Artists Block

I really enjoy creating papercut images, my noggin contains endless variations of images to reproduce in papercut format, but give me a commission and I'm stumped. I get papercutters block, I'm stumped, stupefied and stilted. There is something about working to brief that I find terribly tough... the pressure, the expectation, knowing that someone else other than me has to like it. Eeek!

I have often thought about being a storybook illustrator but I don't think I would be much chop... unless of course the images came first and then the story!
I have been faced with this dilemma a couple of times this year, having to generate designs for the signal box and just this week to come up with some ideas for a local project of a pop-up shop. I had a play with a couple of designs for their promo and eventually began to loosen up and have fun. I'm crossing fingers they are liked, which is your fave?

X Steph

Flower love.

I adore flowers. As well as enjoying nurturing our pretty garden here at Red Brick I love having fresh flowers in the gallery so you can imagine how delighted I was when a talented lady we know asked if she could provide a floral display for us!
Rachael is an accomplished artist who as well as exhibiting has made a beautiful picture book. Recently Rachael began working at a local florist and has fallen in love with flora... I, in turn, have fallen in love with her floral creations which, just like her drawing style are beautifully classic and elegantly simple.

 Over cups of tea and candle-light (very romantic I know!) Rachel and I had a really fun consultation session where we discussed colours, textures and light. Knowing our passion for window displays Rachael suggested building a window installation.

Taking the brief of  'feminine, ephemeral and un-fussy' I couldn't be happier with how well Rachel used simple elements to create strong shapes alongside pretty blooms and textures.

 I LOVE what she created for us! Rachael is working at Stems florist in Ballarat... tell her we said hi!

Insta-awesome!

 One of my fave things about blogging has always been looking at other bloggers beautiful photos and I have recently discovered some of my favourite bloggers also sharing their images an ap called 'Instagram'.
I am a recent convert to the Iphone revolution and I am having a serious love affair with Instagram... You can follow my feed via my username... theredbrick
Here is a peek of some of my recent images...

For me, the most wonderful thing about Instagram is that its so... instant! I can snap a pic, put over a cool, retro filter, adjust the focus and upload to my live feed in a moment. Being such a visual person I love it. I shall be posting my weeks fave pics here from now on. What's your fave ap?!

x Steph

Worth a read

There is not much more to say except a simple... read this blog :)http://contemporaryhandmadealliance.blogspot.com/

I spent hours reading through this site, it's interesting and useful and relevant... a rare combination!
It brings together the business and creative world, which is so wonderful to see because I really believe they can co-exist and benefit every artist and crafter out there.

- Marce

Winner!

Well done Ms Sophie, You are the first with a correct answer! Send me an email to hello@redbrickgallery.com.au with your address and I shall pop your goodies in the post quick-smart!

 So I promised more on the beautiful work of Louisa West, well here it is. Entitled 'A Brief Interlude'
'Louisa West's current body of work is centered upon the alluring ambiguity of the face.  Her interest in Portraiture has derived from a fascination with its ever-changing purpose in the context Art history over a significant period of time.  Processes used are inspired by Old Masters such as Rembrandt and Caravaggio, their bold contrasts coupled by obsessions with light. More recently, West has developed an interest in narrative sequences, which aim to capture fleeting moments that may ordinarily pass us by. 

 The works invite the viewer to look into the voids of light and dark, whilst still keeping the mark making visible to viewer.  This allows a sense of time passing in a deceased moment.  'A portrait is always a deceased moment, it is gone but remains.' 

Aren't they just beautiful!? As well as this current body of work, Louisa also has for sale a range of prints and cards of her sweet illustrations 'Bluebell". Available to purchase in store, I am so in love with these!