Studio in February

Morgan decided to re-arrange the studio, not much just added a new long table for himself to work on which meant I got his square table. Just a simple thing but has made it so much easier in the studio now! Still not a lot of space for large pieces of work but we're hoping to use the Garage in warmer weather. Being used as a dumping space at the moment and a feast for mold!

Tokophobia

Harem 6 the creative mix of Flavia Marele & Ildiko Muresan

Harem 6 transported me into the world of strange bizare creatures, dogs with geometric woolly jumpers stare lovingly at each other. Mysterious clay art dolls, their fragile bodies adorned with subtle and thoughtful marks and specially designed clothes. Hearts encased in a geometric wire cages are drawn beautifully on paper. There is no wonder why with their welcoming faces, vibrant colours and delicate graphite drawings that I am transfixed with their work.

If you placed dogs, folklore, geometric shapes, clay, pencils, hearts, 80's colour palette, nature, more animals, a lot of talent and imagination put it all in a blender and flicked the switch! You'd get Harem 6. Their work is so distinctive and original, you cannot help yourself from smiling as you explore their work.

I came across Harem 6 through their shop DoubleFoxStudio on etsy. Their shop is filled with art dolls, wall hangings, brooches/pins, original drawings, prints and necklaces born from their collaborative creative minds since 2003. The have exhibited together worldwide and are based in Romania. If I could, I would buy one of each item from their stunning collection.

To find more information about the duo and to visit their shop here are the links below:

www.etsy.com/shop/doublefoxstudio

www.facebook.com/pages/Harem6/214231368610633
www.flickr.com/photos/pucika/
www.harem6art.blogspot.com/

rfhardy

Studio in January

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda (Happy New Year)

I have decided to change the way I use my blog, for the past tw0 to nearly three years I have been only posting about finished pieces of art, exhibitions I have contributed in and commissions. I really want to open up my blog and start posting about works in progress, ideas, a monthly post of the studio (that I share with Morgan my husband) and other artists and makers who are local and international.

I'm super busy in the studio now, trying to finish off some Santes Dwynwen/St Valentine inspired jewellery for next months markets and following through with my ideas for new pieces of art work. Will blog a bit more when I have made some developments and progress.

rfhardy

DyfalDonc

I've promised to blog my side project which I co-run with my husband Morgan for nearly 6 months now, I hang my head low in shame! Once again I haven't written on the blog since October, so much has happened to me and to us. But it's January 2012, a new start so I begin with telling you about my making project. Since November we have been busy making mixed media collaged greeting cards, jewellery and badges to sell on our etsy shop named DyfalDonc.

Here is a little about us:

Dyfaldonc comes from the Welsh saying "dyfal donc a dyr y garreg", pronounced roughly "dove Al donk ah deer uh gah regg", direct translation means "a steady tapping breaks the stone".

DyfalDonc is a two team member gang, consisting of Morgan & Rebecca. Both are visual artists from North Wales but surprisingly met in the BIG smoke (London Town). Together they are Dad & Mam to their daughter Efa but to Etsy they’re co-runners of DyfalDonc their shop selling intriguing, unusal art, cards & jewellery.

"We love paper and glue, most of our images are from 50's, 60's, 70's books, old and/or discarded photographs of which we ensemble quirky collages or one off badge/pin sets. Our jewellery are made from wood, hand painted and collaged from photocopied anatomy and nature images. Hoping to create some one off pieces using original vintage/retro images in the future."

We have a facebook page too if you would like to join us, we run prize draws for goody bags everytime we reach a certain amount of fans. So join in.

Over the Christmas period we did 7 local fairs and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, it's a huge learning curve throwing yourself and the items you make out there for the public to scrutinise or love. It isn't like a gallery where you can hide from peoples comments. Also we have realised our products are very different to anything that is available around North Wales which I love but isn't commercial enough to put bread and butter on the table. It's hard to work around that line of creating pieces you enjoy and making money. But we're enjoying ourselves and I really enjoy the sense of community when we attend the markets. We start again next month in Caernarfon on the 4th Marchnad Neuadd y Farchnad and then the following Saturday in our home village of Bethesda in the local produce market. Fingers crossed it will go well.

Blue Commission

Created for Carys and Gary to celebrate their engagement last year, using the lyrics from a Super Furry Animals track and simplicity of the collage and the strong colour forget-me-not blue. I truly enjoyed working on this commission and wishing Carys and Gary all the best for their happy and joyful life ahead of them.

Time to reflect.....

I took my exhibition down this morning with the help of my father-in-law Gareth Griffith, who also is a outstanding visual artist based here in North Wales. Walking into the space again I realised how far my practice has gone and developed over the past 5 years, it's had its highs and lows but for an artist who doesn't work on her practice 24/7 ( I truly wish I could) I feel accomplished. But I still need to grow and experiment and keep pushing myself however that is a tad difficult when you have no space to work!!

I have been back in North Wales for a month now living between my parents and the in-laws, as much as Efa is thoroughly enjoying herself I am feeling slightly lost. I am desperately in need of a small space to call my own! Tent in the garden it is then!

What's next? well I am now a member of bocs a group for experimental, contemporary visual artist and musicians based in the local area. It's very exciting times for them but as a newbie I hope I can be helpful and useful to them in their new project. Watch this space!

I have started to work as well again on Cary's commission, feeling very positive about the piece just need the space! After hours working on the kitchen table it is then!

I have a couple of things to apply for locally and I'm also working freelance as a gallery assistant for Oriel Mostyn an excellent contemporary gallery in Llandudno. David Nash on display next month so I am very looking forward for the private view!

I have also realised I have not bloged about my etsy shop I co-produce and run with my husband Morgan, who is also a visual artist. I will blog it soon.

Here's to a eventful end of Summer and beginning of Autumn.

Keep it real, keep it arty

becsx