Lobster Pot and Other Plastics

It had been my intention to make a beach combing collection whilst on holiday at the Llyn Peninsula this summer as I’ve wanted to return to making assemblages as I did nearly 20 years ago. Even further back at Shave Farm in 1992 I made two small reliefs which I have always loved and these too were in the back of my mind.

Whilst in Wales I photographed a plastic lobster pot on Criccieth beach. One side of the lobster pot was ripped open and the netting was broken.   I liked that I could see through the netting and its sculptural qualities which reminded me of Tony Cragg's sculptures and drawings. I have also made a lot of work based  around a  lobster pot  fisherman who has featured in earlier work (these are two links that lead to previous posts about that work).  I left it on the beach, having too much else to carry that day, however, when I posted it on Instagram some people asked if I'd taken home.

The top part of the beach is covered in pieces of plastic, so much of it was washed up on the shore, Alan was horrified and environmentally so was I, but aesthetically I was in my element, the subdued colours  and the fact that the pieces were scratched and snarled reminded me of my collage pieces. I picked up some pieces and tried out some small arrangements back at the cottage.                          

I wanted to go  back before we left Wales and the this time I was prepared with plastic carrier bags to collect more pieces.  I also hoped that  the  lobster pot would still be there. 
                                                     
After a while Alan got fed up  and wanted to go, but at least I had managed to fill one of my bags with plastic. I was just about to leave when I spotted the lobster pot sitting at the edge of the sea.  

I brought it back home and for now it is sitting in the back garden.

Concertina Books

Having joined the Complete Artist Book Course at Hot Bed Press we have learnt to make concertina books with simple covers and this has stimulated my ideas - leading to new connections between work from different periods.

Essentially I think of Where and Which Way as being the begining and I regularly return to elements of this book. However as I worked on the  I Spy at the Seaside I began to think of it as a day trip, including losing your way, it starting to rain heavily and a longer walk than you wanted.

 I have made several images related to the I Spy books  which are sea orientated - which could provide another book.   I am intrigued by the accidental nature of how imagery occurs, which happened with the covers of the books. Until now I have used scanned in maps, collage and image transfer. However I have also begun to experiment digitally and may also decide to add more text to create more of a narrative.

Costal Responses 2

Seascale and Whitehaven

Seascale in contrast to Ravenglas was much more barren with wide vistas. Although I carried on collecting there I found it less inspiring

Whitehaven Harbour

This town offered so much variety and contrast 

The subtlety of the colour and simplicity of shapes 

This was an accident when taking a panoramic shot but it creates a lovely composition

Wasdale Inspiration

We took our students to Wasdale a couple of weeks ago and stayed in a lovely youth hostel on the edge of the lake.

It was an excellent few days but even more so for the unexpected dividends it provided for my work. From the scavenging along the costal beaches developing collections, the photography, colours, space and vista's of Whitehaven harbour; Mr Moons secondhand bookshop and several charity shops we visited – such treasures … particularly the homemade stamp album and the music manuscript books from Windermere.

By chance I had picked up Secrets of the Seashore as my sketchbook; providing images to respond to and develop  since I returned. 

Wasdale 7.30 am

Eskdale

I was intrigued by these houses leading straight out onto the beach as much for their gates and distressed wood and concrete sea walls -  they had almost become assemblages in themselves