drawings

Momentary – Solo Exhibition by Carne Griffiths – Lilford Gallery Folkestone, 29 July to 21 August 2016

Imagine if you could slow down and stop time. Take a moment to examine the beautiful detail in everything that surrounds us. We are living so fast that everything is blurred and we can’t possibly appreciate the fragility of our own existence…. that’s the ethos of this exhibition, a meditation on the beautiful detail of the natural world.  Through paintings, embroidered works and a virtual reality installation – Momentary seeks to stop time.. for just a moment .. and permits us to see the beauty of an explosion, of spinning shards of glass  – the beating of a hummingbirds wings, the detail concealed within its’ plumage, the incredible pattern and order that makes up the chaos.

momentary, ink and tea on 535gsm bockingford watercolour paper 21 x 29cm £475
Momentary

I am pleased to invite you to an exhibition opening at Lilford Gallery in Folkestone this Friday the 29th July.  The exhibition is my first solo show in just over 2 years and brings together a collection of framed original works on paper, limited edition prints and a virtual reality installation.

Here is a little about the collection of work and also a snippet of the new pieces that will be on show at the exhibition which runs until 21st August at Lilford Gallery

Inspired by nature’s expansive colour palette these new works present a vivid alternate reality, ‘Let’s stop time’ invites the viewer to slow down and take time to reflect on the beauty within their surroundings, a chaotic solitary moment becomes a place for meditation.  ‘Eternity’captures the beauty and chaos of a single brush stroke within which an alternate reality is revealed like a dream or a momentary glimpse into the life of a stranger all in a single moment. In’Perfectly Still’, the ‘Hourglass’ and ‘Elevation’ time is brought to a standstill and the beauty of nature among chaos is evident, all three works begin as an abstract composition, embracing chaos and the freedom of single strokes of paint, accidents and chaos in which we seek to find order. Rising from this chaos we find beautiful accidents of nature or creation depending on our beliefs and ideologies, it seems almost irrelevant how they occur.. what is common is the beauty in infinite detail.

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‘The Mortal Coil’ challenges us to look at our own time and existence – the brevity of our time on this planet, the place we hold among our surroundings and our connections with the natural world, as the painting pulses revealing a skull beneath the layers it reminds that we are flesh and bone,it challenges us to appreciate our short time, to make the most of our existence.  In ‘Knowledge is Power’, ‘Trouble’, Brave new world and ‘Protection’ I want the viewer to look at the possibilities and opportunities that arise from a single moment – each work references the image ‘I and Love and You’  by photographer Michael Färber.  Each image searches the subject for a different story, chaos plays it’s part again and these works are an example of the approach taken to painting – allowing chaos and chance to dictate the outcome.

The smaller portraits ‘momentary’ series focus on calm and meditation – both in the approach to the drawings but also in the subject itself – they are quiet moments of contemplation and time taken to reflect.  These pieces were created at the end of the show and are a pause point and possibly and indication of where the work will turn next.

In addition to these and other original works I will be showing three new limited edition prints as follows;

A hand  embroidered print with hand painted goldleaf details called ‘A little piece of peace and quiet’ edition of 20

A Little Piece of Peace and Quiet giclee print with deckle (Custom)

A 50cm x 70cm Giclee Print – ‘Perfectly Still’ on Hahnemuhle etching paper with Hand torn edges

Perfectly Still 1000px with deckle 50 x 70cm on Bockingford 535gsm Watercolour Paper £2400

A 50cm x 50cm limited edition giclee of the Oracle Printed on Epson bright white ultrasmooth paper

The Oracle

The inclusion of the oracle as a print in this show is to link some of the works on black paper I have produced with a virtual reality installation piece called ‘Momentary’.  The piece takes elements from all of the new paintings and blends these with details from the works on black paper – but it does so in a virtual space using the HTC Vive Headset viewers are able to explore this virtual environment and examine the painting in it’s virtual sulptured form.

 

 

 

 

 

Neon Tears – Print Offer

Neon Tears by Carne Griffiths

 

This is a new print launched in association with Derbby

The print is normally $149 but is reduced for Launch to just $25
For each sale the print rises in price by $1 – currently at $52! pop along to http://www.derbby.com/carnegriffiths/neon-tears to grab yours now!

The print is 16 x 20″ printed with archival inks on high quality Epson 330gsm bright white hot press paper.

24 Hour Print Flash Sale

Delighted to be launching the print ‘Inner Worlds’ price starts from just $25 at 10:30am PST or 6:30pm GMT today, 4th December.

http://derbby.com/carnegriffiths/innerworlds

Prices increase by $1 on each sale – get in early 😉

Inner Worlds by Carne Griffiths (Custom) (2)
Dimensions: 16″w x 20″h  Archival Ink (Pigment Based) printed on 330 g/m2 Epson Hot Press Bright White Paper

New Print Beautiful Decay Released

Head over to the new website now for more details.

beautiful decay

Exhibitions and Trails

It’s a crazy busy time for seeing artwork!! As well as the solo exhibition which is now in it’s second week at Ink’d gallery in Brighton, this weekend sees the closing of the East17 arts Trail and the opening of the nearby Wanstead Arts Trail, and next week sees the opening of the Wing Assignment at Red Bull Studios featuring over 40 artists work and showing the new piece 2 for Joy.

Fragments

The exhibition at Ink’d is the biggest collection of work I have shown to date and also the most focused.  The workreflects on a hectic 2012 and is a reaction and contemplation of events that have had an effect on the early part of this year.  I won’t lie.. it’s been a tough time, emotionally it has been a roller coaster year with massive highs, and some really difficult times too.  The work reflects this quite openly. The shards of glass that are prominent in this collection of work developed from the falling thorns in the piece one for sorrow which hangs at the back of the gallery at Ink’d. The increased chaos and noise in the work is elevated too.

1 for sorrow reflected on the helplessness of a situation in my personal life at the time, it was an exorcism for this frustration and the process of creating the work was a huge help to me in dealing with the situation.  Talking about this type of work is difficult but I think it is important to understand the relationship between daily life, and what happens in the studio. Most of the work I create is emotionally driven, it is a response to specific situations and the beginning of a piece of work is almost always impulsive, as is it’s creation.  Some of the larger works however, span larger periods of time and their creation, although relying on these type of impulses also involve times of deliberate contemplation on the subject.

Of the works showing as part of the fragments exhibition, ‘1 for Sorrow’ and’ the Storm’ both underwent a similar process and this is reflected in the finished work.  They may not be as light or as clean as other works in the gallery, but the grit and grime of these pieces honestly represent the journey gone through to bring the piece to it’s conclusion. They are both real battles in terms of their creation and the emotional involvement in the work.

If you would like to see the work on show – the exhibition ‘Fragments’ is open daily at Ink’d gallery in Brighton and runs until the 6th October, alternately you can see and buy all work from the show including the newly released giclee prints Guilt, Comfort, Fragment, and the triptych, Mortal, Immortal and Eleven produced by Harwood King.

The Wing Assignment

Inspiration for 2 of the pieces created this year and a planned series of continued work comes from the wonderful wing assignment project devised and curated by Nina Farrel a former colleague at Maidstone College of Art.  As well as providing a platform and outlet for the piece 1 for sorrow, the project seemed intertwined with what was happening in daily life.  Following 1 for sorrow, the piece 2 for joy is again an intensely personal reflection of receiving the news that I am to be a father to twins this September. Amazingly as timing would have it – the opening of the exhibition coincides with our delivery date.  It will be a shame to miss the exhibition as it features a work that is a real contrast to other pieces created this year, it has a real softness and warmth and is purely concerned with our relationship with nature and if you look very carefully beyond the flower of life symbol…

   

The Wing Assignment opens on the 19th September – if you would like to attend the private view on the 20th September, please contact me via email, as I have a very limited number of guest tickets (including my own which I will be giving away as I will be busy elsewhere!)

For more information about the exhibition which contains the work of over 40 artists, visit the wing assignment homepage at http://thewingassignment.tumblr.com/

Age of East 17

This weekend is the last chance to see this great exhibition, brought together by Nadiya Tokarska, at Tokarska gallery Walthamstow.  Just a short walk from Blackhorse Road tube, along forest Road.  The exhibition features artwork from Carne Griffiths, paintings from Jason Hawkridge, a Mark Burton photography exhibition about the Olympic Torch in Waltham Forest, and paintings from Nadiya Pavliv-Tokarska. The Tokarska Gallery is one of the best permanent galleries in the local area, so it is well worth a visit if you’re exploring the E17 Art Trail (which we will blog about separately).

I am delighted to be showing a small series of floral works, amongst the newly released triptych of prints from Harwood King

 

 

 

Wanstead Arts Trail

I am delighted to be showing work again as part of this year’s Wanstead arts trail, at the Beautiful Blush Temples florist on the high street.  Opening today, the small collection of work on show represents the first steps to working as a artist full time.  Although they are tighter and show a stronger influence of embroidery design, the pieces show clearly the transition to finding a style of working and to breaking free from the constraints of floral embroidery design in different ways.

 

Following the busy month of september, I will be showing work at the following art fairs, with Eyestorm and Coates and Scarry.

MULTIPLIED ART FAIR CHRISTIES 12TH – 15TH OCTOBER  EYESTORM

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR BATTERSEA 25TH – 28TH OCTOBER 2012 COATES AND SCARRY

AFFORDABLE ART FAIR HAMPSTEAD 1st – 4th NOVEMBER 2012 EYESTORM

Last minute news..

Here’s what is happening from the studio, with exhibitions and upcoming projects.

This evening sees the launch of  The Stone Space’s One Day’s Walk exhibition.  The show features work from 13 artists reflecting on their beloved hometown or the place they grew up – It’s a great eclectic collection of work featuring plaster sculptures, oil paintings, charcoal and graphite drawings, photographs prints and drawings in ink and tea!!

If you can make it to Leytonstone tube station the Stone Space Gallery is just a stone’s throw along church lane and we’ll be there to welcome you with a nice glass of wine, beer or maybe even a cup of tea.. be there from 7pm

‘George’ by Jesus Coromina, ‘Tower Blocked’by Michele Fletcher and ‘Constellations 6’ by Gillian Swan

I will be showing the piece ‘The Green Man’ a drawing which serves to illustrate the influence of my Leytonstone’s natural surroundings on my drawing (as an avid cyclist the lure of epping forest is .  Most works in the exhibition are available for sale and all works have been reproduced as a postcard which are available to buy from the gallery for just £1 – all proceeds go to the running of the stone space gallery.

The Green Man, Ink and Tea on Paper

From the studio

Things are hotting up in the studio … literally – whilst work is complete on the first 2 of the series 1 for sorrow, I have begun to experiment with some new portraiture pieces.  These are with an aim to producing a new series of smaller works as part of the upcoming show at Ink’d Gallery this September.  Here’s a few snippets of what you might expect later in the year…

Collaborations..

Really looking forward to working with an East London Fashion house on the production of some garment fabrics inspired by drawings in ink and tea – the work will be playful, colourful and will mark a return for me into the area of textiles… after 12 years designing embroidery it’s nice to be working with fabrics again and I am feeling a draw to some more tactile elements in the work too! watch this space…

That’s all for now… thanks for reading.

Spring at The Smokehouse PV 5th April

I am Pleased to be exhibiting the finished work of ‘1 for Sorrow’ at ‘Spring’ – an exhibition featuring 50 artists’ work at Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery.  The exhibition, curated by Art Catcher has been selected as one of 5 not to miss by Whitechapel and Timeout’s First Thursday’s website. I hope you will be able to join me to celebrate the opening of the exhibition 0n Thursday 5th April from 6-9pm where the smokehouse will be serving salmon platters.


1 for sorrow – work in progress ink and tea on paper

What better place in the world to celebrate the Season of Growth and Renewal this year than Hackney Wick and Fish Island with a direct view of the Olympic Stadium?

Forman’s Smokehouse Gallery and East Village London in collaboration with Art Catcher Ltd present you with works by 50 artists from Great Britain and beyond, working in painting, printmaking, photography, collage  moving image and sculpture, expressing an unusual and delightful array of interpretations.

Exhibiting artists include including Adam Graff (Images 36 ‘The best of British illustration’ competition 2012), Carne Griffiths (Cle De Peau’s 30th anniversary exhibition, co-ordinated by Alvin Goh, Hong Kong 2012), Louiz Kirkebjerg-Nielsen (International Printmaking Biennial of Douro, Portugal, 2012, and Qijiang International Print Festival 2011), Sumi Perera (1st Prize-Drawing for Design-Rootstein Hopkins Foundation Drawing Exhibition, London 2011), Jens Marott (Silver Prize London Photographic Awards “Let’s face it” competition 2011), Martin Mossop (John Purcell Paper Prize at the Bainbridge Open in  2011), Fabienne Teyssier-Monnot (Claude Berthault Price in Sculpture 2010, Chongqing, China), and Wuon Gean Ho (Birgit Skiold Memorial Trust Prize 2010).

It’s nice to be back posting work here – been working on some great commissions including the just finished series of collaboration work with photographer Rankin for Hunger Magazine – look out for it in May! -So everything is a little crazy right now – hence the title of the new work – it’s good to be busy but it’s great to know I have some time to get serious in the studio

If you would like more information you can sign up to my mailing list which is sent out every couple of weeks with details of new works and shows etc.
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From Chaos – Ink and Tea on Bockingford heavy 540gsm paper

Model – Lisa Stefaniak

Brown Paper Packages

The new postcard sets are now ready, signed, and I’m sending them out this morning to those who have pre-ordered.  Each set is sealed in a cello envelope and then posted in a manilla envelope, with a hand drawn sketch on the reverse and a wax seal.  The postcards are individually signed and editioned in a limited set of 250.  If you would like a set they are available to order here and I usually send them out same or next day.

There are also just a few editions left of the print ‘Another Place’ (below) you can pick up one of the remaining prints here.

Current and Upcoming Exhibitions
TRIPTYCH OF DRAWINGS – IMMORTAL – MORTAL – 11 @ dEBUT CONTEMPORARY [LINK]
LONDON ART FAIR – 18th -22 January Stand G35 / Opus  [LINK]
dEBUT CONTEMPORARY – 1st FEBRUARY – PRIVATE VIEW  [LINK]
ART FOR HEART’S SAKE – EXHIBITION AND AUCTION [LINK]

 

Journey 19th November – 4th December

Had a great time at last night’s opening at G90 – Thanks to all at G90 and those who attended the private view.  So nice to see so many friends at the private view and meet some collectors!  The exhibition is now open and I’ve included a picture of one of the new works from the triptych. Hope you can get to see some of the work at the Gallery – G90 is a fantastic space great layout and it’s been an awesome opportunity for me to lay out a series of work in one space for the first time.  Also one of the main comments I received about the artwork last night was it’s scale, most people had only seen work online and did not realise the size of the pieces especially the new triptych which loom over you as you come into the gallery space.  So if you get the chance come along to G90 The address is at the bottom of this post.

Gallery 90
90 Mountgrove Road
London N5 2LT
Map
Nearest Tube – Finsbury Park