December Issue of Collage is here!

 Click here to read

For our Christmas issue we are writing about the Madonna - as an icon, symbol, woman mother (oh yes, and the one who is a pop star too...!)

Nearly there ...

My new project, Collage Magazine, is stepping up. Issue 2 is due out, after lots of hard work, on Wednesday December 19th. It's our 'Madonna' issue for Christmas, where we investigate the iconic role of the Madonna in art, consider how women balance creativity and motherhood. Plus women artists discuss their relationship with religion.
I'll post a link here when it's published but in the meantime here is a collage (ha,ha) of images from the new issue.

Collage Magazine- first issue!

Here is the first issue of Collage Magazine, my newest project. It's an on-line magazine for women who are interested in politic and art. have a flick through and I hope you like it!

Open publication - Free publishing - More collage

Collage

I'm contributing to a new on-line magazine for women in the arts called 'Collage'. The first issue will be published in October and it's theme is self-portraits. Below is my own little collage of women artists from the sublime (ahh, Marlene Dumas) to the ridiculous (at the bottom is an image from a chocolate ad of what those guys in the advertising world think women artists look like!)

Details coming soon on how to receive your issue of Collage straight to your in-box.

Empress's new clothes?

I finally took a trip to Margate the other day to visit the Turner Contemporary and see the Tracey Emin exhibition that's on there until the end of the month. 

Entitled 'She lay down deep beneath the sea' it's a collection of gouache, embroidery, monoprint and bronze sculptures. I love the ideas in this exhibition - it's deeply resonant of that aspect of womanhood which seems to be linked, atavistically, to water. The Lady of the Lake, selkies, mermaids and sirens are all brought to mind by this work which also provides the visceral gut punch of Emins' destroyed, nude,questioning woman, spilling her fear, love and secretions across the paper. 
The initial impression is beautiful but, like many a lovely person, unsatisfying.

In terms of confessional art, I can't see how we can go much further than Emin. She puts herself firmly at the centre of her work, confronting us with everything about her, like the high culture version of Kerry Katona. I find it fascinating and powerful but ultimately a dead end. After this exhibition I felt as though the only thing I'd had my eyes opened to was more of Tracey Emin's emotional journey through life. And her journey through life has been very different to mine, so although I have an interest (in the same way I do about Katona or Kardashian - or anyone else who's name begins with K) it's fairly fleeting. If this gut spilling were 'the personal is  political' and functioned as the way in to learning more about life, history, politics, to having my preconceptions challenged and my mind blown by fabulous philosophical concepts, then I would be all in favour of yet another blue gouache scribble. But I, along with probably everyone in the gallery that day, have thrown away thousands of little scribbles precisely because they have so little meaning. Emins' suggestion (made in relation to her 'Unmade Bed' installation) was that it's art because she's an artist and she made it. But the world has turned and I feel that's no longer good - or interesting - enough.
Finally, the physical quality of the work is so questionable - her embroideries (which I'm guessing are made with the help of 'fabricators', those Dobby house elves of the art world) are machine made. I embroider by hand and I was accompanied to this show by an artist who hand crochets giant female sculptures and we found this very disappointing. It felt cheap and corporate, like being in one of those restaurants where the accountants have measured out how many olives go on the pizza.
I want to know - who is Emin's viewer? Who still finds this interesting? Her investigation into being herself would only keep us coming back if she radically reinvented herself, developing intellectually or, at the very least, becoming a Scientologist. Meanwhile, her investigations into being a woman are so trite that they wouldn't stand up to night down the pub with girls. I feel that, far from being a poster girl for women, she's parading all this fanny art for the boys. It's the 'look at me, I'm a bit mad, I am' act that a certain type of kooky girl thinks men will find cute. In reality all women live with abortions, miscarriages, still births, rapes, infertility, unequal pay, ugly men pawing at them and the horror that is Grazia magazine. We don't need a scribbly Emin to reveal that to us.
If all this sounds a little harsh it's because I am disappointed. I wanted better from her, she is so obviously capable. In many ways the work is attractive and charming. But then so is that painting of the Highlands on a tin of shortbread. I'm about the same age as Emin and I wanted her to be my artist, to be the one who speaks for me and my kind. But conceptual art is only as fabulous as the concept and Emin is no philosopher. If you have nothing to say then please paint better. 

Rodin's 'The Kiss'  was also on show at the Turner Contemporary.

Athenais and the Golden Trunk

See my new blog - a murder mystery novel serialised in twice weekly posts!


Athenais and the Golden Trunk

Showgirl sketches

Medway Open Studios at the Nucleus Arts Centre

Next weekend (7th and 9th July) many of the artists at the Nucleus arts centre are opening their studios to the public as part of the new Medway Open Studios Festival (Medway Open Studios). For anyone interested the process of making art (or perhaps buying some....!) it will be a fascinating opportunity to see how artists work.
Nucleus Arts centre is at 272 Chatham High Street and most of the studios are open between 10am to 6pm.
Hope to see you there!

Here's my painting that was chosen by the homewares and lifestyle blog Forages (Forages ) as one of the featured artists' work.

ipad therefore I draw

Recently I acquired a lovely, shiny totally unnecessary  iPad. After seeing Hockneys iPad drawings at the RA exhibition I persuaded myself that no right-thinking artist should be without one and eventually scrimped together enough money to drive my husband to the shop where he bought it for me. Ah, the commercial exchanges of married life....

Anyway, I truly am in love with this bit of gadgetry. I won't rhapsodise over the ability to obsessively check emails and Facebook wherever I go, or how easy it was to find and download every episode of the Camomile Lawn (felt a frenzy of need to see it after reading Caitlin Moran's 'How to be a Woman', in which she pays tribute to Jennifer Ehle's breasts floating in a bubble bath). However, I will upload the sketches I have done on it.

I've not used the computer much for art and so the whole idea of layers came as a bit of a shock but I'm getting used to them. I'm using Procreate at the moment which seems to suit the way I work but if anyone else has any suggestions I'd be pleased to hear them. I also treated myself to a Bamboo stylus as I hated the way fingertips leave greasy smears across the exquisite, glossy surface. Apart from that, I'm just mentally welded to the idea of a pencil in my hand so using it seems far more natural.

There's lots of development to do using my new beloved (fantasy dinner party - just me and iPad at the  moment) but here are my early experiments..

Never mix Snakes with Crochet ....

Sadly this show has been cancelled - but there will be more next year.

In September Madame Fifi and I are putting on an exhibition at the Nucleus Gallery. We had great fun over the weekend having our photos taken for it.  Carl, the photographer, was excellent at negotiating children, dogs, snakes and vanity. The snake (a pampered pet, by the way if anyone is worrying) particularly liked Madame Fifi's crocheted dress and decided to make a home in it. Poking it head through the holes it got stuck and did not appreciate my efforts to free it. Let this be a lesson to you all - no matter how good an idea it seems at the time, never wear a live snake with a crocheted dress.

Marge Simpson trying to rescue the snake - you can tell I'm enjoying it.....

Our exhibition is called called Cock'n'Bull although the content, at the moment, is a bit.... how can I say? Fluid. That is, we haven't made much of it yet. 

But that is all part of the excitement. What will it be about...? What will be  in the show...? Will there be anything in it...? Anyway, here are the posters.

Madame Fifi,  with me as Victor Spinnylicker, the wicked circus ringmaster....!

The cover for our forthcoming country and western album .....

Goodbye, Sucklord....

The Suck Lord

Absolutely gutted - the Sucklord, contestant on Next Great Artist and substitute fantasy dinner party guest if Grayson Perry is busy, is out! How can that be? Despite naming himself 'Suck Lord' he was pretty much the most charming and agreeable television reality show contestant there's ever been (not a difficult title to take, I suppose). He didn't do himself justice in the competition - it seemed clear that he has real talent and a unique vision but maybe the structure of the show didn't allow that through.  Just like in the last series when Manipulative Miles hung on till the end, the irritating Lola seems to have her place in final assured (this time I'm not spoiling it by looking up who makes it). Now SuckLord is gone I'm rooting for Dusty from Arkansas although Sara Jimenez does some great work. Only two more weeks to go and then, I fear, no more NGA until next year....

Anyway, here is some of the contestants work

Lola, baring all (secrets as well as flesh in this piece of art)

Dusty's map of US economic depression

Piece by Sara Jimenez

Anywhere but the bloody theatre....!

Last week I saw two wonderful performances that you would expect to see in a theatre - but no.... there are always other options.

Last Saturday I saw dANTE or dIE (http://www.danteordie.com), a dance/art group perform La Fille a la Mode at the Nucleus Gallery in Chatham as part of the Medway Fuse Festival. It was a unique experience! They danced through the courtyard, in the conference room, by the loos and on the roof. I very much enjoyed it although I think the performance was enhanced by the reactions of some very young French children who were both enraptured and terrified by it at the same time....

dANTE or dIE performing La Fille a la Mode at the National Theatre

A few days earlier I'd been to see the National Theatre's version of Frankenstein - not live but at the Vue cinema in Thurrock. The National has taken to filming its plays so they can be shown in cinemas worldwide. 

Initially, in the foyer of the cinema I was surrounded by a host of fabulous Essex girls in 9 inch heels and mini-skirts all on their way to see Men in Black 3. The usher didn't even need to look at my ticket - 'middle aged lady in a scarf? You'll be wanting Frankenstein in screen 6, Madam'. 

I was a bit concerned the experience of watching a play in the cinema would be too odd and  indeed the first act proved challenging. It's a 20 minute piece of visceral, physical theatre in which the Creature is born, it's senses awaken and it learns how to walk, make sounds and become aware of itself - how it turns from an 'it' to a 'him'. In the theatre I can imagine this was an edge of the seat and breathtaking piece but the screen proved a barrier I couldn't ignore. However, by the second act I was fully engrossed in the play and completely forgot I was in a cinema. In fact, considering the seats at the National can be a bit uncomfy and the play was sold out, the huge squashy cinema seats in a near empty screen competed well as an alternative. 

Trailer for the NT live showing of Frankenstein

I saw the version with Benedict Cumberbatch as the Creature and Jonny Lee Miller as Frankenstein, which according to the reviews is the 'wrong' way around with both actors having the edge when playing the other role. However, the improvement must be tiny because the performances I saw were phenomenal. Jonny Lee Miller was the surprise for me. Being the only person alive to have still not watched Trainspotting I've never seen him in anything and only knew him as Angelina Jolie's ex. He may not be the pretty young thing he once was but he is certainly superb in this play. If it comes around again - brave the miniskirts and make sure you see it.

Back from Zanzibar.

Sadly, not the island, but the hotel in Hastings.  We had an overnight trip to the sea-side town earlier this week in order to take a look at the recently opened Jerwood Gallery. Places like Hastings (and Margate and Broadstairs, of course) are my idea of heaven. English sea-side with a weeny bit of culture thrown in.

The Jerwood gallery has been built right on the seafront in the old part of town. I visited a couple of years ago before it was built and, although there was local opposition to it, I have to say I can't for the life of me remember what was there before.

 Personally I think the building, which obviously takes  its design from the fishermen's net huts that surround it, is beautiful. However, the 'no to Jerwood' graffiti that is still visible bears witness to local reluctance. So was it worth it?

Frances Rose, 1973, by Maggie Hambling

Hmmmm, I think the jury is still out. Although only a fraction of the Jerwood collection is on view at any one time, I found it to be pretty uninspiring. In fact the architecture of the building could be the collection's undoing - most of the galleries have large windows framing scenes from the beach and the town which are far more enticing and exciting that the art on the walls. The work is a collection of late 19th to early 21st century British artists. With the exception of a wonderful portrait by Maggie Hambling, I  found it fairly underwhelming.

I didn't find the Hotel Zanzibar (http://www.zanzibarhotel.co.uk) underwhelming though... our room was fabulous.

Our room at Hotel Zanzibar in Hastings

 Even though the weather had closed in by then we had a wonderful room service dinner sitting at the window and looking out at the stormy grey Channel.

The next... Next Great Artist

So a couple of weeks ago the first series of Next Great Artist finished and Abdi Farash won (I gave you a hint by including a photo of his winning sculpture 'Libation' in the last entry about my favourite television show). I feel he was the most deserving winner although all three artists in the final (the other two being Peregrine and Miles) showed they have huge potential. I feel I owe an apology to Miles who I was rather harsh on the last time. True, his final piece took his photographs of a homeless man who died a few days later and turned them into some incredible but clinical monochrome screen prints, eradicating every ounce of emotion from the situation in the process. However, I rather think that is valid statement in itself... Miles is definitely a great talent.

A piece from Miles' final show

A piece from Peregrine's final show

 Abdi has a more tender touch though and, at it's best, his work sent your heart soaring. However, critics have been fairly harsh about the show he received as part of his prize. Held at the self appointed 'world famous' Brooklyn Musuem, it was his final pieces cramped together in a tiny space.With one voice, the critics claimed his work 'looked better on TV'. But Abdi is only in his early 20's and and just graduated with a BA in Fine Art. To be at such an early stage  in his career and  producing such exciting work can only bode well for the future.

The Suck Lord

The best news is that Sky Arts have run straight on into the second series, so my fix is safe  for another 12 weeks! And the new intake seem just as exciting as the last, especially the self names 'Suck Lord'....

I haven't had a chance to post much during the past week - husband's birthday (a big one, too big to identify) and also a  lovely leaking roof. We now have an indoor water feature that, with the collapsing ceiling and stained wooden floor, is like our very own David Nash installation.

David Nash's Boulder - just like my sitting room....

Anyway, I've been working on some new 'Beasts of Fashion' drawings.  This time I've been inspired by some of my favourite on-line vintage shops and blogs including The BlackCat Boutique http://www.theblackcatboutique.co.uk/ and my ultimate indulgence site, Silver Screen Loungerie www.silverscreenloungerie.com . I've spent years searching for the perfect nightdress and the ones on this site are pretty close even though I haven't actually taken the plunge to buy yet. The new set, 'Retro Beasts' should be on-line later this week.

Silver Screen Loungerie

In the meantime, I wanted to put up some paintings by one of my favourite artists, Dora Holzhandler www.doraholzhandler.co.uk. Her paintings are beautiful, vibrant and uplifting without denying the serious and dangerous side to human nature.

'Wedding Night' by Dora Holzhandler

'My Grandfather in Auschwitz' by Dora Holzhandler

"I just can't stop, no matter how hard I try" ...

.... and that's the name of my next show, at The Deaf Cat (http://www.thedeafcat.com) on Rochester High Street. It starts on May 28th for 2 weeks and is mostly made up of drawings of 'Auntie Renee' my showgirl who just can't get out of the job.

There will also be a few of paintings of her ... if they're finished in time. Here are the works in progress.

There will also be some other drawings in the show, including this one 'Girl Boxer'.

An early warning for later in the year - on July 7th and 8th I'm taking part in the Medway Open Studios (http://www.medwayopenstudios.co.uk/). Opening my studio up will be interesting - at the moment it's full of old canvasses, broken brushes and a wide variety of chairs I never actually sit on. No visitor could get past the door so I'll have to clean up. There will be quite a few artists opening their studios along with me at the Nucleus Arts Centre in Chatham. It should be a really good event for anyone interested in contemporary art, whether to buy or just to take a look. 

Then, in September, Mam'selle Fi-Fi and I are having a show at Nucleus. I can't say what's in it because Mam'selle is likely to come up with some incredible and provocative pieces at the last minute but it will definitely be worth seeing! It's current title is 'Cock'n'Bull'  but I'll keep you up to date with it's development as we go along.

Beasts of Fashion

Apart from 'Faces from the Freezer Aisle', the other set of drawings I'm playing around with at the moment is 'Beasts of Fashion'.

Betsy

Alessandra

Emmy

Sophia

Can you spot some Prada, Dolce and Gabbana or Ralph Lauren?

Faces from the Freezer Aisle

I've been entertaining myself with two new sets of drawings. There always seem to be women with really fascinating faces at the supermarket. I've taken to carrying my Grayson Perry notebook around with me and as soon as I get back to the car I draw them as best as I can remember. Here are the first few.

Woman with incredibly big hair

Drunk woman trying hard to act sober at
the checkout

Grandmother with two very naughty grandsons

Little girl with very old, frayed stuffed rabbit

Happy woman sticking the shelves

Pretty mother with lots of eye make-up

The notebook