Orkney`s 1st Craft Festival

Orkney`s first craft festival is due to take place on the last 

weekend of April in various locations across the isles.

From dry stone dyking to theatrical make-up, weaving to glass fusing,

 felting to locomotive construction (and so much more) it offers the

 opportunity to try out new skills and is open to a wide range of age groups.

What a great idea!!!!

Click on link below to find out more

http://www.orkneydesignercrafts.com/blog/laldie-haans-orkneys-first-craft-festival

http://www.orkneydesignercrafts.com/site/assets/files/1844/final_programme_friday_18th_march.pdf

Photograms

Fellow students Kristin and Beccy very kindly showed me the

 processes behind making a photogram. 

Beccy and Kirstin in the college darkroom.

A photogram is a photographic image that is made by placing objects

 between light sensitive paper and a light source.

Items placed in enlarger

My first photogram `composition`

 But before continuing we have to ensure the darkroom remains dark during the course 

of exposure and development of photo paper ..................

Darkroom door sign!!

Kirstin working in the safe`red light` atmosphere required in the darkroom

After light exposure the paper has to go through

 a chemical process (developer, stop bath & fixer)

Kirstin developing her paper

(this is the most exciting stage as it`s the first glimpse you get of the image created!!)

My finished piece.............

 The areas of paper that received light when exposed appear darker 

and the parts that don`t receive light appear lighter.

This is a very simple but effective way to produce one-off images in the darkroom. 

The possibilities are endless and it`s so much fun!

Below is a link describing in more detail the process behind creating a darkroom photogram
http://www.slideshare.net/echurch1/photograms-and-darkroom-procedure-5146113

And I`ve added this link as an alternative way of producing photograms, one that can be used at home as it doesn`t require a darkroom and is chemical free!

http://content.photojojo.com/diy/how-to-make-a-chemical-free-darkroom/

Automatic Monoprinting

Mono printing is a form of print making that creates `one off` images!

Materials needed :- glass plate (or similar non porous surface), ink,

 various mark making tools and paper (or other printing surface).

There is several methods you can employ to produce an image and

 I`ve attached a link below to explain these.

http://www.monoprints.com/about_monoprints.php

At college we use a combination of these techniques (in a spontaneous way) and so 

the studio was a hive of activity, each of us producing many, many images!

this is just a very small portion of them....

Some images of my own work

Roller with inked yarn

College of paper and yarn

Random rollering!!

Close-ups........................

these close-ups are quite atmospheric and I feel you can 

recognize certain features with-in them! What do you think??

Automatic Drawing Workshop

So what is `automatic drawing`?

Well  basically the idea is to have NO idea or rather no pre-conceived 

subject/composition in mind when you start a drawing.

 It works by letting the mind and hand work freely, making a variety of instinctive marks

 across the paper, it`s intention is to visualize the sub-conscious 

or is an expression of the unconsciousness!?!

Using charcoal & soft pastels with a circular stencil this was the first piece I produced......

then as I continued on with it, rubbing it back,

 applying other layers and so on 

.................this was the final piece!

 Interesting result but I think I over worked it!

Some close ups! 

Mmmmm, quite like these!!!

And below some pics of what the others were getting up too.............

Everyone`s `creations` were so different and unique!!

 Makes you wonder what`s on their minds?!?!

Overall it was a very enjoyable day and something I look forward to undertaking again.

Orkney Museum

Secrets of the Sea

Is the current exhibition at the Orkney Museum and runs til the 26th February.

It gives a fascinating insight into Orkney`s maritime heritage so if your interested in shipwrecks or the lost skills of the days of sail you should head down to the Orkney Museum.

All the items inside this case were made by Mark Shiner (Nav School, Stromness)

Sea chest handle known as a `Becket`.
This was such an intricate and beautifully made piece
 with great skill involved to produce such an ornate item.
(No wonder they were a status symbol in days gone by!!)

More examples of how rope and whipping twine were used.


Found on the German wreck SMS Karlsruhe these postcards were
probably used by the crew of the ship to write home. 

I was really intrigued by these postcard remnants and 

 the feelings and questions they could evoke.

( Interesting concept for future reference!!)

We Are Our Journey (de-installation!)

Today marked the end of my exhibition

We Are Our Journey

with the de-installation of the works!

Mark wrapping up the pictures, ready to take home!


And what goes up..................

......................must come down!

Mark rubs down the wall lettering ........

.......and masks of the floor, ready for painting!

And in a few hours this will be painted white again, all clean and fresh for the next exhibition!

All good things come to an end and this has been an incredible journey for me!
And to everyone who `embarked on this voyage` with me, I`d like to say a very BIG thank you!




The next exhibition is being curated by Lauren Henning called
`A Total Experiance` 
for more info on that follow link below
http://www.pierartscentre.com/current-upcoming-exhibition/27/2/2016/a-total-experience-modernist-landscapes-from-the-pier-arts-centre-collection

We Are Our Journey (P5 Workshop)

17th February 2016

I thought it would be fun to invite Thorfinn`s class to see my exhibition,

 as part of the visit they participated in several workshops!

Mapping

In the Brenda Robertson room the pupils got a map of Stromness, 
each of them had to draw the route they took to get to 
school everyday showing them the meandering path of their journey.

Plotting

Using the idea of navigational plotting, the pupils had to `chart` their journey
 to the PAC with pins & thread! Cool!

Art Critics

The pupils had to write a paragraph giving their opinions on what they
 thought about the exhibition. This was to be informed 
by looking at the art, reading the text labels and asking questions.


Twenty two pupils armed with clip boards, each with their own
 individual response to the exhibition..........

...... they asked some great questions and
 had some very interesting ideas!!

To find out more about what they thought click on the link below
 http://p3sps2014.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/we-are-our-journey.html

I had a really fantastic time with the P5 class and as a special 

thank you each of them got a `goodie bag` to take home!!