Imaginary Friends

Meet Poco!

I have just spent two days with the fabulous artist and author Kathy Beynette in her studio at the Torpedo Factory Art Centre in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. For the 40th anniversary exhibition of the Torpedo Factory we aimed to illustrate 40 childhood imaginary friends on two small dresses. We got to hear the most fascinating stories and the finished dresses are being raffled off for $1 a ticket in her studio, Studio 5. If you want the chance to win one you have until November 18th. 

A Random Doodle that Combines Wood and Embroidery

I have just finished having a play with an embroidery that I started in the Summer This really is an unplanned doodle but the outcome means that I have a way forward to work that really does combine embroidered and wooden elements. I only need to work out how and if I can make it move.

Wooden Clouds.

A Wood and Embroidered Queen Jezebel. 

And the reverse of the embroidery that was sadly covered up.

I had a great suggestion from a visitor to try working both sides of the embroidery. To establish the image on one side then flip it and work the back as the front. So that will be my next experiment. 

I mixed my devil with a cat

Maybe there is something about horns that add the extra element of menace.

Platform Boots Automata

Visit Little Titch and see him Dance.

If you are in the DC area I have five works in this exhibition at Gallery Plan b 

It starts tomorrow with the opening reception 6-8 on Thursday and..

I am still in studio 333 at the torpedo factory until 30th Aug.

Chelsea Boots

I am just waiting for the paint to fully dry on my latest automaton, Chelsea Boots.

The Bovver Cat now has a flower.

Bovver Cat Automaton and a Weed

He swings his mouse in a menacing way

But he is not as menacing as this tiny plastic cat that I bought in a variety store yesterday!

and a weed.

Handsome Cats!

A Handsome Cat

and a Slightly Wary Handsome Cat

Puppet Challenge Completed

I have finished my puppet for the Puppet Challenge at Clive Hicks-Jenkins' Artlog. If you are interested in seeing the making of this puppet search the Puppet Challenge labels on my blog.

Clive is in the process of posting the online exhibition and it is so exciting to see the fabulous puppets made by the other artists.

And here she/he is...

As a little girl

and as an Ogre

Here is a film that I made on my own, behind a curtain. I really struggled with the unintended sound effects that a balloon can produce while being inflated and deflated. If I was a performer I could have used these to great effect! and had a much more earthy ogre.

This Week at The Torpedo Factory

I have been sewing, well drawing with my sewing machine on fabric and

on net. I should have photographed this on a clean bit of wall!

But I am delighted with the quality of line on the net.

I have also had a go at reworking some old pictures.