Highland Stoneware at Lochinver and Ullapool

above mosaic sofa at Highland Stoneware click here for more details

I like their Mug of the year here the design is Mussells on a bed of seaweed. They have used
local materials, the glaze effects on each shell done by brushing layers of colour over pure Ullapool Limestone. Highlights of Ledmore Quartz (gold) painted on the shell, and Stoer Beach Sand painted on as seaweed.

Highland Stoneware is a working pottery in the Highlands of Scotland there is one at Lochinver and another at Ullapool. Outside there are some amazing and large works. Some of the pieces used are from broken or faulty pieces but some were made specially for the projects. I particularly like the boat. it is sailing on a mosaic sea with fish. The fish are fish platters that are sold in the shop.
The mosaics were designed by Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably. The mosaic work was done by local people.
I like the sculptural use of things like teapot spouts, handles, lids and even half a jug.

 

Mosaic sofa at Lochinver with the top of Suilven in the background

above  in the car park...

 Above Mosaic boat at Ullapool

Autumn Leaves

 Autumn Leaves  ( below) is the finished painting from my step by step tutorial published in the Nov issue of Leisure painter.

 The tutorial includes painting in layers glazing with transparent watercolours, use of masking fluid for veins as well as use of spattering, salt and clingfilm to create textures.

 It is inspired by the beautiful Autumn leaves locally.

 TIP They are lovely when freshly collected but soon shrivel up and lose their colour. I use my printer to scan or do a colour photocopy. See below.

Transparent layers of colour over yellow.

Paint splattered using an old toothbrush

masking fluid and layers of colour

The cling film is applied to the wet background wash and removed when dry or just damp.

The magazine is available from newsagents or as a back copy online  here or as a digital version from here


The cover above shows the finished painting from a watercolour landscape tutorial by Gwen Scott

Orla Kiely at the London Fashion and Textile Museum

The London Fashion and Textile museum in Bermondsey Street seen through the window of the colourful Mary Portas charity shop opposite.

 In the main gallery there are supersized dresses of about 9 ft suspended from the ceiling, while on the walls are miniature versions of the same designs. One of them is called the Tessa dress. They are from the Autumn Winter collection.

 Upstairs there is a large array of handbags, original and creative ideas. Simple graphic motifs handled using different techniques. This collection of handbags was the part I enjoyed seeing most. I prefer pattern in small doses.

I like this fun handbag, a girl with a skipping rope that doubles up as handles. There is another where the daisies are the eyes on a face.

 A swimsuit with a repeat pattern of am image of a swimmer.

I like the pattern at the top derived from cutlery, not too obvious.

 A lovely dress handbag combo.

Misx and match doll.

The Summer Exhibition Royal Academy 2018 Part 2

 'Aqua Alta ' I liked this painting by Ken Howard of St Marks Venice for its reflections after one of the high tides that flood the square.

It was in gallery three, the one Grayson Perry put together and he says in the video on the RA's website that this gallery is 'the one with a curent affairs political vibe going on' and there was plenty of that mostly in a really subtle way. I didn't have much battery left in my phone so I have only a few photos and the 2 I photograhed that are from that gallery aren't in that category. You can see all 1300 works on the RA website.

'Falmouth on a Windy Day' Philip Sutton RA   £46.000
 I like this painting of Falmouth for the lively sky and the loosely painting buildings on the right. They are almost abstract. It reminds me of my visits to Falmouth when the tall ships visited.

I love this fun and imaginative piece! The curly coat on the head is made from little wire coils or springs of different sizes. The shaved parts look as if wire has been wrapped around. The rest of the poodle is a wild extravaganza of colourful bling. Lots of jewellery findings, even some coins.

Rufus 3rd Timothy Blewitt
(sorry I didn't spot Gnasher by the same artist)

Red Bear Debbie Lawson  £14,500
Another fun piece! An upholstered bear on a rug. On first sight I assumed it was a tiger.

A staggeringly good read!!!

and finally Grayson Perry's enormous 'Selfie with political causes'  £51,600

The summer exhibition is on at The Royal Academy until August 19th details here

The Summer Exhibition Royal Academy 2018 Part 1 Royal Valkyries

 This colourful and mighty extravaganza of a sculpture is the first thing I saw as I entered the exhibition. To me it is 'uphostery on steroids', with crochet, knitting and dripping with haberdasher's bling. The sheer size of it is amazing and impossibe to photograph with just my phone. A video might have done it better justice but with so many people milling around not practical. I like it for it's over the top-ness, just right for the space and interesting viewed from all sides and against the windows of the vaulted ceiling.