Eccentri:city

Hello! Excuse the lack of blog posts recently. The last few months have been very busy, one of the reasons is because of Eccentri:city. The exhbition Eccentri:city consits of 17 jewellers including myself showcasing a collabrative project based on the city of Edinburgh along with our individual collections of work. The exhibtion runs until this Thursday (26th July)at The White Space Gallery just off Gayfield Square.

Bobby Dazzlers at Sofi's Bar

Here is a peak of the some of my new collection that has been/ will be shown this weekend at Sofi's bar just near the shore of Leith , Edinburgh. Beautiful Jewellery by Joanne Garner, Krzysztof Borkowski, Nicola Turnbull, Helen Chalmers ,Claire Pouget Wright will be also be exhibited.

Back to School

Last Month I spent 3 days shadowing and helping in the art department of Montrose Academy in Angus. Working with the younger years of the high school we were exploring the art of Hundertwasser for inspiration for tapestry designs for the s1's. The project for the s2's was looking a textures and structures of sea life to transfer into body adornment. On my third day I taught the s1 classes the principles of engraving onto sheet metal through embossing on the inside of tomato puree packets which they later cut of into Hundertwasser style houses which were sewed onto of their tapestry pieces. In my final sessions with the s2 pupils I demonstrated samples pieces such as manipulating wires, plastic and paper in order that they could use to turn their 2d designs into 3rd objects. The shadowing that I am doing is part of a programme AAIS (Angus Artists in Schools ) run by Angus Council to encourage artists and designers to go into primary and secondary school in the region and run projects for a number of days.

An Experimental Thursday

Today I led an enamelling workshop to DJCAD 3rd year students in a beautifully sunny Dundee. We spent the day experimenting and having a play with different techniques such as printing, etching, sgraffito alongside fusing threads of glass and African beads. It was great to be back in the Jewellery & Metal department and to see the preparations for the degree show taking place, which I'm very much looking forward to seeing this coming May.

Craft Maker Awards

I was delighted to hear that I was successful in gaining some funding from the Edinburgh Craft Maker Awards. This award will go towards the creation of a new collection of work ... watch this space!

New Faces 2012

An exhibtion will shortly open at The Leith Gallery in Edinburgh. My own collection of work will be show cased alongside works from other selected artists and designers who gratuated from various Scottish art schools in 2011. Above is work by Roisin Connolly who's work has a strong photographic quality to it ,another fellow Duncan of Jordanstone graduate is Fillipa Oliveria who uses traditional techniques such as filigree in a contempory manner. Both these designers will be exhibiting their work alongside mine at New Faces 2012.

tumblr

Gone and got myself a online pin board here

Marrakesh Delights

Here are a few surfaces and patterns that caught my eye on a recent trip to Morocco. If one is a lover of colour and textures Marrakech is your city , around every corner there is a beautiful colour combination wether it be on walls,doors, market stalls... everywhere really!. This city knows how to offer a visual feast.

Julie Blyfield

A beautiful collection from australian jeweller Julie Blyfield who is strongly influenced by botanical specimens and historic embroidery which contain floral motifs. Blyfield's fascination with south australian plants and landscape is evident within these enamelled pieces.

Indian Green Cufflinks

Layers of Autumn - A Brooch

Robert Rauschenberg

Beautiful work from the American artist. Enjoy!

Turquoise & Gold Earrings

Octagon

Come along to see a collection of work from recent scottish graduates (including myself) . This Fringe exhibition takes place with an opening night on the 18th August and goes on till the 20 August. You will find Octagon taking place in Thompson's tower which is situated in Dr Neils Garden , Duddingston village which is a twenty minute walk from Edinburgh's city centre through hollyrood park .

Art in Action

Recently I took part in Art in Action, a four day art and craft event in the middle of Oxfordshire. With hundreds of artists and craftsmen alongside 250,00 visitors its full to the brim of activity and creativity. Volunteering with the Guild of Enamellers I had a great day of seeing lots of different workshops , stalls and exhibitions. Much to my delight while on a break I came across Helen Carnac's collection of vessels entitled 'Each Other'. Carnac creates beautiful mark making and textures fusing vitreous enamels to the surface of steel. Carnac presented this collection on a painted and drawn on structure which reflected the qualities found with the vessels.

Emerging enamellists from New Designers

Emily Knight - Series of temple bangles

Bekki Churcher - The Cells

Here are a couple of designer/makers from the 2011 New Designers that collections caught my eye due to their painterly approach to enamelling. Emily Knight's theme for her final year collection was based on her travels to India. The pieces Emily created was based on her memories and experiences of her time in this country full of textures, colours and patterns that are evident in this collection of work.


Another design graduate from Glasgow School of Art using enamelling in an expressive way was Bekki Churcher. The inspiration from Bekki's collection was centered around a modern ruin of St Peter's Seminary based in Cardross , Glasgow. This concrete building was completed in 1966 and used as a teaching college up until the 1980's. From being an award winning piece of architecture it now lies in Cardross village as a concrete skeleton being taken over by nature. Bekki's work encapsulates this juxtaposition of the man made versus nature.

Amelia's magazine mention

Got a little mention on Amelia's magazine which is exciting here it is!

Six Foot Gallery

My work will be shown at the Six Foot Gallery in Glasgow. The exhibition opens tomorrow night so if your in the area come along!

A House of Jewels