The Sparrow Song album artwork Post 78*

A good friend of mine from band The Sparrow Song requested for some artwork for their album launch this week, so here it is.

The artwork will be on show this week in a reconditioned factory in Northampton. On the night there will be all artwork from the forthcoming album and an exclusive preview of the bands brilliant debut LP.

See here for more details http://www.facebook.com/oliver.caple#!/events/320764654607960/

Here's some images taken from one of the bands previous shows in Northampton.

New work 'Cut Treasure' Post 76*

 

Here's a brand new piece of sculpture made to be shown and sold at the upcoming show at The Alekano Gallery in Bethnal Green!

If you want any more information on the show just have a look here: 

www.alekanogallery.com

The Alekano Club Exhibition Post 75*

the 
Chaos & Order
show
     6th-13th October   

Next week is the opening for the Chaos & Order show at the Alekano Club & Gallery in East London. I have been working solidly on a brand new sculpture made from Melanex & second hand record sleeves. I am really excited about showing some new work to a new crowd, and to meet up with some old friends from Bournemouth Arts Institute.

The artists showing work are:


The Krah
Otto Schade

Cunni

Yulia Bakhtiozina
ColourKid

Thomas Dowdeswell
Thomas Mitchell

Benjamin Eagle

Robert Holmquist

John Clair

Karl Anthoney

Johnny Costi

Red Pig Flower

Louisa Meets The Karma

Hope to see you all there!

Romani pattern design for new work Post 74*

I have been thinking more about the new piece of work I want to make (see previous posts for more info), and have been designing motifs and drawings to add to the surface of the fabric / paper sculpture.

I want the motifs to be simple, line paintings in a lucid colour - maybe pink or orange. The motifs will use imagery from Romani culture - Cart wheels, horse shoes, plants, cast iron kettles. I want the motifs to accompany the naturalistic colours and imagery I will be creating the collage from, but to also add a striking contrast and depth to the work - In another sense I suppose this addition of graphics to the work has elements of graffiti in it. I like the idea of adding to an existing surface and making sure what is added grabs as much attention if not more than the surface it is painted on.

Making fabric a solid object post 73*

For my next wall hanging I intend on creating a surface to collage onto by stiffening a piece of fabric to a point where it is self supporting. I have done some research and have decided upon fibreglass resin as the hardening medium, as I really don't think PVA or any other water based mediums will give the tensile strength needed to keep the fabric rigid.

Once I have hardened the fabric, I will apply thousands of hand shredded strips (using my hand shredder found in a Charity shop for 99p) Full of imagery relating to my Romani anscestory. The imagery will be a construction rich with visuals sourced from books, featuring both factual and fictional elements to Romani history.

Patchwork and wall hangings Post 72*

I have been looking at a lot of work at the moment, trying to find work and techniques that I find interesting (see below and previous post for examples)Moving forward I really want to make more wall hangings, firstly because I found the experience of both constructing and exhibiting Shoot (See Below) earlier in the year in Hoxton very fulfilling. I like the development of a surface and the intricacies that can be constructed with such basic materials- fabric, paper, glue.

I like having this paper and fabric as a starting point or medium seems really natural to me, and most of my favourite work has been made in this intuitive fashion. The work reveals itself through the process of creating shape and texture on a surface.

Erin Wilson

chaos #5, 63″ x 63″, 2005

chun kwang young Post 71*

Islington Exhibits sound work and book collage Post 70*

Edited Record Sleeves Post 69*

....................................................................................

So as a follow up to both my previous post about making some one off altered record sleeves, and the mentione of the Cally Festival heres the fruits of my labour from Sunday while everyone else was making book covers!

The Cally Festival Workshop Post 68*

After my relaxing Saturday eating and drinking and watching bands at Jamie Oliver's Big Feastival on Sunday I held a workshop at a great little event called The Cally Festival.

I met one of their Market managers at the Mayton Street Festival, so was offered a free table to hold collage wokshops all day! Heres some images from the day:

For the day I was based in one of the craft tents between Meet People. Make Stuff and one half of The London part of The Matey Institute.

I got talking to Becca who is part of The Matey Institute and their one hour play concept is something I would love to go and watch in action. See more here: www.theatrewhileyouwait.wordpress.com/the-mateys/

Jamie Olivers Big Feastival Signwriting Post 67*

For the last couple of weeks I have been working on the signage for the different tented areas throughout Jamie Oliver's Big Feastival.

I was commissioned by The Festival Designer Jodie Gardner to put together some hand painted signs to be attached to trellised pagodas at the tent entrances for The WI Tent, The Little Dudes Den and The Kitchen Garden.

I also went along to site for a day to help set up the pagoda's and plant the structures throughout the day. I am really satisfied with the result, and it was great to go along on Saturday to see the signs in use during the festival and to catch the Charlatans at the end of the night!

We Did This & Islington Exhibits Crowdfunding Post 66*

Tomorrow evening I am holding another Joe Orton inspired workshop for an event to kick off the crowdfunding bid for Rowan Arts through the group We Did This.

The workshop will be taking place at The Idea Generation Gallery from around 6 O'clock, and will feature me collaborating with visitors to the event. The night is all held to seek funding for the Rowan Arts and Islington Exhibits residency programme which I am currently undertaking (more details on the residency are available on previous posts)

From the night anyone can donate money to the project, and in return they will receive artist gifts and experiences.

If you donate £10.00 you can enjoy a drink with the Islington Exhibits artists group, for £30.00 you will receive a one off book collage by me, and for £100.00 you will receive a one off paper and fabric wall hanging also made by me!


http://wedidthis.org.uk/projects/fund-artist-residencies-islington-exhibits

Altered Record Sleeves Post 65*

After yesterdays talk of changing record sleeves, I have scoured through Google images to see what I can dig up on existing record sleeves. I remember seeing an article last year in The Wire showing the tip top of altered record sleeves, but I have compiled my own little catalogue.

I found the majority of these here http://www.defacevalue.com/ which features tons of found and intentionally altered bits of record sleeve art! This Tumblr powered site where users constantly update the site with new bits of record sleeve artwork.

I have also read about a book from 1996 called Discographisme Récréatif [Homemade Record Sleeves] which features unique record sleeves found in flea markets, some of the below images are cut from their site.

The Cally Festival Post 64*

So after holding a workshop table for the Mayton Street Festival with Rowan Arts and The Holloway Neighbourhood Group, I got talking to the market manager of The Cally Festival on the 3rd July.

Anya mentioned she was looking for some artists workshops and of course I said I would do it!

I am thinking of working on something similar to the workshops I produced for Mayton Street, but think those workshops should be kept for Holloway only, as the Joe Orton project doesn't make as much sense down Caledonian Road...

Instead I intend on making some one-off vinyl record sleeves, influenced by the collage aspects of my previous workshops. I was looking through my record collection and was struck by a record I bought ashamedly more for the sleeve (I do like Elvis Costello mind) than the record it contains, but this is surely part of the attraction of vinyl; the imagery seems to marry to the music so well...

 

Sleeve art of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Armed Forces

I may even take along my record player and listen to the record while I alter its cover to get some ideas going.

I will also be making some unique sketchbook and writing book covers, building up images and making plain textbooks slightly more intriguing to look at.

-----------------------------------------

Both the record sleeves and textbooks will be on show during the 3rd July, but more importantly they will all be for sale, with all proceeds going to a local charity!

More Details on The Cally Festival can be seen here www.thecallyfestival.com

Mayton Street Festival Book Collage Post 63*

Heres some images from a workshop I held at the Mayton Street Festival, which is part of the 10 day long Holloway Arts Festival in North London.

We had a great day, meeting lots of really interesting familes and Holloway locals and other visitors to the festival. It was a slow start but by the end of the day we had some really great groups making some really unique altered publications.

I will be posting images of the publications made today as soon as I have the images!

All of the publications will be one show towards the end of July as part of Islington Exhibits, all details are below: