wasp nest 3

While cleaning out the new home studio, I came across this; I think, a wasp nest?
I've found a couple of these things before. They are papery, and very fragile. 

Cotton dyed with Nettle

Above is the bundle I soaked in a nettle dye-pot. Instead of binding it, I decided to use these mini bulldog clips. I like the pattern they leave behind. Below, the photo shows the ghost of the clips, left remaining on the fabric, after it's unrolled.
I have to say, it's not as green as I had hoped for. Maybe I'll overdye it again? The flecks on the fabric are nettle seeds. I was a bit late in the season, so there were lots of seeds floating in the dye-pot. They'll wash/brush off.  

I have my artwork, 'WoodBook' exhibited at the Arthouse, till 20th September.

Richard Long @ The Hepworth Wakefield

Two of Long's characteristic circles.

The top one is titled, 'Cornish Slate Ellipse' from 2009. It's as it describes itself, an ellipse shape, rather than a pure circle. The slate is grey with very smooth tops, and people with me said the blocks looked painted. It had the look of a raft, with slats of wood lashed together, or field patterns, seen from high above.

 The circle above, is titled, 'Blaenau Ffestiniog Circle' from 2011. This has lots of colours in the slate, which is sharp-edged, and spikey. Perpendicular, as opposed to horizontal. Colours included black, greys, browns, ochres. These slate pieces come from Wales. It echoes the mountains of Snowdonia, and the Welsh landscape.

Onions

It seems that the only thing to have survived the slugs and snails is this onion plant; flowering nicely!
We've had a lovely sunny day here, and I've been boiling up nettles (more survivors of the mollusc onslaught!) to dye with. Two bundles are in, steeping. I await the result.

Chun Quoit 3

A postcard of Hepworth's plaster for the sculpture 'Chun Quoit'.
Careful observation will show the differences in my drawing!

Members Open at the Arthouse

I've put 2 pieces into the Arthouse Members Open Exhibition.

The top one is oil and tempera on canvas, and is called 'Axis Mundi', and the bottom one is a photo-montage of a sculpture called 'Woodbook'. I don't know which will be selected, so I'll have to wait until the preview evening on the 25th July. It'll be interesting to see what it looks like as part of an exhibition...whichever is chosen.

Studios - 1

And speaking of studios, this was my first one, in the defunct Artsmill. From 2006. A lovely space, with wooden floors, and as the name suggests, in an old mill.
I was right up on the top floor, with no lift. A fantastic view over the outskirts of the city, and Chantry Chapel. Lovely, but very cold in the wintry weather. Am hoping to be slightly warmer in my new studio!