Still working on small textile collages.
I found an old army blanket from my childhood and couldn’t resist it’s raggedy worn, loveliness and further rusted it. Leaving it in the elements outside for a few weeks.
It can take ages moving pieces around to get the right composition.
then sometimes it just happens straight away.
Adding more marks…
The good thing about using a stretched canvas as a base, I can stitch right into it.
Just like using a embroidery hoop.
I am a visual artist who works with a range of mediums and my process varies.
I use which ever vehicle helps me to express my ideas. Each work informs the other and leads onto the next idea.
The collages I’m working on at the moment are a follow on from my hand sewn fabric pieces and with more experiments I can see 3d objects creeping in
The process of transformation. Time, change, erosion and decay are qualities I like to celebrate. I examine and explore, the properties and possibilities, of my material and want to push the boundaries of something to get a deeper understanding.
In my latest project, I’m working with textiles over a 100 years old. I want to work with the worn and deteriorated textiles and collaborate alongside those, who in the past, so carefully stitched, mended and created, the pieces for comfort and warmth.
Each piece was once, carefully hand -stitched and now, breaking down and worn. I have very selectivity pulled apart and unpicked areas, and kept some intact.
Some areas of fabric, are so badly worn it breaks in my hands, so I have to reinforce it. Most pieces though are just left in their original state.
I then, like to push the process further with, natural & rust dying methods, mark making, hand stitching and painting with caste iron, botanical paints.
Numerous times, I expose the materials to the elements to experience the changes.
Getting to the essence of my material helps me to translate and describe its being. I rarely know the outcome of my projects and just go with the flow.
Wanting to know how to rust – dye? Please see my free rust – dyeing tutorial
100 yr old cotton textile fragments, vintage found objects, oil pigments,vintage card, linen thread, linen cloth.
The pieces of cloth are extremely fragile so each piece
needs to be reinforced and sealed and stitched into very carefully
before being attached to book board.
Sometimes, when I’m stuck for ideas making artwork and it’s just not happening, I like to throw a heap of things together and arrange them near my work.
The items, may relate in colour, texture and type or be opposing which, I find much more exciting. Your brain will automatically try to come up with solutions. Expanding your ideas and creating new ones.
The flow on of ideas is sometimes amazing. It can lead to, resolving the artwork in front of you, as well as, give you ideas for a whole new body of work.
Juxtaposition and connections of items together seems to work for me.
I believe there is a creative force that is connected to everything we do.
Mixed- Media Collage on Vintage Book Pages
3 abstract artworks
Size: Each artwork
Artwork 7.5″ x 5.5″ – 19 x 14cm
Size: with matt, 10″ x 8″ – 26 x 20cm.
Year 2016
“No Goodbye”
Mixed media collage. Found book paper, archive grey matt, thread on vintage book pages (Unframed)
“Indigo”
( Artwork is matted ready to frame)
“Air Attacks”
Signed and dated on the back.
New Paintings, sculpture and more available in the Gallery Some are already framed others are ready to hang with all hardware attached. Shipping included in the price!
I am influenced by abandoned and derelict spaces, vacant industrial sites, structures, old walls & graffiti. The paintings below are about the connections and contrasts of imperfections, found in the urban environment, highlighting, insignificant marks, weathered surfaces.
Wallmatter 13
Wallmatter 17
Wallmatter 14
Wallmatter 16
Wallmatter 12
Small Abstract Oil Paintings. Still & Interruption.
I spent a lot of time trying to get the surface just right, on these 3 paintings, as I wanted each piece to stand on its own, as well as, together as a whole. I also wanted to convey a feeling of stillness. A space to sit awhile.
The 3 below have colour and movement. I feel they are not yet resolved and will probably work back in with more layers.
I’m enjoying, the smaller scale paintings at the moment, especially after all the large ones I did over the past year for my “Wallmatter” exhibition.
Its a whole different way of working. Large paintings have huge sweeping strokes, where the whole body is involved. Smaller artworks allow me to come in close and are not so hard on my body. I can work longer on them, without too much pain to my back and neck.
Digital Collage and Photoshop.
When making my art, I rarely follow rules. Not knowing, techniques, materials and technology, doesn’t bother me and can be a blessing. It gives me more freedom to play around and discover things, that wouldn’t otherwise, be found.
A few images of recent experiments in Photoshop and other programs using my own artworks.
Do you always follow the rules when creating?
Bluethumb Melbourne, Article.
Many thanks to Bek at Bluethumb in Melbourne, for the recent feature article about my exhibition, Wallmatter.
Wallmatter Exhibition update! In addition to the recent Bluethumb article, I was recently interviewed to be included in a book project about female artist’s for release next year. More details on that coming soon!
Wallmatter Exhibition Photos – Jenny Davis – 2016
A huge thank you to everybody who attended the opening of my new exhibition Wallmatter last Saturday. A special thank you to all the people who helped me pull it altogether and make it a special day. I feel so blessed and encouraged with all the support shown for my artwork and the new friendships I made.
Wallmatter continues until Tuesday August 16th at The Memo, Healesville Victoria. Free Entry. All artworks are for sale.
A few photos I took the next day as I forgot my camera on opening night.
An installation of paint, concrete, rust and
textiles, inspired by imperfections and
weathered surfaces, linking to the abandoned
and neglected spaces found in urban and rural
environments.
“Surfaces and objects touched by time tell a
story and are a raw reflection of their environment.
I want to highlight the significance of a random
mark, or the crumbling texture of a wall in an
underground space. They are evidence to a
previous time in history. My abstractions are
investigations into marks and traces left behind
in the urban and rural environment.”
– Jenny Davis, Artist
Crut. New Paintings. Cradled Boards.
3 new paintings, well, it’s actually one painting, a triptych, I did for a recent art prize. Each painting was made with acrylic paint and small areas of oil paint on birch cradled boards.
I love using boards for painting. The surface is much more forgiving than canvas. Perfect for the spontaneous, mark-making and material layering I tend to do. I can scratch, sand, scrape back, engrave and it won’t tear, or break like canvas.
If I could get larger cradled boards and still be able to lift them, I would be very happy. The size of these boards are 50 x 50cm. each. Overall size 150cm. x 50cm.
About Crut
Communication to the masses. Text in the environment can mark territory, give control and can validate those, who don’t have a voice in the mainstream order. Through mark-making in the environment everybody can be heard. I see beauty and at times, desperation in the messages, found in the streets, and in the abandoned, underground and derelict spaces. Layers of tagging, graffiti and found marks on weathered surfaces tell stories about the past, present and future. Aesthetically they can be beautiful, even though they may have been painted illicitly on a wall, or other surface’s. My abstractions are investigations into, marks, traces and messages, left behind, in the urban and rural environment.
As mentioned in my previous post, here are some photographs from my published article in “Sew Somerset Summer 2016” magazine on, how to make your own mixed media collage’s, from vintage, Pulp Fiction paperback books or, any other damaged books.
I love reclaiming and re-using, old tattered books that would otherwise, be tossed in the garbage giving them a new life and a new meaning. Instead of them being destroyed and forgotten.
I collect discarded objects and litter from the streets, along with items people would otherwise throw away and use them in my art and installation work. I physically dismantle my collected items, and then reassemble them, with the intention to reconstruct its purpose, from its earlier meaning and appearance.
My artworks are little mixed-media collage’s, created from, vintage “Pulp Fiction” book pages, old linen cloth, thread, paint, coloured pencils and ink.
As a thank you to all my readers Use Coupon Code PUBL0616 for a 50% discount on this magazine when you checkout at Stampington.com, and buy four (4) or more copies of the title. Click on image below!
Experimental Painting. Industrial Materials and Methods.
Its been almost a year since I started this group of paintings using traditional, non traditional, industrial, materials and processes. There are 20 paintings altogether.
After several months of research and practical experiments, I finally discovered how to make my textural, gritty surfaces, stable and permanent for a flexible base.
I’m not sure where I’ve heard this, but fully believe in this saying,
“Just turn up and the work will show itself”
Today, I headed to the studio and let go of all the pressure, I had been putting on myself for weeks, about starting new work for my next exhibition.
I sat for awhile without any expectations, trying to connect to something.
I then started playing around with materials, I hadn’t used since art school
and after finding some leftover weathered metal from my welding days
my ideas eventually came together.
By just letting go and believing in the creative process
I now, have a better idea of where I’m heading with my project
and some of the materials I will be using.
Heat Bush Fire Painting
After 3 days of sweltering heat and bush fires nearby it’s time to relax and do some mark-making on big sheets of paper
using dyes
ink and pen
with hand painted papers
Bring some art into your life!
Yellow Square. Jenny Davis 2015
Art can help us to make sense of the world and broaden our experience and understanding.
11 + 89. Jenny Davis 1998
It allows us to develop new ways of thinking and expressing what might not be understood through the printed or spoken word alone
Letters from the border 1. Jenny Davis 2006
Art not only helps strengthen our critical thinking skills, but improves the way we communicate our thoughts and emotions to others
Terras Tower. Jenny Davis 2015
It is free expression of human mind and senses
Wallmatter Series. Jenny Davis 2015
Bring some art into your life!
Limited Edition Fine Art Prints – Jenny Davis
Paper Cartel recently curated a selection of my artworks to sell to a global audience as Limited Edition Fine Art Prints on archival paper. Express shipping is also available, worldwide, for just $19! with custom framing available on any print.
About the Print & Paper
Permanent light-fast inks are printed into Fine Art Paper, which is a 100% cotton heavyweight paper that is engineered to give you the highest resolution and colour saturation possible in an art print that will not fade or degenerate over time. The paper is Moab Entrada Natural, A Cotton Rag Art Paper, 290. It is an award-winning art paper made of 100% cotton and is the choice of fine artists worldwide.
Browse more of my colourful abstract art in the online print gallery.
Experimentation & New Free Tutorials Page.
My blog updates have been scarce lately, as, Ive been studying a couple of arts business and creative courses. This week I created a new “Free Tutorials” page, where I share some of my favorite, creative ideas and things to do.
I’ve also, been experimenting with shellac and acrylic paints in the studio
and plan to create some textile and sculpture pieces too.
After working on many creative projects and group exhibitions, here and overseas, the past couple of years
I really think it’s time, to get back into a gallery and start exhibiting again in 2016.
So, I’m looking for suitable spaces in Melbourne or Sydney, that aren’t too expensive.
My favourite thing to make, at Free Tutorials is my large studio easel. I created it when I built my studio in 2000. I wanted something big, so I could work on many paintings at once. It’s a bit slap happy, (I’m no carpenter) but, works perfectly for me.
