The Clothes Maiden A journal for the creative and fashionable minds
ÂŁ2.00 Edition 2. Aug/ Sep 11
A journal for the fashionable and creative minds.
Recently I’ve been coming across a lot of artists who create some of the best work I’ve seen in a long time. If you love collages then you’re in for an absolute treat! I just had to put everything I found all together in one magazine to show everyone, so I decided to title this one as the Artist’s Edition. This month The Clothes Maiden has two new writers who have written some fabulous features, on some really quirky artist’s that I didn’t know existed up until now. When visiting the inspiring place of the month, I had only ever been once before and the first time I went it was a red hot day in the middle of July. My friends and I decided to go to Holmfirth, North of the Peak District in West Yorkshire for a pleasant picnic, little did we know that was the day they had their annual duck racing day. I literally stood wide-eyed as I watched this monster of a brightly yellow coloured JCB truck dump 10,000 tiny plastic yellow ducks in to the river for the race to begin, as a crowd of around 300 people watched with me. I knew this was the place to write about for the next issue. As I spent the day there, with a cameraI knew I hadn’t gone wrong.
Clothes Maiden Contents
Stacey Rozich
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Tchmo
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Beth Hoeckel
Rosanna Webster
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8 Kate MacDowell Sculptures
46 Gillian Lambert
14 Pretty Things We Like
48 Rosanne Webster
18 Stacey Rozich
54 Lucienne Simpson
28 Tchmo
60 Inspiring Place of the Month
36 Beth Hoeckel
64 Our Playlist
22 The Burning House
58 Mr Finch
32 Juan Zamora
62 Alice Neave
42 Art’s And Crafts Splashed With Fashion 44 Dennis Raines
Editor: Stephanie Anderson Contributors: Sian Hunter Katie Dyer Illustrator: Jess Heath
65 Love Letters 66 Events
Kate MacDowell Sculptures Have a look at Kate MacDowell’s hand-built porcelain sculptures that show the environmental threats and their consequences, revealing the rifts and frictions between man and nature.
This artist’s work has been shown throughout the US, Japan, Europe and at the ArtAmsterdam, ArtHamptons, Art London, London Art Fair, Showoff Paris, NEXT and Art Chicago fairs, the list is endless. She really is one of a kind and is talented beyond belief. We wanted to know a bit more about her as an artist and more information about her idea on her latest work.
Tell us all a bit about yourself?
I used to teach high-school English and later produced hi-tech websites. After the dot-com bust my husband and I moved to India for a year and half and worked at a meditation retreat centre. We came back to the states by way of Italy, and I found myself living in my parent’s house again for a few months, without a job, and with a head full of fantastic tropical plants and animals, and classical and baroque marble sculpture. I started taking a local clay class while we figured out what to do next, and started funnelling these images into early pots and sculptures. Now I’m a full-time sculptor. Where are you from/ based?
I was born in Santa Barbara, California, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio. I’m based in Portland, Oregon now. Can you talk a little bit about your design background?
I don’t have a formal design background. I first started working with ceramics after college, at a local community college, and later in evening classes at the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts. What motivated the concept of your current work?
Most of my work responds directly to human encroachment on and abuse of the rest of the natural world. Each piece strikes a warning note, and is in
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some ways similar to the vanitas and m ers in the 17th-century, which strove to and inescapable mortality.
What inspires your work- are there a inspire your sculptures?
Bernini and Caravaggio because I’ve bee work in person and I’m always drawn in physical tension and movement in the f are Andy Goldsworthy and a lot of the e Green Museum.org (Eve Andre’e Laram Crewdson’s staged photos of surrealism Damien Hirst (the macabre themes reso Guillermo del Toro who play with the d of my direct inspiration, however come photos posted online, and from reading mental problems.
Who were the artists that changed th ing up?
I was probably more interested in film t ers, especially Wings of Desire. My firs anne Jackson was also a strong influenc predator/prey relationships and runs th
What feelings/ thoughts are you tryin
I purposefully use the conflict caused by cabre or grotesque to evoke an (often co viewers will spend more time with the
When I use the figure or a part of it, I’m viewer themselves, allowing their famil put themselves in the place of the sculp the sculpture depicts. In most cases, th metaphorical relationship between man
memento mori tradition of Dutch painto remind viewers of our prideful folly
any other artists, music, films that
en lucky enough to see a lot of their n by the emotional intensity, and figures. Some contemporary favorites environmental artists profiled at the me’e, Nicole Dextras, etc). Also Gregory m beneath the everyday, and some onate with me). I like filmmakers like darker side of magical realism. Most es from people’s hunting and road kill g case studies about specific environ-
he way you thought about art, grow-
than anything else, I loved Wim Wendst ceramic sculpture professor, Roxce. I love her work. It often explores he gamut from playful to terrifying.
ng to provoke through your work?
y the pairing of beauty with the maonflicted) emotional response so that piece.
m seeking to create a stand-in for the liarity with the body they inhabit to pture, to experience sensually what he sculpture is depicting an imaginary n and nature in conflict.
I hope that my work invites viewers to think about what is lost visually when our environment is degraded, what sensory delights of texture and form are removed from the world but to also to feel this loss on a subconscious level. They might feel fascination, repulsion, sadness, fear, attraction, or all these things at once. What materials and techniques do you use?
I usually build a piece solid from porcelain clay around a ball of newspaper and then cut it open and hollow everything out to 1/4" thickness. I build small forms like flowers petal by petal, and amass a collection until I'm ready to add them to the larger piece. Until recently I rarely used or made moulds although I do pick up texture by rolling clay over little leaves, for example. Often I’m dealing with components such as fly legs that are too small to hold with my fingers. In those cases, I use a tiny damp paintbrush tip, which the leg will cling to, and touch it into place on the sculpture. I bisque my work, glaze it with clear glaze in parts, then fire to cone 5. Choose 3 words that describe your work as an artist Baroque, grotesque, refined.
One last question, are we going to have another series of your work? Yep, I’m always at work on the next thing. You can see from her ingenuous sculptures, Kate’s artwork serves an important reminder of the severe impact that us, as a civilisation can have on the natural world around us.
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P re t t y Th i n g s We Like This week we’ve hunted down some of the cutest,
cheapest little bits and bobs you’ll love, some by independent designers- that are to die for.
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Eco Can- reusable drinks container This little container is a real eco-warrior - from fresh, boiling coffee to straight-from-the-fridge juices, its thermal double wall keeps beverages in tiptop condition and they come in all colours. £12.99, www.giftmonger.com
Vintage Vinyl Coasters
We love all things vintage here and think that these gloriously cool coasters which are made from real original records are the perfect addition to any retro home! £14.99, www.truffleshuffle.co.uk
Are You Feeling Lucky? At this stage of your life some of you may be heading off to Uni, a new school year or you could be just starting a new job. This good luck brooch, I’m sure will bring you all the luck in the world. £8.99, www.dollsandmolls.co.uk
The Rubik’s Cube Bag
This bag is super retro with the whole rubik’s cube thing going on. At £28 I think we’ve found you a boutique bargain! www.chelseadoll.co.uk 15
Japanese Paper Soap
Sheets of tissue paper that melt away on wet hands leaving them clean and fragrant. Brilliant! £3.00, www.hawkin.com
Rectangle Geometric Earrings These earrings have been handmade and designed to perfection. They’re unusual and I can’t get enough of Kirsty Kirkpatrick’s jewellery collection at the minute. £20.00, www.hannahzakari.co.uk
The Original Slush Mug You can throw anything in to this cup- the impossibilities are endless, everyone loves a good old slushie drink and at this price, super duper cheap! £7.99, www.firebox.com
Bike Chain
This necklace will go with just about anything you wear and for this price, it is definitely worth it. This website is full of beautiful little gems. £14.95, www.temporary-secretary.com
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80s Pin Up Ring
A girl cannot simply have enough jewellery and this ring is sure to stand out on somebody’s hand, it’s fun, kitsch and a real eyecatcher, and even better it’s super cheap! £4.00, www.quirkyboutique.com
Tattoo Style Anchor Hair clip
You’re having a stressful day, your hair is driving you insane- the least you can do is pin it up in style with this hair clip, right? £4.50, www.punkypins.co.uk
Love Blocks Bracelet This is sweet, no really sweet- gah! Order me one! Actually no, order me two- no doubt the younger sister will be stealing this one from me. £12.00, www. shop.loveheartsandcrosses.co.uk
Peach Plum Pear Bird Print
How cute would this look on your wall? If you’ve just moved away to uni and you have those awful prison like walls, you can always brighten them up with this print. £9.50, www.bonbiforest.com
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Stacey Rozich is a Seattlebased Illustrator and Graphic Designer. She studied Illustration at California College of the Arts as well as Design at Seattle Central Creative Academy.
StaceyRozich
Her client list includes The FADER, The Stranger, K Records, Southern Lord, and more. Not only does her work appear commercially, it has shown in galleries in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Milwaukee and Berlin. Most days she can be found watching 30 Rock and daydreaming about cats. Take a peak at her colourful, magical illustrations, they are stunning. Don’t you think?
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Home is where the heart is...
If your house was burning, what would you take with you? It’s a conflict between what’s practical, valuable and sentimental.
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Name: Jessica Pages Age: 26 Location: Austin, Texas Occupation: photographer/photo editor Website: jessicapages.com/culturemap.com List: • A trunk I found at a garage sale, filled with my hard drives, Polaroids and negatives. • Polaroid sx-70 I found for $9 at a thrift store • Canon G10 it goes everywhere I do • My trusty Nikon • Bruno the stuffed blood hound, I traded my older brother broken headphones for him when I was 5 years old. • A photograph of my mom • Compass from the Royal Navy my best friend brought me back from London • A pile of coins my boyfriend and I flattened on the train tracks outside our college campus when we first started dating • Llama bracelet from Peru, kindly given to me by my best friend, after much persistence on my part • A necklace my dad found when he was a little boy in New York and gave to me on my 17 birthday • An old photo album filled with family photos • Phone filled with all my contacts and that can be used as an emergency computer • A couple of years worth of writing, sketches and photos in my Moleskines • A stack of my favorite Polaroids taken in Miami, California and Texas
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Name: Clara Bleda Age: 23 Location: Valencia, Spain Occupation: Photographer Website: http://clarableda.blogspot.com List: • My accordion. • Camera Nikon FM2. • My glasses. • Tin box for the hairpins. • My Yashica Mat. • The Eels’ Daisies of the Galaxy. • My LP of Jesus and Mary Chain. • Photography in London with my love. • My wallet of the 70s. • My Kewpie doll and the little deer. • My favorite photography books.
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Name: Scott McKeon Age: 25 Location: London, England Occupation: Guitarist/ producer Website: www.scottmckeon.com List: • My 1962 Stratocaster, my main guitar since I was 12. • Macbook Pro • iPhone • Passport • Letter, ring and note from my Dad before he passed. • Michael Jackson ‘Bad’ CD. • Signed Stevie Ray Vaughan vinyl copy of ‘Soul to Soul’
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Name: Leila Peterson Location: Los Angeles, California Occupation: Wedding Photographer Website: www.dearleila.wordpress.com List: • SX-70 Polaroid Camera passed down from my parents • Rolleiflex + Minolta X-700 camera (First camera I owned) • Dad’s vintage Ray Bans I somehow adopted • Favorite mini globe • Old box I found at a flea market, filled with rings and necklaces and a pin from Grandmother • Chambray shirt I wear with everything • Wallet I bought at a museum in LA, 5 years ago • DIY model airplane that reminds me of a happy time • Moleskin with daily writings + letters from husband, when he was a boyfriend. • Reading glasses- Prism London • A few stacks of Polaroids • Favorite shoes • Lip gloss and compact • Heart locket and name plate necklace • Photobooth photos
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Name: Porter Hovey Location: Brooklyn, New York Occupation: Photographer Website: www.porterhovey.com List: • Canon 40D — my bread and butter and how I’ve been expressing myself for years • Parents’ wedding photos — not only an inspiration about love but also style • Polaroids — Years, hundreds of dollars, and hours of time … not letting these babies melt down. Most of them are from my Polaroid Project and are taken around Brooklyn and during my travels. It’s literally flipping through years of memories. • Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera — My sister Hollister bought this for me as a • Christmas present — aesthetics really meet function with this one. It’s leather! • Tennis player figurines — Hol and I stumbled upon the most amazing miniature store while in Paris. I • Photo booth photos — Hours of time spent laughing, drinking, and being silly. The top photo is of my friend Rasmus Nybo who died from cancer a couple years ago. The other single photo booth pic is of our mom and grandma — both who have died. Always a reminder to live it up while you can. • Passport — the best way to escape from life and learn new things is to travel. • Claes Oldenberg shuttlecock Christmas ornament — A nice reminder of where I’m from — people never realize how cosmopolitan Kansas City really is.
You can take a look at more photographs at; www.theburninghouse.com/archive
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Tchmo
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Tchmo: Born in Australia Based in Montreal, Canada.
...And he likes to mash things up 31
a r o m a z n a Ju When did you know you were an artist? What do
you think an artist is now that you have been one for many years? I really don´t know when I became an artist, I just know that I have always been an artist at heart, the same way I am now. I think an artist is a person who has the habit to communicate his life in a very poetic way, in any format. How did growing up in Spain affect you as a person and artist? Every person is a representation of his culture, so as I represent the Spanish culture, you can find many Spanish influences in my pictures, such as: the sun, the blue sky, the human and animal behaviours.
How has your work evolved over the years from when you were beginning? The topics are the same that they are at the beginning, but now I know how to focus on and express a particular idea on paper. As an adult, I think I have a clearer mind. How do you conceptualise your paintings? I use the everyday stories to make my paintings. Everything that is in our ordinary life.
What is your family background? Were there ists or creative types in the family? More or less, my father was a very good football and he use to draw when he was younger, my mo all day and my brother is studying to be a doctor
What upcoming series, projects, shows etc do coming up? Currently I am working in a solo exhibition at Mo gallery that will be on in September and in a gro tion at the Gallery Beijing Space. I will also partic several fairs and collective exhibitions and I will of New York for one year from October, I am very about that!
What advice would you give emerging artist’s wants to show and be part of the scene? Be yourself and do not follow any other artist.
Which leads to the inevitable question: Who are you artistic inspirations? I find my artistic inspiration in basic things, like ral movement of flowers, shadows, the way that and things are, our brains, our banality, our socia iour, our importance in the world, our relationsh hairstyles, clothes and culture.
How did the guy end up on the floor, with the in his mouth? What is the story behind the pa I have fun combining the elements of kids, anima sex. It makes people question the painting more aim to do is represent in the painting a primary something that an animal and a human can mak other feel. 32
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Beth Hoeckel An artist from Baltimore, Maryland,
USA. The landscapes she uses are always captivating, not only that, she does use a lot of “pop goth� colourslike the deep purples and shades of black, this creates a great mood for any collage.
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Arts & Crafts Splashed with Fashion king e? Fancy ma ies to mak own bolt n n e p s t s that co ur very a bracelet ctions to create yo tru e easy ins bracelet. Follow th
You’ll need: - 3 strands of twine cut into one yard pieces - 18 small brass hex nuts
Gather the 3 strands of twine and tie a knot at the top, leaving about 2 inches of slack. Start braiding. At about an inch of the way down, you’ll begin braiding in the nuts. Before you braid the far left strand over the middle strand, thread on a nut, push it against the base of the braid, and crossover. Depending on the thickness of the twine, you can wrap tape around the bottom tips to prevent the twine from fraying. 42
Keep your thumb at the base of the braid, holding the nut in its place. Before you braid the far right strand over the middle, thread on another nut, push it against the base of the braid and crossover. Again, hold your thumb tightly against the base of the braid, keeping the nuts in place. Thread another nut onto the far left piece and crossover.
Repeat the steps, by threading the rest of the nuts to the outer pieces of twine before they are crossed over. Thread, cross, thread, cross. Finish the bracelet with another inch of braided twine and a knot.
The bracelet should wrap around your wrist at least two or three times. Trim it to your liking. www.honestlywtf.com 43
Reins
These sketchbooks give us the
Dennis
exciting opportunity to see into the mind of artist Dennis Raines. Raines is currently living and working in Seattle, USA and he specialises in print media. Raines works in various forms of print media, and this versatility shows in his work. A jumble of photographs, diagrams, paintings, and scribbled notes, Raines’ pages are fun to browse. You really get a sense of what his finished art pieces are like, as well as a peek into the thinking process he goes through. The quirky notes he adds accompany the dazzling images on each page. Not one page is the same so flicking through gives the sketchbooks its very own persona, to browse more of his magical work you can find it online. 44
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Gillian Lambert
Gillian graduated Kenyon College in May 2011 with a Bachelor's degree in Studio Art. Originally from Bangor, Maine, Gillian completed her first solo exhibition, "Self-Deception," in March 2011
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Rosanna Webster
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Rosanna Webster has just finished her illustration
degree at Brighton University. She describes these images as “a response to primitive beliefs in a fluidity between human and animal forms, and therianthropes. In many early hunter gatherer societies animals were seen as messengers between worlds with costumes and ritual used to aid spiritual practice.” The images here were inspired by the idea that through animal costume and imitation spiritual transgression could occur. “ Her photo images in the series about Tribalism and Shamanism reflect this idea of animal messengers by creating atmospheric digital collages, thus bringing the idea to life through her unique images. So far Rosanna Webster’s website is one impressive portfolio and certainly not an artist to ignore.
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5 Minutes with Lucienne Simpson Her final collection of painstakingly detailed photo-real paintings were so popular that pieces were bought by her own university.
Now she’s using her skills working for a best-selling artist. Sian Hunter caught up with Lucienne Simpson to find out how she has adapted to creating someone else’s vision.
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What was the inspiration behind your final pieces? I’ve always made paintings from photographs. Painting and photography have a continually difficult relationship because, in a way, they both do the same thing; represent reality. My work pivots between the photo’s instantaneous, reproducible nature and painting’s laborious manual method. The seemingly ‘ordinary’ snapshots are infused with atmosphere through painterly-ness, and the work then functions on its sincerity and simplicity. What made you choose the images?
I use Google to find photos. They must be typically photographic, including focussed and blurred areas. I prefer ones which don’t look digital; I like the imperfections you get from an analogue camera. Second hand images are neutral and somewhat authorless; in painting them, they gain a status and I validate them as art. It was brave of you to create pieces on a small scale, was size an important consideration for you? It was a natural progression. I was painting on canvas before, at a larger scale, but the end result looked too grainy, and the 3-dimensionality of the stretcher ruined the illusion. The logical, next step was to use a smoother surface, and work at the same size as the original image. I’d managed to trick people into thinking that they were real photos, so continued to work similarly from that point.
Your work shows great skill, is this important to you? What do you think of the trend in contemporary art that prioritises conveying a message or a concept over showing technical skill? This was always the issue that kept cropping up during my time at University. I felt that I had to justify why I wanted to go down the seemingly old fashioned route of painting whilst everyone else was making more conceptual work. My mind-frame was focused on the idea that it’s problematic to simply paint a picture in contemporary art, which I can now see is a quite an irrational and negative viewpoint. What have you been doing since University?
I spent a good 6 months unemployed, which gave me a lot of time to catch up on the long list of commissions I’d gained following the degree show. I’ve recently found a job as a painting assistant in an artist’s studio, which is incredibly lucky considering how few and far between creative jobs are at the minute. How have you adapted to creating someone else's vision?
It can be quite strange spending so much time on a painting, making sure it’s as good as you can make it, then it not being yours. But that feeling didn’t last too long, and you soon differentiate between work and your own personal practice. I think I now spend more time painting – both in and out of work – than I did when I was unemployed! Which artists do you admire?
There was an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in London, ‘The Painting of Modern Life’, which I constantly refer to. The participating artists confronted the mass-produced pictures of today, and used painting to focus on how the making and reading of images is an important activity in modern life. They examined the relationship between painting and photography and presented the idea that the process of translation becomes a reason to paint, which is closely linked to my own practice.
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The Talented Mister Finch By Katie Dyer
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He’s dipped his toe in everything from
working with high-end retailers to residential nurseries, but what is definite about Mr. Finch (his first name as much a curiosity as his magical creations) is that he knows how to make magnificent things.
With no formal training to his name, except a short art course many years ago, Finch’s creations are an inspiration to every designer, old and young. Tucked away in his humble surroundings in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Finch spends most of his days creating mysterious creatures beside his “3 crazy cats and beautiful wife”. Much of Finch’s influences can be attributed to his self-confessed compulsion to hoard peculiar objects in glass jars and vast array of interests, including watching old films and collecting fairytale books. Possessing a strong sense of texture and form, Finch strives to create beauty from rescued fabrics and objects, each one unique and charming.
Creating a fascinating collection of various pieces including ice-queen white embellished bird face masks, oversized neck bows and necklaces made with individual charms, made from rescued objects. Beauty and elegance: certainly a statement piece for the fashion forward female.
Now to the detail: what is it exactly that makes Finch’s deigns such a beauty to the spectator? Finch’s creatures can be used as pincushions, home furnishings or a beautiful ornament display in any shop or home. The objects embody a magical quality, as if they could almost come to life and this reflects Finch’s unique and 2011 has seen Finch more focused on his textile based creature designs; how- incessant imagination. Finch uses the surroundings of our ever it must not be ignored that Finch natural environment to inspire his the year before was a master at jewelwork and it is endless what this man lery and fashion accessory design. can achieve. His designs are bold, daring and epitomise the charm that is associated with the British Gentlemen. Visit Finch’s blog site at; http://mynameisfinch.blogspot.com
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Inspiring Place of the Month
This month’s exciting place of the month is Holmfirth, situated just half an hour from Huddersfield in West Yor Holmfirth is a magical place with lots of history behind it, including being the setting for famous funny televisi television series, it is also the home to unique independent shops full of wonderful handmade gifts you won’t f If you take a walk around the village you can pass charity shops with the perfect bargains, as well as being able Chocolate Box which is home to the most amazing chocolates that it would give Thornton’s a run for its money
Not only is this beautiful compact village a shopper’s paradise, it also offers a culinary delight to the tastebuds traditional cooking to more daring eccentric dishes and then for dessert why not take a trip into Longley’s, the cream and cakes.
If you were planning to stay in the evening there are also many different bars to choose from, whether it is a co nights at the picturedrome you simply can’t go wrong. If its a comedy night you want there are stand up comed planned. Holmfirth proves to be a lovely break away from the urban life with the idyllic scenery capturing the eye for mi shopping experience with probably not as much impact on your purse! This village is literally a breath of fresh 60
rkshire. ion show, Last of the Summer Wine. However it would not being doing the place justice to mention just the find anywhere else. e to pop next door to buy something more extravagant. For instance, there is a lovely hidden shop called The y!
when you shoppers need a well deserved break. There are many food places to choose from, ranging from e only ice cream parlour around in miles with the option to sit in and choose from delicious flavours of ice
ocktail you fancy or even just a pint of cold beer, the bars and pubs offer it all with live entertainment some dians some nights or maybe it is a gig you fancy, you just simply check the events on the door, and your night is
iles on end and the peaceful sounds of the stream running through the village. Yet it still offers the urban h air and if it is inspiration you seek then this is certainly the place to be. 61
Alice Neave By Sian Hunter
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The first things I notice about Alice Neave’s paintings are their honesty. The emotions
and life experience of her subjects reach out to you from the canvas. The starkness of the images she creates reminds me of Lucian Freud’s portraits. Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that Freud is one of Alice’s idols. If she could paint anyone it would be him; “such a great painter” she whispers, “that or someone with a really interesting, craggy face”. Alice has always been interested in faces: at A-level she created a project “where I could just paint faces for two years”.
Alice doesn’t seek to flatter her subjects; she prefers to capture their essence. While her portraits are startlingly realistic as a whole, they retain a certain abstract quality that really brings them to life. She uses colour to convey the subject’s personality; in her portrait of her father she predominantly worked with red tones because “his new wife loves red and it’s like their colour…it means a lot to them”.
Creating commissioned pieces has challenged her working style, as she has had to meet specific requirements. Her portrait of Johnny Cash was confined to black and white so she had to work harder to capture him, however focussing only on tonal quality on such a large scale really boosted her confidence. “That was a real learning curve for me” she says. Working on a larger scale means that Alice’s portraits are now mostly confined to canvas, which she tells me is also “very good to sleep in, I learnt recently! Very warm! I bought 3 metres of it and went to a party, didn’t have any bedding…it’s just a great all round thing!” She returns to watercolours for her smaller prints but is enjoying her larger scale canvas portraits. “I still like working on little abstract prints but I think big paintings have a lot more power”. An upcoming challenge for Alice is a commission for a portrait of a child. “It’s not because I don’t think children have character, they do. There’s just not as much to go on. It’s so much better doing older people, I don’t know why.
I just think it makes a better painting, it’s a lot more interesting.” She has decided to focus more on the abstract element of her painting when she creates this particular portrait. “They grow up so fast, they’re really transient and I want to put loads of life in it and make it a bit blurry. Pictures of children can be a bit creepy if they’re just a snap shot and I want to make it a bit different.”
Alice is somewhat of a perfectionist; with one painting taking as long as 63 hours to complete. “He got completely reworked several times, it was my own fault: I kept changing it”. For Alice, a portrait begins with her subject’s nose. “Some people sketch it out beforehand but I always seem to start with the nose”. She works with a lot of layers and then keeps reworking elements until she is satisfied. “It’s amazing, you can tweak one thing and it changes the entire face”.
Coming up for Alice is a possible collaboration with an illustrator, and she would really like to put on an exhibition in the next year. Her only problem is creating enough work for this to be possible. Currently her pieces are being bought too quickly for her to build up a collection. Looking at the captivating quality of her work, I can see why.
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We always want to know your thoughts, or if you have any ideas. You can email The Clothes Maiden at; clothesmaiden@gmail.c om Or visit the blog online at; www.clothesmaiden.blogspot.c om xx
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Some important dates to add to your diary.
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Streethearts.com