So what is Steampunk?

So you wanna see some of my new jewelry? I have just made some beautiful steampunk/neo-victoriam pendants and brooches.

So you ask what is steampunk?

 In a nutshell Steampunk is Victorian science fiction, a re-imagining of the 19th century, and the perfect blending of alternate history, romance and science fiction. A dream of a never once was time and place.

Steampunk is also Neo-Victorian, which is the amalgamation of Victorian aesthetic principles with modern sensibilities and technologies.

Where did it come from I hear you ask. Well it started way back when with 19^th century Scientific Romance novels by Jules Verne, Mark Twain, Mary Shelly and H.G Wells but didn’t get a name till April 1987 when sci fi author K.W.Jeter sent in this letter to Locus magazine;

Dear Locus,

Enclosed is a copy of my 1979 novel Morlock Night; I'd appreciate your being so good as to route it Faren Miller, as it's a prime piece of evidence in the great debate as to who in "the Powers/Blaylock/Jeter fantasy triumvirate" was writing in the "gonzo-historical manner" first. Though of course, I did find her review in the March Locus to be quite flattering.

Personally, I think Victorian fantasies are going to be the next big thing, as long as we can come up with a fitting collective term for Powers, Blaylock and myself. Something based on the appropriate technology of the era; like "steampunks", perhaps...

—K.W. Jeter

So what’s with the cogs and gear then? Well they are an easily recognized symbol of steampunk, an icon if you will. But the gear and cog on thier own does not a steampunk make.

Steampunk takes inspiration from the industrial and applies it to whatever culture it influences. If it is integral to the design and aesthetic of a piece it is Steampunk.

Steampunk is also heavily influenced by the general neo-vintage movement, which has been steadily progressing through mainstream fashion, film and aesthetics. In times of general world uncertainty and insecurity it is comfort to look towards the past and the rose tinted comfort of the good ol’ days.

Go look at AMUseceramics Etsy Store to see more lovelyness.

A.MUse

What I have learned ...

An amazing artist I know called Danny Riccio asked if I would come and help out the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts 100^th Annual Exhibition of which he is artistic director. 

                                                     Danny Riccio and self portrait

                                 http://danielriccio.com/

Running around all day moving paintings and artwork might be called being a dog’s body, but for me it is great fun. Most importantly I get to listen in on the jurors as they talk about what gets in and what is rejected. That’s the biggie. Getting to listen to what is important in a Juried art show. Listen and learn baby, listen and learn. Coze one day I may be good enought to put into a big ol' show and I sure as hell want the inside track.

So you may ask what pearls of wisdom did I pick up?

1 I know it sound kinda obvious but - make good art then put it where people see it.

2 Framing matters. The painting/drawing may be amazing but if it is framed badly it won’t get in or win a prize. Make sure the frame or lack of frame compliments and enhances the picture. And make sure the hanging wire is STRONG AND SECURELY ATTACHED to the frame. (or you the give the dog’s body a coronary)

3 Title matters. Put some thought into the title of your work, make it relevant. It can be the first thing about your work that people read, and it is also the icing on the cake.(and make the differance between being placed and winning or nothing at all)

4 Sometimes the most amazing technically proficient pictures are so perfect that they lack soul. If a painting has soul, then sometimes soul trumps technique.

5 Remember that all judging is subjective not objective and a juror will draw on their own personal experiences and art knowledge however impartial they are, so don’t take it personally, they don’t hate you.

6 Have many art hats and wear them, but make sure that what you do you do the BEST.

7 Make art. Keep making art. Keep learning from making art. If you arnt making art, think about making art then make the stuff you were thinking about when you were thinking about making art. Coze there are lots of other artists out there and if you WANT to be an artist you have to WANT to be an artist.

8 Network. Talk to people. Talk to other artists. Talk to business people. Talk to curators. Talk to art directors. Sell yourself but not with a megaphone. It’s not like in the film ‘Field of Dreams’ where “if you build it they will come”. If you make art then open the door, people will not just flock in. Who you know is just as important as what you make. You have to be both promoter and artist.

So thats it. Some of it obvious, some of it not so and some of it beat yourself over the head with every day.

A.MUse

Ps - if you see a good idea, steal it and make it your own   ;-)

The Art of Death

Today I want to introduce you to one of my favourite photographers, Giacomo Brunelli.He shoots entirely in black and white, light and dark. He uses film not digital and works in half-light to produce truly personal images. Backgrounds may be blurred and indistinct, but there will be a sudden clarity, an intense focus on just one area, patch of light against a sombre background. I just love his beautiful dark morbid view of the world.

Death and decay is sensitively beautifully haunting.
Animals appear other worldly and different, at odds with how you feel they should be.

"he works by confronting, pushing his lens close, often to its closest point of focus, perhaps around half arm’s length, aggressive, almost touching his subject (and the pictures have a very tactile nature), forcing flight or fight from his subject, and photographing these reactions."

 his website is

http://www.giacomobrunelli.com/


Go have a look. The photographs are just phenomenal.

A.MUse 

Mortification

So where were we ... ahhh yes the Day of the Dead series of work based on the Mexican festival ‘Día de los Muertos’ or ‘Day of the Dead’. A celebration where you give sugar skulls to your friends with their names so "they can eat their own death".

While exploring the premise of taking 2D Day of the Dead themed drawings and lino prints and using glazed  tableware as three-dimensional canvases by drawing graphics with on glaze china paints,

I suddenly realised that by using vintage china and porcelain tableware, I could create an interesting tension between sweet, pretty, traditional flowers and grinning skulls that are usually associated with death.

 And so Mortification was born.

mortify [ˈmɔːtɪˌfaɪ]

vb -fies, -fying, -fied

1.      (tr) to humiliate, cause to feel shame or wounded pride

Derivation - from the Latin word mori (via old french mort) for death

Each piece of tableware has had a previous life. The shadow of treasured preciousness can be read on the surface of every object. Slowly these heirlooms have lost thier meaning and died, no longer loved and valued.

Using the process of ‘Mortification’, vintage china and porcelain is brought back to life and given a new meaning. Re-birthed to be valued once again for the beautiful objects they are.

To ancient Mexicans, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. Death is transcendence, transformation and resurrection.

Each piece is truly unique, a one off that can never be repeated.

A.MUse

Antis ..... wait for it .... ipation

You know how yesterday I said I would continue to tell you all about the Day of the Dead and especially about Mortification ......

well I think I might keep you waiting in antissss .........

                                                                      .......................

                                                                                .......ipation just a little bit longer.

Till tomorrow I think. I will however tease you just a little bit with a picture....

And tomorrow I promise I will reveal all.

But this blog isn't just about ME. No really I mean that. There are many other amazing and awesome artists out there that I love and I want to share them all with you.

Now I find this artist  Niklas Roy very A.MUsing.

His website is  http://www.niklasroy.com

Watch the video link below of one of Niklas's projects

 I do really like this particular project, and yes, yes, I know you will ask BUT IS IT ART? I don't know if it is but I do know that it is very A.MUsing and incredible interactive and I WANT ONE ;-)

See you tomorrow A.MUse

www.adotmuse.co.uk

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Day of the dead

One of the themes I have been exploring in the past year or so is based on the Mexican festival ‘Día de los Muertos’ or ‘Day of the Dead’, a celebration where you give sugar skulls to your friends with their names so "they can eat their own death". Grinning skulls are usually associated with death but they can mean something else. To ancient Mexicans, life was a dream and only in death did they become truly awake. Death is transcendence, transformation and resurrection.

 I was also very struck by many of the early American settler's grave stones that had carved depictions of winged skulls, skeletons, and funerary urns surrounded by weeping willow trees.

Together these things became inseparable in my head and so a whole series was born, exploring this interesting dichotomy of life and death, sweetness and macabre.
Below are some of the lino prints that started the journey.

                                                                   Dead on Time

                                                                      Dead Head Fred

I got so excited about the whole concept. It just grew and grew in my head. I then decided that paper was just to flat and there needed to be some sort of 3D aspect to the skulls so I transferred the whole thing to China using on glaze china paints. The following are all hand drawn with china paints using a fine nibbed pen. No decals or transfers.

Then of course I decided that it all needed to be a whole lot bigger with a much larger more complex image ...

This piece is 2 ft 2" by 1 1/2 ft. It took about 5 days to complete.

This wasn't the end point I had more I wanted to develop with this idea ........

I wanted to MORTIFY. 

But that's a story for tomorrows blog post ... you will just have to come back tomorrow to see what happens....