Hanging – The Violence of Flowers

Went round to hang the work today for the violence of flowers preview this weekend.  I have decided on 7 new floral pieces of work which after the preview will be transported to the Castle in Walthamstow to be shown as part of the E17 Art Trail.  I have ommitted the portrait pieces from this show as I think they seem disjointed from the series of work ..

Also this week three new pieces of work have been requested from Opus Gallery based in Newcastle.  The pieces are Find Yourself, Envy and Revive.  2 of these pieces have not been shown before and this is also the first metre square drawing of mine that has been exhibited, if you would like to see more detailed images of the work there is a handy preview over at the Opus website – you can view it here

Also newly installed in the Art Republic gallery is the lightbox installation – Flower of Life – based upon the geometric pattern, this double sided drawing can now be seen pulsing in the basement of the soho store, the piece is accompanied by the drawing Quill – the link being that both pieces reference the work and life of Da Vinci.

Lots of exciting things happening around the studios and also in other parts of Leytonstone – plans aren’t 100% secured yet but hopefully we will be able to spill the beans on a new project soon…. watch this space

Drowned – Preparing the Violence of Flowers

Today was spent with a little drawing and a little deciding which pieces to frame for the Violence of Flowers preview this Saturday at Norlington Road.  It’s going to be a quiet show of a handful of pieces with some close friends and people who have really helped support me with my work both recently and over the years.  It’s proving hard to decide which pieces to put together and rather than attempt to show a cross-section of all the finished pieces I have decided to choose purely floral pieces.  Although I have confidence in this work and I believe it represents development I am concerned about showing work that doesn’t contain portraiture… after all it seems to be what most people know my work for.  So I thought I would show one of the finished floral pieces on the blog page, it kind of makes things a little less daunting, I hope you like the drawing but if you don’t I’d love to hear your reaction to the work.  If you’d like to see more from this series the work will be showing at the Castle during the E17 Arts Trail starting 2nd September.

This  piece is called Drowned and is based upon a study for the series, The Violence of Flowers, it is drawn in graphite calligraphy ink and painted with various types of tea.

Somewhere

New piece from the studio amd today I found this quote…

“The microcosm and the macrocosm are built on the same plan. Just as the individual soul is encased in the living body, so is the universal Soul in the Living energy of Nature. The objective universe, is embracing nature. This covering of the one by the other is analogous to the relation between an idea and the word expressing it.  This dual aspect of the Universal Soul is eternal. So what we perceive or feel is this combination of the Eternally Formed and the Eternally Formless.”

It sums up a lot about our interconnection with the world on a micro and macro level.  The artist tries to tap into this interconnection… this is where my work is heading..

 

Uprooted from the Violence of Flowers

Good day in the studio yesterday – after collecting work from the Contemporary Romantics show I got back in the studio just before the heavens opened and finished off a new piece of work.. was a strange drawing experience and one of the more ‘automatic’ drawings I have carried out recently.  Thought I would post it to the blog as I haven’t decided whether it fits with the series ‘Violence of Flowers’ but maybe it works because it is so different to the others.  Most importantly it was a really euphoric experience making the work and I’m keen to share it so here it is!

Good News / Bad News / Carry on Regardless

Its turning out to be a rollercoaster week – with great news hearing of sales of  The Harvest, The Vine, Nectar, Metamorphosis Strength and Comfort – thank you to Ink’d Gallery, Eyestorm, Art Republic and Opus – meanwhile in the studio work is building up quickly on ‘The Violence of Flowers’ a series of work which I am fully immersed in at the moment. This may have been the reason it hadn’t really sunk in that the studios where I work are being considered for redevelopment and a planning application slapped on the lamp-post outside the entrance. If things go according to (their) plan – Norlington road studios in Leyton will turn into a mews providing some nice new flats for the area, meanwhile a growing community of artists from the surrounding areas will be without studio space which is becoming increasingly scarce!! especially in E10/E11

This on the back of a wonderful Arts Trail Experience leaves a real bitter taste in the mouth… well I have decided that it’s something I will become actively involved in opposing – whether it means I have to find a new workplace or not the main thing is that life and the current project of work goes on for the time being and I intend to make the most of it. I have only released detail shots of the work so far and a couple of development pieces so I thought I would add one finished piece to the blog, it misrepresents the series slightly but it is the first piece to reintroduce portraiture to the series. The piece shown below is as yet untitled – it’s title will depend on the completed series of work but I think it reintroduces a bit of vigour to the drawn line – I hope you like it

I will be holding a small private preview of the series on the 27th of August in Leytonstone, and will be showing selected works as part of the E17 Arts Trail which begins on the 1st September. In the meantime I am looking for a venue to display the full collection of works towards the end of September… just need to find a gallery that would be interested in showing the series as a whole.

Undergrowth

Undergrowth is an installation drawing made in ink and tea during the Leytonstone Arts Trail in 2011. The drawing consists of floral forms influenced by the plants surrounding the house which stretch along one side of the wall in the house. From the front door along the hallway, up the stairs and reaching up to the ceiling, the floral forms are a mixture of real and imaginary flowers. Amongst the flowers are a number of bees drawn which flow in an arc until they reach the hive. Represented in the drawing by a girl with outstretched hands from which drips of honey fall to the ground. If you would like to see the installation drawing which is based in Leytonstone East london – please contact carne@carnegriffiths.com or visit http://www.carnegriffiths.com for more details.

The Violence of Flowers

Yesterday I took 5 new pieces down to Inkd gallery and talked about some of the new work.  It was good to air the new pieces as there was a slight change in direction and the work was starting to focus solely on floral forms.  I have recently received good feedback from some purely floral works, poppy and undergrowth especially, and I think it is this that has given me the impotus to move into this project without any portrtraiture or human elements both with more confidence and a renewed sense of energy.

It was surprising to react in such a strong way to what are essentially to me study drawings of wild flowers that were picked from the grounds of the studio at Norlington Road, but the reaction has reintroduced a vigorous line and mark making to my drawing that I felt had been missing from the initial pieces I made recently exploring bees… I learnt that sometimes it is good to follow this impulse and not tobe stubborn about the route that the work takes.

below are a few images of detail from the works which include partial studies of thistles roses and other wild flowers … I will be posting completed images of the work fairly soon when I have an idea how the project will develop.  For now I can only say that these pieces are intense emotional responses to the plants and floral forms in front of me, hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them – Carne

New Summer Postcard Set – Available Now

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

New set of four postcards representing recent work from this ‘Summer’ available to buy through etsy http://www.etsy.com/listing/78339347/limited-edition-summer-pack-of-4?ref=pr_shop
Each Postcard Pack, contains 4 images from Carne Griffiths, printed on 350gsm matt card, each individually signed and numbered by hand, comes sealed in a cellophane envelope as part of a limited edition of 250 packs.
The images are from a series of  work currently exhibiting in Newcastle and of work sold through Art Republic (July 2011) Carne’s work is produced using fountain pen ink and various liquids such as tea, vodka, whisky and brandy.

Details about the original pieces.
The Coma – (Art Republic Soho SOLD) is a reflection on the unconscious self and is influenced by the book of the same name by Alex Garland, the piece is also available as a ltd edition giclee print
Metamorphosis- (Eyestorm SOLD) is drawn in ink and tea and is a comentary on our connection and assimilation with nature also available as a ltd edition giclee print
Strength (Currently available and showing soon at Opus in Newcastle as part of their summer show) is drawn in Ink and tea and is about the terrifying force and beauty of nature in light of the Japanese quake earlier this year.
Comfort- (Also at showing at Opus in Newcastle as part of the summer show) is a retreat into nature

Postcard ssets are £5 including delivery anywhere worldwide!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78339347/limited-edition-summer-pack-of-4?ref=pr_shop

Summer Exhibition with Opus

I have been invited to display 2 of my pieces of work in the Summer Exhibition, with Opus Fine Art, Newcastle.

The exhibition will take place on Monday 8 August – Friday 2 September 2011
Private View: Friday, 5 August, 6-8pm

The Summer Exhibition kicks off with a themed party on the evening of Friday, 5 August by invitation only, where guests can view and buy the works on show, meet artists showing, and enjoy summery cocktails and canapés courtesty of 1OAK restaurant.

Opus will be showing a “huge selection of artwork by the cream of artists on their roster, including Chris Acheson, Andrea Allan,Kim Baker, Lee Chantler, Richard Davidson, Teresa Duck, Michele Fletcher, Nick Fox, Carne Griffiths, Kelly Jayne, Brian Jones, Linda Lencovic, Miranda Lopatkin, Ali Miller, Geraldine Swayne, Natalie Tkachuk and Karl de Vroomen.”

The exhibition opens to the public from Monday, 8 August until Friday, 2 September, by appointment only.

Please contact Opus Fine Art, Milburn House, Dean Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1NR T: 0191 232 7389
E: enquiries@opus-art.com

Norlington Road Video of work in progress

I have taken a short video of the work on the mural / drawing so far at Norlington Road – I will be making a finished video and a short book of the completed piece but until then…

A drawing made as part of the Leytonstone arts trail over a period of about 2 weeks spending  40 hours drawing, the piece is an unplanned organic drawing in Ink and tea which explores floral forms. Drawn in fountain pen ink and painted with various types of tea, specifically chai, Rooibos, blackcurrant & nettle and camomile vanilla & honey. The artwork references plants from both the front and rear of the house.