FIGURATIVE WORK
BABYSITTING
The inspiration for both works derives from the reality of attempting to multi-task as a grandmother, providing child care for two boisterous boys.
In the Collage work “CAUGHT IN THE WEB” I have included fragments of my grandchildrens’ drawings. The title has a multi-layered meaning, there are many kinds of webs. The web theme has been exploited with the “SPIDERMAN” motif. At the time of making the piece a favourite hero of the children. The use of gold thread sewn through the collage to represent a web has also been used. The Grandmother motif has an apron with a recipe collaged, the other motifs and multiple grandmother images attempt to describe the chaos of babysitting while multitasking.
The painting “GRANNYS’OOR BABYSITTER” is a word play on Scottish dialect, i.e. “Grannys, OOR Babysitter” = Granny’s OURBabysitter.
While Grannys’oor Babysitter = soor = sour, Granny is not best pleased, perhaps. You choose.
The painting was developed from the collage and the grandchildren were allowed to put their mark on it.
Caught%20in%20the%20web,,%20(with%20details).jpg)
%20Grannys'oor%20babysitter.%20(with%20details).jpg)
DARK NARRATIVES
“ITS NAE FAIRYTALE” and “TOO MANY BLACK SWANS BRING A PLAGUE OF FROGS”
Both of these paintings are dealing with similar themes. The princess in the fairytale longs for her Prince Charming. The reality being the prince never appears, but there are many frogs.
“ITS NAE FAIRYTALE” is a richly textured piece which includes gold foil, collage and some mono printing.
The piece “TOO MANY BLACK SWANS BRING A PLAGUE OF FROGS” Although inspired by the same source, the idea was also developed from reading a book based on a theory that the sighting of Black Swans was an omen. Or when bad things happen they are referred to as “Black Swans” I have played with this imagery.
The girl is part of the Black Swan, two other Black Swans create a drinking vessel, and within the glass is a reflection of an old woman, the frog fills the glass.
The third painting in the series DARK NARRATIVES, the piece “SHADOW OF THE BLACK SWAN” considered the theory that the term“BLACK SWAN” can be used to describe a badly considered decision.
The image of a nude female was composed with other shapes, set in a space, and the viewer is left to create a narrative or meaning of their own.
Its%20Nae%20Fairytale,%20(with%20details).jpg)
Too%20many%20black%20swans%20bring%20a%20plague%20of%20frogs,%20(with%20details%20).jpg)
%20Shadow%20of%20the%20black%20swan,%20(with%20details).jpg)
FAMILY EVENTS
Is a series of 3 paintings inspired by universal family events.
(1) “CIRCLE OF LIFE” and (2) “CULTIVATING THE EGG ANXIOUSLY” are based on the anxiety of creating and producing new life. Throughout both paintings clues are scattered as an insight into the artists’ thinking. However the viewer may read these clues in a different way, and interpret a meaning personal to them.
In “CIRCLE OF LIFE”(1) we have the protecting arm of the male figure encircling the waist of the female figure as they float above a landscape of greens and yellows, the depiction of Spring and Re-Birth. In the bottom of the painting there is a palette shaped object, depicting creation. A green man holds a protective covering, while not far away lurks a death like figure. Rising abovethis figure is the tree of life.
“CULTIVATING THE EGG ANXIOUSLY”(2) Palette shapes appear, depicting creation, egg shapes emerge cradled in the female hand. A female figure wears a pearl earring, is it a tear? A gardener clothed in green appears. Daffodils, both a symbol of spring and death appear on an egg shaped table top.
“FAMILY DILLEMAS” (3) This piece appears to depict some discordance. There are two sets of figures, both who seem to have differing anxieties. Over all hovers a figure within a palette shape, which appears to be trying to protect, but also seems to be reaching for some external help in the shape of a dove.
“LUCY HAD A DREAM” Was inspired by an overhead phrase from a young girl, who having a bad day believed all her dreams were behind her. Using an old sketch of a young girl in a white dress I developed the painting by using repeating images. The concept being sometimes in the space between sleeping and wakening our thoughts appear to be caught in an ever repeating loop. This was the imagery I used to represent a dreamlike state where nothing makes any sense anymore.
“MY WAY” Deals with the transition between childhood and adulthood and attempts to explain the excitement and trepidation of this stage. Balloons depicting childhood are used as a precarious mode of transport. There is a wise old owl in the background. The dependence on the cell phone for communication. Below the figure lies a maze, discarded toys, and other signposts to the narrative. The clouds form protective hands within which are collaged other communications.
%20%20Circle%20of%20life.(with%20details%20)%20jpg.jpg) |
%20Cultivating%20the%20egg%20,%20anxiously.(with%20details)%20jpg.jpg) |
%20Family%20dilemma's%20(%20with%20details)%20jpg.jpg) |
|
| CIRCLE OF LIFE | CULTIVATING THE EGG ANXIOUSLY | FAMILY DILLEMAS | |
%20Lucy%20had%20a%20dream%20,%20(with%20details%20)%20jpg.jpg) |
My%20Way%20(with%20details).jpg) |
||
| LUCY HAD A DREAM | MY WAY | ||
GIRLS NIGHT OUT
The project “GIRLS NIGHT OUT” Takes a humorous and slightly wry look at an all female night out.
“NAEMEN” The title in Scottish Dialect, where it’s all girls together, but are they competing with each to look their best. Who is going to have the most fun, who is jealous of who? Piece is composed of collaged, printed papers and paint.
“GONYIRSELHEN” Is inspired by a similar source to the last, and from the experience of an all female night
out. “GONYIRSELHEN” is also a play on words within Scottish Dialect.This phrase may be heard during a particularly exuberant experience. We have the extrovert intent on enjoying themselve while others are merely observers but "egging her on", encouraging her to "give it laldy"
Again this piece is textured with collaged, printed papers and paint surfaces.
%20Naemen%20(with%20details).jpg)
%20Gonyirselhen,%20(%20with%20details).jpg)
MISCELLANEOUS
This series of work deals with varying themes all inspired by life events or experiences.
“WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I” is a mixed media piece using collage, drawing and paint. It uses images of various fools and idiots. There is also word play. Within Scottish Dialect we have the word “EEJIT” a great descriptive Scottish/Irish word that can describe a class idiot like no other.
“MARDI-GRAS” and “SLEEPING STALLHOLDER” were inspired by direct observation of everyday events.
“MARDI GRAS” is mixed media while “SLEEPING STALLHOLDER” is collage and mixed media.
“THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE” developed from the preparation of portfolio work required for entry to Art College.
The frustration of having to conform to someone else’s idea of what is acceptable. The mannequin represents this, a puppet, but who pulls the strings? The portrait on the easel has not a gun to the head but a hairdryer, representing the would be artist’s current employment. The shadow of the mannequin on the wall takes the vague form of a camel. Is it trying to get through the eye of the easel?
This work is executed in oil on hand made Japanese paper.
What%20kind%20of%20fool%20are%20you%20,%20(with%20details%20).jpg) |
%20Mardi%20Gras,%20(with%20details).jpg) |
Sleeping%20stallholder,%20(with%20details%20)%20jpg.jpg) |
%20The%20eye%20of%20the%20needle.jpg) |
| WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I | MARDI-GRAS | SLEEPING STALLHOLDER | THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE |
| MURAL | |||
| Below is a selection of images showing the original day room for which the mural was commissioned ( mentioned on introductory page ) . These photos show the work in progress and the finished room. | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
| CORNER OF THE DAY ROOM | UNDER PAINTING WALL ONE | UNDERDRAWING WALL TWO | UNDERPAINTING WALL TWO |
 |
 |
||
| WALL SHOWING HARBOUR SCENE | DETAIL FROM HARBOUR SCENE | ||
 |
.jpg) |
||
| WALL SHOWING STREET SCENE ( radiator in front) | DETAIL SHOWING STREET SCENE ( radiator in front) | ||
.jpg) |
.jpg) |
||
| DETAIL OF STREET SCENE | DETAIL OF STREET SCENE | ||
 |
 |
||
| IN COLLABORATION, ROOM NEARLY FINISHED | THE MURAL CORNER | ||