some drawing on the agenda

doodles discovered in the course of sorting through some paperwork...a rash of circles, discs and pods......the building blocks of the future......a large pod vessel and some small paper roses?...geometric and tiled patterns......a short flight of stairs (leading nowhere)......probably bark, or maybe rocks, with some small tumbling blocks......mondrian on my mind, (or was it just the windows?)......looks like earth and some other unidentified globes in orbit......more constructivist building blocks......making waves......

on a broken art

this is one of a new series (small relics). there were originally twelve relics but now only eleven remain (this may be significant). these are close-up views of one fragmental, encrusted relic in greyscale, which reflects my concerns in the making of them...this is part of the imperfect circle project idea begun sometime in 2010, as one means of breaking away from the format of the square.this circle project was resurrected at easter. one could call this work quite sculptural, but it is not a sculpture, it is an object, or the fractured remains of one. i have enjoyed my virtual visits to the british museum. if i have the good fortune of selling this piece then maybe i should actually go to london for a day out, as ruralism is slowly getting to me...a relic is an object or fragment from the past which has significance, meaning or value, sometimes religious. finding or unearthing fragments implies something was hidden or perhaps abandoned. fragments are retrieved and they can sometimes be pieced together to be viewed as nearly whole again in a new context - but the complete story might never be revealed. so, one might be tempted to create new stories to fill in the gaps...these relics have come to symbolise many things, the significant events which influenced my thoughts at the time, and the unique circumstances which the passage of time had offered them. they have become small reminders of the actions of the past, rediscovered and re-evaluated in the present. if i am the original creator then i am at liberty to validate them as meaningful objects - but perhaps i am being intentionally reticent here as a means of defence...there are some material & ecological resonances with the series of small papier mache vessels i created earlier this year...alongside the circle prints/experiments from last year, i have also unearthed some (possibly) related sketchbook drawings, doodles and even some etchings (connecting the past to the present)...here are some related words that started off the imperfect circle project: liminality, on the brink, breaking point, success, failure, something, nothing, beautiful, ugly, perfect, flawed, forgotten, remembered, incomplete, whole, insignificant, valued, sacred, discarded, lost, saved, broken, mended...detail of (a) broken (relic), mixed media, 2011...…broken…artworks exhibition, blackthorpe barn, rougham, suffolk, 10 september to 2 october 2011 (10am - 5pm, open daily)Artworks is a professional art group of thirty contemporary East Anglian artists. Each September we have an annual exhibition at Blackthorpe Barn in the heart of rural Suffolk....some new work also currently on show at Reunion Gallery's 'Refresh' tenth anniversary exhibition on now and until 22 Oct 2011...

earthbound

i have been looking through a (not so black) hole again. from this secret perspective this painting's surface looks rather like a malformed, distant planet...somewhere high above, looking through a porthole, slowly coming into land (again)...and below, closer to terra firma......earth/bound II, 2011, 30cm x 30cm, mixed media on panelearth/bound II is one of a series of new works on panel, and this work will be included in the annual artworks exhibition, a group exhibition of the work of thirty East Anglian artists, which runs from 10 september to 2 october 2011 (10am - 5pm, open daily)...why have i called this work 'earth/bound'? (with a forward slash, denoting and/or)put simply, its matter is of the earth, it is both created from the earth and it goes back to the earth - and here it appears to be grounded. bound is an intriguing word in the english language because as well as implying containment or enclosure, something confined or restricted, or bound by the ties of duty or responsibility, conversely it also implies a free or sudden movement, bounding off, heading off, towards or travelling back. this mix of meanings and interpretations seemed very relevant, in the strata or layers of personal significance, the context of its making is everything - but there is also something else breaking through the surface (something for another day).i have only shown a small glimpse of this work in progress so as to generate some intrigue prior to the opening of the artworks exhibition. i am looking forward to showing some new artwork in 2011. i am not sure if this work, 'earth/bound' should really be termed a painting, as it is more of a wall-based carved relief or construction, a flat(tened) sculpture....imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere.carl sagan...if you are intrigued to see the 'whole' of 'earth/bound', you might have to visit the 12th annual artworks exhibition (where there will also be new art from twenty nine other east anglian artists).entry to the artworks exhibition is free and there is lots of free parking. there will also be a smaller gallery 'shop' with a dynamic display of small paintings, original prints, drawings, collage, glass, ceramics and a range of artist cards for sale.…earth/bound II, 2011, 30cm x 30cm, mixed media relief on panel…...artworks annual exhibition, blackthorpe barn, rougham, suffolk, 10 september to 2 october 2011 (10am - 5pm, open daily)Artworks is a professional art group of thirty contemporary East Anglian artists. Each September we have an annual showcase exhibition in the historic setting of Blackthorpe Barn in Suffolk....p.s. i also have some new pieces of work in the Reunion Gallery's 'Refresh' tenth anniversary exhibition, on right now up until 22 Oct 2011 (it's a fabulous contemporary art space run by two professional artists, verena daniels & pat todd, who work in glass and ceramics respectively)....