Capturing Clouds

Up above us drift masterpieces to marvel over - wisps of candy floss-like puffs that are actually thousands of tiny droplets of water. 

Clouds have long been studied - there's even an official society dedicated to their appreciation. However, Dutch artist Berndnaut Smilde brings fresh perspective to these floating anoamlies; by removing them from their natural environment and confining them within a series of unlikely places.

To see more of his awe-inspiring captured clouds, take a peek at the prints he's created over the last three years, right here.

The Secret Society - Sculptural Banquet by Kathy Dalwood

Kathy Dalwood's sculptures are reminiscent of a bygone era, mixed in with a bit of fantasy and with a dash of surrealism.  And in her latest exhibition, The Soane Suite at Pulzhanger Manor in Ealing is being transformed into a most unusual banquet - a banquet made entirely out of plaster.  

Here's a bit more about the Kathy Dalwood's upcoming exhibition:

This curious group is wearing extraordinary costumes that range from the stylish to the surreal, adorned with outrageous hats and unexpected accessories or unusual collars and cloaks. Their lavish dinner party has everything one could wish for – bowls of exotic fruit, magnificent multi-tiered cakes, decanters of wine and candelabra – only as with the guests all is immortalised in bright white plaster.
The Secret Society is the first solo exhibition of acclaimed London-based artist and designer Kathy Dalwood, and is the first time that her celebrated Plaster Bust collection has been shown in its entirety.

Following Sir John Soane's own liking for staging 'Gothic Banquets', Dalwood’s sculptural portrait busts reference sources ranging from Miss Havisham’s house to the Mad Hatter’s tea party, Marie Antoinette’s infamous soirées to classical bacchanalia, masked balls and Venetian carnivals. The mysterious associations are not stuck in the distant past however and also display the influence of the modernist avant garde and the world of extreme sculptural fashion.

Casting directly from real objects as diverse as model buildings, haberdashery and electrical components, these eclectic materials are sourced from  flea markets, model shops, fabric shops, hardware stores, charity shops and tourist souvenir stalls. Inventively combining and adapting these resources, Dalwood creates costumes, accessories, hairstyles and headgear that bring the tradition of the plaster bust into the 21st Century.

Speaking about the exhibition, Dalwood comments: “Pitzhanger Manor was designed for busts! There are niches, plinths and mantelpieces everywhere. But given that I perceive the busts as a group of strange, detached characters occupying their own world, I thought it would be interesting to stage an event for them, so I’m creating a bizarre banquet. […] I hope that visitors will be seduced by the expressive beauty of plaster as a material and that perhaps the busts will steer people’s interest towards figurative sculpture in general, of which there are so many – at times overlooked – diverse and captivating examples in the cities, parks, palaces, cathedrals and museums of the world.”

The Secret Society is curated by PM Gallery & House in association with Matt Price. The installation has been styled in collaboration with Karina Garrick. To celebrate the exhibition, a new plaster bust has been created,  inspired by the architecture of Sir John Soane and will be for sale along with other pieces from the collection.

From 19 April - 9 June
Pitzhanger Manor & PM Gallery
Walpole Park
Mattock Lane
Ealing
London W5 SEQ
www.kathydalwood.com

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Insect Attraction

A variety of themes are delved into to decorate the home, but if there’s one that pops up time and again, it’s the Natural World.

With a bounty of flora and fauna out there to inspire us, it’s little wonder really. Take for example teeny-tiny insects; while they do of course have a creepy crawly side, there’s also a curious beauty to them.

This is something that artist’s Rory Dobner, Roo Abrook and Matrushka know only too well; portraying the prettiness of bugs, beetles and bees in their decorative pieces that bring a little of the outside, in.

 

Things to do with feathers

Look at the beautiful feather picture we found. Isn't it a delight? We spotted it here and it's spurred a few ideas of things to do with loose feathers - the first one taking its inspiration from this very image...












1. Pick a frame that complements your choice of plumes and room - (they can be found, or bought from your closest haberdashers, whichever you prefer). Trap a trio of plumes between a sheet of quality card that's cut to fit your frame. Place the card inside the frame and trap it between the glass.A tiny dot of glue behind each feather will ensure they stay in place. 

2. From a collection of feathers, or those you've bought, try making your own wall art by gently placing them onto a freshly painted piece of stretched canvas. Playing with scale gives the best results. Finish with a thin layer of spray mount to fix your newly created masterpiece.

3. Embrace your inner artist and try your hand at a watercolour feather portrait! Tiny paintbrushes, delicate strokes, and the way that the colours bleed into each other mean that this medium lends itself perfectly to its subject.

4. Make gift tags by cutting out feather silhouettes in card and attaching them to brown string. Simple, yet ever so effective. 

Do let us know how you get on if you try something!

A world of words and wonder at Port Eliot Festival

Just as the big yellow thing in the sky came out, we set off to Port Eliot Festival in Cornwall. It's far from your run-of-the-mill festival - Port Eliot is a three day event that celebrates literature primarily, and acts as a platform for writers, speakers, and all manner of artists to showcase their work. Of course, there is music, and cabaret, too. 

We spent two nights camping in the lush green grounds - not too far from the stately home that was open to the public and hosted an exhibition of fashion designer Mary Katrantzou's dresses, one of which was inspired by the festival itself. 

Over the course of three days we strolled the estate, taking in the glorious views and exploring every inch we could, before taking a moment to watch the world go by as the sun welcomely shone on us. Here's a peek at what we got up to.

Fond of font

It’s no secret that Comic Sans is much frowned upon - ask any graphic designer and watch as their face recoils at the utterance of such 'swear words'. So what's considered an artful choice when it comes to font? 

We’ve been having a little look around and have fallen head-over-heels with the following fine examples of typography. 

We're big fans of the artist Rory Dobner's work (take a peek here and you'll see). This logo design he crafted portrays just how beautiful type can be. 

Yes, classic typewriter-style font may have been done-to-death, but add realistic inky blotch marks (and a home-truth quote) and you'll have us swooning. 

Helvetica

Clean, sharp and impactful this font doesn't mess about - possibly the reason it's so often chosen for brand logos.

What fonts are you a fan of?