Kunming still-life series

Just completed two more for my new collection of still-life paintings, made using oil bars and palette knife ..... getting ready to launch in 2014

 Kunming Still-life

Kunming Bowl with Blue Fish

Yunnan Flowers

New Blossom Bowls

Blossom bowl still-life paintings are well underway.....

Teacup with blue fish and blossom

Teacup on black table

Xmas @ Johnny Rocket Gallery, Greenwich

If it's luxury jewellery you're looking for this Christmas, get along to Johnny Rocket's Gallery in Greenwich for the best in British Designer Jewellery, all in one cool space. Each designer hand-picked by Johnny and showcased in his French style salon.

selected jewellery by Claire Hart Design stocked at Johnny Rocket's

Flux Open Studios @ Vanguard Court

Call in to see the marvellous talent at Vanguard Court in Camberwell next weekend Friday 29th November - Sunday 1st December. You're in for a treat!

Still life: Chinese Bowls

I've enjoyed immersing myself in colour again, this time developing my still-life series of  Yunnan tea cups, bowls and blossom. All painted with Oil bars, some of them handmade from Sweden: Bivaxoljekwritor:) 

A way of slowing down and observing what I see in front of me. It becomes a meditation on the object itself, making associations with time spent in China and what I've seen out there. 

By using oil bars and a pallet knives, I can't work in great detail. It's an impression of what is there, capturing something about the object without reproducing it as I would in my drawings. 

I'm looking forward to developing this series over the next few months and making some of them available for sale online. 

Puer Teacup and Orange Blossom 2

Urban Retreat

Just what is needed in the centre of the city. A place that's peaceful and quiet, floating on the water, where all you can hear are ducks quacking and with a view of Canary Wharf towering in the distance......

Friends have purchased an amazing boat in the Caribbean, and now have it docked on the Thames. We spent Friday night just chilling in the cabin, drinking red wine and having a laugh. With an open invitation to return, I am so happy to have found an oasis in the centre of London. I'll certainly be back:)

View of Canary Wharf 

Desire Fair, Winchester

Call in to the fabulous Desire Fair this weekend and see the best jewellers and silversmiths in the UK. The set up for tonights private view is well underway.

It's my second year showing here and this time I'm delighted to be exhibiting with the amazingly talented silversmiths from House of Jewellers.  

Philip Rhys Matthews solo exhibition at GX Gallery

Locomotive

It was fantastic to be at the Private View of Photographer Philip Rhys Matthews, at GX Gallery in Camberwell last night. I was impressed to hear about the amount of painstaking work and research that goes in to each photoshoot, from the detailed embroidery he did himself for the Chinese costume, to the printing of images on to silk for the backdrops. I liked the size of the prints and the fact that each photograph is printed on rag pearl giving a warmth of tone.

Fiscal Cure

Fiscal Cure, Fiscal Cancer is an incredible first solo exhibition for this recently graduated young photographer, with his well researched reference to fine art while exploring current issues about East/West relations, in the context of stunning fashion photography. I wish him every success in his career and will be fascinated to see how his work progresses in the future.

Seeing the elaborate costume and accessories in the show reminded me of traditional Chinese Empress costumes. In December I will hear Jung Chang speaking at the V&A about her new book,  'Empress Dowager Cixi: The concubine who launched Modern China'. Having heard Jung Chang speak before, I'm really looking forward to this one.

Japanese Calligraphy

'Happiness' in my beginner style, with my name in Japanese on the left

We had a such a great time yesterday being given an introduction to Japanese calligraphy, taught by expert, Shoho: an excellent teacher, very patient and was very encouraging of our attempts! She gave us such interesting information about kanji and the Japanese culture.

It was wonderful to see an expert actually doing calligraphy, seeing how the writer moves, keeping the elbow up and held in a curve, staying in balance. How the calligraphy looks on paper is seen as a reflection of the calligrapher's mind..... we're not sure what our attempts said about us!

But we had fun, especially attempting to write our names in Kanji. And we loved the home made sushi too.

Love London

This weekend is the last chance to see Tutti Frutti, Rare Beauty, our October show on Columbia Road. We'd love to see you.  I'll be there with Vicky Forrester tomorrow on our very last day.

 What a great show it's been at the Number Ninety-Four Gallery. Thanks to Simon for hosting us so brilliantly. What a social hub it is! 

 Want to check out a few things on Columbia Road if there's time tomorrow; Beyond Fabrics  for haberdashery supplies and to call in next door to Number 94, where the legendary Angela Flanders, perfumer with cult following, has her original and exclusive perfumes. 

Next week, in between silversmithing and painting, I'll be taking a beginner's calligraphy workshop taught by Japanese Calligrapher, Shoho. And if I have time I'll be along to the V&A to see the Pearl Exhibition and Chinese Painting  - the once in a lifetime chance to see rare collections from around the world. 

So much to do!

Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

I'm flying back for the Private View tomorrow evening at the Ulster Museum and can't wait to see the wide range of art, especially all the paintings, and to meet the artists. Some names are familiar to me from exhibitions years ago and from the BP Portrait Awards in London, and now I'll see these incredible artists all in one venue, back in Belfast. Fantastic!

.....and of course I'm really looking forward to seeing my very own Blossom Bowl on show at the RUA Exhibition!

The exhibition opens to the public on the 18th October.

Blossom Bowl 

Columbia Road sunflowers

 Thanks to lots of friends and family who called in to our show today at Number 94 Gallery on Columbia Road - and especially to Bridget and Chris for bringing us sunflowers which really brightened up a rainy day!

Art as therapy

Enjoying reading an extract 'On beauty' in http://www.elledecoration.co.uk/. It is taken from a favourite author Alain de Botton's new book 'Art as Therapy' which I'm sure to be ordering soon

. 

' we ... need beauty as an essential prop to our moods and sense of wellbeing......What we need most from beauty is hope: hope that, despite the evidence, life can be made serene, hopeful, kind and meaningful.' 

Tutti Frutti, Rare Beauty

We're open at Number Ninety-Four Gallery - call in if you're on Columbia Road any weekend this October!

French Institute Mediatheque

The library as it is now with Art Deco features around the windows

I love the old spiral staircase

London Open House is always a fantastic time of year. This year we were in South Ken - for ice cream at Odono's - and so we called in to the French Institute, a Grade 2 listed building. We were impressed by the Art Deco library - La Mediatheque - which will soon be undergoing an exciting and ambitious refurbishment. They will restore the Art Deco features and create a comfortable reading room. There will be a new children's area and a technology hub too. Look forward to seeing what it will look like.

Might also call in to see a film at the Cinema Lumiere in the meantime. Great atmosphere in the Institute. Glad we dropped by.

Plans for the old Art Deco library

London Irish Centre

I had a great evening in Camden Square recently at The London Irish Centre. I was there for an Art Exhibition Ireland in Our Eyes. There was a great atmosphere with upbeat Irish music (I don't hear it that often in London!) by Jim McKee and chatting to the artists. I knew two of the artists - one, a friend Jamie, and the other, Corin, is a sculptor whose studio is next to us at Flux in Camberwell. He had a very successful show.

I also liked this quote from Seamus Heaney which I read there:

'I can't think of a case where poems changed the world, 

but what they do is change people's understanding 

of what's going on in the world.'

Glamping in the New Forest

I can now say I'm a convert to glamping since my weekend in the New Forest. Waking up to sunshine was a plus of course, but also loved the walk through heather, gorse and forests, spotting the wildlife.  I have a wonderful new branch ring commission from friends in the New Forest - more of that on the blog in the next few months. 

waking up in a yurt in glorious sunshine:)

love the hazy purple of heather

.....finally we spotted some fallow deer. Fantastic sight!

realy like the colour of this horse

Proms 2013

One of my favourite concerts at the proms- Gorecki, Vaughan Williams and Tchaikovsky. Last night tonight. 

Though the sublime musical experience was almost topped by the caramelised figs and walnuts ice cream I had at Odonno's in South Ken beforehand:) ......will certainly be back.

IJL 2013

Called in to IJL today to collect some stones from Marcia Lanyon which had been ordered specially for me. I saw the Runway plus stunning new work from established and emerging designers: Kickstart and Bright Young Gems, Sarah Ho and Fei Liu being among my favourites.  

Definitely worth as visit, it's on til 4th Sept

Cloud Collage

Panicale, Italy

As we get to the tail-end of the summer, and inspired by my trip to Italy, I'm in the mood to make a cloud collage of my pics from different countries. 

Here it is...... all going on my Cloudtastic board on Pinterest. 

Tao Fong Shan, Hong Kong

Gotland 1

Chongqing, China

Gotland 3

Gotland 2

Dali, China

Cinema Paradiso

Watched a big projection of the Italian classic on the wall of the village square, thanks to our very own 'Alberto' from London. 

 

Alberto and Toto

Tuscany studio

Not many jewellers get to go on holiday and find a bench has been set up, with stunning views across the hills.

liked the knot of wood on the edge which worked well as a bench peg

I did a few hours of filing in the best studio space ever, looking out across the valley at Panicale. Was relaxing to do a bit of work - followed by sunbathing, then eating, then a bit more work.

Wouldn't mind working from a hilltop studio in the future.

It's easy to work when you have views like this.....

Italy mountainscapes

Just back from Tuscany and the two weeks have been chillout time - and pretty productive too. We had a big art studio set up for kids and adults. Some varied creative approaches to painting! 

I did some paint play, using my Chinese brushes (and a bit of salt) and 

am happy with these dramatic little pieces. It's just fun to have a go. 

Ultra Vanities at Goldsmiths

I dropped off a ring at Goldsmiths today for early hall and called in to see the summer exhibition 'Ultra Vanities- Bejewelled Make-Up Boxes from the Age of Glamour'. I had about half an hour before closing time. Ten minutes before the end, I started drawing a Cartier compact, then a Rozanes compact, each made from Onyx and Jade. The more I drew, the more I saw.

I'll call back again when I pick up my client's mother of pearl ring and I'll return with my pencil and paper.

These little bejewelled compacts, 'necessaire de beaute', from the 1920's to the 1970's are exquisitely crafted, with tiny drawers and compartments for wealthy fashionable clients' make-up and cigarettes. Van Cleef and Arpels is one of the fashion houses represented and has some of my favourites, but I loved the Cartier compacts, similar to the one below, with the chain and tube (is that to hold a tiny lipstick? Will have to find out.....)

The Oriental influence is seen in many 1920's compacts, like this one from Cartier with green jade, black onyx

Masterpiece 2. Bill Viola

Lifespans

I was so pleased to see the new Bill Viola video 'Lifespans' premièred at Masterpiece through his London Gallery Blain Southern. I chatted to a helpful person from the gallery about Viola, who is one of the most influential artists of our time and one of my all-time favourites. I was delighted to hear about a new installation by Viola which will be coming to St Paul's sometime soon. The first of its kind, it will be a permanent installation in the cathedral. I'm looking forward to seeing that.

I've loved his work ever since I was mesmerised by it at the Tate Modern years ago - slow-motion videos in reverse, of people diving into water. Mesmerising and meditative, the room was packed full of silent crowds, immersed in the darkened room with four large screen videos. Very special to experience art like for the first time: ground-breaking art that which slows you down to reflect on life.

This interview with Viola, in which he explains the underlying reason for his fascination with water, is worth watching.