Arted States: sanguine

Showing posts with label sanguine. Show all posts

Saturday, 5 April 2014

Artist talk tomorrow!

In my experience, if there's one thing artists (at least representational artists who do stuff that's a bit 'wierd') get asked more than any other it's "Where do you get your ideas from?"

Well, now we have the means to answer this most important of questions - the Artists Talk!

Accordingly, I will be talking tomorrow about my current exhibition at the Mid Wales Arts Centre in Caersws, addressing such matters as the inspiration behind the work, the techniques used in its creation, and a little about the meaning of each piece, as well as going on to talk about the latest project and where it's all leading! Want to hear the story behind "That Tracey Emin Says My Art Looks Like a Plane Crash"? This is the place to be...!

Not only that, but you can partake of a wonderful Sunday afternoon tea featuring MWAC owner Cathy Knapp's home-made cakes - Chocolate & beetroot, anyone?

Artists Talk by Martin Herbert
The Mid Wales Arts Centre
Sunday 6th April, 3:30

Free Admission

Click here for map.

Also on show is work by Julie Jones and Daniel Roberson, a rotating collection of work by other artists and the permanent collection of sculpture by Stephan Knapp.

Thursday, 4 August 2011

Some new art!

Well, today is a bit of a red-letter day as I've been so busy trying to earn a crust that I haven't had time to actually finish any art for quite a while. Here's a little drawing I've been working on for the last few days - a character study for an exciting new project I'm working on (more about that soon). I think it came out quite well - all 'out of my head' - I just used a photo reference for the eye.

Wednesday, 13 July 2011

Last month in the arts ... dragons at the Oak

Well – a lot going on in June, and continuing into July – two exhibitions opening, submissions to be made for others – trying to find time for some grant applications, and in between all the marketing stuff, trying to actually do some art!

June's first exhibition started at the Great Oak café in our home town of Llanidloes, at the beginning of the month, and is under way there until the end of July.

In 2008 I was commissioned by LLANI Ltd. and the Town Council to design a set of 10 plaques to form a “town trail” around Llanidloes. Ten of the drawings on show at the café are the original designs for the plaques, which were then made by local sculptor Sue Thornton and can now be seen on various buildings around the town centre.

The trail is meant to be followed by solving the riddle poems written in Welsh by children from Llanidloes High School, and these are displayed next to the pictures. Don't panic – there are English translations there as well! A leaflet containing all of them can be obtained from the Visitor Centre on Longbridge Street. The names of the 10 dragons were also chosen by local schoolchildren

One of the original designs was never used and there is therefore an elusive eleventh dragon. Visitors to the café can suggest a name - the winner will receive a signed fine-art print of the original eleventh dragon drawing.

The drawings are done using some of the oldest drawing techniques used by masters such as Da Vinci and Rafael. The paper is prepared using a diluted wash of red egg-tempera which I make by hand, by grinding red iron oxide pigment with a medium composed of Dammar varnish, beaten egg and water. The drawing is done with red and sepia earth-colour based pencil and highlighted with white chalk pencil and white egg-tempera or gouache. Sepia ink is also used on some of the drawings.

All the original drawings are for sale, and open edition fine-art prints are available to order at £75 (unframed).

At least our local news photographer was there to record the occasion...

A private view was held on the 11th of June and unfortunately coincided with someone's birthday party, which is a sure recipe for disaster in a town with only 2,500 people. It's at times like this that you find out who your firends are - well, apparently I don't have many, that's for sure. A grand total of several people attended - no sales. Not the most uplifting start to the month, but we soldier on ....

The exhibition, “Dragons at the Oak” continues at the Great Oak café, 12 Great Oak Street, Llanidloes, Powys, until the end of July – I hope you'll find time to visit.