Natalie Dowse

A peek inside the studio...

2012-02-05T21:23:00.002Z

Although I have neglected my blog recently, I have been working very hard. Both in my studio and for Art Space. I will blog again soon - but in the meantime here's a little peek inside the studio.

Lovely, lovely...

2011-12-29T17:59:00.000Z

This is the sort of thing that makes me excited... still!

At the studio...

2011-12-27T12:48:00.000Z

After a few days of indulgence (thanks to my lovely family) I am now down the studio to indulge myself in a different way. I'm intending to immerse myself as much as possible in my studio before the usual routine kicks back in. Let's hope I can resolve a few things and get going. I have surfaces to prepare and decisions to make... here goes...

Happy Christmas...

2011-12-24T11:54:00.001Z

Road 6 (going home)

2011-12-22T22:02:00.001Z

Excited...

2011-11-25T09:52:00.001Z

Yesterday I needed to pick up an undelivered parcel from the Post Office. At first I couldn't think what it could be... however, I was so excited when I realised that it was my Manifest INPA1 catalogue from the States. I took the parcel back to the studio to open it in anticipation. I was so thrilled with the outstanding quality of this book. It has actually exceeded my expectations and is also much larger that I thought too. The photos here are taken on my mobile phone - so do not do it justice. The standard of work included is very high and I feel privileged to have been selected for this prize.

"... the INPA 1 Manifest received over 1200 submissions from 430 artists in 46 states and 26 countries. The publication includes 129 works by 79 artists from 30 states and the countries of Canada, China, England, and Germany. Essays by Patrick Adams, Charles Caldemeyer, and Blair Vaugh-Gruler are also included, along with an introduction by Manifest's Assistant Director, Tim Parsley.

Ten professional and academic advisors qualified in the fields of art, design, criticism, and art history juried the first International Painting Annual. The process of selection was by anonymous blind jury, with each jury member assigning a quality rating for artistic merit to each work submitted. The entries receiving the highest average combined score are included in this publication."

entre chien et loup (between dog and wolf)

2011-11-18T19:32:00.001Z

I have been really busy recently helping coordinate the Art Space Portsmouth International Residency - and tomorrow we are celebrating the end of the third successful residency with Dominique Ghesquiere's exhibition 'entre chien et loup'. The work is on show across three venues: Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, aspex, and Art Space Portsmouth (GASP). All welcome - details below. I will be back in my studio soon.

Preview times – Saturday 19th November 2011:

2pm to 2.45pm - The Mast Pond, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, PO1 3LJ

3pm to 4.45pm - Aspex, The Vulcan Building Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3BF
Includes an artist's talk by Dominique Ghesquière

5pm to 7pm - Art Space Portsmouth (GASP), 27 Brougham Road, Southsea PO5 4PA

Please note: A minibus service will be available on the day for those who require transportation between venues.

Exhibition continues:

Art Space Portsmouth (GASP), 27 Brougham Road, Southsea, Hants. PO5 4PA

Sunday 20th November to Wednesday 23rd November, 12 noon to 4pm
www.artspace.co.uk

Aspex, The Vulcan Building, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth PO1 3BF

Saturday 19th November to Sunday 11th December 2011, 11am to 4pm daily

www.aspex.org.uk

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard*, Victory Gate, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LJ

Saturday 19th November to Sunday 11th December 2011, 10am to 5.00pm daily
www.historicdockyard.co.uk

*Please note there will be an admission fee to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 25th, 26th and 27th November during their Christmas Festival.

The Mast Pond is located on the right hand side after entering the Historic Dockyard.

PLEASE NOTE THE ARTWORK IN THE MAST POND NEEDS TO BE VIEWED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.

The residency is generously funded by Arts Council England and Art Space Portsmouth and run in partnership with Aspex and the University of Portsmouth. Art Space Portsmouth would like to thank the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust for their additional support to realise part of this final project. www.artspace.co.uk

Painting, painting and more painting....

2011-11-01T09:33:00.000Z

Richter, Sasnal and Mottisfont...

Mottisfont House

Last week I finally made a long-overdue trip to London. I was in my element, spending over three hours scrutinising the Gerhard Richter exhibition Panorama at Tate Modern and then the Wilhelm Sasnal show at Whitechapel. I now feel suitably inspired (and may have to visit the Richter show again). Work in my own studio is slow at the moment, partly due to the Art Space Portsmouth International Residency project. However, I am very pleased to be working with Dominique Ghesquiere on this exciting project that will culminate with an exhibition across three venues in the city, starting on Saturday 19th Novmeber. I will post more about this event soon.

And finally, I managed to visit Mottisfont House where a couple of my paintings were on show as part of the Mottisfont Open 2011. I was unable to attend the preview, so was happy to see the show in their newly refurbished gallery before the exhibition closed on Sunday.

Mottisfont House & Gardens, Nr Romsey

In memory and honour of Phil Turner...

2011-10-19T22:46:00.000+01:00

I recently made a trip to the East Midlands to see 'Visual Narratives' an exhibition by Phil Turner.

Phil was a very good friend and fellow artist who sadly passed away last month. Phil was working hard towards this solo show and with much courage, his family's wish was for the exhibition to continue. This was an emotional event - but I wouldn't have missed the opening. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to honour the promise I had made to Phil to see his new paintings. Phil was an extremely dedicated and very talented artist, who is sadly missed by many people. The exhibition continues until the 12th November at the Brewhouse, Burton-on-Trent.

A 'snip' from the archive...

2011-10-09T17:29:00.000+01:00

During my recent studio move and major 'sort out' I stumbled across many almost forgotten artworks. I was pleased to be reacquainted with my 'cut & paste' scissor sculptures (there are seven of these in total). They were sand cast in aluminium and then heavily polished.

I made use of an existing hole in the wall this afternoon whilst giving my latest paintings some thought. The only thing missing is the black dotted lines on that go on the wall (and across the floor and ceiling) - which is an intrinsic element of these sculptures.

Mottisfont Open Exhibition 2011...

2011-10-01T10:45:00.000+01:00

I have two paintings selected for the Mottisfont Open 2011. A group exhibition in the newly refurbished gallery spaces.

Exhibition - 15th October to 30th October.
Open daily 11am to 5pm (there is an admission fee to the House and Gardens)
at Mottisfont Abbey (National Trust)
Nr. Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0LP

Google Map

Wax combs...

2011-09-29T16:15:00.000+01:00

Wax combs

My Little Pony

A couple of people have asked me what the bright coloured objects are hanging on my studio wall (see post below). They are in fact enlarged replicas of 'My Little Pony' toy combs. I made them as part of a series of work 11 years ago for an exhibition, 'This town ain't big enough for the both of us'. The combs are made from candle wax, and were scented - however, the scent has now worn off. The combs have been packed away in boxes for years and many damaged over time (they are very fragile). So I threw the broken ones away in my recent studio clear out, saving the ones that had survived. I am now giving them away to any visitor who would like one! They are simply hanging on the studio wall in order to save on space. The combs were originally hung alongside two large paintings, 'My little Whistlejacket' and 'Morning Glory'. Both paintings are based on the work of renowned horse painter George Stubbs and combined with 'My Little Pony' toy figurines.

Please see images of the paintings below from my archive.
Apologies for the quality of the images but they have been scanned from old slides, however, it gives an overview of the installation and scale of the work.

My Little Whistlejacket and Grooming Kit installation shot

Grooming Kit and Morning Glory installation shot

My Little Whistlejacket - Oil on canvas, 2000

Finished and ready at last...

2011-09-26T21:17:00.000+01:00

Finally the studio is finished. It's been really hard work... new stud wall, new storage rack, painting walls and floor, moving and sorting all my work and 'stuff', trip to the dump... however, at last an amazing space to work in... feeling very lucky indeed!

Thankfully I had plenty of help.

Now time to get down to business...

Phase two ...

2011-09-19T20:44:00.000+01:00

Four days in and perhaps a light at the end of the tunnel. Now just need to sort this lot out, either by launching it, or finding a space ... moving studios is not to be recommended. However, a chance to get rid of 'stuff' perhaps!

Stuff!

A hard weekend in the studio...

2011-09-18T21:22:00.000+01:00

As previously mentioned ... the time had come to start moving my old artwork and equipment into the new studio. This process starting on Friday afternoon and as predicted the lovely space was slowly taken over. Only half the contents have been moved so far, but with a very good friend, we set about making a new storage rack today. Needless to say we were both aching by the end. However, good progress was made and tomorrow I have to move the rest ... I may have to start seriously culling old artworks, and I'm glad I have started to scale down my work recently. I'm quite pleased with myself, as for the very first time, I managed to cut a full length (8 foot) piece of chipboard with a hand saw ... it took ages!

The beginning - 10am

The end (some paintings rehoused) - 7pm

New studio...

2011-09-08T16:54:00.000+01:00

I have a new studio at Art Space Portsmouth, shared with artist Jeannie Driver. It has the most brilliant natural light as it has very high ceilings and skylights. I've had the studio officially for a week ... I've built a stud wall and painted the walls and floor to freshen it up. Today I decided to bring my latest work to the studio and view it in a different space (away from my make-shift temporary 'white-washed conservatory' studio). Working at home had many benefits and I'm glad that I tried it. It's good to know there's a fairly suitable back-up plan. However, it was a little hot most of the time throughout the summer and a little restricting size-wise. At the moment I have the luxury of a clear space - which unfortunately won't last for long once all my artwork is taken out of storage. I'm going to have to build some serious storage racks next. But in the meantime I will enjoy a week of luxurious space...

Touch and Trace: Kate Smith...

2011-08-14T19:20:00.006+01:00

Touch and Trace: an exhibition by Kate Smith
Derby Museum and Art Gallery, The Strand, Derby
Exhibition runs until 30th October 2011

Kate Smith: Touch and Trace installation view

I've just got back from a flying visit to Derby and Kate Smith's exhibition. The show opened on Friday night, alongside Jayne Falconer's exhibition, 'Eighteen', both exhibitions run until 30th October. The two shows complement each other beautifully and both Kate and Jayne will be in conversation in the gallery on 29th September between 1-2pm. Kate also has a simultaneous exhibition at Deda, Derby which opens next week and also runs to the 30th October.

I met Kate whilst on the Jonathan Vickers' residency 3 years' ago. I first saw her work at an open studio event at Banks' Mill, where I waited ... and waited ... to be able to speak to her. I couldn't leave without discussing her work for which I am a massive fan. The works are very highly detailed and each piece takes months to complete. My photos here really do not do the work any justice. If you can, I would strongly recommended a visit.

Kate Smith: Touch and Trace installation view

"Kate Smith in particularly interested in the physical contact of the hand with the surface and the multitude of ways in which the activity and gesture of drawing can result in marks and imprints.

She examines indicators of human presence - a worn piece of fabric, a footprint in the sand, or a furrow in a field - as well as marks and residues left behind as the result of conscious and unconscious action or gestures.

Kate investigates the idea of drawing as a form of contact between artist and medium, artist and audience and audience and work. She is interested in the literal and implied connections made between individual pieces of work and how these are orchestrated through exhibition and installation.

She explores questions and thoughts such as: the difference between a mark consciously made or unconsciously recorded; impressions left with intent or as a result of spontaneous actions and gestures; intimate marks which imply the presence of another and those which do not. These are unravelled, examined and re-examined over a long period of time and represented through a variety of media, scale and dimension."

Kate Smith: Touch and Trace installation view

To find out more - Kate's website: www.kate-smith.co.uk/
Kate's blog: katesmith-artist.blogspot.com/

Photographing artwork...

2011-08-04T19:03:00.001+01:00

Re-photographed

Optimised - Jpeg noise

Today I have spent quite a lot of time re-photographing my paintings. Although I have a very good Nikon digital SLR camera and tripod, I haven't been happy with the results. I'm not an expert photographer by any means, but I get by. I've been photographing the work in my studio / conservatory which has beautiful even daylight defused through a polycarbonate roof. I haven't been using any studio lights, just using daylight with the built-in camera light meter, using the 'auto' white balance setting.

My paintings had a very blue cast, and I wasn't happy with the adjustments I was making in Photoshop. So, I set about spending a lot of time trying different white balance settings, and finally through trial and error, I seem to have found a better setting (which has needed very little adjustment in Photoshop).

I have now replaced the images below of the road paintings, which are far more accurate colour-wise (although I know all computer screens will look different anyway). On to the next problem... I have been using Blogger for many years and I have always optimised my images for web in Photoshop before uploading. I have noticed recently that although the optimised photos look fine in Photoshop, that something nasty has been happening when posting to blogger, fairly significant colour and contrast changes and lots of Jpeg noise. However, I know that Blogger has made a lot of changes with the editing and designing options that have given far more flexibility - but I am wondering if they have added a built-in compression for images, as the only solution I can think of is that the images are being compressed again!

However, despite this - I have just been able to upload my full-sized images without any bother (I was never able to do this in the past) and this has really helped. Has anyone else had any problems relating to this. I would love to know?

Road 4 ...

2011-07-31T12:14:00.006+01:00

Oil on wood panel - 18cm x 24cm

Road 3 ...

2011-07-21T20:33:00.004+01:00

Oil on wood panel - 18cm x 24cm

Road 2 ...

2011-07-15T19:16:00.002+01:00

Oil on wood panel - 18cm x 24cm

Road 1...

2011-07-07T12:02:00.002+01:00

Oil on wood panel - 18cm x 24cm

Wednesday... from the (hot) studio...

2011-06-29T14:56:00.000+01:00

Tilly - helping me with my
brushwork!

I am half-way through a luxurious week of working solely in my studio. I desperately needed a week to get my 'head in the right place' again after a break due to other commitments. Don't get me wrong... I'm not complaining as work has been very exciting recently. Planning Open Studios and the next International Residency at Art Space Portsmouth AND being fortunate enough to have work teaching Fine Art at the University of Portsmouth - which was absolutely brilliant, working with third years preparing for their shows - a great time of year to be involved!

So, Monday: I had a total disaster trying out something new. It all went very wrong (I know it is part of the process BUT)... anyway, I then decided to stop trying to reinvent the wheel and just work on something that I wanted to do. I often find myself over-anaylising and thinking too much - which on occasion gets in the way of creating. So I'm happy, for the moment anyway... painting.

Working in the new studio (white-washed conservatory) at home is working out quite well. It's great as I can work into the night without interruption, stop for a dinner at any time, and get the washing done. The down side is that it is just too hot most of the time AND there are too many cats' hairs sticking in my paint - hey-ho we can't have it all can we!

A little surprise...

2011-06-24T20:57:00.000+01:00

One in a million

Today a surprise: my work is featured in "Your Paintings" on the BBC website, in partnership with the Public Catalogue Foundation. The two works featured are in the Jonathan Vickers Fine Art Award collection, hence my inclusion (the colours are a little saturated though). The blurb states:

"Your Paintings is a website which aims to show the entire UK national collection of oil paintings, the stories behind the paintings, and where to see them for real. It is made up of paintings from thousands of museums and other public institutions around the country."

Heaven's Above!

I thought it may be worth a mention and link as so far 63,000 paintings are online with a target of 200,000!! So the likelihood of them being viewed could be very slim ;) Nonetheless, it made me smile. That's a lot of painting - and just the tip of the iceberg.

Work in progress...

2011-06-03T15:04:00.005+01:00

Graphite and oil on board - 18cm x 24cm

Happy...

2011-06-02T01:14:00.000+01:00

I've been working very late in my studio... and actually think I'm getting somewhere. Happy for now :)

A great turn-out at the studios ...

2011-05-21T23:13:00.000+01:00

Tiffany Robinson's installation in
the Richard Spurgeon Studio.
Image copyright: Tiffany Robinson

There was a great turn-out today at our annual Art Space Portsmouth Open Studios weekend... really busy with 160 visitors in 3 hours - buzzin'! So thank you to all the visitors and artists who made today a success.

If you missed it, or would like to come back for more, we are open tomorrow (Sunday 22nd May) from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. All welcome (children must be accompanied by an adult).

Art Space Portsmouth, 27 Brougham Road, Southsea, Hants.
You can find us here.

And on a completely different 'note'... a blast from the past
I have just found my Uncle's band from the 1960's on YouTube - The Storms. He's Rob Tall - the singer, the one in the middle wearing the white top. The band were originally from Leigh Park - but this recording was made during their time in Germany (in fact he has lived there even since). Another recording here pictures a poster from 1965: What's new in Garmisch-Partenkirchen? From England, The Storms... ;)

Who's afraid of red, yellow and blue...

2011-05-03T21:26:00.001+01:00

Norwich players and fans celebrate on the pitch after securing
automatic promotion to the Premiership

Last night I watched the last Pompey home match of the season that saw the 'Canaries', Norwich City win 1-nil and secure a certain place in the Premiership. An artist friend recently told me that more people visit art galleries in the UK than attend football matches. I was quite amazed at this and thought it not possible! However, there is evidence here that confirms this is true. This made me smile :)

Barnett Newman, Who's afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue IV, 1969-70

Today I was thrilled to discover my new art materials had arrived, and that two lovely brown parcels were waiting for me in my back garden. I still get excited about opening them (hence the need to share this irrelevant news here), even though I know what's in them!

Guess what's in the box? Hmmmm!

Art Space Portsmouth Open Studios 2011

2011-04-29T14:22:00.001+01:00

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May, 1.30pm - 4.30pm

On the weekend of Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd of May 2011, over 40 members of one of the UKs most respected and longest established artist studio groups will open their doors to the public for the annual ‘Open Studios Weekend’. Art Space has managed studios for artists at the converted chapel on Brougham Road in Portsmouth for over 30 years. Each year, the building is opened to the public who are invited to meet the artists, to see and hear about their work and buy directly from them.

Visitors will be invited into over twenty permanent artist’s studios and workshops and view artworks on display in the GASP (Gallery Art Space Portsmouth) exhibition space and around the building. A series of unique artist’s postcards, commissioned by Art Space will be available to purchase for just £20 each as will a special selection of original works for under £100. Visitors will also be able to meet this year’s Sponsored Studio Award Winner, Fareham-based artist, Alannah Barker and enjoy refreshments in the Art Space ‘urban garden’.

At last... my new website is live!

2011-04-22T11:38:00.000+01:00

It's been a long time coming, but at last my new website has gone 'live'. It's a CMS site so I can edit and maintain the content myself - hence there are a few gaps at the moment. Please visit: www.nataliedowse.co.uk to take a look.

This week I also officially moved into my new temporary 'home' studio for the next six months, whilst another artist is sub-letting my studio at Art Space. I have decided not to bring any existing or 'work in progress' into the space. An opportunity for me to start a new body of work - a time for reflection and experimentation. I am really excited about it. I've always wanted to try working from home to see how it would work out. The space has a polycarbonate roof and therefore has the most wonderful diffused natural light, though I fear it will be a little hot in the height of summer (yes it is a white-washed conservatory)! That said it does have a 3 meter long working wall. A change of environment works for me from time-to-time - so let's see what happens!

Dates for your diary:
Art Space Portsmouth Open Studios Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May, 1.30 - 4.30pm daily. Come and visit our studios in Southsea over the weekend - admission free - all welcome.

Think about paint... think about glue...

2011-02-24T23:23:00.000Z

I've been working in the studio recently on a very large painting... large paintings can be a BIG investment in both paint and time. But, as with any work there is always the risk of things not working out no matter what the size... so only time will tell. However, I am pleased that I have discovered 'Sansodor' a low-odour solvent as a turpentine substitute. This is not a new product, I just didn't know about it until recently! I tend to start a painting with very under-bound paint (usually thinned with pure turpentine) and as an asthmatic often find myself suffering by the end of the day (oh how we suffer for our art). The Sansador has really helped so I now intend to buy it in large volumes.

Thinking about paint... thinking about glue... what a jolly boring thing to do ;) !

An alternative birthday party...

2011-02-19T12:03:00.000Z

Last night I was invited to my friend's birthday celebration. A girly night with good wine and amazing food including my favourite - pudding!

As part of the evening we had one hour of life drawing - complete with a tutor and Burlesque model. I thought this was a fantastic idea and a real laugh. I thoroughly enjoyed it - as haven't practised life drawing for some time.

The drawing exercises were between a minute and ten minutes - which included drawing blind and left handed! Great stuff and a great idea for a party. Everyone joined in no matter what their experience as the wine and lines flowed.

For a second ... at The Hub

2011-02-17T21:06:00.002Z

An Art Space Portsmouth exhibition at The Hub, University of Portsmouth

For a second - Oil on canvas

Exhibition runs until March 1st, 2011
Monday-Thursday 8am-7pm, Friday 8am-4pm
Dennis Sciama Building, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth PO1 3FX

A message from nologospeak....

2011-02-16T19:18:00.001Z

Sent to me by nologospeak:

Nowhere places...

2011-02-11T14:01:00.000Z

Nowhere spaces [nowhere places]

Looking at art...

2011-02-04T15:25:00.000Z

Tessa Farmer, Swarm

Yesterday I went on a long-overdue trip to London with a good artist friend to visit a number of exhibitions. This gave me a much needed and timely boost of inspiration... as you'd expect.

The first port of call was to the Saatchi Gallery to see Newspeak: British Art Now (part 2). After spending almost 4 hours in this beautiful space - I came away happy after seeing some incredible pieces by Tessa Farmer, Jonathan Wateridge, Marcus Foster, Steve Bishop and Idris Khan.

Jonathan Wateridge - Jungle scene with plane wreck, 2007

It was also a bonus to once again see Richard Wilson's 20:50 which has been installed in the lower ground floor. My mobile phone pics do not do this piece justice here! I never tire of seeing this work ... and can't help but admire it every time.

Richard Wilson - 20:50, 1987

Richard Wilson - 20:50

After Saatchi, took a trip across town for 'bangers and mash' and then off to Vyner Street, for first Thursdays. Most of the galleries were open - and it was buzzing. Richard Moon's paintings at Madder stood out to me.

Good times!

Website...

2011-01-27T19:36:00.000Z

At last I'm building my new website... yes it's been a long time coming! Hopefully a version will be live soon - this may not be a complete version - let's say it will always be a 'work in progress'.

Here's a seek preview of one of the pages:

David Blandy Postcard

2011-01-19T00:17:00.000Z

I have finally photographed and framed my secret postcard from the Art Space Portsmouth 6by4 secret postcard exhibition that took place in November.

I am so pleased with it. Obviously, it is no longer a secret - it's a beautiful pen drawing by David Blandy - a drawing based upon his 'Child of the Atom' film. You can find out more about this project here.

I chose it as I absolutely loved the quality and beauty of the line and 'Anime' references.

Thank you once again to all the artists that kindly donated artworks to this very successful event.

Orange to white...

2011-01-10T20:05:00.000Z

Preparing an alternative studio space.

Slowly but surely the orange fades.

Decisions decisions...

2010-12-30T18:39:00.003Z

Things have been a little quiet recently as 2010 draws to an end. However, I am contemplating a change at the moment - but I am a little unsure whether this change is a good or bad decision... I guess I'll have to contemplate a little more... and if it comes to fruition all will be revealed here... hmmm what to do?

In the meantime, I have just received notification of my first Payback royalties from DACS. I am mentioning it here just in case any artists reading are unaware of this service. I was encouraged by a very good artist friend to register. If your work has appeared in books, magazines (with ISBN numbers) or on television and you haven't investigated or registered with DACS click here to find out more!

Wishing you a happy new year. Natalie :) x

Quay Arts Open 2010...

2010-11-24T08:14:00.003Z

A piece of my work has been selected for the Quay Arts Open 2010.

The exhibition runs from Saturday 4th December to Saturday 5th February at
The Michael West Gallery, Quay Arts, Newport Harbour, Isle of Wight PO30 5BD

Unfortunately, I am unable to make the preview. However, if you would like to attend it is being held on Saturday 4th December, 6pm-8pm - all welcome.

"The Quay Arts biennial contemporary open art exhibition features selected work by up-and-coming and fully establishes artists from across the UK."

6by4 success...

2010-11-16T21:51:00.006Z

This last weekend saw Art Space Portsmouth host its 6by4 Secret Postcard Exhibition. The event was a great success as we welcomed record numbers through the door. There were nearly 800 artworks for sale. Many beautiful works flew off the walls. As I was involved with the project I needed to wait for the event to finish before choosing a card for myself. I chose a beautiful drawing entitled 'Child of the Atom' by David Blandy which I will picture soon.

Thank you so much to all the generous artists and creatives for donating their fantastic artworks. I was so amazed at the response to this project. I would also like to thank all the volunteers at Art Space who worked so hard to make the event so successful.

The cards can be viewed on Flickr here.

My entry is pictured below ... I was very pleased that it sold.

Postcards...

2010-11-04T18:50:00.000Z

At last I have found the time today to make my postcard for the 6by4 Secret Postcard Exhibition and fundraising sale at Art Space Portsmouth (where I have my studio).

Obviously I cannot post it here otherwise my entry wouldn't be a secret!

If you would still like to make postcard for this event, you have until tomorrow to do so. Please click here for further details.

The exhibition and selling event will take place as follows:

6by4
Secret Postcard Exhibition and Sale
Preview: Friday 12th November, 6pm - 9pm
Sale of artwork commences at 7pm on a first come first served basis

Exhibition and sale continues:
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November, 12noon - 5pm
at GASP, Art Space Portsmouth, Southsea, Hampshire PO5 4PA

This is a one-off opportunity to buy an original art work for just £20 - the perfect Christmas gift!

To help celebrate our 30th Anniversary Art Space is hosting an exhibition full of delicious surprises. We've asked artists, designers, musicians, TV personalities and assorted creative types to make and donate an original postcard-sized art work in their medium of choice. The artists' identity will remain secret until the point of purchase.

Emerging talent will be shown alongside established artists and media superstars giving art lovers and collectors the chance to purchase a hidden gem at the very reasonable flat rate of £20.

Contributers so far include Martin Parr, Wayne Hemingway, Sir Paul Smith and Richard Wilson. We've had entries from all over the world including the Ukraine, France, USA and the British Virgin Islands. Many submissions come from artists with international reputations, some of whom have played a significant role in the history of Art Space Portsmouth and Aspex Gallery.

All proceeds from the sale of postcards will help support future Art Space projects and initiatives.

Art Space Portsmouth is a charitable organisation providing much needed support for artists in the region. 28 of our 45 members rent a studio space in a converted chapel and the group makes a significant cultural contribution to the city and beyond through exhibitions, workshops and public projects.

For further information please visit: www.artspace.co.uk
Preview postcards on Flickr at: www.flickr.com/groups/6by4/

Getting plastered and other activities...

2010-10-12T21:40:00.002+01:00

It's been a while since I've made a blog entry. It's the time of year when not only am I undertaking my usual duties at Art Space Portsmouth - but the time when I administrate our International Residency. This has kept me very busy...

Not only were we pleased to welcome Josefina Posch from Sweden at the beginning of September - we were also extremely pleased to welcome back Frauke Materlik our 2009 artist-in-residence.

Photograph copyright Frauke Materlik

Frauke had travelled back to exhibit a new body of work, "Ferne Nähe - The Distant Near" in three venues across Portsmouth: Aspex, Vernon Gate at Gunwharf Quays and Boathouse 4 in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Frauke had driven across Europe with her exhibition packed in the back of her car. She is a very determined person and an inspiration to me. With only one minor hiccup (the Cherry Picker being delivered the the wrong address) the show went on, delivered on time, with great success accompanied by a beautiful catalogue. Frauke's exhibition continues until 24th October. You can see further images of Frauke's exhibition on her residency blog here.

Josefina's casting day
Photograph copyright K. Dowlatshahi

Josefina, the 2010 recipient, has already thrown herself straight into her ambitious project. This has included a plastering day at Portsmouth University last week. Both members of the public and students were asked to volunteer to have their body parts cast for two life-sized sculptures. Josefina will be producing two sculptures one male and one female that represents a cross-section of the average Portsmouth inhabitant. There was also a great double-page spread in The News last week, the online version of article can be read here.

There was a real buzz to the casting day - with the media students filming and broadcasting the event live around the University... and an interview with BBC Radio Solent (which can be heard here until Friday at 3:19:30). You can see more images from the casting day on Josefina's residency blog here. Also, I must add, I had the pleasure of getting plastered yesterday!!

Me getting plastered! Photo copyright J Posch

So... although I'm very busy at the moment ... rest assured I will be back in my own studio soon - especially as I still need to make my 6by4 postcards for our Art Space Portsmouth Secret Postcard Exhibition. If you would like to participate - please take look here, extended deadline 5th November 2010.

BBC Radio Solent interview
Photograph copyright K Dowlatshahi

Casting day broadcast live by media students around the University of Portsmouth Campus
Photograph copyright Katayoun Dowlatshahi

Some good news...

2010-09-01T23:51:00.017+01:00

Today I had some very good news. I received an email this morning telling me I had been selected as a finalist for this juried contemporary painting prize: http://www.manifestgallery.org/inpa1/. This made me very happy :) http://www.manifestgallery.org/inpa/inpa1/index.html

Time flies...

2010-09-01T00:05:00.004+01:00

It was exactly three years' ago that I moved to Derby to start the Jonathan Vickers Fine Art Award. This residency was such an amazing experience and one that I will never forget. I have such wonderful memories ... it gave me time to work on my artwork full-time, as well as challenging myself as a person by moving to a new city without knowing a soul. Although I had done this several times before by going to art college and University - there wasn't the 'all in the same boat' network - and this made it even more liberating. As part of this residency I also had chance work with students in the Fine Art department at the University of Derby, where Shed 5 became my studio for the following 10-months.

This was my second residency experience - the first being a 6-week visit to Latvia in 2006. I do realise how fortunate I was to be awarded both of these opportunities and will always be truly grateful. The work I made in Latvia most certainly informed my project proposal for my Derby application. It is a cliche to say 'how time flies' - but it is true - 'it only feels like yesterday' to add another!!

Tomorrow I will be welcoming our second international artist-in-residence, Josefina Posch from Sweden, to Art Space Portsmouth. So having been on both sides of the fence - I can really appreciate the value of these opportunities and the value of exchange. It is not my intention to be sentimental about it but I just felt the need to record this in some way ... so why not here?

Work in progress at ARC...

2010-08-25T23:49:00.004+01:00

Work in Progress
at ARC space, Aspex Gallery.

Click here: www.arcartistsspace.blogspot.com

Secret postcard exhibition...

2010-08-25T23:17:00.000+01:00

Art Space Portsmouth is hosting a secret postcard event '6by4' in November to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The deadline for entries is Monday 11th October 2010.

Open to all artists - this is a fundraising exhibition & sale of original, anonymous postcard-sized artworks. All proceeds will help support future Art Space projects and initiatives.

This is a great opportunity for young and emerging talent to be shown alongside mid-career and established artists. Additionally, it is a great chance for art lovers and collectors to purchase a hidden gem!

If you would like to find out more please click here.

A big thank you to Roberta Collins at Plastic Mammoth for generously designing the posters and flyers for us.

Art Space Portsmouth: celebrating 30 years of artists' studio provision 1980-2010.

A blank canvas (or two)...

2010-08-13T21:55:00.003+01:00

Now, I know I said you may not see these canvases for a while. However, I couldn't resist... they now have three coats of primer and are beautifully white and ready to go. Although this may not look visually enthralling (or very exciting) - to me it is very VERY exciting. However, the preparation is the easy bit. This is the calm before the storm - before the roller-coater of 'ups and downs' on the struggle to turn this into something presentable. Only time will tell. (This is a diptych - hence the reference to the singular and plural).

Loves me loves me not...

2010-08-13T21:15:00.000+01:00

From the archive:

Loves me loves me not...
Oil and acrylic on canvas

This is the first painting installation I made way back in 1996, it is interesting to see how long ago I began to work in series like this, and is something I have returned to many times since. This piece consisted of 33 individual canvases. Again, these images have been scanned from slide film which is not ideal - hence the slight grain. I'm still processing my images, both new and old, for the website, which is slightly delayed. However, slowly but surely, it is evolving.

Angel...

2010-08-08T21:59:00.005+01:00

From the archive:

Angel
Fabric, coat hanger & pins

'Beautiful Angel - I can only imagine you.'

I have spent the day in the studio priming canvases and photographing paintings. It's a long job - but needs to be done. At least it is all digital now. Angel was originally photographed on slide film. This has been scanned but the results could be better. Thank goodness it is not standard to use slides anymore.

Like a moth to a flame...

2010-08-07T20:35:00.001+01:00

From the archive:

Inside Out
Bulb, feathers & wire

No moths were harmed during the making of this piece. Although a few light bulbs were expended.

Learning the hard way...

2010-08-06T11:14:00.006+01:00

It's been a week of mixed fortunes. Let it be a warning to those that do not regularly back-up their computer's hard drives. I leaned the hard way this week when my hard-disk failed and sadly I hadn't backed-up my data. Apart from a few essential files on my memory stick, I lost a year-and-a-half's work!! We all take risks in life - but this one is NOT advisable. On a brighter note, my computer's been fixed and is bigger, brighter, better (hopefully) and I have set about re-photographing my missing artworks again - ready for the website (which is now a little bit delayed). However, I can laugh about it now - many worse things happen in life - just a little bit foolish of me :-)

Also, my new stretchers are nearly ready - just need priming ... they are quite large ... this painting may take some time...

The scale of this piece is ambitious for me... and starting is always difficult but exciting too (see Luc Tuyman's quote on starting in previous post).

As Picasso said. "I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it".

If the painting is successful you will see it posted here someday - if you never set eyes on these canvases again... well I'll just leave you guessing why!!!

Studio experiments...

2010-07-29T22:41:00.001+01:00

Today I've been working on these very small experiments (Gesso panels 10cm x 10cm) and giving myself the opportunity to have a play with materials. Been wanting to try this out for a little while - I'm pleased with the results ... I think!

In progress:

Walking alone...

2010-07-25T22:42:00.002+01:00

I've been busy photographing some of my back catalogue ready for the website. It's very time consuming, but I'm getting there.

Walking alone I was overwhelmed by a sense of not belonging
Oil on canvas
88cm x 116cm

Going home
Oil on canvas
142cm x 81cm

Work in progress

2010-07-23T22:21:00.012+01:00

'Work in progress' on show at ARC, aspex till end of August.

Dinosaurs are coming to Southsea:
Sunday 1st August - Grand Opening of Heather & Ivan Morison's LUNA PARK on Southsea Common & AN UNREACHABLE COUNTRY. A LONG WAY TO GO at aspex.

Preview: Sunday 1 August on Southsea Common 1-3pm, followed by drinks at aspex 3-5pm

Portsmouth and Southsea’s skyline will be transformed this summer by the spectacular addition of Luna Park, Heather & Ivan Morison’s recreation of the accidental dinosaur Ultrasauros. Created in the style of American roadside super-sculptures and standing at 16 metres tall on Southsea Common, Luna Park will be visible from miles around.

Work in progress, oil on linen - 25cm x 20cm x 4.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

2010-07-22T21:35:00.007+01:00

A quick update:

It's been a long time coming but my new website is currently underway, so I'll soon be busy entering the content. It's been frustrating that I haven't been able to update my website for such a long, long time, but soon to be rectified.

I'm also waiting for my new stretchers to arrive - so very excited. So waiting, waiting, waiting...

You need to wake up if you want to dream...

2010-07-11T13:12:00.007+01:00

You need to wake up if you want to dream.
Paulo Coelho

For a second - Oil on canvas - 2005

Natalie on starting....

2010-07-07T19:09:00.010+01:00

When I start to paint, it is real agony ... well said Luc Tuymans. I've been doing this a long time and it never ever gets any easier.

This painting is an experimental piece as the precursor to a more ambitious painting - early days!

Luc Tuymans on starting...

2010-07-01T10:02:00.008+01:00

When I start to paint, it is real agony. I get nervous. The day before, I am already working up to it. Then I get to the studio and, once the image starts to emerge and come together, pleasure kicks in. And then you can see things that no other person can see.

Luc Tuymans

Image © Luc Tuymans - Rabbit

The Public Catalogue Foundation

2010-06-27T19:26:00.017+01:00

I have just received my copy of the 'Derbyshire' Catalogue produced by The Public Catalogue Foundation. This is a series of books that catalogue 'oil painting in public ownership' county-by-county. Both my paintings owned by Jonathan Vickers Fine Art Award collection feature in this book alongside the other recipients of the Award.

'The Public Catalogue Foundation was set up to photograph and record all oil, acrylic and tempera paintings in publicly owned collections in the UK. This includes works in museums (both on display and in store) as well as paintings in council buildings, universities, hospitals, police stations and fire stations. It is estimated that there are some 200,000 such paintings in the UK. However, at any one time some 80% of these are hidden from public view, being either in storerooms or public buildings in official use.

The aim of The Foundation is to improve public access to these paintings by producing a series of affordable colour catalogues on a county-by-county basis.'

I'm pleased to be included besides a few more pennies for my DACS royalties!

Fellow artists if you don't know about the DACS payback scheme please click here.

When surprising things happen...

2010-06-24T17:08:00.013+01:00

Between the lines (swimming pool)

I am fascinated and surprised about how things happen sometimes. Last week I was contacted by the journalist and writer Fran Abrams. Fran had seen a text written about my work on the Vegas gallery website written by Ken Pratt for the Sugar and Spice exhibition in 2007 (read the text here). The text was predominantly about a series of work called 'Little girls in pretty boxes', and touched on another series called 'Between the lines'.

Fran is writing a book on the history of childhood in the 20th Century (due for publication next year by Atlantic Books), and after reading this text and seeing my work she asked if she could come and interview me. So she did. Fran asked me about my own childhood including what opportunities there were for children in the 70's and 80's: intrigued as to whether my artwork was partly sparked by thoughts and activities from my childhood, or whether the work was an attempt to capture the essence of an era which has passed.

It was a really pleasurable afternoon and will wait and see if anything I said makes it into the final edit!

Between the lines (ponies)

Between the lines

Little girls in pretty boxes

2010-06-23T22:04:00.000+01:00

“There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.”

Nietzsche

Drawing and projection

2010-06-19T15:51:00.005+01:00

Nowhere places (The Clearing)

2010-06-19T12:30:00.007+01:00

Compressed charcoal on paper - 100cm x 100cm

Pencil on paper - 20cm x 20cm

Recently I have been concentrating on drawing and sketching to inform a new body of work. Whilst also carrying out small experiments with painting and drawing materials.

Out of Bounds

2010-06-06T21:41:00.006+01:00

Graphite on paper

What do you consider art?

2010-06-04T10:40:00.003+01:00

Louise Bourgeois (1911 - 2010)

2010-06-01T21:25:00.003+01:00

"Once I was beset by anxiety but I pushed the fear away by studying the sky, determining when the moon would come out and where the sun would appear in the morning."

"Art is a guarantee of sanity. That is the most important thing I have said."
Louise Bourgeois

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8714974.stm

A glimpse of this place...

2010-05-27T18:44:00.002+01:00

wishing

Studio shadows...

2010-05-27T18:34:00.002+01:00

Studio...

2010-05-27T18:22:00.003+01:00

Faded icons...

2010-05-27T18:16:00.009+01:00

Art Space Portsmouth's 30th Anniversary Open Studios Weekend

2010-05-07T15:56:00.011+01:00

Art Space Portsmouth, 27 Brougham Road, Southsea, Hants. PO5 4PA
www.artspace.co.uk

Saturday 22nd May, midday - 5pm
Sunday 23rd May, midday - 3pm
Art Auction: Sunday 23rd May, 3pm - 4.30pm

Close to Portsmouth City Centre, on the edge of Southsea, is Art Space Portsmouth. For thirty years artists, art-lovers and friends have told other artists, art-lovers and friends about one of the oldest studio groups in the UK.

Established in 1980, by Fine Art staff and graduates of the then Portsmouth Polytechnic, Art Space has provided affordable studio space in Portsmouth for generations. Today, over 30 artists occupy studios in the former Chapel on Brougham Road, and a membership of over 50 contributes to a year-round programme of projects, exhibitions and events.

On the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd of May 2010, Art Space Portsmouth will once again open its studios to the public. Visitors to the annual Open Studios Weekend will be able to view new work from painting to performance, and come face-to-face with the artists involved.

Click here for map.

Set in motion

2010-04-30T01:11:00.007+01:00

Hit the ground running

2010-04-20T09:11:00.002+01:00

Steps to Heaven

2010-04-15T23:40:00.010+01:00

'Steps to Heaven' was made for 'Skimming the Surface', Jonathan Vickers Fine Art Award 2008. Looped DVD stop-frame animation.

Apologies for the lack of poster frame on movie below:

Human Essence in three parts

2010-04-15T21:54:00.015+01:00

Human Essence part one:

'Human Essence in three parts' was a video piece I made for my degree show - way back in 1992. This hasn't seen the light of day for many years and has only recently been captured digitally from old VHS tape. Unfortunately part three is incomplete on account that the file didn't transfer properly.

Apologies again for the lack of poster frame on movie below - I'm not sure Blogger supports this? Nonetheless they can still be viewed.

Human Essence part two:

Human Essence part three:

Breathe

2010-04-15T19:40:00.024+01:00

'Breathe' was made for 'Skimming the Surface', Jonathan Vickers Fine Art Award 2008. A second in time, looped and played endlessly on a tiny framed DVD monitor. A moment, fleeting - almost insignificant.

Apologies for the lack of poster frame on movie below:

rising tides of bureaucracy

2010-04-03T21:11:00.011+01:00

Today I visited aspex to see Jeannie Driver's installation, 'rising tides of bureaucracy' - a truly stunning piece of work. The photos really do not do this piece justice, as experiencing this 'up close' through the glass walls of arc space was something special. The whole office had been partially filled with shredded paper - with just the tops of the office furniture poking through.

Photograph copyright Jeannie Driver

Photograph copyright Jeannie Driver

"Jeannie’s socially engaged practice explores issues and experiences common to us all. Her aim is to create situations and catalysts that encourage a re-examination of everyday life issues to raise thought, dialogue and debate.

The installation is a visual response to an ongoing and consuming relationship with paper and paper work and creates a visualisation and play of notions of ‘quantity’ as other artists may explore ‘scale’. The installation is the latest work by Jeannie Driver that has derived from her experiences as a freelance artist, project manager and consultant."

"No paper was ‘wasted’ for the purpose of this installation."

Of course being at aspex enabled me to view Andy Harper's wonderful show once again (see previous post) and a new beautiful new exhibition in gallery 2 by Naori Priestly.

Constellation... alternative configuration...

2010-04-01T21:49:00.017+01:00

As part of Portsmouth's city-wide 'Find Your Talent' Light Night event, Art Space Portsmouth opened its studios for two hours last weekend (the night the clocks changed). Alongside, in our gallery space, we exhibited documentary information and artwork created by young people as part of our 'Find Your Talent' programme - some of which was created during two painting workshops with Leaning Links and Harbour School, Tipner - where my work provided the starting point. This gave me the opportunity to exhibit 'Constellation' once again alongside their work - but this time in an alternative configuration.

Some of the work created by young people as part of the Art Space 'Find Your Talent' workshops:

Constellation displayed in its usual configuration:

Open spaces... closed places...

2010-03-24T20:36:00.043Z

nowhere spaces
[nowhere places]
empty spaces
[invented places]
imaginary spaces
[feel-good places]
no spaces
[complex places]
confusing spaces
[nowhere-to-run places]
nowhere-to-hide spaces
[frightening places]
spun-out spaces
[beautiful places]
unknown spaces
[city places]
urban spaces
[rural places]
far-out spaces
[far-away places]...

outdoor spaces
[interior places]
run-around spaces
[keep-still places]
open spaces
[closed places]
mysterious spaces
[revealing places]
vast spaces
[high places]
in between spaces
[in between places]
usual spaces
[same-old places]
wonderful spaces
[dream places]
tumble-down spaces
[crumbling places]
dangerous spaces
[happy places]
dead-end spaces...

Standing at the edge... the beginning of something new: to all the places I've been... and the many spaces I've never seen.

Skimming the Surface

2010-03-24T20:24:00.001Z

"Work in progress"

2010-03-20T17:29:00.005Z

Work in progress - oil on linen - 2008

This is the title so not to be confused with 'work in progress' as in unfinished!

Little girls in pretty boxes

2010-03-20T13:10:00.022Z

BACK CATALOGUE: I have decided to now and again post work from my back catalogue in the absence of a website that I can easily update. A new website design will appear at www.nataliedowse.co.uk as soon as I have the funds!

So in the meantime...

Here follows a text written by Ken Pratt (Curator) from the press release for 'Sugar and Spice" at Vegas Gallery, London, 2007.

Sugar & Spice…
a show about little girl’s dreams and lost innocence...

The paintings of British painter Natalie Dowse tap into a world that is now almost gone. The melancholic imagery of little girls on forlorn seaside fun fairs, of gymkhana girls on ponies and petite gymnasts contorting their androgynous bodies before the glare of international television cameras speak of a world that is already purely nostalgic. Dowse’s work taps directly into the narratives of aspiration and desire pushed at a few generations of British girls through popular media at a certain time, a strangely English response to dealing with the onslaught of the Swinging Sixties.

For a period from the 1960s until its eventual death at the hands of MTV and the invention of a teen pop press in the 1980’s, British girls no longer content to exist on stories of plum-mouthed lacrosse champions fiercely loyal to their boarding school named after some suitably Anglican saint were offered a compromise set of aspirations. Arguably a containment strategy for worried adults intuiting the end of 1950’s style patriarchy yet fearing the impact of the sexual revolution on their daughters, a range of comics, magazines, annuals and television programming offered little girls a range of supposedly suitable role models. Gymnasts such as Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci seemed to be the perfect solution: undeniably active and mini career women of a sort, they nonetheless presented an apparently innocent and upstanding (non) sexual identity. Ditto for powerful little girls who could control much larger horses and make them jump over fences in competitive environments.
And of course, it is over. Tammy is a single mother living on benefits. Bunty has been beaten by Britney and Lady Sovereign and her gang of streetwise inner city rude girls would tell any pony to talk to the hand.

Dowse’s work is acutely aware of the strange contradiction of the world presented to the particular generation of girls in which their sexuality would be apparently contained by sublimating it into a range of suitably sporting, ideally exhausting activities, upon which they could be encouraged to fix their dreams and aspirations. Dowse frames this in terms of examining the use of sport as a form of propaganda used to control and ultimately abuse little girls, an interesting position given the similarities between this construct from the 1960’s and 1970’s and vision of right-wing European thinking in the early 20th century that encouraged girls to hang around in groups doing callisthenics, simultaneously containing them and strengthening them for marriage and childbirth.

The work relies on a fatalistic hindsight: there are those who remember Comaneci’s descent into anorexia, drug and alcohol dependency as clearly as her historic perfect ten Olympic score. This sense of a disappointed hindsight about girlhood dreams, even if they were dreams encouraged by a social machinery way beyond the control of the little girls who dreamt them, is heightened in the blotchy, soft style of the works that make their source as screen images evident. In this sense, Dowse’s practice is not only concerned with the content, but also with the formal aspects; the historical context of image production, the relationship between painting and photography and television.

Text copyright © Ken Pratt

Olga 1 2 3 exhibited at Grey Area, Brighton:

Top Banana!

2010-03-10T23:14:00.020Z

I've just bought my first copy of Turps Banana - and really looking forward to some serious self-indulgent reading about painting (and why not indeed), as their website states:

"No Advertising.
No Backers.
No Professional Critics.
No Life Style Drivel.

Just obsessive, self absorbed, deluded, lonely, dirty, penniless, alcoholic painters discussing what they love most. Turps Banana is the only painting magazine written exclusively by painters."*

*Caveat: I would just like to add I maybe many of the above - but not alcoholic or dirty! (Not that I have ever contributed or adhere to such stereotypes!!!!).

I hope I won't be disappointed - I'll let you know.

Also, there's an excellent (in my opinion) painting show on at Aspex at the moment by Andy Harper "An Orrery for Other Worlds". For me this is one of the most interesting exhibitions they have hosted for a while and runs until 18th April. One major piece was commissioned for this exhibition and painted in situ over a period of three days: painted on a large blown Perspex globe which hangs in the middle of the gallery. The works on canvas are equally as impressive (mainly completed in one day). I have always had a fascination with work that hovers between the concrete and abstract - and this work occupies that space. See installation shots here: Andy Harper.

To help celebrate our 30th Anniversay year at Art Space Portsmouth (where I have my studio and work as the part-time studio co-ordinator) The News published a three page article about the organisation. I'm really happy with the result - and hope we survive another 30 years! (All thanks to our vibrant membership).

Image courtesy of: The News - Saturday 6th March 2010.

Note to self: try and remember you're supposed to be an artist...

2010-03-04T09:22:00.010Z

Tomorrow's deadline - hit (nearly there)
Heartbreak - miss
Painting workshops - hit
Administration - hit
... more administration - Hmmmm
Building maintenance - miss
Artist's talk - hit
Loss of confidence - miss
Finding some comfort in being creative - hit
Miss you - miss

From the archive: I demand a penny for my thoughts or else I'll be intellectually broke - Oil on canvas, 2000
(Have I been doing to for too long?)

Work in progress 4...

2010-01-28T19:59:00.004Z

Evaluation ...

2010-01-14T16:18:00.006Z

A small world...

2010-01-13T22:19:00.009Z

It certainly can feel like a small world sometimes. Two of my really good artist friends, Kate Smith and Fiona Robinson have been selected as the curator's choice on the Axis artists' site at the same time - click here to see more. Congratulations to you both.

Kate Smith - Residual Mark (Fade 1), 2009

Fiona Robinson - Veils of Memory, 2009

This happened a few year's back with me and another friend Juno Doran, when our work was selected for a curated painting selection on the same site - click here for more. This resulted in us both being selected for 'Sugar and Spice' at the Vegas Gallery, London.

These chance moments always bring a little smile to my face.

Between the lines - Snow

2010-01-08T17:38:00.004Z

Oil on linen - 22cm x 17cm

Between the lines - Snowman

2010-01-08T17:34:00.004Z

Oil on linen - 16cm x 21cm

A walk in the park...

2010-01-08T15:18:00.011Z

The snow will melt before the heart...

Between the lines - Polar bear

2010-01-08T11:19:00.003Z

Icicles...

2010-01-07T16:18:00.006Z

Snow... glow...

2010-01-05T21:31:00.005Z

A winter walk...

2009-12-27T18:30:00.019Z

and the skies grew old and the ocean wept...

Reunited...

2009-12-24T13:52:00.037Z

Market Hall Corner, Oil on linen - 434cm x 100cm

I have very recently been reunited with this painting 'Market Hall Corner' after very careful delivery from Derby. It is currently being exhibited at 1000 Lakeside, North Harbour, Portsmouth.

I made this painting two years' ago in the early stages of the Vickers Fine Art Award residency. I hadn't seen this painting for a whole year until I unwrapped it for the hang. It was last shown (and seen!) in the Tregoning Gallery, Derby in December 2008. I really cannot believe that the year has flown by so quickly and how my paintings and related events become personal markers on the passing of time. This year hasn't been so productive for me, whereas last year the Vickers Award allowed me to focus full-time on my work, however, being reunited with this painting again was a pleasant experience. With a new audience brings new feedback and inspiration. I'm intending to throw myself back into the studio in the new year. So time to put my money where my mouth is - watch this space...

Also on show is 'Westfield' only previously exhibited at GASP, however, this time with a little more space to stand back:

Westfield, 2009 - Oil on canvas - 150cm x 100cm

The last few months have been busy with administering the first Art Space Portsmouth International Residency in addition to my usual tasks in the office. Our first artist was Frauke Materlik from Hanover, Germany, who arrived in mid September and sadly left on Monday. However, Frauke will hopefully be back next Autumn for a major residency exhibition at Aspex and Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Please click here to visit her residency blog (or link on right of page).

2009-12-19T20:40:00.000Z

Rain comes from the clouds
Sun lights up the sky

The ocean wept

2009-11-12T19:20:00.012Z

And so the ocean lost its depths
And boredom rained as the ocean wept

'Seal Jubillee - Bat for Lashes'

Work in progress 3...

2009-09-06T18:23:00.003+01:00