Back From France

I have been away from my blog not just to stitch but to fit in a much needed holiday.
My travels took me to where many artists have been inspired by the dazzling, intense light of the Cote d'Azur.
In Antibes I spent the afternoon in the Picasso Museum, with a wonderful range of art works, not just by Picasso.
These included the distinctive figures of Germaine Richier which stood against a dramatic back drop of sky and sea.
Other artists to see were Miro, Max Ernst, Niki de Saint Phalle, Tapies and many others.
There were many inspiring works by Picasso in the vast range of mediums this creative man used.
On one wall many of Picasso's hand painted plates were displayed in box frames, each an individual work of art and collectively an amazing decorative display.
In the corridors connecting the galleries were interesting photograph's of Picasso at work in his home studio.

Another day took me to the Medieval town Vence where I came across a tree made famous by the painter Chaim Soutine  you can see his painting Tree Of Vence here.
This town has many small, interesting, private galleries and it is also famous for the chapelle du Rosaire designed by Matisse.
When I was not sight seeing I spent my time sketching, this view is through two trees over looking the sea from Jean- Cap- Ferrat.

I'm now back to working towards my exhibition in December and continue to stitch my vast landscapes.

Wishing you a Happy Easter and I will be back soon with more stitching!

Michala

Thread Visions

The Landscapes are growing, not in quantity but in size.
I have been working on this one for months, it has engulfed me both physically and mentally.
Last weekend I did manage a few days away staying with my sister and enjoyed an evening at The Royal Albert Hall.
We saw the opera Madame Butterfly, which was extremely beautiful and moving.

This week I will continue working on the piece above and also another larger textile wall hanging.

Tears In The Forest

I'm still here amongst my piles of threads, busy stitching my dreams and memories.
Here is a sketch that I'm working on at the moment and this is leading to many other ideas in my sketch book.
I have the half term break this week so it's a good opportunity for me to catch up with my blog reading and to really focus on my work.
There is always so much to do!

Exhibitions And Stitches

It's been a while since I have updated my blog due to the amount of stitching I have been immersed in.
I'm working on a whole blanket, my landscape engulfing me as if I am part of it!
My stitching becomes more intense as I work over the larger areas of tree tops, the light more dramatic, the colours more vivid.
I will show this larger work at the exhibition, the picture above is of my miniature landscapes which, I think, are like my stepping stones to the vast pieces I am working on at present.

A couple of weeks ago I met Richard Elms who interviewed me about my work for The Herbert Art Gallery Podcast Boiler Room series.
You can here a snippet of my interview  here http://www.theherbert.org/index.php/home/podcasts, it's episode three and I'm half way through the programme.
The rest of my interview will be on their website nearer the time of my exhibition.
Talking of exhibitions there are many interesting ones to visit this year at The Herbert, do check out their website, at the moment they have a costume exhibition which you could get involved with, see here http://www.flickr.com/groups/herbert_dressed_up/
They are asking you to contribute photo's of your very best outfits and the best ones will be included in the exhibition!
I'm looking forward to visiting many exhibition this year including one in the Summer at Compton Verney, a historical house and gardens which is now an art gallery.
The exhibition is Stanley Spencer and the English garden and looks at Spencer's lesser known garden views and landscapes painted before and just after the second world war.
I know that this exhibition will be inspiring.

A New Year!

This is a selection of my art work from last year, a year which looking back has been exceptionally creative for me.
Some of these including many new pieces will be on show at the end of this year at The Herbert Art Gallery in Coventry.
I have recorded a pod cast interview about my work at the gallery, so before the exhibition you will be able to hear me talking about how important my art work is to me and my life.
There maybe a small snippet of it next week which I will link on my blog!

This is going to be a very busy year for me as I continue to develop my art work.
Having the opportunity to share my work with a gallery audience has taken me on a new exciting journey, working on much larger pieces, which has been challenging and liberating.
My landscape, feelings and dreams, anything I want it to be.

Wishing You A Merry Christmas

Our Snow arrived on Wednesday and within about an hour we had about 20cm of snow!
Unfortunately our boiler decided to pack up at the same time!!
I rushed out or shall I say trudged out, in all the snow, to get a couple of heaters and several hot water bottles.
It seems a lot of boilers have suffered in this cold spell and the earliest date we could get someone to look at it was the 29th of December.
So the last few days we have been wearing hats, coats and scarfs indoors with hot water bottles stuffed up our jumpers!
Then yesterday my husband continued to try and fix it and miraculously it worked, although we are not sure for how long.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year without travel disruptions or boilers breaking down.
M x

Winter Wonderland

Hawthorn Frost

Hello,
We had the most amazing frosts last week and these few pictures are from our garden.
I wished I had been able to walk through Abbey Fields our local park, as the trees were exceptionally beautiful, a Winter wonderland which I could only glimpse at on my way to work.
Trees covered in frozen tears, sparkling like diamonds against the bluest sky I had ever seen.

I have many stitched pieces I am working on and I am holding back in showing you as I want some surprises for my exhibition next year.
Next week I am going to The Herbert Art Gallery to record a pod cast interview about my work which at some point I hope to share with you here.
I must now get back to my stitching , have a good week and wrap up warm as that cold weather is on it's way back!
Michala x