The Shape of Things...

Finally starting some new work, yay. The new place is pretty much organised so, back to it. This is the first of my skinnymalink ones – wire, mod rock, fabric and Paverpol textile hardener. And a bit of paper pulp to help the aesthetics. A ballet duo something like the scribbly sketch at the back though I changed the arm of the girl- she's going to have the left hand laying over the top of the guy's. It's come on a bit since I took this pic though working out a method of doing hands and fingers has been a pain, especially for the girl as her hands are pretty small. Trial and error is the only way to do this; different ways of bending the wire, different materials to wrap around the wire and different ways to do the wrapping. Tricky. Fiddly. Annoying.

Haven’t decided on how they’ll be clothed or finished yet but I have a few ideas to play with. Still a bit undecided whether to go for simple and classic or go all out with colour and…adornment. These things could get a bit way out…got to play a bit and have some fun with these - easier to do if you haven’t had to spend 20 hours making the body first – it makes you more adventurous.

Meanwhile, June is the start of many Open Studio events, including here in Carshalton during June/July. I'd been chatting with Mine Gallery when it looked like I would be moving here - they're involved too though I'm not sure I'll be part of it this year. Definitely next year though. Looking forward to checking out all the local artists and maybe, you know, actually start getting to know some people! Somehow I've managed to move around this area for the last 3 years or so and not meet anyone outside of work and my local shops. Hey, I'm happy just doing my own thing and lots of artists are loners by nature...we just need to learn to step away from the studio/workbench and go talk to people a bit more. To be honest, when you're just starting out, that's the hardest thing you'll ever do - the making part is easy in comparison!