same process as the individual paintings. I've taken this masterpiece home to do some additional work to it and will post a photo on here once it's complete!

MK gallery workshop

 

 

This was my first workshop at MK gallery, working with yr1 pupils from a local school. The workshop was based on the current exhibition, Treasures in MK, which showed artworks from local collectors and collections based loosely on three themes; portrait, maritime and landscape. With these three in mind, I collected lots of different collage materials and the pupils made exciting colourful images of people, the seaside and the countryside. They loved playing with the different materials and, with no pens on the table to draw outlines, they really had to be imaginative and create using shapes and colours alone. It was fantastic to see them make artworks that they were so proud of and then look around the exhibition and be able to make links between their own work and the artworks on display in the gallery.

Lines in the sky

 

 

One of the many things I love about Manchester is it's constant evolution, every time I visit something has changed...new buildings, new shops... and this time the wheel had been moved from the bottom of Market Street to the top, which brought a whole new focus to Piccadilly Gardens and whole new photo opportunity for me. Something draws me to things against the backdrop of the sky...I think it's the contrast of mother nature with man-made creations. Paint against pen. Freedom against constriction. Something like that anyway.

Joana Vasconcelos exhibition

 

 

I was really excited about going to Manchester Art gallery having not been for so long and though I had not heard great things about it's current exhibition by Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, I was very pleasantly surprised. My favourite element of the exhibition was not the three main large pieces which you had to pay to see, but the smaller pieces which were dotted around the other rooms of the gallery, in amongst the traditional paintings, subtly hiding amongst them. The contrast between old and new, dull and bright, was extremely refreshing and brave and brought Joana's work to the whole gallery, rather than just secluding it to one small section. Lovely work.

Central Library

Last time I went to Manchester's Central Library was about 3 or 4 years ago, before it closed for renovation. Finally reopen, it was wonderful to and see how they have restored the beautiful round building and brought it into the 21st century. These words were painted around the ceiling in the central atrium, really love the gold lettering and the curves. The third picture I took whilst on the tram on the way home afterwards...it was captured in a second, but I think captures the angles just beautifully. I could make this into a really nice collage.

And on the 6th day God created MANchester

Manchester and I have a very special relationship and every time I go there I feel totally inspired by the buildings, the history, the people...everything really. When I come back I just want to lock myself away in my studio and put my thoughts and feelings about the city onto canvas.

The Boss

This was one of the hardest pieces of artwork I have ever battled. I started it two years ago for my dad's 58th birthday and just couldn't get it right. Then it was due for Father's Day, then his 59th and finally, approaching his 60th, I decided that was it, it had to get finished! I slaved for a week and finally it got there. This is it just before I finished it.....relief!