Mayan Prophecy Collaboration

'Mayan Prophecy' is the title of digital artist Jonathan Ramirez's big show opening in May at the WAAS Gallery in Dallas, Texas. He'll be showing a new collection of work and among them are some collaboration pieces which myself and Swedish based artist Larsa Bonden have been working on with Jonathan.

I've been working digitally this time, with my trusty Wacom pen and tablet.

It's great to be working with Jonathan Ramirez again as we've already collaborated on five pieces of art back in August 2011, which were exhibited at Debut Contemporary Gallery in Notting Hill, London. It's also great to be part of his Mayan Prophecy with another artist I admire, Larsa Bonden who I featured here on my blog in February.

(Previous 2011 collaboration with J. Ramirez)

(Interview with Larsa Bonden)

(Interview with Jonathan Ramirez)

A Spot of Tea?

Over the last few months I've created a series of drawings, painted, stained and splattered with tea bags. These were first seen and displayed as part of a project I was involved in by an arts collective called The Fabelist, at their IMPRINT exhibition. (Read more about the project here and in my blog post)

I use not only the tea as pigment but also the tea bag to create playful and spontaneous splatters and drops that try and complement the clean line work of the drawing in pencil and pen.

I enjoy the hues the tea produces and mainly its staining properties giving a used and vintage feel to the work. I build layers of splats and drops, fusing the natural pigment of the tea further into the paper as if time has ravaged the work and the hues change and the stains take a life of their own as the results can never be certain but always unexpected.

A cultural ritual of sorts also as tea for us british is a much sought after pause from our daily lives, a moment to reflect, to breath, to talk over, to energize or unwind. These drawings hold ideas and emotions to ponder and reflect upon, based on the world around us and how it stains and permeates over time, just like thoughts and ideas which have an impact on our minds and hearts.

(Facebook photo album)

Neko, a photo by Carlos Martyn Burgos on Flickr.

Building Blocks, a photo by Carlos Martyn Burgos on Flickr.

It's Cold Outside, a photo by Carlos Martyn Burgos on Flickr.

Artist of the Month, March: Julia Volynets

March is here and with it we go to Belgium to meet the incredibly talented artist Julia Volynets as 'Artist of the Month'.

Julia Volynets

"Being creative for me means being alive"

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I am Julia Volynets, figurative artist specialized in etching, illustration, figurative painting and 3D-object.
I was born in Minsk, Belarus in 1976. My father is a painter and illustrator, my mother is an artist of tapestry .So I and my sister knew from our early childhood that art was our destination.
Art school, Art college, Academy of Fine Arts - I went through all these stages to my dream.
In 2002 I made the choice to follow my heart and moved to Belgium.
Since 2006 I am owner of ' KUNSTATELIER JULIA VOLYNETS' based in Sint-Niklaas/ Belgium and specializing in interior decorations.
Outside of my job I am busy daily with my creative work : painting, graphic, 3D-objects.

How would you describe your work?

My paintings are about the inner and external human beauty, emotions and moods.
I like to 'dissolve' the human silhouette in light of shadow so unimportant details are faded. I use the subtle colors, symbolic silhouettes,constructive compositions and an emotional atmosphere filled with philosophical reflection about an abstract personage and his perception of the world.
My 3D-objects I make in a playful way. I am excited by simple things like black-white rythms on convex shapes. My project MIMICRY is about the Highly Sensitive Persons which prefer to stay impersonal and fade in to the background.

What does being creative mean to you?

Being creative for me means being alive.

What inspires or motivates you?

Inspiration is everywhere : in animate and inanimate nature, in scents and sounds, in people and animals. Ideas are coming into your mind and heart through all of your six senses. You have only to select and personalize it.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Music is one of my biggest sources of inspiration. I am listening to a lot of different things: old rock bands, classical, ethnic music, ambient. But sometimes I need silence to concentrate.

Find more of Julia's work on her website and follow her on Facebook:

Broken Doll 

Dilemma

Metamorphosys

Mimicry - Night

The Funky Art Exhibition

If you're in Oxford or fancy a day out this month, then pop along to The Funky Art Exhibition at The Jam Factory, where I'll be showing five of my paintings alongside work by fourteen other talented artists including my good friend Darren MacPherson.

The collaborative exhibition will showcase original and contemporary work by artists from the UK, Netherlands, Switzerland and Spain.

Exclusive opening event: Wednesday 7th March from 6pm - 10pm

Exhibition duration: 5th March - 2nd April 2012

The Jam Factory (opposite Oxford train station)

27 Park End Street

Oxford OX1 1HU

On speaking about the online gallery, founder Joelle Dinnage writes

"I choose the name The Funky Art Gallery as we are showcasing art that is urban & contemporary. We sell original funky art that is bold in colours, urban and sometimes provocative - our art stands out!”

SHADOW - 50cm X 123cm - oil on wood

Enquiries: 

Email info@thefunkyartgallery.com or call Joelle Dinnage on +44(0)7825443925

Showcasing Artists are:

Paul Jordan (UK)

Darren MacPherson (UK)

Marco Bieri (Switzerland)

HmmmBates (UK)

Natal Vallvé Bertran (Spain)

Melanie Phelan (UK)

Pia Vang (The Netherlands)

Katie Norton (UK)

Carlos Martyn Burgos (UK)

Bali Sangha-Jenkins (UK) 

Yuri Nagelkerke (The Netherlands)

Julia Everett (UK)

Milly J (UK)

Jewel (The Netherlands)

The Funky Art Gallery (Link)

The Jam Factory (Link)