Madonna

məˈdɒnə/ my ‘ lady

noun

singular proper noun: Madonna

1  the Virgin Mary.

◦                      a picture, statue, or medallion of the Madonna.noun: madonna; plural noun: madonnas


an idealized virtuous and beautiful woman.noun: madonna
"he describes Evelyn as a madonna"

My next series of feminine inspired prints  - Mother 1, 2, 3 and 4 – exploring both digital and silkscreen techniques - are based on the theme of the Lady, the Madonna, the Mother. I have used an amalgamation of my own drawn figurative imagery with Renaissance portraits by the artists Leonardo Da Vinci, Alesso Baldovinetti and Sandro Botticelli. 

Madonna and Child - L. Da Vinci, Portrait of Lady in Yello - A. Baldovinetti

Mother 2

The sequence of positives that make up one of my current prints (‘Mother 2’ inspired by Alesso Baldovinetti’s “Portrait of a Lady in Yellow ’ combined with elements of Leonardo Da Vinci's  'Madonna and Child' ) use overlays of metallic gold and bronze – with my drawn figurative nudes as a background texture and my Elizabeth the 1st repeat textile pattern within the subject's garment. 
I intend to use this metallic colour as a theme throughout this series of ‘Mother’ prints. The metallic pigments create an air of glamour and hint at the idea of 'the women as a religious icon', the 'Madonna', particularly in conjunction with the imagery of the rounded background mirroring the 'halo'.  Again, I am using MERCK pigments for this effect – although I find the complex layering of imagery when silkscreen printing challenging.

I think the multi-layering within each piece of artwork has worked most effectively when manipulated digitally on screen. The subtler rendering and the advantage of modal lighting effects when using Photoshop layers has allowed me to incorporate the fine, ethereal blends and figurative patterns within each print.

Mother 2 - silkscreen sequence

I have found that by using the silkscreen process a more tactile result can be achieved. However this process has produced a less precise outcome (when looking at my original portrait ideas on screen) and it has been necessary to create additional overlays in order to produce a similar - precise, understated yet delicate, end result when comparing my silkscreen image with the finished digital image.

I want my images to illustrate women who are delicate but at the same time exude power and dominate the space they occupy. The subjects of my work are all ‘Madonnas’. The image of a woman as a mother evokes an idea of nurture and care but more importantly reflects the singular ability of a female to bear and nourish a child, unlike a male. Motherhood is a strong metaphor for power. It is power.

The Mothers - digital prints

WILLOW MAGIC illustrated lecture to the Gardeners of North Devon

Combe Martin 8th February 2017

WIll Beckers willow natural form

I was asked to give a sculpture lecture to the Combe Martin Gardening Association on the evening of 8th February 2017. This was a repeat invitation to speak to the club and I decided to look at simplistic 'recyclable' and 'organic' ornaments that the more mature gardener could create to adorn their own plots or allotments. Willow seemed an ideal media to use because its rather versatile and can be easily bent, twisted and cut to make both abstract (the work of Paul Schick and Will Beckers) and recognisable (the work of Heather Jarmusch) organic shapes. We also included drift wood and seashells for extra excitement. 

Paul Schick willow panels

Sally Meadows 'Ethel'

There was a sea of familiar weathered faces many of whom I remembered from my previous visit and although a cold night a large green fingered throng had turned up for my repeat performance. My slideshow presentation depicted a range of eclectic willow sculptures ranging from the fantastic to the mundane - Willow artist Sally Meadows from Bristol University Botanic Gardens amazing Rhea 'Ethel' caused a ripple of applause through the crowd.
http://universityofbristolbotanicgarden.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/weaving-ethel.html

Lyn's Box sculpture

Rod's 'Elton John'

Jenny with Extreme Dart Flights

The gardeners appeared to be inspired by the slides and following the talk attacked their willow twigs with gusto - scissors, string and tape flying in all directions. Considering we only had two hours for the workshop some fabulous sculptures were produced. Here are some of their creations, with 'Lyn's Box' winning the prize for the best sculpture of the night. Surreal prize went to the 'extreme dart flights' and Rod's 'Elton John' tribute.

It was a pleasure to return to Combe Martin and inspire the gardeners, although a friend has now described me as the Keith Richard of the West Country art scene so I would like to point out that, yes, I have played at Glastonbury and we both have heads, but that is where the similarity ends.