Kettles Yard, Cambridge.

Kettles Yard House, home of former Tate Gallery curator Jim Ede & his wife Helen is possibly my all time favourite place to be, (and my spiritual home I'm sure). By converting four neighbouring cottages they created a dwelling for themselves as well as providing an informal gallery space to display their collection of early twentieth century art. I won't spoilt it for you by trying to tell of its magic. If you can't foresee a visit then their website has an excellent virtual tour.

My urge to always create a 'something' after an afternoon under its spell is a quality I wish I could switch on so readily in my working life. This time I was straight to purchase a beginners gouache set. Clearly it's going to take some practice but the flatness of the paint applied is reminiscent of silkscreen printing. It feels like I'm on safe territory!

Nancys Dad.

'Exit Strategies'

Kate Gibb, 'The End?'

The latest edition of Granta magazine entitled Exit Strategies, arrived at the studio today.

Browsing through a couple of illustrations really caught my eye. Closer inspection revealed the artistic perpetrator as Grantas own Art Director, Michael Salu.

Michael Salu, 'America'.

As if he isn't busy enough, Michael has started the Granta blog. Documenting their varied creative pursuits it offers you a chance to sample them individually. Look for yourself here & worth keeping in check with for sure.

'Winter Solstice'

Today I am working on my accounts. Well that was the case until I chose to become preoccupied by a badge making machine left in my studio. What an addictive gadget that could turn out to be. Yesterday, (like many others) I wished to live somewhere remote and quiet, clean air, clear skies.. the antithesis of London life. If only not to have missed Saturdays eerily spectacular lunar eclipse. Take a few minutes to watch William Castlemans time lapse of the whole event and observe the moon radiate a deep blood red. Spooky.

Stripes & Halftones

A rewarding aspect of working regularly alongside Stussy, is it allows me to hone my skills as a printmaker. Of late, my contribution to them has been as a colourist and mark maker I guess. Revitalising and updating their bountiful back catalogue of stock logos, through additional texture & playing optically with colour has kept me technically on my toes. Some of this work in progress remains purely as that. The prints shown here particularly challenged me but never made it off the board.

100% cotton, utilitarian art?

I couldn't bear to hear myself blog about tea towels again. (Or mention that its our Open Studios this weekend). Feel free to pop by, (emoticon).