Untitled from the series 'Serch' 2012

Studio in March

March flew by and looks like April is doing the same! There wasn't much action going on in the studio but I did create one new piece from the series Serch developing my ideas with collage, old anatomy images, and working on labels. To experiment with the display of the work and how to exhibit away from the traditional 2D framed format. I have also been busy with DyfalDonc my little makers project I co-run with Morgan (my husband) we contribute with two local markets every month plus we've signed up for a few over the summer as well. We've also taken a order on of wedding favours a little unusual for us but realised we provide a alternative favours using our vintage/retro badges as gifts for guest. Will have images of them on our DyfalDonc facebook page next week for you.

Back to the ART: I will be participating in a open studio day in June together with my husband Morgan Griffith Sonomano and my father in law Gareth Griffith. I believe other artists of Mynydd Llandygai will be opening their studio doors too so hopefully we will come together to market and stir up some creativity in this small mountain village. July will also be a busy month too but will keep that for later.

I have just realised I do have a few things to blog, I have seen some amazing artworks lately and inspiring makers on etsy. I just need the time to do so.

keep it arty
rfhardy

Wunderland 2

Wunderland II:

tactileBOSCH Gallery Cardiff, 10th – 30th March 2012

Initiated by the Women’s Art Association Wunderland ll is an exhibition of contemporary art at tactileBOSCH Gallery & Studios. The exhibition encompasses sculpture, installation, video, performance, photography and drawing, to mark the centenary of International Women’s Day 2012.

Exhibiting artists include Rhiannon Adams / Fern Bowen / Inga Burrows / Shona Davies & Keiko Yamazaki / Sarah Dunstan / Sarah Ellis / Eleanor Francis / Rebecca F. Hardy / Emma Gamble / Helen Gillam / Beth Greenhalgh / Lydia Meehan / Tanya Moulson / Claire Prosser / Verity Scott / Rebecca Wall / Ruth Wallace / Ceri Wozencroft / Susan Zeppellini

Adding to the opening night on Saturday 10^th March proclivities will be music from Tina Hitchins + DJ Kayla Painter with LIVE performances from Claire Prosser + Beth Greenhalgh from 7pm.

About tactileBOSCH:

Since opening its doors in June 2000 in a converted 200-year-old former laundry house,tactileBOSCH Gallery & Studios has developed into one of the main players in the Welsh Arts scene with an impressive back catalogue and experimental approach. The venue was established by artists Kim Fielding and Simon Mitchell and has received support through the years from Cardiff based artists and curators such as Andrew Cooper, Jan Bennett, Mike Murray, Tim Bromage, Tom Harrup, Graham Phillips, Phillip Babot, Sam Aldridge, Neil Jefferies and Dave Shepherd as well as organizations such as National Probation Service, Arts Council of Wales, Culture Colony, & UWIC.

Spread over three buildings the galleries vision is to bring a selection of established international artists to the Welsh capitol as well as provide a platform for emerging local artists to showcase their practice. As an alternate gallery space, tactileBOSCH is adaptable, almost chameleonic in its nature. The vast, naturally lit space transforms to adopt the character of each show and puts no parameters on the placement of the work, giving the artists the opportunity to exhibit and experiment in a way that is not always possible within a more traditional gallery or theatre structure. This ability to transform itself has resulted in a living, breathing environment, capable of producing a complex dialogue between artist, curator, gallery, location and audience.

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!

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

'Serch' my first solo exhibition.

My first solo exhibition will be opening next week in my home town of Bangor, Gwynedd. I'm not sure how I feel about it, these past months have been so hectic, I hope it inspires people to get involved with the North Wales contemporary art scene. Time are indeed a changing but it's a slow process here. If we want the creative, artistic youth to stay in the area, then the area needs to provide projects, galleries, centres to make the contemporary new generation of artists want to stay.

Keep it real, keep it arty

Becsx

MEMORY B(L)ANKS Exhibition

During the month of June I was part of a group exhibition in the North West of England at Axis Art Centre, Crewe. The project manager and curater was an artist called Emma Thackham www.emmathackham.com all together there was 26 artists reflecting on the impact of memory within contemporary issues of identity. Cultural, political and relational responses manifest through film, installation, sculpture, live art and sound. I created a new series of work called ''Cadw mi gei' within this I displayed two pieces of sculpture/wall installation, tiltled 'Nos da ffetws' and 'there is a thin line between love & hate'.

As one chapter of my life closes another opens....

Apologies once again for not keeping up to date with my blogs. Sorry. It is now the middle of July, two exhibitions done, Efa's first birthday gone by as quickly as you can say pwwwsssy cat, left the big smoke behind and ventured back to the homeland for a pit stop and I am now a wife. So the last 2 1/2 months have been rather hectic to say the least.

However big things still to come, apart from getting our wedding photos back from the lovely Lisa (Lisa Jane Photography) I have my first little solo show at the end of the month in my hometown of Bangor, North Wales. Trying to sort myself out for it, as we only arrived back in Bangor two days ago and our belongings are stored in three various locations!! oh dear! and brain has frazzled from remembering where everything got packed!

Also hoping on the next post to upload some of the sculpture I created in May for the MemoryBLANKS exhibition in Axis Art Centre Crewe but my old laptop is starting to play up. Something I really don't need right now with trying to apply for art jobs and opportunities. Ce la vie, life goes on and upwards and onwards. Here is the next chapter in my life, let's hope it's a good one.

Keep it real, keep it arty

becsx

April Fools into Bank Holiday May

Time just seems to be flying past, while I seem to be creating more deadlines for myself! Same old story not enough hours in a day....

Right where do I start, the post below shows a piece of work I created for a Studio/Gallery space in Cardiff called studiob. It was an opportunity for me to be productive and also to exhibit to a different audience, I was even exposed on their website as well. From the photos it looked like a great weekend, they had open studios and a postcard exhibition open to all artists (where my little postcard was on display).

Since then I have been multi-tasking on various projects, created another piece of work for a charity auction in my home-town, started sketches for the commission and finally started to pencil work the composition on the piece. Today I started working on my sculpture for a exhibition in June and I have two exhibitions in July, one in London and the other my first solo exhibition will be in my home-town. (Further info on the exhibitions to follow in the future) So I'm keeping myself busy and trying to keep to deadlines as much as I can (still trying to balance being an artist, mother and having a part-time job)

Also with fingers and toes crossed Morgan and I should have our etsy shop up and running very soon. We will be selling art originals and prints, stationary and accessories. Will post more details as it gets closer to the official opening.

Keep it real, keep it arty

becsx

To productivity & beyond!!

Above is a new piece of work I created for a student artist named Sophia Moseley in her last year at Goldsmith's. We exhibited together in January at Showcase London and she later e-mailed me asking me whether I would participate in her mail art project. She sends you a blank stamped postcard, you cover it with your art and just post it back! It would be interesting to see what she receives in the end!

Plus I am doodling and researching and scribbling ideas down in my little sketchbook at the moment. I have been asked to create a commission, so I am a busy bee! Will keep you posted with my ideas and development over the next months. But very exciting times!!

I missed Feb!!

I have been busy bee with applying for exhibs and comps, so keep your fingers crossed for me! I have also been given my first commission with the work I nicked name funnywomen. It was great to be approached to take on this project, I have allready started doodling ideas which I may use for other pieces and I'm also exciting to create 2D work again. Allthough my aim is now to start working on creating sculpture/3D work I think I will be moving it into April, I have a lot of things buzzing around my skull at the moment and frankly I am glad that 2011 has made me get up and go.

Here are some pics of label work I have just recently finished, no titles just yet! Let me know what you think?

Keep it arty, keep it real

becsx

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!!!

Happy New Year!! My first blog of 2011 and I promise to try a bit harder this year, lets see if I can at least write a blog every month!!

So far on the art front I have been messing, editing and pondering over my 'depression' piece, no longer as large as originally planned but even now as I write this I'm still not happy with it. Perhaps I should look at the labels individually as a series and not assembled in a group. After all, depression does isolate you. Will carry on pondering!!

The last blog below, is a piece of work I created just before Christmas. I was desperate to use some vibrant colours and layering, it felt good to be creating a more positive piece on that invisible strength and love we have between friends. It is a present for my good old friend but I'm not quite finished with it yet. I'm hoping to carry on working in this playful way with colour and text and layers. I've just bought more labels in assorted sizes and I'm getting enthusiastic again at getting creative I just need the time!! Where does the time go??!!

I have also been looking for exhibitions to apply for and competitions to try, busy busy! I have these crazy spurts every now and then and I kick myself in my backside to get on with it. There's a dead line in a week and a half on the subject 'local' and another Eisteddfod entry in Feb, plus I'm meaning to send proposals to small Welsh galleries and some London drinking haunts and independent galleries. To be honest I've been thinking for a long time now on my career, going back to the old job at the end of the month, maternity leave has come to an end. Wish I was going back to a job I really enjoyed though!!! Catch 22!!

I do believe I have rambled on quite enough, lets hope the next time I blog I will have a new piece of work to show and you never know a exhib!! One can only wish......

Keep it real, keep it arty

becsx

Here's to new beginnings!!

New flat, new art space and new work started. Finally out of the old flat that I loved into the new basement flat with just the three of us, two artists and a baby. There are conversations flying in the air about getting a cat, but it's still a handful looking after Efa and trying to get on with my art so I may ponder on that for a while longer. New art space is actually the corridor but where there is a wall and a desk, it magically changes into a art space for me.

Just before the move I started working on a new piece, using labels again as the canvas and the same mixed media, subconsciousness method of momentum and emotional topic. Roughly keeping the idea of hanging it (nailing each one individually on the wall) a meter by a meter, so around 65 labels in a big square shape. I'm hoping to crack on with it this week, the subject matter is depression in a factual and emotional response. I've added some detailed images of a few I've created.

It felt quite strange packing up the old art space, it made me analyse and ponder on how much work I've done over the year, the quality of it, the new materials I've used and also it makes you look back on your previous work and makes you question whether you should carry on developing it and question why haven't you!! All I know is I need to carry on making.........

Keep it real, keep it arty

Becsx