Papier Lasagne

The image of the robot head from the previous post didn't do it justice. So I am posting this again. I have made a few alterations adding the x mark in an area I thought needed a little something. Also the darker border adds a little depth. The size of the image is 60 x 58 cm . When framed and finished it will make a great statement piece.

Inspired By Bots In A Box

So I am still creating larger works using a paper lamination process called "papier lasagne" . It basically results in a large but terribly strong paper surface to paint on. These two works are directly inspired by the "Bots in a box" sculptures I make. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Bather In Number Ten

Inspired by my bots in a box and still happy to experiment with my reinforced paper. I have been working on a new series of acrylic paintings. This is the first of many. I have at least 4 more being assembled. The process requires reinforcement of the back of the paper and a layer of  coloured tissue paper to add a ground colouring for the impasto and acrylic paint.

Playing With A New Technique

This weekend I have been busy testing some new large artwork ideas. This image was made, or should I say is still being developed. From a very small image sketched from my imagination on a piece of scrap paper no bigger than a business card and then blown up at least 100 times. I have then transposed that image to a large composite paper and mixed media surface. So now I am slowly building up the image to create a colour work of an imaginary landscape.

What I want to achieve is the same simple style I am forced to create when making my images in recycled plastics. Like the two red silos image. I am also very much a fan of work by Shaun Tan and in this image attempting something similar. His haunting and moody use of light sets an almost wonderland existence in his artworks. Very much reminiscent of De Chirico's surrealist landscapes - another one of my favorite artists.

New Zealand Paintings

My trip to New Zealand took me to some very beautiful places. I wanted so much to paint everything I saw out the window of the car. Unfortunately wherever I saw a sight worth painting it was either inaccessible or we whizzed past it too quickly for me to say "stop the car". The places I did get to paint though were as wonderful as the ones I missed. We started our journey at New Plymouth were my wife and I lived some 3 years ago. I got in some time to paint the sugar loaf islands Motumahanga and Moturoa. Then I was lucky enough to find some time to paint Motuotau, one of Tauranga's beautiful islands. I have a couple more paintings of New Zealand on the go and I will post these as they are finished.

Whimsical Robot Artworks

My daughter and her partner have been fixing up their house and I went to visit them a few weeks back. I had given Ushie - my daughter, a designers guide to interior design and she had been saying how she'd like some larger artworks on her wall as recommended in the book. The kitchen was especially bare of art and she suggested I think of what she might do to brighten it up. I was planning to travel to New Zealand in the coming fortnight and was not in the frame of mind to do or find artworks for her straight away. But after returning refreshed from a wonderful time in the Taranaki in New Zealand. I felt like rejoicing my wonderful trip. I had also been playing with some ideas about how to create large works on paper that reflected the shapes and designs I am getting from my "Bots in a Box" found and recycled object artworks. So these two artworks were the labour of the following weekend.

The other image here is of my daughter and her partners hopes and dreams of a farmhouse set high above a river in the country. They already farm bees so it's a good start and their little family at the moment consist of a dog and a cat.

A cat for my daughter

I had finished this cat some time ago and gave it to my daughter as a house warming gift. But I had totally forgotten to blog about it. Oh well no time like the present.

Starting A Theme

I think I am starting to develop a new theme of recycled plastic artworks by the introduction of the boxed cat idea. A friend has asked me to create a homage portrait of her cat "21" yes its name was a number, a favorite age I seem to remember. This is the final artwork.

Revisiting Cats

Some time ago I designed some sleeping cat images. It has always been my intention to revisit theses designs and try them out as recycled plastic artworks. I tried these this weekend and I like the look of the final result. I am bound to do a few more if they prove popular, in fact my wife has already bagged the orange one.

Sick At Home And Sorting Old Images

I'm currently suffering from a stomach illness that's making it hard for me to leave the house. Despite feeling unwell, I've been spending my time going through some old photos on my computer. I came across some sketches and pictures that I had given to my family. These memories and beautiful images have only increased my desire to find a permanent home where I can collect and admire all my works of art, especially my recycled plastic pieces.

Some New Arrivals

I have several more bots in a box on the go but a slight segway to a new style of full body bot was a nice change. I had a few box frames sitting aside that needed something different to all the heads. So I have been tinkering with some new ideas and these two are the latest. Introducing Shock and Segway bot.

Delighted.

I forget what I have done over the years. from time to time I have visited my family home and found small artworks and sketches that I have done in a moment of creative inspiration. Its always a joy to uncover these old artworks. This little sketch/painting was done while visiting my daughter some years ago for Christmas. Its of Manly in Sydney, these baths were only a stones throw away from my daughter's front door. I am delighted she has it hanging pride of place in her new digs.

Bots In A Box New Build

Again this weekend I ventured out to find stuff for my bots. I have done a deal with a local thrift store who would normally throw out broken toys. I have offered to pay $5 for a bucket to be filled with broken bits of junk toys instead of them going to land fill. I'm sure that by next weekend this blog will get updated with more characters like this one.

Bots In A Box

The bots in a box series is definitely taking shape. I have run out of the shadow boxes and may have to switch to custom made boxes as the shapes of the bot images has started to vary, though I try to keep them as close to CD size as I can.

Domo Arigato Mr....

I have been enjoying going on long strolls with my wife to find.."garbage" well found objects if we want to use an artists jargon. I have taken to arranging them and other household plastic waste into personality filled robotic faces. They are a great creative vehicle for me at the moment while large studio space is not available. I have fallen in love with the process which has evolved into two types of robot. Complete heads to hang on the wall directly and bots in a box.