Current work - experimentation

I am having a few problems with the new layout etc of blogger.

I am posting some work in progress  My first blog for a while.

                                            These pieces are inspired by coastal imagery

                                           A detail of the above piece showing layering

                                           Another piece loosely based on cliff formation

                                           A small sketch and notes

                                          A arch way?


 I am having problems with my digital  SLR camera when I take pics outside they appear with very strange colours. I  have taken it to be looked at I hope they can mend it I am lost without it. Interesting effect !
                                           

This is the finished piece from the previous blog anyway I thing so still working on it from time to time

Work in progress

After visit to coast at weekend had a few hours in studio. I am not taking part in Suffolk Open Studios this year family life is very busy this year and think I need to recharge and refocus.

The work is inspired by the mists lack of clear horizon. The sun - moon trying to break through and then retreating.

Colours texture and strips of colour when it succeeded

New Year

Photos show metal work on the beach this has been exposed by winter tides. Today Jan 23rd there was lovely blue skies, few clouds, bright sun, calm sea and a chilly wind blowing of the land. Walking was made easy by the firm sand. Wonderful !

Flat blue sea.
Exposed wooden posts and metal. This part of the beach was used to simulate the D Day landings this could be remains from it. They are not normally this visable.

To the left blue flat sea and sky Southwold looking inviting in the distance. The exposed wooden posts zig zag across the beach.

Moments later to the right Sizewell muted tones against the brightness of the sun in the camera lens

My First boat of the new year I found the pieces on visit to Minsmere beach on Jan 9th. along with a large piece of eroded metal which when opened out is a large round disc.

Boats go to new homes.

Boats wrapped up ready to go to new homes before Christmas. It is always hard to part with art work I find it so anyway.

Boats

I visited the coast on Nov 13th after a misty start at Minsmere and following a delicious hot chocolate from the old coast guard cottages cafe it turned into a bright crisp afternoon on Dunwich beach.

Boats and hunting for driftwood soon became the focus for a walk. My head began to clear and my optimism was renewed. The beached showed evidence of heavy strong seas and high tides which had littered the tide line with loads of of plastic, some driftwood and massive clumps of seaweed on the beach and in the sea. The weed had tangled amongst it rope, plastic fishing line and dangerous hooks.

The visit inspired boat making with found driftwood and beach finds.

The sky was a perfect blue and strong shadows cast by the winching shed made the scene even more appealing.

Before showing you some of the boats made after my visit. I thought I would include a picture of Discarded a found piece which combined beach finds with collaged art work on a painted canvas. I was producing work like this during 2005

This reminds me of a Maldon barge I used to live close to Maldon . It was great to pop to the river and see the barges and other boats the mud, reed beds etc. Fond memories

This reminds me of a boat I saw in the far east.

I love finding pieces of wood which have been painted

Transparent sail
I called this piece Iron Bird

Half circle

Heartshaped glass

Found

I found this fantastic piece of shaped metal on a lovely warm sunny day the tide was out and the beach was sandy. I love the texture, colour, size and patina. It is so exciting stumbling across something like this. My brain goes into overdrive very satisfying.

Further on down the beach I found this piece of old pipe encrusted with stones. The colour is similar to the previous piece but it is more organic. I thought I would combine the pieces together but they seem to cancel one another out. I like to use pieces together from the same walk.

When I tried it out I think they cancel one another out.

I added 3 these small canvases to rusted beach find it acts as a frame. This works for me.

We had really strong winds and rough seas at the beginning of the week.

It was half term week so many more visitors to the site. These boys played for hours on the edge of the raging sea having great fun note the wellies which must have been very wet in side. The day before at this spot there was a vast expanse of sand and with the help of there dad they dug out a large boat- this took most of the morning and had great fun smashing it to pieces when the went up for lunch. Reminds me of my myself at there young age on or around this spot.

After a very blustery night in the caravan during my morning beach walk I found the pieces of wood on the tide line I have used in this found piece. I have used wire to lash them together to make the form of a boat shape. The piece of ply had come off a huge piece that I found further along the shore. The exposed layers and uneven shape reminded me of sails.

Detail of boat. I have in the past combined wire to draw on top of painting.

Driftwood boats and sketching at Dunwich

Sketches on beach