Melbourne days…

Well, after the best part of a year, i have finally been inspired to share some of my work again…along with the small details that inspire it.

Amidst the pressures of doing my Master of art therapy in Melbourne, i have continued to potter, play and produce small experiments with objects and textiles. Here they are……

 

Last night i finally completed a small copper vessel inspired by my trip to India early last year.

Copper vessel: hand-rasied, enamel paint, cotton, glass beads.

Interior view. Dimensions approx 6cm x 8cm.

The yellow beads were bought from this street stall in Varanasi

Prayer bead stall, Varanasi, India.

While the vessel was inspired by the remnants of river-side rituals:

Varanasi, Hindu ritual by the Ganges.

My first winter  in Melbourne is coming to a close, though it has been beautiful…

 

 

…and the proof of springs promise can be found in the stunning magnolia blooms opening on trees around my neighbourhood…

(these are the interior of magnolias i walked past this morning….)

Over the winter i completed a queen-size patchwork quilt, made mostly of old tea-towels and pieces of sentimental fabric. It is all hand stitched onto an old woolen blanket. the photo isn’t the best quality…..i’ve discovered that quilts are difficult to capture compared to tiny jewellery pieces. Stitching a quilt is a very good way to stay cosy in Winter!

Patchwork Quilt.

I’ve also been experimenting with small works on unframed canvas…

ink, cotton, wool, watercolour, graphite and charcoal on canvas.

 

ink, cotton, watercolour, graphite and charcoal on canvas.

ink, cotton, wool, watercolour, acrylic paint, graphite and charcoal on canvas.

……And earlier in the year i took my fabric twigs and turned them into a persimmon tree…

Cotton, paper, riverstone, artist's hair. Dimensions approx 25cmx25cm

Mostly, though, i’ve been playing with collages of images around me, and making small gestures of brooches, mittens and beanies for friends….

I hope to spend more time out in the sunshine, capturing my surrounds and making work inspired by this wonderful city in the months ahead…..studying is wonderful, but it cannot compare to the pleasure of making…….