Fiber Arts

My new issue of Fiber Arts arrived today from the US and its got some cracking stuff in.....just going to post a few artists featured in there....Xenobia Bailey for starters with her huge crocheted pieces that aren't dissimilar to the paintings of Beatriz Milhazes. Watch this space, will keep adding some great work!!

Paintings for sale!

Having a clear out....these paintings were made and exhibited last year. I have sold three but have these two left and want to make some space!
The blue one is approx 3ft x 3ft and the red one 3ft x 4ft, both acrylic on canvas, on Strong, well made stretchers.
The blue number is up for sale at £150 and the red £200, but am open to offers!
RED PAINTING NOW SOLD.

Some recent work.

Have been experimenting with cutting up heavy duty polythene instead of opaque paper. Think I prefer the paper as shadows are cast onto it as well as the wall but still worth a go. It hangs nicely and is much more durable!

Planning for my PHD proposal

Thought I'd do some writing on my blog today, to help me focus a wee bit I suppose.
I really need to pull my finger out now in terms of doing an initial proposal towards what will be my actual proposal.....and already I'm stumped!

I know that I want to do a practice based PHD..but don't quite know how that will manifest itself...perhaps along these lines - For the past 15 or so years I have made pattern based work. I was painting, but since re-engaging with contemporary art and my own work through the Artist Teacher Scheme at BCU and New Art Gallery, I have begun to make installations using cut paper.

Anyway, for a long time I have struggled to locate my work within a fine art context. Obviously I am interested and inspired by many artists but am also very influenced by printed textile design - but have no desire to print fabrics. I also love interior design and decoration as well as contemporary illustration and grafitti.
To put it in a nutshell, my influences are eclectic!!
Although I make work that I want to be aesthetically pleasing, I am not heavily into aesthetical theories...yet.

I am thinking about researching the possible locations for my work, putting it into a range of contexts - Fine art, interior decoration and craft for example. The reason I mention craft also is that my work has to fit around a full-time job and my family and is in a way very repetitive (although I feel it is therapeutic)...does this make it a craft practice? Who knows? Is craft still seen as a lower 'art form' than fine art? Is there anything wrong with creating pieces that are purely decorative or ornamental and could be placed in a domestic setting?

I have so many questions, which if is a good thing I guess....now I just have to try and make sense of it all.......

Hmmmmmm, think this ramble has helped a bit, thanks for listening!