Widdershins 2016

 Greetings from my dwelling near the gateway to the high moors. There are usually a few personal obstacles along my path that obstruct a regular flowing of meanderings here, which I hope to eventually clear away, but I can reveal a current exhibition taking place which is full of magical delights for the mind, heart and soul. Widdershins, Pathways to the Fearie Realm, is an exhibition of Moorland Mythic Art in Devon. Three years ago there was an exhibition of the same name, in the same gallery, which was a great success. You can see my blog post about it here.  Eager to evoke the realm of myth and magic again the lovely folk at Green Hill Arts Gallery called upon our artistry to create a world where people could walk in and be both enchanted and comforted. Once again the curators did a fantastic job. All of the same artists were involved including a few more renowned artists, which added to a very diverse array of expression throughout. Artists Alan Lee, Brian Froud, Wendy Froud, Terri Windling, David Wyatt, Neil Wilkinson Cave, Marja Lee, Pauline Lee, Rima Staines, Danielle Barlow, Angharad Barlow, Hazel Brown.

Here is a taste of some of the many flavours of expression in paint, pencil, clay, fabric, wood, silver,  bronze, animation, illustration and written word.

In the company of faery folk in various states of being and becoming. 

with Wendy Froud's Moth Faery

A Lady Sprout, Prayer seed, and an angel in a shell, made of polymer clay and acrylic.

'Onion tears' being consoled by a passing snail.

Wendy Froud's 'Faery Godmother's day out' with  Hazel Brown's handmade Faery boxes and handwritten faery books

Throughout the exhibition Terri Windling masterfully wrote quotes on the walls by well known writers and artists. Here is one nestled in between my 'Red Riding Hood' and 'Into the path's embrace' wall sculptures.

"There were always tales passed from mother to daughter, father to son. Down through the generations they came, so that we would never forget that place, that magic, that elemental and awesome power that abided in our forbears. In each generation the power of the tale rests with us, the storytellers" -Evangeline Walton- Novelist

Celeste, Bronze hare by Paul Kidby

'Imbolc' watercolour painting by Marja Lee 

Marja is my mother. She was fashion illustrator back in the 1960s and now works on intuitive paintings supported by co-creative science, a method of working in harmony with nature and nature spirits.

detail of 'Spiral Dance' watercolour painting by Marja Lee

                             
                                 'Maiden, Mother, Crone' oil on wood by  Rima Staines.

See how Rima, Tom and boy are getting on in Hedgespoken, a vehicle for the imagination

Still from 'Orla, Wren, Fish and Doll', animation by Rima Staines

 Detail of 'The Language of Trees' collage by Terri Windling

Detail of 'But the youngest bunny could not sleep' collage by Terri Windling

      Faery Princess, Faery mirror, Pressed faery, Melch Dick by Brian Froud

Detail of 'Green Man' by Neil Wilkinson Cave

Detail of 'Wistman's wood' by Hazel Brown

Detail of 'Discworld' Limited edition print by Paul Kidby

'Spinning moonlight' by David Wyatt

'Merwyng' drawing by Marja Lee

'The Mariner' drawing by Alan Lee

'Merfolk Village' illustration by Virginia Lee

'The Storm Within' polymer clay sculpture by Virginia Lee

'Orthanc' watercolour illustration for The Lord of the Rings

'Light in the woods' illustration for 'Merlin Dreams'

by Alan Lee

Ceramics by Pauline Lee (my auntie)

Jewellery by Angharad Barlow

'Dancing Princess' illustration for the Frog Bride by Virginia Lee

'Faery of Fashion' drawing by Alan Lee

                                      'Brother Swan necklace' in silver by Angharad Barlow

                                                 'Shapeshifting Hare' by Danielle Barlow

                                                  'The Last Puppeteer' by David Wyatt

   'Forgiveness fuels the fire within' water mixable oil paints and mixed media on board. More reveal on this piece soon.

Although the exhibition is almost over, the shop in the foyer will continue to stock the artist's prints cards, and some originals, as well as other artist's work including Alexandra Dawe

 

Farewell from the faerie folk, for now!

The Wonderful World of Widdershins.

Greetings from this abundantly green dwelling on Dartmoor's edge. These past few weeks a Moorland Mythic medley of art has graced the walls of Green Hill Arts gallery in my neighbouring town of Moretenhampstead.

Walking 'Widdershins' or anti-clockwise is the old english way to enter the realm of myth and enchantment and on this occasion, the place where ten local artists were invited to bring in the spirit of faerie through portals created in paint, pencil, fabric, clay, bronze and wood.

The exhibition, I must say, is a triumph. So professionally curated by a group of local volunteers, it would not look out of place on Bond street, one visitor did declare!

 

  

Brian Froud's 'indecision Faery' and 'Blue dancer'' accompany my 'Three Hares Tor' and 'Earthbound' pastel paintings.

'Escape off the road' a limited edition polystone sculpture for 'The Lord of the Rings' collectables. I undertook this sculpture during my time in New Zealand at Weta workshop, some 12 years ago now.

Just to the left of my sculpture there does rest 'The Alchemist' by the marvelous Rima Staines
Prints available here

''In the heart the woodland wakes', my latest painting and more about this in my next posting. Giclee prints of this will be appearing soon in my Etsy shop

'Nemesis II, Griffin sejent', limited edition bronze sculpture by Paul Kidby, fiercely guarding some faery folk and Tolkien treasures by Alan Lee

'Pegasus' Limited edition bronze sculpture by Paul Kidby,  heads into the 'Faerie house' by Neil Wilkinson Cave

'Feldspar', dragon bronze sculpture by Paul Kidby resting on his marble base in front of some family of Lee creations.

Detail of Alan Lee's 'Fanghorn Forest' for 'The Lord of the Rings'

Detail of a 'fairy artist' by Alan Lee

My 'dryad' sculpture made of polymer clay, stands exposed in a prime spot of the gallery

'The weed wife' by Rima Staines, sits within gnarly oak. Rima has written such a beautiful blog about this, your heart will just melt.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                            

   Wendy Froud's 'Hedge troll and friend' and 'Faery man and woman' look out at their human visitors with Brian Froud's 'Blue Pincher'

                                                              

Wendy Froud's 'Dame Aolia Henbane' and 'Pinkie Mauve' sit gossiping amongst dressmaker trinkets and faerie boxes by Hazel Brown

 Wendy Froud's 'Clara Copperpot' and her 'Steampunk postmistress' box by Hazel Brown

Wendy Froud's 'Raven Black' and 'Ryder' with Hazel Brown's 'Goth adventures'
                                                                                                                                                              

 Rima Staines's 'Baba Yaga' in watercolour

Woven into the exhibition in between pieces of art from the in-between worlds there are quotes and poetry beautifully handwritten on the walls by Terri Windling.

                                                                      

             The writing continues into actual painting in 'A Dartmoor fairy tale' by Terri Windling

 

and 'Once upon a time on Natterdon Hill' By Terri Windling

   A close up of the 'Three Hares Tor' reflecting back at me

    Detail of 'Earthbound'.  Giclee prints of this will appear soon in my shop.                                                                        

Paul Kidby's 'Pegasus' leading the way for David Wyatt's 'local characters'

 

A detail of 'Recording Birdsong in the wild' by David Wyatt. Prints available here

Detail of an 'Old goat teetering across a bridge' by David Wyatt. 

'Guinevere' by Brian Froud

The art spills over onto the walls of the foyer area of Green Hill where you'll find more creations by other artists as well as the ten exhibiting. Artists include Danielle Barlow, Marc Potts and Jason ofEngland

Green Hill Arts has a most excellent shop for cards, prints, books, jewellery and many other craftings by local folk.

Alas, the art on the walls will be taken down from the middle of next week to make space for local art of a very different kind, but the prints and cards will remain in the shop.

One day I sat in the gallery as an invigilator, watching, inconspicuously, the visitors from pastures near and far arrive and be welcomed into the enchanted realm. Each individual would gravitate first to what spoke to them most, every time differently. Some were enchanted, some were challenged, and some were very hard to read. One man from very far away said to me that he thought all the art was done by one artist. I was amazed, from the inside I see how diversely different every artist is, like all the different characters you have within one family, but through his fresh eyes were as one artist. Perhaps he could only see the thread of faery and of this land that linked us all together.

For a slightly different perspective on the exhibition, have a look at Rima's blog here