New Show!

I’ve always admired those artists who can keep a regular blog. I, on the other hand find it hard at times to write – Maybe it’s because of the solitary lifestyle of the artist or maybe it’s laziness or not having anything to say.

I suppose my 3 month hiatus includes all of the above and more!

2011 is looking to be busy (but not yet busy enough to give up the day job!) I have my first major overseas exposure in Japan, which is exciting while my Taipei show will include children and adult workshops.

Taipei Tales,

ARC, Taipei, Taiwan

April 2^nd – 30^th, 2011

Kirie (Paper Cutting) of the World,

Fujikawa Kirie Art Museum, Fujikawa, Japan

July 9–September 25, 2011

Here’s the opening party for the ARC show. The press were on hand (I wasn’t expecting that!). Click here to see a video and article in Chinese.

The centrepieces of the show were two x 2m cut silk scrolls. One was a reworking of a previous piece called Boom Boom Vroom! and the other was ‘Typhoon Tales’. Both involve my 'Daniel Dangerous Dancing Boy' characters as they get into all kinds of mischief on their scooters. I’ll write more about them in the next post

Typhoon Tales

Boom! Boom! Vroom!

The Angel of Christmas

First of all, Merry Xmas and a prosperous new year to all of you who visit my blog. It's always good to know there's someone out there looking at my work while I'm hidden away in my little studio!

Recent work

A friend, who has decided to devote herself to rediscovering her spiritual self, commissioned this silk paper cut, entitled ‘Angel’. Influenced by Shamanism she asked for very specific images to be included in the work.

Here, she is wearing traditional Chinese clothes which are richly embroidered with symbolic imagery. On the front is a stylized rose which represents loving with courage.

As the Angel rises into the sky, she is surrounded by four ducks, which are her ‘Power animal’. These birds inhabit land, water and air and are her soul guides.

As she rises up the sun provides the warmth and energy thst will protect and empower her on her journey.

On another note I'd like to say thanks to the Online Graphic Design Degree for honouring me (along with a select group of other origami and paper cutting artists) the...

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Doodling!

After I finish cutting a silk paper cut I’m always left with thousands of beautifully shaped pieces of silk.

I collect and keep them - boxes and boxes of beautiful scraps, the result of years of paper cutting.

Every now and then I start gluing them onto coloured paper, sketch books, wooden bowls, in fact anything I can get my hands on.

I just let the scraps determine the shapes thus the title ‘Doodling’.

But now I look at them I see all manner of images. What can you see?

Klompen Blog aka Clog Blog

I have just completed an art charity project to aid children in Maolin township in the south of Taiwan. This was the area devastated by typhoons last year. 70 artists were each given a pair of traditional wooden clogs and asked to decorate them in any way they wanted.

Here are my clogs or klompen. I tried to create a feeling of movement, like water or air. I wanted this to flow around the clogs. If you look carefully you will find several butterflies and beetles. These little creatures are full of life and beauty, just like children. They are curious and a little naughty!

It was a perfect opportunity to use all the silk paper scraps I have left over from my cuts.

The clogs will all be exhibited before being auctioned off, but to tell the truth I have no idea where or when!

Butterfly Flow Opening

Thanks to all who came to the opening party for my show, ‘Butterfly Flow’. I think everyone had fun! I know I did. It was nice to catch up with friends from all aspects of my life and to meet new admirers of my work.

It’s always difficult keeping up the momentum once a show is up as it’s such an exhausting process getting everything ready. Luckily I’ve got a few commissions to keep me busy, but more of that later.

Butterfly Blast!

This 100cmx100cm silk paper cut is the biggest and most detailed thing I’ve ever cut. Entitled ‘Butterfly Blast!' here is the piece at my current show. The daybed is where the owner treats customers to tea. Cut into a 230 x 100cm silk paper scroll the piece can be used as a wall hanging or a screen.

Butterfly Blast! shows many butterflies in a woodland setting. The Butterflies are arguing, bickering, fighting, pestering, pushing and pulling. What is it that they’re fighting about? The answer is simple - they’ve forgotten! Now it’s become a habit that they’ve got used to. In fact it’s become a ritual dance!

Gently moving shadows make it seem the butterflies are flitting.

The chaotic energy of the whole piece

A detail.

'Butterfly Flow' show

My new show, ‘Butterfly Flow’ is starting next week (Aug 31^st – Sept 19^th) at the Piao Piao Gallery at 63-1, Yong Kang St. Taipei. This gallery is in the heart of a vibrant district of eateries, bars, antique shops and galleries. I love this area! For more info on the gallery and the address in Chinese go here.

If you’re in town on Sept 4^th please come along to the opening party starting at 7pm. Hope to see you there!

One of the newer silk paper cuts on display is the latest in my series of circular works entitled ‘Jagged Waves’.

Waves crash against defiantly jagged rocks creating a rugged razor sharp surface. Higher up in the rocks plants and flowers cling to the surface immune to the salty spray around them.

The waves twisting and turning

The swirls and eddies of water

Some flowers