Sketches

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Flash Sale – Just out of Reach

Just out of Reach by Carne Griffiths

I’m delighted to be launching a new 20×16″ print on Wednesday the 27th Jan, with Derbby.

Derbby have a unique price structure which works great, making the early prints in an edition extremely accessible.  The usual selling price of Derbby Prints is $149 but for the Flash Sale the price drops to $25.. and that’s where it gets interesting, each successive sale raises the price by $1 !

Derbby aren’t cutting corners however, the print is made on a bright white Epson archival paper at a heavy 330gsm! this is embossed with the Derbby logo and accompanied by an artists signature by way of a certificate applied to the reverse of the piece… this results in a clean ready to frame image.

The piece itself was created in January of 2016 and experiments with creating more layering and more detail than usual, I wanted to give Derbby an image that would translate well in the reduction to a print, making the detail finer and crisper.  Continuing on from the earlier piece this year entitled all I want is everything, the piece reflects on commercial desire, our relationship with nature, and the unattainable.   I’ve included some work in progress images below to show the process of making the work.

If you are interested, the original work will also be made available through Derbby via a unique bidding system.  Checkout www.derbby.com for more details.

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 work from the Studio

Quick update as work continues on the piece 3 for a girl and a really fun collaboration with an east end fashion designer.

Here’s some pics of work from last week

Silence, Ink and tea on paper 75cm x 56cm Ink and Tea on paper

Breaking Through, Ink and tea on paper 75cm x 56cm Ink and tea on paper

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.

The London Art Fair, The Wing Assignment, and other projects of distinction

So the London Art Fair is now over, a massive thank you to Opus Arts for supporting my work and showing the pieces at the London Art Fair – all wort represented at the fair (and more besides) are available from their website http://www.opus-art.com .

There was much expectation from Artists and galleries across the country at this year’s Fair, lots of great things on show and in my humble opinion some not so great things.  Galleries pushing boundaries and some playing it safe.  The Fair is always a good chance to see a lot of work in one space but that can also be it’s downfall – being bombarded with so many pieces in one room can sometimes give you a bit of a headache, however I really enjoyed the project space this year and discovered some exciting artists who opened my eyes to possible ways of working.  It’s good to feed on this visual bombardment and absorb new influences but visiting the fair just makes me want to return to the studio and push my work further.  Sometimes it can make you realise how far you have to go with your own body of work, it highlights things that you are missing from your own pieces and bodies of work but in a positive way.

Today I am working on a couple of projects and looking forward to some events in February which seem to have arrived far faster than I anticipated!!

The Wing Assignment

A good friend, Nina Farrell from KIAD (way back in 95!!), has put together a fantastic concept for an exhibition, using wings as an influence and starting point she has called upon various artists to produce images which will form part of an exhibition later this year.  I have decided to keep the same format I used for the Journey pieces and am currently exploring the theme of old nursery rhymes and superstition for the piece.  Here’s some work in progress images.

The Sketchbook Project

The fantastic Sketchbook project, which I became involved with last year is now touring the UK as well as many locations worldwide.  If you haven’t heard of this project already – you should look it up.  inspiringly ambitious, the project sent out over 28,000 books last year and exhibited just under 10,000 (artists!!) returned full sketchbooks as part of it’s tour in 2011.  I was really happy to have work in the touring exhibition which allows you to check out an artists sketchbook – library book style – from any number of it’s travelling locations.  This year’s book needs to be complete by the end of January.  The work I have produced for this year is based on the concept along the line, and has really been a therapeutic return to automatic and abstract drawing.  The type of work that you can really lose yourself in.  It’s tempting to just travel around with this little book soaking up the atmosphere of different places and allowing drawings to take shape.  I am looking to devote a couple of hours a day over the next week to complete the work but for now here is a sneak peek at some of the pages.

   

Postcards

Sending out packs of the new winter postcards which are available from Etsy.  These have been great fun to send – something about sending artwork through the post and making a parcel something really special to receive gives me a lot of joy. Over the last couple of days I have sent out about 15 packs and I am not sure if I can continue to manage a full drawing on each envelope but it’s fun so I find it hard to resist.  Plus the final action of sealing the envelope with a wax sealing stamp is just so satisfying.

Here’s a sample image of the cards and some of the envelopes but you can see plenty more over on my facebook page (I post them up just before sending)

Art For Heart’s Sake

A little reminder that I will be showing the work Margarita at a charity auction on February 9th. with the exhibition running from the 10th – 17th February 2012.Please do come along and support this great cause.  If you would like tickets to the event please RSVP hello@artforheartssake.co.uk

Debut Contemporary

Private View 1st february – It would be amazing if you could make it along for the Debut Contemporary Private View on the 1st Feb,  I will be showing some new works including the Tryptich ‘Immortal’ – to attend the evening please rsvp to rsvp@debutcontemporary.com or call 0207 221 1651

Some of the pieces on show …

Sold Works

2 original pieces were sold recently, Another Place, at debut contemporary and Swarm through Eyestorm. .. both below
Many thanks for the support of my work…

 

… I’m off to post envelopes – then to the studio!!

Happy mondays….

 

 

 

Journey by Carne Griffiths – Private view Invitation

If you would like to attend the private view of Journey on the 18th of November at Gallery 90 , please you send an email with your address details and I will be happy to send an invite for the show.

The exhibition will contain a selection of works made in the last year.

With best wishes

Carne Griffiths

Somewhere Else

Unusually a second post in the same day but I have been catching up with some work in the studio and am about to send this piece over to the Ben Oakley Gallery in Greenwich – hopefully tomorrow.  It is titled ‘Somewhere Else’ and is another piece that has derived from the violence of flowers series but as it is more contemplative – I don’t think it belongs with the others.

Today in the studio has been great – if I stay inside the sun shines – if I go outside for 5 minutes it lashes down with rain.. best stay inside for everyone’s sake! – hope you like the new work, something different about this one..

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