'Are we nearly there yet , with irony ' Dave sitting. oil on gessoed board, 28x24cms
A happy memory, these couple of quick portraits were done in this WONDERFUL studio whilst at the HelikerLaHoten foundation in Maine. On dark days back here in the UK I go there in my mind.
I hope it shows in these small paintings how much I loved painting Madie & her sister. We had a great time chatting .
Sign at the entrance to the foundation !
Painting outside at the Heliker foundation
The Heliker La Hotan Foundation Residency Maine USA
I arrived in Maine USA on July the 8th to start a residency at the Heliker-La Hotan foundation. The above pics is of the la Hotan studio at the foundation which I had for month.
The Skating Rink Stole
'The skating Rink' stole, designed & produced to celebrate a new commissioned opera by Garsington Opera based on a story by the Chilean author Roberto Bolaño.
This image of the skating rink stole shows how I tried different colour combinations. The final design I am really pleased with & having sold out I am waiting for restock.
It has been so exciting to see the development of this gripping new commission by Garsington Opera, written by leading British composer David Sawer with award-winning playwright Rory Mullarkey, and based on the novel by Chilean author Roberto Bolaño.
Nuria, a beautiful young skating champion, has a powerful admirer, Enric, whose obsession drives him to pilfer funds to build her an ice rink in a deserted Spanish mansion. A murder on the ice becomes the centre of this thrilling tale of jealousy, political corruption and the lengths we go to for the ones we love.
https://www.garsingtonopera.org/performance/skating-rink
w.garsingtonopera.org/news/garsington-opera-shop-2018
The 'Queen of the night' stole
I designed and produced The 'Queen of the night' stole for Garsington Opera's new production of Mozart's much-loved final opera, The Magic Flute.
The music form the famous aria from the Magic Flute shimmers across the borders created from a single stroke of rich Prussian blue watercolour with a hand rolled finish in a rich Amber yellow.
The central panel of the stole has the beautiful Pamina circling Papageno’s golden bird cages with the birds dancing through the open cage doors .
Prince Timano, Papageno and Papagena , along side the distinctive figure Queen of the night , dance across a silver background, all contributing to this unique piece designed especially for this year’s new production.
https://www.garsingtonopera.org/news/latest-reviews-2018
https://www.garsingtonopera.org/performance/die-zauberflote
Samples for Garsington Opera's 2018 Season
Always an exciting time of year when the first samples start to come through. They will go through several redesigns before I am happy with them.
Above is the wonderful G in Alison's kitchen trying on this years sizzling colour combo.
https://www.victoriarees.co.uk/blog/
Marriage of Figaro tile series. New project.
This is one of my first large tiles back for my marriage of Figaro series, it's quite large at 38x28 cms , each tile will have a cameo taken from my Opera sketch books. If it works I will create a whole wall of them.
Actress Naomi Frederick sit's for a series of quick portraits
Naomi Frederick is staring in Agnes Colander, directed by Trevor Nunn and in production at the Ustinov studio, The Theatre Royal, Bath.
As part of her preparation for the part of Agnes, which tells the story of a women artist set in the early 19th centuary and her striving to find her voice and place in society, Naomi has been coming to my studio and sitting for a series of quick 45 min portraits. See below.
The play has been given 4 stars by Dominic Cavendish in the Telegraph & we are hoping will transfer to the west end.
https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/
https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/your-visit/ustinov/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Nunn
Returning to my blog after time away
"Having had a few months away from my blog I am looking forward to doing new posts. I have missed putting up entries, though I have NO idea who reads it ! hoping there is someone out there. Any case this is from me to you"
I have continued with my quick portrait paintings, Dave my farmer neighbour still comes to sit every Tuesday afternoon and I look forward to that very much. We chat about the weather , politics and our other neighbours and family, oh and his weekly basket ball game, most importantly the score.
- I have a few new projects which I will post about over the coming weeks.
- Wednesday is going to be my new blog day.
The Night shift, 45 mins studio self portrait
Ruth Borchard self portrait exhibtion, Piano Nobile, Kings Place , London N19AG
Always love going to this exhibition & not just because I am in it. There are 120 self portraits hung from different artists. On until the 22nd of September.
The Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Exhibition, Piano Nobile, Kings Place London
Great to have been included in the Ruth Borchard self portrait exhibition again. Open to the public from May 18th through to 22nd september 2017.
There are a 120 artists self portraits to see, hope your get time to go along.
Visual artist in residence Cheltenham Jazz festival exhibition
I loved being artist in residence at the Jazz festival & we had over 3000 visitors to the exhibition at the Garden gallery which was fantastic. I drew the musicians during rehearsals and will post some of the drawings over the next few weeks.
I loved being able to show my sketches that I use to design & produce my textiles right through to the finished piece. The exhibition had paintings, 3 metre Ink drawings, textile hanging's alongside the Ink drawings from my musician sketch books that I used to design these pieces.
A collection of stoles designed for various Opera productions including the 'Aria' stole specially commissioned by the International Opera awards.
'Visual Artist in residence' Cheltenham Jazz festival 2017.
The 'Cellist' Lino print
Setting up the exhibition.
Mezzo soprano Phoebe Haines wearing my one & only 'sing' shirt
Another great pic of Phoebe by Jonathan Rose from the Arts club shoot where Fiona Fletcher did Phoebe's makeup. I had this shirt made in Ho Chi Minh , from my Sing & Opera classic squares.
I did a earlier post on it so if your going to Vietnam scroll thorough and have something made at lovely Anh Ngoc 's.
http://www.phoebehaines.co.uk/
I was so lucky that the very talented mezzo Soprano Phoebe Haines did a photo shoot with some of my stoles last week. We had a great morning at the Arts club where Fiona Fletcher did Phoebe's makeup & Jonathan Rose took some great pics.
I will be designing a stole over the coming months inspired by Phoebe & will post some drawings as I get along for you to see.
The young talented Mezzo Soprano Phoebe Haines wearing my 'Aria Stole'
When you purchase a Aria stole you support the Opera Awards foundation Phoebe Haines is a
Two-time Grant Winner of The International Opera Awards Foundation
http://www.phoebehaines.co.uk/index.html
http://www.operaawards.org/
Inspirational Chuck Berry dies at 90
'They play for you Chuck Berry'
Solo exhibition to coincide with the Cheltenham Jazz Festival at the Garden Gallery.
This is the first time that the Garden gallery will be at the centre of the Cheltenham Jazz festival.
So really looking forward to exhibiting there. I will be showing large scale drawings , paintings and textiles. There will also be my specially designed cheltenham festival 'Jazz" pocket square on show & available to buy. More info later.
Ink Study, Southbank Sinfonia