MyfanwyNia's Studio Weblog

Hello and welcome to my creative world, thank you dearly for your interest in my artistic endeavors.
“Here on my web log I record my studio progress, it acts as a web based journal spanning back to 2010, here I can easily glance back at projects and artworks and add my current progress. I hope some of you will also find inspiration here.
I welcome dearly your comments and feedback as valuable assets that help me consider different aspects of my art practice and my creative growth as an artist.
Love and Light”
Harriet ❤
Get in touch!
I’m continuously open to participation in new projects, collaborations, murals and exhibitions.
I’m always happy to talk about a special commission piece of jewellery, your fantasy artwork or portrait of a loved one.
You can contact me via my facebook page or website and online shop at www.myfanwynia.com , much of my older work is also view-able there.

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Studio Renovation Part 1


I have been super busy since the years start, renovating a the stone shed beside my house. It is going to be my new studio! Im so excited about the space, this is my first custom fitted out studio.

As excited as I am, this work has been sucking away the time I have for making art. This is one of those projects where although its taking me away from painting for a while, it will ultimately help me work on my art in the long run. Im hoping to be moved into the studio by mid March.

I have been super lucky to have the best technician I know on my team 'John Lyon' who has worked with me on many of my exhibition installations and festival projects. John is also a very talented artist. He doing a art portfolio NCVA in Co. Sligo's VEC, and he is helping out with this project as a part of his work experience module.

Thank you so much for all the help guys! shouting out big love to my husband Iliocht and awesome friends John, Johnny, and Steven.

I'm not featured in any of these photos because I took them :)

There's still a way to go with this project but here's some progress photos of the work so far...


The stone walls, after scraping out the old render.

The traditional Irish stone work of this 200 year old structure, needed to be re-pointed, the pointing is the render between the stones. We had to scrape the remaining original render out. Originally this render would have been a mixture of lime, mud and animal blood!

There was so much of it! it was weird to think of the dust as part dry old animal blood, Yuck!

We needed to re-point the walls with a more modern substitute cement mixed with sand and lime. this involves filling back in the gaps between the stones by hand, literally 'pointing' in with your finger the wet mix into the tight gaps. This will help with insulation and help keeps away the damp in our often wet climate.


Johnny heading up the ladder to scrape the top of the inside gable wall


Iliocht and wet cement mix, lots of it and more to make


Johnny pointing the wall.
Some of this wall had in it's long past been repaired with concrete blocks quite ugly. We are going to build wooden flat walls to cover and insulate the space further. the gabel wall will be left with the stone showing as a feature in the space.


More pointing John (left) & Johnny (right)


It was cold in the shed as there is no heating yet, we used this gas powered parasol heater to keep the edge off.


The walls to be covered with a wooden interior wall needed to be painted with masonry paint, to stop mould growing on the stones behind the new wall.


John working on the construction of the interior wooden wall.


John and Iliocht moving the wall.
 

John fits polystyrene insulation sheeting into the wall frame, the paint work is nearly done.


Coffee break!!! With Steven, John & Johnny.


John begins work on the side counter tops frame.


The side counter top frame is fixed to the new wall.
That's all for now! More photos coming soon!! In my Studio Renovation Part 2 blog.















Wednesday 15 February 2012

State of Emergency

Watercolour and Indian ink on paper

After finishing the small paintings featured in my previous blog, I decided to do a larger watercolour.
The inspiration for this painting is partly from 'Guro Lolita' a sub genre of  'Lolita' in Japanese street fashion. Have you ever spotted a staggering lolita covered in blood and wearing an eye-patch? You most likely had just encountered this rare breed. Guro is an abbreviation for grotesque, and includes lolitas splattered with blood, to lighter versions where they are covered in tattered bandages.
An overview of this styles motifs include medical cross symbols, arm slings, eye-patches, nurse hats, fake knives, plasters, fake bruises and stitches on arms and knees, broken dolls or bloody teddy-bears are all common accessories.
My painting is a little more bright and playful than this image of a blood splattered Guro. My character is a whimsical lolita clad nurse surrounded by her mischievous animal patients, these characters are reminiscent of childhood toys including the little smiling ambulance rushing down to the chaos below. This world is very cute a vibrant duality of sweetness with darker undertones.
I was recently asked what the theme of this paintings was? In reply I said 'crazy head-spaces and cute escapism' hence the title 'State Of Emergency' 'State' was referring to ones 'state of mind'
This painting was done using the same process I described in my last blog, the images below include a process photo of the painting at its second stage, after I had inked the original pencil sketch with Indian ink and rubbed away any remaining pencil lines.

State Of Emeregency

Detail

Process photo of inked sketch