Photography - James Ravilious. RWA Bristol

More advantages to Bristol being European Green Capital include exhibitions at the RWA linked into the natural landscape in the local area: James Ravilious- Rural Life photography.

The photographs were all taken of rural life and landscapes in North Devon during the 1970s and 1980s, and on first view you'd think you were in the 1940s or 1950s, as they were taken on the brink of industrialised farming in the area. They are warm and beautifully composed. 

All images copyright Robin Ravillious and some Beaford Arts

Inspiration from land, sky and City

Where do you get your inspiration from? I like to snap the sky, landscape and my city.

Primary work - Collage. Inspired by Emily Ketteringham

This week it was all about collage, using houses drawn by Emily Ketteringham, and pops of greens & blues, an old dictionary & craft paper.

My quick example....

A sample of paper, glue and inspiration.

Here's a selection of the lovely work produced by the kids:

Monmouthshire - Welsh England Border - Inspiration

We spent a relaxing weekend away last weekend, which was a brilliant way to pass away January blues.   

We stayed at a gorgeous place called The Bell in Skenfrith. It was a really wet Saturday and our drive up was met with swollen rivers and much water run off from the land on the roads. On the Sunday we took one of the walks recommended by the Bell.

The pics speak for themselves and offer me much inspiration.

Hedgerows

The Bell at Skenfrith

 Misty Sunday morning, the full Monnow River in Skenfrith

Apple trees - cider producing...

Blackcurrant bushes

 We were blessed with a glorious blue sunny day.

Old old oaks with a story to tell.

The balck mountains in the distance

Looking down to Skenfrith

Primary work - Emily Ketteringham work

Bye bye Greeks. Hello work inspired by local artist and waterways. 

Emily Ketteringham is a Bristol based artist, who creates collages, screenprints and prints of scenes in and around Bristol. The class have been studying her styles, doing some sketches and copying some of Emily's drawings/work.

Here are some of their sketches:

Once we'd looked at a few photos of Bristol buildings and skylines they had to work on one picture, that I'd cut in half. We used this image of Windsor Terrace and Bonded warehouses, looking across the Cumberland Basin:

Copyright Emily Ketteringham

We had noticed the way Emily uses simple lines to outlines of buildings and the landscape that disappear off the page, or appear within her detailed images.

I cut the image in half, (we eventually joined them back together), and the children had to discuss what they would see either side of the image and create the rest of the cityscape.

I love what they produced and their collaboration. Lots for them to be proud of.

Happy January.

Alli

:)

Lauren Child - fabric, collage and Chandeliers for the People

All images copywright Lauren Child

I have a little daughter Hettie.
       She's not so small but very funny.
She has always loved the books of Lauren Child.
       We have most of her books now.

Ms Child's books range from picture books to
        detective novels for pre-teens now.
When Ms Child's is in town we love to go and listen to her
        because we are inspired by her illustrations
            and          QUirkY 
                                         wriTiNg.

This Saturday we found out a bit more about her way of 
           working.
      
Lauren grew up in the 60s and 70s, like me, and her mother
        made clothes for Lauren and her 2 sisters.

We were also dressed in clothes my mum made for us.
      I feel a connection to Ms Childs and her homemade 70s
childhood. 

When Lauren creates her illustrations, she draws, 
        photocopies fabric, collages and such like.
She likes to use the computer to play around with the fabrics.

One source of fabric for her pics is the scrap stash at her 
        family home.
She also had a business called Chandeliers for the People -
        and has many remnants from that time that
               make their
                          way into her
                                marvellous illustrations.

Lola's pjs are made from fabric that was used to make a
       nightdress for young Lauren.

One small remnant was copied several times and overlaid to 
           make one larger image.
A patchwork background a bit like this one.

All images copywright Lauren Child

We are now into the 3rd Ruby Redfort book and think Lauren

       writes fab books for pre-teens.

In the Q & A I didn't get to ask my question. Boo hoo.

Me: On your slide you were using you whizzed forward to an image of Starsky and Hutch and Hart to Hart - how did they inspire your writing?

Lauren:   .........

Cornish Cove - a stitched piece

Who can fail to be inspired by a view like this?

Sennen Cove - Cornwall

Having holidayed with so many beautiful views of the Cornish sea and sky I wanted to make something to remind me of the holiday.

As a family, we collect shells and beach debris from most visits to the sea, and our 'collection' lives in our front garden. I love this collection.

I was tickled by the shells I saw used in art work on the wall of Alison Deegan's studio, in a feature in Mollie Makes. Shells stitched on felt.

I had a rough idea of what I wanted to make & planned out the piece using some favourite shells. I used applique, free-machine embroidery and hand sewing, enjoying using my Sylko threads and other metallic threads.

Not sure how to display it yet, but I really felt myself get lost in making this. Here are some closeups.

Ho hum, for Cornish Coves!

Here's to your hols and big skys!

Alli x

Kirigami craze...

I came across this lovely Kirigami (origami and paper cutting) kit in a local toy shop, Playful, and was drawn to the beautiful paper and shape of the paper balls.

I'm very in love with the paper and wish the designs were on fabric too.

Dreaming of this on fabric....

Can't contemplate using this yet....too gorgeous!

Because I want to fuss over the beautiful paper for a while I copied the template and made up, with the help of Craft Club members & my daughter and her friends, the following paper balls using paper from IKEA.

With thanks to Emma, Nina & Hettie

With thanks to the Craft Clubbers!

Aren't they 









gorgeous?