A Good Day of Solving Issues

So, this morning I tackled my montage painting. It just wasn't working, having too many random things on there. Then I had the idea of putting the kids' faces on the Homemaker teapot. I like it that it represents the 'two a penny' idea of purchases from Woolworths, linking into the problem of many childrens' lives being viewed as pretty worthless. The fact that the photos of their faces are black and white also links in with the original ceramics.

I like having the stamp underneath at an angle as well, and think it's looking like it's going to work. (Although whether anyone can understand it without copious explanation is another matter entirely!)

Preparing the various elements in order to put them together: representing Rothko, the world's most expensive stamp and Woolworth's Homemaker crockery (now seen as iconic).

Lace Face

Ok, sometimes it's blindingly obvious that something's not going to work, and isn't worth pursuing.
Below is a fine example.

So I was one face down and wondering what to do.

Following my revelation to Duncan on Friday that I am almost pathologically incapable of experimentation, I decided to try just that. I had seen this machine embroidery that I loved, and I'd wondered about painting a face in a similar way (quite Jenny Savillesque as well).

I started painting the face a flesh tone, using watercolours. I then thought the colour was quite good so carried on painting.

However, once it was finished, although not a bad colour, it looked horrible. Way too thick and quite like the stuff they use to make false boobs.

(Unfortunately I forgot to take a photo, but imagine a face covered in the stuff below).

So, I decided the scrub the paint off - something I had been wondering about doing as I was painting it. Once I'd done this, I was left with a really lovely pinky glow on the face. I also left the lips, which I like.

I am really pleased with the result, and am going to embed lacey eye-lashes on, and call it Lace Face. I like the background photograph as well as the writing slightly replicates lace and the pinky lines echo the lines of the lips.

So. Job done. Experimentation is good. Yeah!

Golden Girl

It's a tricky bugger, gold leaf. It blows in the wind (a mystery wind, that only it can find); it escapes; it folds upon itself; it congeals.

After a bit of a nervous start, however, I kind of got to grips with it. (Although I'm still amazed at the idea of Duncan gold-leafing a lobster. 'No, not live. I got that.' Really, sometimes I wonder what he thinks of me.

Funnily enough, having been so excited about gold leafing, it's the face I like least so far. I might call it 'Vacuous Face', as it seems to have no depth, no meaning, beyond its glossy finish.

But fear not. any slight disappointment from my Golden Face (maybe next time I'll use size and kitchen foil) was made up for by my visit to B&Q this evening to get my A3 boards cut. For free! By a very nice man. God, I love hardware stores.

 It is interesting how it has taken on a very metallic feel. Still don't like it much though!

My three finished heads. Not bad. Quite pleased. Looking forward to putting them on my newly cut ply boards.

Have got to have everything finished by next Friday.

Bit of a mission then....

Laycock Abbey Visit

Even the ever-present rain couldn't spoil today's visit to Laycock. It was beautiful, fascinating and great for photographs. (Fitting, it being the home of Fox Talbot, one of the inventors of photography).

 

Theatre of Insects, by Jo Whaley

This was a fabulous exhibition (despite what the grumpy man in the National Trust cafe said).