Katsumi Hayakawa

Been laid down low this week by a nasty-pasty cold, so I don't feel I have much to say or show. I have however discovered many an interesting thing during my web travels ... such as this amazing artist: Katsumi Hayakawa. I'm rather partial to paper work and to art that is ridiculously repetitive and labour intensive in it's production, this has got it all! I feel your pain, sister, but let me tell you, it was worth it.






I found her via today and tomorrow, I  love this blog for showing me some really innovative, contemporary art; a lot of it multimedia and installation stuff. Speaking of which, if you do jump over there, also check out the interactive installation One Hundred and Eight by Nils Volker. Mesmerising.

This is penelope waits




























images by penelope waits


You know how sometimes you meet a person just briefly but know that if you sat down for a cuppa together you'd find you had heaps in common? Well here is one such lady: Esther of penelopewaits.com. I have been serving her in our shop for years, this week she told me about her blog. You must take a look, especially if you are crafty, this girl is stitch-crazy!

Friends in Creative Places #1

During my recent trip to the Isle of Man I was very excited to see the new work in progress of an old family friend, Faye.


























Faye is a super talented ceramicist or potter, if you like; which I do because she is quite potty! That must be why we get along so well together. She has in the last year, set up a little studio in one of the family's unused farm buildings and with one little kiln she's whipping up a storm.
































It is so inspiring to see other people making a go of their craft, it warms my little cockles! And what's even better is Faye gifted me one of her tea mugs before I came home, so I can remember to be inspired every time I drink a cup of tea ... and well, that's quite often.

Gallery outing

I finally shuffled my little self into the metropolis, yesterday, to see The European Masters. It was brilliant, so many influentional and truly stunning works; I'm bursting awe and with inspiration!

This Sisley was the stand out for me:


























The notes in my journal read "... movement; tension b/n amount & directions of = pulling but gentle; amazing paint tech ; shits all over the Courbet & Monet either side." I think that sums it up nicely.

I could of course post a commentary of nearly the whole show, but I'll spare you :-)
One thing I found interesting, besides the actual artworks that is, was the paraphenalia accompanying them. I was quite absorbed in all the souvenirs and the choice of images used to represent the show. Everything from the usual postcards & bookmarks to fridge magnet sets, cups, coasters, even the trays to serve your tea on. The badges were particularly novel. Marketing hard at work!