twits .....

Many of you know from a post last year, that I collect white porcelain - translucent vessels in particular.  Last week three fellow artist's and I had a drive to Redcliffe to visit Jo St. Baker in her Studio with a mind to viewing it as a possible exhibition space for a group or individually.

While there I could not resist buying two new little additions for my porcelain collection - 'Twits', by artist Josephine Regan.  You will see them on the bottom shelf and then watch me play as I try to find a resting space for them among their peers.  The truth is, I think 'the twits' will move around the porcelain display often as either I, or visitors, rearrange.

 

I love how this twit seems to be about to kiss you ....

This is Jo's Gallery and Studio space.  She has a great eye and a contemporary approach which would suit me and my work very well ...... no time to think about it terribly much just yet but I am really interested in seeing if she will stock some of my work there and then maybe organise an exhibition for late next year or the year afterwards - if of course my work is deemed suitable.  It is a 'pop up' gallery at present, but I am sure Jo will move from this to another should this building sell.

If you are in the area, this is a fine place to visit.  You can see from this photo that an exhibition was in the process of coming down but even if you are there in-between exhibitions, there are lovely things to look at and buy.

studio treasure .....

There is something incredibly special about buying something  directly from the artist who has made it and just lately I have had a bit of a splurge buying small treasures from the UK, from USA and from 'just around the corner'.  Such fun.  It made me realise how much I love having a collection of these treasures around me in the studio ..... little bits to inspire, remind and bring joy.

I have been setting up studio once again, having not had a proper base for a couple of years, and it has been fun.  Not there yet, but I am beginning to find things (still have a removal booked from a storage shed next week with MANY more boxes to unpack) and set up home for some of my clutter.  My favourites in the studio would certainly be those precious objects and works from artists I have known for some time, and those that I have just discovered recently.  Thought I would share some of my studio treasure in this blog - seeing we have been having a good look at some of the studio stacks and bundles in this blogging tribe .....

I collect white porcelain, amongst other things and have pieces by Shannon Garson, Mel Robson, Molly Bosworth, Jan Dunlop, Robin King, Julie Shepherd, Chris Bell and most recently, from almost around the corner, Kim Schoenberger.  The written piece below was inscribed by Chris Bell and is called October Snowballs.  The writing begins ...... the sky is full of the wandering snowflakes.  They do not fall as one might expect, but fly, like white butterflies, weightless in the restless, cold air ...

Little by little the landscape becomes hushed in the soft embrace of snow. All sound is muffled .... 

Ahhhh - how beautiful is that.

I love mixing handmade wonders with those of the natural world ..... this hand painted piece of porcelain is incredibly tactile.  I bought it in Steamboat, Colorado early last year when we were over there skiing.  I could not find out much about the artist but it is signed J Lewis, Acoma.  Delicious.

This is my most recent purchase from Kim - just love the piercings ........ actually think it photographs well with the fossils. 

Here is one of Shannon's nests (I have been addicted to them and have given many as gifts) sitting atop a piece of tiger's eye which is on top of a tea bag book given to me by Adele Outerridge, in 1998.

Here is one of Fiona's books, in fact two of them .... the little metal book in the front is also one of hers.  In the background is one of Patti's teabag drawings.

More work here by Patti and Fiona, and couple of other artist's books.

A lovely mix of rusted pagers and crystals - angels hair within so I am told.  I don't really understand anything about such things but do love these crystals.

This is part of an etching of mine and a rusted piece of Barry's work - I have a few of those around the house too!

 Some more work by Patti awaiting framing and a gorgeous textile fragment by Jackie Bowcutt called Snow Writing which really appealed to me and she kindly let me purchase.

These two busts, one in bronze and one in porcelain I bought from my South African cousin Rosamund O'Connor who had studied in Goldsmith's in London.  I bought these and other pieces from her exhibition in the 70's. Probably the very first personal pieces I ever owned and very dear to me.  In the background there is another of Shannon's porcelain vessels.

I consider myself most fortunate to have these treasures keeping me company in the studio.  Of course I have paintings and etchings too .... but that is another story!