The course I taught was White on White which was about exploring shadow - through embossing and paper cutting. Participants made templates and used a mini etching press to emboss Somerset Satin paper (250gsm) but also did hand-embossing. B: Kate Starling, R: Ruth Newman and Zoe: Viv Hanreck Machine embossing is great for producing a few embossed copies quickly, but hand embossing yields a more refined result. Also for hand embossing the stencil doesn't need to be mounted or even … [Read more...]
Beads galore
You know how you have lots of jewellery that needs repairing? Posts off earrings, a clasp here and there and re-stringing.Well I needed all of that including restringing some iridescent crystals which were my mother's and which have come back into fashion. I found Oxford Bead Shop in Cowley Road. Well to tell the truth I've known about it for 2 years but hadn't got there. It's amazing and the owner, Amy Surman not only has beads and loads of tools, but is also a silversmith, so she can do the … [Read more...]
Oxford Summer School 2
The other course that I'm offering at Oxford Summer School isThe Art of Adolf Bernd Adolf Bernd created illuminated letters on a grand scale. He combined crisp modern letter forms with decorative elements from illuminated initials. Using white lines and water colours the outcome was a fresh, individualised result. We will study his artwork and techniques and work out a way of producing something inspired by this great artist. This course will include working with watercolour, mixing subtle (or … [Read more...]
Oxford Summer School 2013 – 1
White on White The programme for Oxford Summer School is on line!I am teaching two three day courses and here is the first one which is from 29th July - 3rd August 2013. White on White The power of shadow will be explored in this white on white workshop as we create embossed letters. Hand embossing involves creating a stencil then gently pushing the paper into the desired lettershapes. We will also look at cut letters against the light or encapsulated in gampi which is an Eastern paper.This … [Read more...]
Oxford Summer School – The show ain’t over
...till the Fat Lady Sings.Cathy, Debra, Yvonne, Cathy, Louise, and Susanna painted the fat lady in various poses.I gave them no time to think, told them a little story, named poses, posed her as much a possible and it was just go,go go for a spontaneous painterly expression.They had to improvise a little as well. The Fat Lady is an old friend of mine from Cape Town and she usually stands in my sitting room. A quick shortcut to stylisation is to begin with a sculpture and paint it in such a way … [Read more...]