Ingunn Dybendal

I first became aware of Norwegian illustrator Ingunn Dybendal's work last year, I think. She was one of the contributing illustrators in an issue of doodlezine a zine produced by illustrators Abi Whitehouse and Desdemona McCannon.

Ingunn's work really stood out and I've been hooked ever since. You can link to her website by clicking here and her blog here if you'd like.

Saad Quereshi

I met Saad ( or Sid as I know him) Quereshi whilst studying Fine Art at Oxford Brookes University. He was in his final year whilst I was in my second and we'd often meet up in the film editing suit. We were both working on films that broached issues of identity. He'd managed to rig up a swing in one of the studios. It was no-mean feet as it was a really high ceiling. But Saad is never one to shy away from hard work. He is a totally dedicated artist. He seemed to live in University ...Mind you it was hard to keep me away, too. His video comprised a slowed-down version of himself swinging. The audio track was the actual sound of the swing amplified and played at the same speed. It was very atmospheric and certainly reflected the see-saw existence that Quereshi has experienced in his life.

He left Brookes to do an MA at the Slade and we vaguely kept in touch on facebook. I wasn't at all surprised to hear that he was one of six previously unknown artists selected by Charles Saatchi to take part in the School for Saatchi. A four part television series that aired last November.

He's recently been producing lovely canvases with the image painted or printed on the edge. I've never seen anything like it. Such a simple idea and yet so beautifully executed. Definitely a case where 'less is more' really works. You can see more of his work on www.aicongallery.com

Mary Cassatt

These are my favourite Mary Cassatt prints. I was fortunate to see them amongst the works in the Americans in Paris 1860-1900 exhibition, at the National Gallery in 2006. These were all produced between 1890 and 91, which is the time that I consider Cassatt produced her best work. I especially love the top three images, and can definitely see an oriental influence in her work.

You can learn about Cassatt's life and work by clicking on this link here.

Ellen Heck

I've just discovered the lovely work of American artist Ellen Heck. They remind me very much of the prints of Impressionist Artist, Mary Cassatt who I've been intending to write about for some time now. I have a beautiful catalogue from an exhibition of her prints at the National Portrait Gallery from a couple of years ago. Heck works with similar subtle colours to those that Cassatt favoured. Both have used simple figure drawings to depict intimate domestic scenes. There is also a similarity in the introduction of pattern in the textiles of both artists work. I can't help but be reminded of Japanese wood cut work in both their cases.

You can see more of Heck's work on her blog www.ellenheck.blogspot.com and website www.ellenheck.com

A little seasonal colour......all though it looks like maybe we should be getting ready for the next season.......

Susan Stockwell

Susan Stockwell produces beautifully crafted objects that you'd expect to see made out of textiles. For example, a Victorian dress complete with bustle made from Ordnance Survey maps which is entitled Empire Dress and a similar piece Trayne, is made from used coffee filters. These were produced to comment on British colonial history and are influenced by her own heritage. Other works are a mattress and quilt both made from recycled Mills & Boons books. Stockwell acknowledges that her attitude towards this genre was slightly altered by the process of working with, and reading, these books.

Quilting is a technique that Stockwell has used in her work Imperial Quilt, that was first shown in her solo exhibition Stitched-Up: Paper and Politics. It was comprised of a quilt made out of world maps that had been cut up into small squares and then stitched back together, with the US forming the border and Washington and the Middle East being placed in the centre of the work. Also to produce a piece of artwork for the recent Quilts 1700 -2010 exhibition at the V & A Museum in London. Entitled a Chinese Dream that was made out of paper money. Here's an interview she gave for the exhibition and a little more insight into her work.

A Chinese Dream by Susan Stockwell from Victoria and Albert Museum on Vimeo.

www.susanstockwell.co.uk

Matisse and Celia Birtwell

Odalesque sur la terrasse, 1922

I was reminded of Celia Birtwell's delicious textile designs last month, when looking for images from vintage Vogue magazines to publish. You can link to the posting here, if you'd like to view some classically appealing Norman Parkinson photographs, shot with his signature flare for fun. I especially loved the image below of Nicky Samuel modelling one of her prints in an Ossie Clark dress.

In the 60's and 70's, Birtwell collaborated with her then husband, fashion designer Ossie Clark to produce beautifully romantic floaty dresses, famously described as 'the most important textile designer of her generation. ' She was the muse of artist David Hockney and along with her husband, the subject of Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, one his most viewed paintings at the Tate Britain Gallery in London, which you can see here.

It was inspirational to read an article about M's Birtwell written by Ruth Corbett in the current edition magazine to learn that now in her late 60's, she is still designing beautifully colourful prints. Also that her work since art school days has been influenced by the 20th century French, Fauvist artist, Matisse, renowned for his colourful artwork.

This was a great excuse for me to post some of his paintings here. I've liked the simplicity of his line drawings for some time, but more recently have been looking closely at his colour work. I'm attracted to Matisse's use of textiles and pattern which is probably what has attracted Birtwell to his work, too. It seems to give his work a 2-dimensional element that I often see in Indian and Persian miniature painting. And this obvious love of things exotic and oriental always hold my attention even further.

You can see some of Celia Birtwell's work on the following link:

Victoria & Albert Museum