Diva - Dramatis Personae

Assemblage

8in x 8in x 13 in

Breeze block, glass, plastic, enamel, human hair.

Picture to be revealed 31 July 2009, after Private View of my first solo exhibition, Journey.

Exhibition from 31st July to 16th Aug 2009 at the Hive Gallery.

There will be a 360 degree video of the assemblage on my site, on this date.

Diva - Dramatis Peronae, affectionately known as Maud, is the first assemblage I have embarked upon. The concept behind this assemblage is the inner self always remaining young and true to the innate spirit we have within all of us. Whilst the outer shell plays the many different roles we perform throughout our lives, often a bigger over dramatised version of the inner self, stimulated by our surroundings and societies expectations fuelled by the media in its massively influential forms.

Diva also expresses the inner child, the feeling inside where we never grow old, even though we make our way through the various stages of life, that inner child remains young, free, but often trapped by others expectations of us.

The Control Theory Formula (Lyapunov) that is scribed onto the rear of the inner head, represents that the inner self, even if we are unaware, is often in control anyway, and to live authentically and be happy, giving full control to the childlike spirit within, brings the most fulfilment.

Invisble Dreamer

Acrylic on canvas paper 9 x 18.5in

Invisible Dreamer was unfortunately left out of my blog, but was completed some time ago, around February 2009. The image was one of the first surreal paintings I embarked on, but was fuelled by Modern Man and paintings in that similar series.
The puppeteers hand is still ultimately controlled by another source higher up the 'food' chain. Once the hooks are in its almost impossible to escape. The puppet is motionless, defeated, in the check mate that is life in the Western world. Caught in the trappings of work, finance and climbing invisible ladders, not really knowing if that ladder is indeed lent against the right wall.
The plum blossom represents a glimmer of hope, that all is never what it seems and from small buds of hope, you can blossom in to a world that you can make your very own.

Rollercoaster

Well here I am at 13.48pm on 4th July 2009 hurtling at breakneck speed towards my show, here at the Hive Gallery. I am sat here in the gallery looking after it while Tracey is away, its voluntary and I love it, even after two weeks of 4 hours with the same dvd going around and around, and the projector giving up the ghost at any opportunity it likes!

The private view of my first solo exhibition takes place here at 7pm on the 30th July 2009, it seemed an eon away when I first booked it. I booked it originally to force myself into a routine of work, as my son had just started full time school giving me more time to paint. The time is easy to whittle away though, with out a goal. I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I really didn't think it through at that point. I booked it with that sole purpose in mind and that was as far as it went.

Now I am 24 days 5 hours and 9 minutes from the private view. GULP! Actually I am pretty chuffed with my little self, as I gave myself 6 months to get some work done, after most of my previous work was sold and I hadn't really painted since Hayden was born due to Post Natal Depression and a series of operations. That was the beginning of my Journey, and my aim to get some work completed that I was proud of, which I have managed. Another sub aim was not to go rearranging the gallery date, ie postponing it. Ok I admit I thought about it, more to do with nerves than lack of work, but no, I am here and my work will be hung on the 28th July 2009 ready.

Its been a long journey to date, this past 6 months, learning to take myself and my work seriously enough to feel 'worthy' of putting on my own exhibition. I still have doubts from time to time, my inner Diva screams the place down in a massive stressed strop, but once shes safely tucked up back in her box I actually believe I can pull this off!

Its a pretty scary ride, as some of my artwork prior to Hayden being born had little direction, did not fulfil me creatively as it could, and sole aim was for sale. From January I gave myself 'permission' to create whatever I wanted without the usual constraints of commercial appeal etc. I have given myself 2 years till January 2011 to see where this path in my life takes me. I now paint with heart and soul, its my head out there on the canvases and assemblages, a chance for people to see what makes me tick, what gives me fire in my belly, how I think....and sadly of course to judge me. Its that bit which scares me.

I have invited people from many different periods in my life, some people I haven't seen for years, and some I have never even met. The thought of them all in one room makes me want to run for the hills! Equally though it excites me, to show people that have helped me consciously or inadvertently just by crossing my path in big ways or small, what I have achieved. I try not to think about it too much for the sake of my own sanity, what they think matters to me, even though ultimately its me, myself and I.

I have no one to blame if this goes belly up. I have no excuses if I am criticised. I have no where to run and hide if I am laughed at.....its all my own doing! But through those thoughts I have reached the point where it feels authentic, true to who I am and what I am trying to achieve but most of all the ultimate in living my life the way I want to....I am living my dream, this is it and it really doesn't get any better!

For all the long nights, the staying in when I want to be playing out, the frustrations, the knee knocking wobblies, living each day doing what I truly love to my very core is the way to go. I count myself as very lucky to be experiencing this in my life, no matter what happens. Even if the show leads nowhere, is a disaster, no one turns up....I did it, I did what I set out to do and carried it through, and I am proud of that.

I am currently painting my final piece for the show, 'Apothecary's Chest' a painting over four canvases, and simultaneously working on another assemblage. I probably would not have ventured into the 3D world again had I not been doing this show, and am thoroughly enjoying exploring my artwork in a three dimensional way...I have come full circle as I started out in my career doing three dimensional design (Industrial).....its a funny old world!

Anyway I have a show to plan, sketch walls on to bits of graph paper and figure out exactly what will be including.....on with the show!

Perfringo!

Acrylic on box canvas 24in x24in

Perfringo! is the Latin word for shatter, breakthrough. This painting is a celebration of the discovery of a new way of thinking, the inner duality caused by social conditioning, can be fought and defeated....leaving you free to be authentically you to fly!

The butterfly represents freedom and blossoming of the individual and the ivy tells the tale of entrenched thinking and societal expectations holding us back...it needn't when trusting and thinking for yourself.

Three Theorems

Acrylic on box canvas, 36in x 24in

Three Theorems is a painting to link my forthcoming show at the Hive gallery, to the other artists show on at the same time, Adrian Pritchard. His exhibition is called Unstrung Theory and encompasses strings of paint. 
I began by researching the String theory, which lead me a merry dance into other theories and equations, and my mind being what it is came up with this ensemble of objects. The Butterfly represents just that, the Butterfly (Chaos) theory and the apple, Newtons theory of Gravity. The sky and dandelion represent time and space, while the violin has close connections with Adrians title of unstrung theory.
I thoroughly enjoyed this painting, it was challenging technically. I am ready for a slight change in direction now and hope to be working on a male nude painting or some surreal type sketches, although I will get around to both in the fullness of time...all being well! 

Journey

Wallpaper by Phigment

Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world. Took a midnight train, going anywhere....Don't Stop Believing, Journey.
Very Oddly for me, I actually feel like blogging. The image above is not mine, but is gorgeous and sums up visually me and where I am at right now. For those that don't know, my 'tuther name is moon, a name that came about many moons ago through the Internet and I just feel an affinity with, more so my name than my own (given to me by parents).
Right now I am working towards my first solo exhibition....its scary, exciting and allot of hard work. Since Hayden went to full time school in January 2009 I gave myself two years from that point to make a go of the art career. With this I have given myself 'permission' to paint whatever I want, not to a commercial market, but things that make me tick, that feeds the fire in my belly, that make me feel alive...to want to live the dream.
Things are moving at a fast pace, my invitations are winging their way to me, printed on large format postcards. My list keeps growing of who to invite, requests keep coming in, so its all go. I am obsessing about what dress to wear, although thanks to some wonderful Twitter friends, and my best mate Mat, I think that is sorted...it will be a spotty pencils dress, 50s style. Probably not the norm, but I never did that very well anyway!
I try and place myself in the gallery on the night and my stomach takes on a life of its own, I am very excited, but believe it or not can feel very shy and self conscious...although outwardly I seem confident and outgoing (which I feel most of the time). Its a tricky thing having that much attention, and as a note to self I will NOT be making a little speech, and have instructed people on this too, even if after a couple of glasses of tiddlypops I think its a great idea, no no no...don't let me lol. I will save those bits for the celebrations across at the pub afterwards.
Its going to be an amazing experience, having people there that I haven't seen in years, mixing with my current life peeps....like my life flashing before my eyes, I just hope my work doesn't disappoint all those people that have made me who I am today. Thank you by the way, to everyone who has crossed my path in anyway, shape or form...for without you and even the smallest interaction, I would not be doing this :-)
My exhibition is called Journey, due to it being a snap shot into the beginnings of my current one, and also because of the song....Don't Stop Believing, is a great moto to live by.
For now I must go, paint some more, it won't do itself....and if my strange ramblings have you intrigued at all, drop me a line, always nice to Tweet new peeps...so long, farewell, fellow travellers.

Cradle to Grave

acrylic on box canvas 40cm x 50cm
Cradle to Grave was conceived with the idea of entering it into a competition, the only really eligible category was still life, so that's what I set out to do. This painting shows beginnings to endings, ie the egg is representative of the start and the dying tulip a symbol of the end. Loosely in my mind the books describe knowledge gained throughout life, and the wall solid foundations.
I have always been fascinated with tulips, their very surreal dying phase as they wither away. I also love the juxtaposition of very unrelated things being forced together to tell a story. I particularly enjoyed including a Tromp L'Oeil frame on a box canvas, giving the viewer a framed perspective on another world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this painting and it will be featured in my forth coming solo exhibition Journey 27th July 2009, as well as in promotion and literature for the event. I have chosen not to submit this piece to the competition now as I think my show should take priority at this time.
Its also a piece that I would like to continue into a series, to see where this Journey takes me.