Flirting with Feminism

Inappropriate choice of words?

Well I'm becoming more interested in feminism. It all started when I read "Women on Top" by Nancy Friday, as it says on the back "Guru to a generation of feminists" (Thank you Daily Mail). I did go through a phase of being obsessed with femininity or whatever at the start of the year, there was Poetry and everything! Feeling a proper grown up, a woman. Yes its taken me 23 years to settle into it, but better late than never.

There is so much moaning goes on about being a woman and how much crap we have to put up with but I'm at the silver-lining of that angst cloud right now.

Now I get what the Guerilla Girls are saying about abundant naked ladies. But isn't that the closest we get to Heaven on Earth? Women are beautiful, fascinating, muti-faceted, perfect .. and if ever any subject demanded such artistic inspiration and investigation surely it is she. So why not more women artists (in galleries)? By the same logic, don't we have anything to say worth listening to? Are we to be aesthetically admired but not understood?

Another problem I'm having is with the violent clash between the flirtatious,
vivacious, bombshell (baby!) against the practical, astute, in-control woman. And never the twain shall meet. I realised I was getting into feminism at the same time as those great vintage pin-up posters. And felt slightly guilty about it..

I hate that whole thing that women cannot be both alluring, sexually devastating yet not be taken seriously- as artists, as writers, by men, by other women? Can feminists flirt? So I'm into exploring the psyche of the pin-up right now and am working on a few ideas.

The final word here to "The Sun" newspaper, that great British institution who have a rather unique approach to the juxtaposition problem. I can't help but think they're spoiling us actually. Not only does their page 3 girl shows us her lovely bosoms each day but also has her own caption box to comment on the political issue of the day. Nice.

Jewellery; but not mine

I've also started buying some jewellery for myself recently (I don't usually wear it). Here are some of my recent purchases.

I'm loving rockabilly, pin-up type designs.

I'm totally in love with the tattoo art designs of Kathy at Swallow Kisses on Etsy.

So I'm inspired to inject my new found interest in younger more unusual jewellery to my usual jewellery making.

So I might actualy make some new things for myself - why didn't I think of that before?!

Jewellery; Still

Every now and again people ask me if I still make jewellery. I kind of neglect putting any on here nowadays. However I was recently asked to put together a special collection for a pink and black themed summer ball.

Here are a few pieces I made:

An Exhibition

I took part in an exhibition called "Heaven on Earth" in Huddersfield a few weeks ago.

I exhibited my paintings Grief, Dream Landscape and Crucifixion. It was a great show and I'm really pleased I took part. It was terrific to have people respond to paintings I'd made (particularly Grief!) and want to talk about them.

It was also a great opportunity for me to meet other local artists and see their works. I'd love to get more involved with my local art scene and am going to keep an eye out for more opportunities like this.

A Brillante Award

Thank you Pattie blogging Queen, and my eternal artistic inspiration, for this new blog award.

The rules of accepting are as follows:

1) Put the logo on your blog.
2) Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4) Add links to those blogs on yours.
5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Here are my favourites:

Jessica Stride

Niki Kelce

Peggi Habets

Carra

Carol Huddleston

iTkUpiLLi

Radha Ramachandran

58 days Later ..

Yes I did just count.

For the purpose of this post, imagine me looking slightly guilty and embarrassed. I haven't written on here for two months - eek!

I have actually been working this week on a painting about why I haven't been blogging (!) -above- if you believe that. Its part of my master plan to take procrastination to a whole new level.

Its mainly arty reasons which have kept me very busy. I've been to London a couple of times to visit the galleries again. (I really like London, so much so I've decided to live there! But that's another story...)

So its going to take me a couple of posts to get up to date here and a while to catch up at Inspire Me Thursday.

Missed you all

L x

Painting Music

You know how people ask if you could have written any album then which would it have been? Well for me the answer is the debut album by Kasabian.

I can so appreciate the creative innovation and expertise in this music in the same way I can in a Caravaggio painting. Absolute perfection in composition - multi-layered genius.

Although not from this album, look no further than the song "The Doberman" for a composition both majestic and ingeniously subtle.

Yes okay, I am being slightly OTT but for me this album was huge. I have never really got into music or found anything to get passionate about until now. Also with this album, I realised that I perceive so much of life in a vision of colours. Smells, taste, sounds - seeing music as layers of vivid colours and shapes.

So I set about painting the album and here it is:

Club Foot

Processed Beats

Reason Is Treason
I.D.
Orange
L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)

Running Battle
Test Transmission
Pinch Roller
Cutt Off

Butcher Blues
Ovary Stripe

P.S. You may think this the ramblings of a synaesthetic freak but that's what blogs are for right? Besides I felt the only way to really come back from a long blog-drought was with a totally impractical and incomprehensible mammoth post.