Down The Rabbit-hole...

Foxy cakes

2012-01-09T15:25:00.003Z

lil foxy cake stand

Stay Classy....

2012-01-09T15:02:00.003Z

One for the boys...
they can be used for tea or coffee, and a must for any Ron Burgundy fan. I gave some of these out as Christmas Gifts, they cannot fail to please.

Espresso - I love Coffee aswell as Tea

2012-01-09T14:54:00.005Z

The Early bird catches the worm?

There is no denying it, I love coffee aswell as Tea. These limited edition decorated espresso cups are my tip of the hat to coffee. Gotta love that Buzz in the morning.

Fox.Stag.Cat (draft)

2011-12-10T13:01:00.002Z

Tattoo design draft. Needs colouring

New jewelery

2011-12-05T10:40:00.005Z

I have began to make some Brass/antiqued looking jewelery. All of these will be on sale at the Next Browns Flea market (11th December)

Folky Birds 2

2011-12-05T10:31:00.002Z

Folky Birds

2011-12-05T10:26:00.005Z

Hand painted bird ornaments - perfect for christmas gifts.

Swallow Doodle

2011-11-21T14:18:00.000Z

Browns Vintage Flea Market

2011-11-15T13:23:00.003Z

Just a few photos from my last vintage flea market. The next one will be on Sunday 11th December. Drop by if you would like to check out my vintage vandalism.

We're not in Kansas anymore..

2011-11-15T13:14:00.000Z

Sweet Tweet

2011-11-15T13:13:00.000Z

Sold.

Off with her head!

2011-11-15T13:11:00.002Z

Honour thy Tea

2011-11-15T13:08:00.001Z

Mad Hatters Tea party

2011-11-15T13:02:00.000Z

Inspired by Audrey Kawasaki

2011-11-15T13:00:00.001Z

Let them eat cake...

2011-11-15T12:44:00.007Z

I made this lovely chocolate slice, inspired by the miniature works of Fran Knight.

Some lovely Cake rings. Made from fimo (I think), textured like cake, and they are all adjustable. the Cakes were made by the talented Frances Knight, a wonderful miniature artisan, the rest was assembled by me. I still have cake rings avaliable, whether you fancy a slice or a whole cake. contact me for details. :)

Animal Tattoo Designs

2011-10-31T10:43:00.004Z

Sad Bambi

2011-10-18T15:01:00.004+01:00

Just thought I would share one of my doodles.

Tattoos & Tea? yes please!

2011-09-23T19:47:00.007+01:00

I have recently asked to have my own trading stand at Manchester Tattoo Tea party on the 3rd and 4th of March 2012. guess what? they said yes!! A convention combining tattooing and tea? two of my favourite things right now, how can I miss it.

Although I won't be tattooing (I'll save that for future when I have learnt more and improved) I will be selling my lovely hand made illustrated tea items and jewellery. It will be my first big fair, very exciting.

So if you are an aficionado of good tattoos and anything tea, come and join me and buy lots of my lovely teaware and jewellery!

you can buy your tickets at www.tattooteaparty.com

x peace out x

Curiouser & Curiouser

2011-09-13T13:08:00.003+01:00

Watercolour & pencil 2011

I was asked to draw up an idea for an Alice in Wonderland themed tea-set tattoo. Of course I jumped at the chance. Stuck for ideas I made mood board/ideas page. I thought I would share it as it seems appropriate for this blog.

so far I am enjoying the white rabbit.

Peacock Dreams

2011-09-13T13:03:00.002+01:00

Just a doodle I have started in my new A3 watercolour moleskinne. Its still in progress but I wanted the chance to play with my new watercolours.

pencil & Watercolour 2011

Birds..

2011-07-09T16:02:00.000+01:00

Viva la Hitchcock!

True Gent.

2011-07-09T15:53:00.001+01:00

Is that a tea pot around your neck?! errr...yes.

2011-07-09T15:47:00.002+01:00

mmmmmmm Tea......

Tea Party Attire!

2011-07-09T15:35:00.003+01:00

Adorn your hands with these quirky tea themed rings - hand made by moi. It's the only stylish way to reach for that last piece of cake !

Some of the rings have matching items like this necklace with porcelain tea pot, sugar bowl and milk jug.

This ring also has a genuine pearl inside. how can you resist?

Let them eat cake......

2011-07-09T15:20:00.004+01:00

A three tier caker plate - cat, mouse and cake. It has a tea pot on top, handy for sugar cobes and sweeties.

This was a plain cake stand - I have decorated it with an original illustration. Sort of a modern Marie Antionette

For thise of you who didnt know, in popular culture, the phrase "let them eat cake" is often attributed to Marie Antoinette. However, there is no evidence to support that she ever uttered this phrase, and it is now generally regarded as a "journalistic cliché.

These cake stands are available for sale at the vintage flea market and Browns independant bar tomorrow!
Come an check out all of my Vintage Vandalisms.

Let them eat cake

2011-06-21T12:48:00.002+01:00

I have just finsihed my second cake plate. I has 3 tiers and 3 different pictures on each plate. Perfect for a mad hatters tea party.
this will also be available at the vintage market on the 11th july.

Theres something fishy going on.....

2011-06-21T12:11:00.002+01:00

A tea set featuring fish, a fish saucer and a sandwich plate with a hypnotic crab.

Confussion is Sexy...

2011-06-21T12:03:00.003+01:00

Another vintage vandalism to add to the collection.
this set includes a tea cup, saucer & sandwich plate.

Vintage Vandalism

2011-06-16T21:05:00.008+01:00

It seems recently I have been neglecting my blog, so I thought it was about time I posted what I've been up to.

Although it is not directly associated with my 'artwork' I have been illustrating some of my tea sets with my usual style of drawing, and some just for funsies really. I will soon post some images of my hand made cake stands.

I think making things like this gives me something fun to do whilst in the midst of a bit of a creative block.

I am hoping to sell these items at a vintage market next month.

As well as drawing on my tea sets I have been playing with the idea of miniature 'tea' jewellery, and tea cup rings. A little bit kitsch and qwerky!

So... if anyone would like to see more of these items or even purchase any they will be available the 11th july at Browns Independant bar Vintage Market.

will post new stuff soon :)

conspirators of pleasure 1997

2010-09-19T18:20:00.002+01:00

I'm really enjoying a lot of Jan Svankmajers films at the moment. Bizarre, surreal and playful. However, I am struggling to find full length copies of him films.

Here's another taster of his work.

Meat love Jan Svankmajer (1989)

2010-09-19T18:02:00.003+01:00

Curiouser & Curiouser By Manic Pianic

2010-09-19T17:56:00.000+01:00

Sketch Book

2010-05-25T20:27:00.003+01:00

Still in progress..

Drawings from my concertina Moleskinne book. one long continuous drawing - so, sorry about the lines.

Good Art Gallery

2010-05-07T12:40:00.005+01:00

The prints from my last post were recently exhibited in 'The Good Art Gallery' in Birmingham, thanks to Matt Moore & his Art detection services. The Good Art Gallery is an open-sumbissions art competition curated by Art Detection Services Ltd. in Created In Birmingham, Bullring, Birmingham.

Photo is property of Matt Snowden http://mattsnowden.blogspot.com/

It was a diverse and interesting show. I particularly like the idea that the show is curated purely by the 'Art detection service', effectively it was curated by chance. Leaving it entirely open for different works to be shown, without being chosen by a person or panel of judges per se.

Photo is property of Matt Snowden http://mattsnowden.blogspot.com/

The Exhibition was on until the 5th May 2010 - so this post is a bit late.

Also, if you are in and around Birmingham, check out the Created in Birmingham shop in the bullring for interesting, affordable art, prints and crafts.

Masks

2010-03-26T00:30:00.003Z

Recently I have been working on a series of 5 etchings depicting different animal masks. They are still currently in progress but I thought I would share where I have got to so far..

Dog mask I

Rabbit Mask I

Pig Mask I

In terms of the prints themselves I feel there is a lot of changes to be made, such as the paper - I have been considering using a different paper that is a darker shade of cream/yellow. Also just practicing with the printing and attempting to get the quality of print to a higher standard.

I wanted to make a series of mask prints as they feature so frequently in my drawings. I tend not to draw faces bit have them masked, i feel this gives a sense of anonymity, or an air of mystery to the character.

The animal masks have almost begun to represent archetypal characters, that re-appear from time to time absorbed in their own world and absurd or uncanny activities.

I'm not sure the personalities or traits each animal has in my drawings - or whether it is something I wish to develop in the future, but I enjoy the fact I don't really know, it's like saving a little mystery for myself.

who knows what I will have them do in my next drawing or what mischief they will cause?

Ericailcane: 'Lepus timidus'

2010-03-15T09:41:00.005Z

Ericailcane

Upon first encountering Ericailcane’s work, you might think you'd stumbled across some obscure personal work by a somewhat perverse Victorian children's book illustrator. His unique vision combines elements reminiscent of anthropomorphic morality tales like Aesop’s Fables and The Wind In The Willows with the dystopian political allegory of George Orwell's Animal Farm and the disturbing patchwork-automatons of the Brothers Quay.

The manner in which these elements are brought together in Ericailcane's work creates a sense of alienation and anomie in the face of an absurd and meaningless world, while at the same time gently compelling the viewer to project these creatures' nonsensical yet poignant situations onto the human condition.

I first came across Ericailcane's work in this March's issue of Juxtapoze, his drawings really stood out for their excellent draftsmanship, timelessness, intelligence and emotional range. In his drawings, Ericailcane exhibits a deft extrapolation that brings to mind Albrecht Dürer’s imaginary Rhinoceros, not to mention macabre contortions that could be likened to Hieronymous Bosch’s visions of Hell – yet his work is imbued with a satirical wit and childlike melancholy that make it quite accessible.

Ericailcane a.k.a. Erica il Cane, hails from Bologna, Italy, where he studied at the Academy of Arts. For several years, he has been working in an Italian street art collective, and has painted some incredible murals all over Europe – many in collaboration with the legendary street artist and colossal-scale stop-motion animator Blu.

In many ways Ericailcane's drawings illustrate domestic and wild animal's set in an alternative universe where they have taken revenge against mankind. I thought this quote from animal farm seemed quite fitting:

"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself... All men are enemies. All animals are comrades."– 'Old Major,' Animal Farm

2010-03-03T10:48:00.002Z

Viewing Life Through A Shoe

2010-02-23T15:47:00.002Z

I've discovered two artists who's work I find not only to be quite profound, but also playful and curious - It's this kind of childlike curiosity that intrigues me so much.

João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva

On the Movement of the Fried Egg and Other Astronomical Bodies

IKON Gallery 2nd Feb - 21st March

Portuguese artists João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva have worked together since 2001, creating objects, installations and short films which they

describe as ‘poetic philosophical fiction’. Ikon’s exhibition focuses purely on their short 16mm films, featuring those made recently in Brazil alongside a selection from the last five years.

Gusmão and Paiva’s work reveals a deep curiosity about the nature of reality and embodies a constant dialogue between fact and fiction, humour and poetry. They are infuenced by a wide range of references including historical literature, mythology and the occult, informing their own pseudo-scientifc investigations.

3 suns 2009

16mm film, colour, no sound

The artists’ films reflect ongoing preoccupations such as vision and blindness, metaphysics, the void and infinity. Works such as The Great Drinking Bout (2007) involve an unidentifed cast of characters who enact anarchic rituals, while other films are unpopulated, often focusing on the nature of objects and materials. In Experiment on the Effluvium (2009) the use of slow-motion creates a dream-like quality. A stone skims across the surface of a body of water in a scene reminiscent of a mythological planetary event. Meanwhile in Astronomy Of The End Of The Boot (2009) a man observes the sky through a hole in his shoe. Against a background of profound thinking Gusmão and Paiva’s carefully crafted films exude a playful inventiveness that makes us look again.

In many ways I feel their work has they same playful inventiveness you see in a child when experiencing the world for the first time, it is unfortunate that with age and wisdom most of us will loose this sense of our former, curious self.