Collections and everyday curiosities

These new prints are the first of a series based on collections and everyday curiosities.  Inspired my trip to Oxford in January, and the collections of everyday items that I discovered in the Pitt Rivers Museum. 

I was struck by the way the museum arranges its artifacts; not by historical age or geographical location, but instead by the purpose of use; showing how different cultures solved the same problem [combing hair, playing music, protecting feet and covering bodies].  These 'curiosities', gathered because they seemed foreign and exotic at the time are now carefully labelled and behind glass to protect them.  They, however, are broadly [with some exceptions] not extraordinary but in their time and context very ordinary and everyday. 

It appealed to me, the idea of collecting together multiples of similar everyday objects in my drawings just like one of these Victorian collectors.

These limited editioned giclees are printed on best quality thick art paper.
Each print will soon be available in my usual galleries [see side bar] and in my etsy shop.  
Unframed A2 print £48 each [approx 42 x 60cm]
Unframed A3 print £36 each [approx 30 x 42cm]
Unframed A4 print £24 each [approx 21 x 30cm]

Oxford

After a busy autumn and Christmas season making and selling work for my ever supportive galleries, pop-up shops and also our co-oporative shop, Paper Plane, I decided that I needed a bit of time to gather my thoughts and make plans for some new work.  So a working retreat was arranged - nothing formal; just me and a week away from my usual surroundings and family commitments.  I decided to take 4 days in Oxford to draw and take stock.

The time in Oxford was completely refreshing.  Though I worked long days, drawing solidly, the space to make plans and follow inspiration without any of the usual distractions or time restraints was just what I needed.

I had the whole beautiful city at my fingertips, and although I did spend one day concentrating on cityscapes I found I wanted to spend most of my time holed up at the wonderful Pitt Rivers museum and the Natural History Museum, getting obsessed with collections and everyday curiosities. 

The drawings that I produced during this week were not in themselves master pieces, but looking back at them now they are treasure troves to me, full of new ideas about subject matter and a different approach to my work that has set me up for the rest of the year ahead.   I found it to be a most restoratorive and productive start to the year and something that I would like to think could and should be an annual event.

Stitched drawing

I was recently asked to run a 'stitched drawing' workshop at the vibrant Paper Village, an independant art and craft shop which runs a variety of making courses.   It was a very relaxed atmosphere and lots of very beautiful and experimental work was created.