What a Week!

I’m just coming up for air after having 5 works selected for 2 separate open exhibitions. Up until this year I hadn’t really felt ready to submit work to opens. But as the saying goes - you’ve got to be in it to win it! SO I made the decision to definitely apply to some local ones. So I applied to the Bath Society of Arts Open and the Friends of the RWA open.

Needless to say I was delighted when I had work selected for both, and for the work to be a cross section of the different mediums I work in. I had 2 of my landsape collages and 2 of my mixed media semi-abstract paintings on board selected for the Friends RWA open, and one of my monochrome digital paintings picked for the Bath Open. I’ve taken them off my website until after the show althouth the digital work is a limited edition print so if you are interested in one of them, please get in touch

Thank you David Hockney .. I think ..?

I'm trying to work out whether I am grateful or resentful towards David Hockney. Don't get me wrong, I'm a massive fan of the breadth and talent of his art but I'm a bit miffed that I can’t produce any digital work without his name being mentioned! I find myself explaining that I started producing digital work back in ‘95-’96 (see previous blog - Computer Arts) whereas Hockney didn’t start until 2009 … Churlish really!

To be fair, there wouldn’t be such a big acceptance of digital artwork if it wasn’t for him. I noticed that this year’s Bath Society of Arts Open has specific guidelines on submitting digital work. It’s good to see that a giclée print of a digital work is very different from a giclée reproduction of a painting. The digital work only exists as a giclée and a limited edition run is much the same as a limited edition run in more traditional print mediums like litho or etchings. Reading BSA Open’s submission guidelines has inspired to submit a digital work this year.

I’ll be releasing some new digital paintings very soon. I’ll let my mailing list first so if you want first dibs please sign up here.

If you want to see my work in progress then please follow me on instagram

And in answer to my own question - it’s a BIG thank you to the great David Hockney. Not least it’s given me the confidence to keep producing digital work and has allowed me to see the value in it.

Why Draw?

….. Because I love it!

I draw as a way of exploring my subject matter, as preparatory work but also as a means to an end. Often drawing helps me ground myself when I feel a bit lost in my painting. Sometimes, when I draw, the style and subject matter is the antithesis of what I’ve been working on in my paintings. It’s like my brain’s had too much abstract landscape and needs a rest from it. so I need to draw a bunch of flowers.

I mostly draw in monochrome so I can concentrate on line, mark making and tone and not be distracted by colour. As a colourist I can lose focus on other stuff, particularly tone. I don’t often refer back to the drawings once they’re made but the imprint of making them remain in my visual memory and informs my painting.

I often joke that my 2 favourite drawing tools are my hand made (and free) bamboo pens and my Apple iPen (£100+) . Could you get more polar? Nothing beats the feel of pen and brush on paper but when inspiration strikes or whilst watching a slightly dull England game then the iPad is a great way to draw from the comfort of the sofa (ref - drawing of Willow the staffy on the Sofa below).

I’ll be giving a demo of my pen and ink drawings at Clifton Arts Club on the 14th April. If you’re a member come along

Some of my Digital Drawings are available to purchase here.

Ink drawing on location at Clevedon

Digital drawing at Clevedon

Bamboo stick and ink, 3 min sketch

Digital drawing of Willow on Sofa during a dull England game


My 5 favourite Bristol things

I was recently invited by Martin Booth to list my 5 favourite things in Bristol. For Bristol 24/7 magazine. Read the article here.

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/people/my-bristol-favourites-hemali-modha/



BS9 Arts Trail 2020

So I finally, after a year of postponements, got to take part in my first in person arts trail! It was an absolute blast and a success on so many levels. I exhibited at Stoke Bishop Village Hall with 8 other artists several of whom have been exhibiting with the BS9ers since the very early days so I felt very honoured to be invited to join them..

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Pilgrimage

I finally treated myself to an ipad and ipen. I love drawing and painting and the feel of my chosen tool on the paper but there is an immediacy and speed with drawing on a computer or device that I love. There’s almost no room for thought or deliberation, switching brushes and mixing colours takes seconds and for me that kind of pace of working really suits me.

I’m using a drawing program called Procreate which is new to me. I’m far more familiar with Photoshop. Not having complete control has always interested me in the creative process so there’s lots of happy accidents with Procreate. Here’s a few pieces I’ve created to date.

I don’t know about you, but I found myself far more in tune with the changes in weather and seasons, Light and noises during my walks in lockdown and the drawings although not necessarily about singular days were about how I felt about the places I visited and the places that became important to me.

If you’re interested in purchasing one of these they’re in the Digital Art section of my website.

Textile Designs

I uncovered an old sketchbook full design made during my short stint as a textile designer. I worked for a Bristol textile design agency called fabric8 who sold mainly to the American market.

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