I'm back!

I was away for a few weeks to take care of some family problems.
But all is getting better now!

Next week I am off to Hungary for the CREATE colour conference and training session. Colour scientists mix with artists and try to understand each others language. Fun times!

Here is a new thing I am working on: analysing a finished painting by making changes in Photoshop to see if it could be better if it were painted with different values, hues or combinations. Have just started trying it, may be a tool to learn more about painting. We shall see.
I started it because I always have to colour correct my photos of my paintings, they are never right. And I always have ended up playing around with them and some looked better with the additional changes. So now I am going backwards and trying to put the changes to use back in the original painting or in another painting.

Original Painting

High key. Saturated lights and few darks.

Hue variation. Closer values and less saturation.

Hue variation. Dark values. Low contrast and medium saturation.

Original oil painting of a house in Florida.

Higher contrast with more saturated lights.

Less contrast with closer values at the dark end of the scale.

Hue and contrast variation. I love this one, looks like moonlight!

My new contact details:

Julie Caves studio
Abbey Arts Centre
89 Park Road,
New Barnet,
London
EN4 9QX

(Piccadilly line, Cockfosters station)

Recent studio pictures

Here is a batch of more recent studio pictures.

Spring is progressing and the gardens are really gorgeous. Forget-me-nots along the paths, the doves cooing by the drive, and ivy growing in through my wall. Life everywhere! (And as you can see, one of the former occupants didn't know how to repair a window. Luckily I can glaze.)

We finished the major part of the move this weekend. Exhausted but pleased. Yes.

As always- click image for a larger version.

Abbey Art Centre

The promised pictures of my new studio.
It is a walled oasis of countryside in the middle of the suburbs of North London!

So far just exterior pictures.
Click for larger images.

BABE is next weekend!

Next weekend, April 4th and 5th, is the Bristol Artists Book Event.

Over 50 artist book makers will have stalls, including me, Serendipity Press.

It is at the Arnolfini Gallery which is a lovely location.

I will have 2 new books and some new small stuff.

Hope to see you there!

New Studio!

I am moving to a new studio in North London.
The Abbey Art Centre.
There is a garden with kitties!
And lots of space to paint. And just in time for Spring so my work may have a different feel for a while- green grass and blue skies and such! What colour influences!

I will put up pictures as soon as I take them.

My art to purchase on-line

You can now buy my books and paintings on-line.
I will be uploading work every week.
Here is the link.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Even if you are bitter and cynical about Valentine's Day, you can't really say it is a modern invention to get us to buy cards, chocolates and flowers, because this holiday has been around since the Romans. Personally, I like to get chocs and flowers more than once a year (and luckily, I do!).
For our Valentine's brunch (nice that it is on a Saturday) I will be making fried bread with a heart cut out of the middle of the bread and an egg fried in the spot. Because I am just that soppy! Holidays, rituals and symbolism are nice, I feel connected with something I guess, a past, a culture maybe. Plus I love hearts and flowers!

Go spread some love!


This image is from the cover of my book Cut It Out!

Valentine's Day (almost)

Almost from Church and Steak on Vimeo.

Snowy London Town

It snowed here in London!
It is unusual and made the international news.
I took some pictures walking from my flat to my studio.
Notice the snow on the mosque in the bottom picture of the bus stop sign.

Insert

A documentary photograph of my bookmark I will Wait in the Koffler exhibit in Toronto in November 2008. I really love the way you displayed it Liya! It looks amazing.
Photo credit: Liya HyunJoo Choi.

Consumerism 101

A great video. Explains a lot, very well and in only 20 minutes!
The Story of Stuff.
Full version here: http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Colour and Landscape Exhibition

I have 2 photographs in this exhibition. It was in Bristol, now it is on-line.
Colour and Landscape: A Photographic Exhibition

Gobama!

This is going to be a great year.

Art

Music video by Andrea Dorfman for Tanya Davis' song Art.

Carrotmob is a brilliant idea

Seriously brilliant.

Carrotmob.

(go watch the video)

I think I'll make a pie...

But first...

I have designed a t-shirt on Cafe Press.
They ship to the States and the UK (and other places as well).
Carl Sagan t-shirt.

Pictures from the Cafe Gallery show

Twilight No 10, from my Twilight series, went out to a show. It is the blue one at the top.
It is oil and acrylic on linen, 30x40cm, made this April and May.
It was in Southwark Park at Cafe Gallery Projects.

Art you can wear.

I am trying a new thing.
I made some brooches using tiny versions of the original prints that I have recently started making. (See 2 posts earlier for a definition of those.) The pins are lightweight, sturdy, fun, and really quite lovely. They are 5cm square (2 inches). They made their debut at the Open Studios this weekend. I wasn't sure how well they would be received but they were very popular! I am so pleased!

Here are some pictures. I will be making some more for the Open Studios weekend part 2 coming up. Hope to see you there!








http://www.chocolatefactoryn16.com

This weekend at the Open Studios

Here are some pictures of my studio this weekend at the Open Studios. Part 2 of the Open Studios is next weekend so if you missed this weekend, all is not lost! I am working on more brooches (see next post) and gathering up about 40 paintings, small work on canvas and studies for larger pieces, that I will be priced £30 to £100.








http://www.chocolatefactoryn16.com

Misuse of terms

I have to say something.

I think that most people that misuse the term "original print" do not do so on purpose, they do not mean to be lying. They are not aware of the facts and are laying claim to a term that belongs to another group of artwork. To have an original work of art (a watercolour painting, for example) scanned and then reproduced as a print means that there was an original and that the printed items are reproductions. They are not original prints.

An original print is one that is made to be a print as its original form. It is not a reproduction of a watercolour painting, for example. The original version of an original print is the print.

This can be a woodcut, lithograph, photograph, screenprint, or digital print. They are multiples of the same image, but that image has never existed except as this print. An original print is not a copy of another artwork.

A print made from a scan of your painting can be a limited edition, it can be signed, it can be a giclee print (which is a fine art term for an archival quality ink-jet print), but if your print is a copy of a painting it cannot be called an original print.

Now you know.

Open Studios private view

Yay!
Just got back from the open studios. It was a great night!
It stopped raining just in time.
Loads of friends came, well spaced throughout the evening. The mulled wine I had in my John Butler tea bowl / mug that I love, warmed my cockles and his bowl warmed my hands.

I met lots of new people and had some really good conversations. I do love that we all stand around and talk about my art! I sold some books and some of my new brooches that I made with my prints. Giraffes and colourful autumn leaves are definitely irrisistible!

We are open for this weekend and next weekend. Please stop by for a visit! (I have chocolate coins! If there are any left...)

http://www.chocolatefactoryn16.com

London Snow

It snowed in October and I made this.

London Snow 3
An original print of a manipulated photo by Julie Caves. 2008

Chocolate Factory N16 Open Studios

I have some new paintings and some prints of paintings. If they are finished in time I will also have some brooches of paintings!

As always, I will have a selection of small paintings and studies on canvas and paper that will be at very affordable prices.
___________________________________________

28 artists open their studios in this great studio complex in North East London. Fine Art, Ceramics and more. The first two weekends in December.

OPENING TIMES:
Saturdays 6th & 13th December: 10am - 6pm
Sundays 7th & 14th December: 12pm - 6pm

It's Open Studios time again!
Discovery time!
Fine Art, Ceramics and more.
Come and browse.....come and buy!
Cash and Cheques only please.

http://www.chocolatefactoryn16.com

Handmade Confessional

Buy Handmade Video from Etsy on Vimeo.

This weekend in London

London is very wet.

Cafe Gallery Open Exhibition

I have a small painting in Southwark Park at Cafe Gallery Projects.

Open Evening:
23rd of November.

My new Etsy shop

I am a painter and a maker of contemporary book art. But I used to be a jewellery maker and still make the special piece occasionally. I built up a fantastic collection of vintage beads back in the late 80's and have finally decided to sell most of them off as they are doing no one any good in boxes.

If you love pretty baubles or if you make jewellery please visit
my shop on Etsy.






When I finally get it organised I hope to have a shop for my paintings, prints and book art as well.

Watch this space!

The work has just begun.

Saturn Smith on Open Salon reminds us to celebrate the Obama victory, but remember it is only a beginning, there is a lot to repair. The win must be made to matter.

"Every day is a work day in a democracy ".

Buy Handmade

Off to CREATE on Monday!

I have been selected as a delegate for the next two CREATE conferences, next week in Bristol at UWE Ashton Bower campus and the following week in Belfast at the University of Ulster, Stranmillis University College Campus.
That is almost two weeks of talks and workshops about my favourite subject, Colour!
It sounds like it will be even more amazing than the last one in France in February.

A painting on-line

I have a painting on a gallery page for the Art in Woodstock entries.
Interior Space 100

Colour Group meeting at the V&A

The Colour Group of Great Britain meeting today was at the V&A Museum. Very prestigious. The four speakers covered conservation of art objects mostly, with one talk about how the mystical meanings of colours change with the time.
It was very interesting and we paid a visit to the famous Ardabil carpet in the Islamic Gallery and learned more about the carpet and the amazing care that has gone into the protection of it.