By hannah stoney on May 17, 2013
Do you ever get it when certain colours just speak the season you’re in? Like the winter of teal and green.
At the moment I am passionate, teary almost, about dark grey.
The shadow box I made this week is not grey but it’s almost as good because it nests happily, somewhere between all of the elements in this room (grey) which, by the way, has been vivid in my “one day” imagination for a couple of years now:
[Source: http://weheartit.com/entry/8609031/via/ayumiumiu#]
Oh my, this blue, it says it all:
Posted in studiologue |
By hannah stoney on May 16, 2013
So, I had a pretty special night this week. I went to a fifty-people-only gig in a Texas backyard to see some poetry and music.
I was imagining something cottagey, cobbled and nooky when I made my way to the gig. But of course, that was just misplaced English imagination. Instead, the horizon was panoramic, the sky vast and bounding, the yard matter-of-fact flat and it was welcoming and wonderful in a distinctly Texan way.
I watched the waving trees as the music rose and pondered the joke-and-wonder of just being here and getting to see this:
Posted in These days, Treasure |
By hannah stoney on May 13, 2013
On my walk downtown this morning, I noticed a crushed Blue Jay in the road. Blue Jays are my favourite bird. Here is my memorial for this precious one:
Posted in Photography, These days |
By hannah stoney on May 10, 2013
Here is my second lyric inspired paper-cut which will hopefully be appearing as a Pledge incentive for the new Stoney album shortly.
In the Winter’s crystal whisper:
I have also been working on another larger-scale paper-cut of a Purple Martin. I like their story: Each spring they return to these parts and people help them out by providing little nesting places. Purple Martins, you see, can struggle because of other, more dominant types of swallow. God bless the underdog. [That's a Stoney lyric, which ties it up nicely, full circle. See what I did there?]
Posted in studiologue |
By hannah stoney on May 9, 2013
Just a smattering of beautiful instances:
Homework at the bar:
Levi and one of his loves at Full English. [It passes the Brit test, by the way.]
We found this in our lounge. We put it in a jar. A few weeks later, we opened it. It smelt of fish.
Taking in the new:
Conquered by my six year old, at his request:
And after all:
This made my heart full:
Walking:
Wild Texas:
Posted in Photography, These days |
By hannah stoney on May 7, 2013
My mister is just an incredible songwriter. Believe me. It’s not even bias.
I’ve watched him work on this collection of songs for years now and these last few have been pretty epic for us. High highs and low lows. Brutal and beautiful. And there have always been these songs and they are very much of this time. They are deep, true, raw, sinking and soaring. This man has something to say and by gum does he say it well.
And it’s time to get this album out! Nope, scrap that. It’s way past time. But… here we go!
Stoney has launched a Pledge campaign to get this thing done. You can pre-order the album or be part of the journey in a bigger way by becoming an incentivised investor.
That’s where I come in. I am working on some paper-cuts inspired by his lyrics. Each piece is an original illustration and a one-off and is available as part of the Pledge incentives.
First-up, this swan, inspired by a line from the song Defiantly Loved. More to come shortly.
The river rolls on with a grace upon its shame. A faithful white swan, loyal to its poisoned veins.
Posted in Collaborations, illustration, Treasure |
By hannah stoney on May 6, 2013
Lots of the bits and bobs I have been working on are secret for now but there is one work in progress that I can share: Remember that window that my dear dad helped me salvage?
I am working on a large-scale paper-cut of a Cedar Waxwing. I chose it because a flock of them really brightened my day earlier this year.
I used a photo as the basis of my illustration which I think gave me problems because the head was in intense shadow and it made it hard to translate to paper-cut. But still, it’s not wasted, it’s learning. It’s very different working bigger.
Fig 1. Daunting paper.
Fig 2. Quinn was making me nervous with those cars.
Fig 3. It bears a meadow in its breast.
Fig 4. Taped on for now at the end of my desk.
Posted in studiologue |
By hannah stoney on April 19, 2013
My parents are visiting from the UK and giving me scads of sweet, sweet help. I’m feeling blessed to my bones and buoyed up enough to get lost in paper-cut Violet Green Swallows and their lacy, diamondscape trains.
I’m also peeking over the brim at bigger, next projects such as an exhibition (I’m running out of wall as you see) and larger scale paper-cuts on salvaged windows. My Pops has been a God-send with all his practical know-how, window-toting and ingenious (and esoteric) wobbly-window-stabilising schemes.
Posted in studiologue |
By hannah stoney on April 13, 2013
I have been waiting for a (camera-less) while to upload these new items to my Etsy store. Here they are, hooray!:
Other than that, more sweet paper-cutting:
The second one is for the very special Ymuno Festival which takes place in Narnia Wales each summer. It’s inspired by their 2013 theme, “heartland” and they have put it on a t-shirt. It’s so gratifying to see something I’ve made on a t-shirt. I feel sneaky-famous.
I’ve also continued my foray into jabot making. I bloody love them. Are you excited to see my dirty dishes?:
Posted in studiologue |
By hannah stoney on April 5, 2013
Guess who has discovered Instagram? (I’m under thethinks btw, for those so inclined.)
Sometimes, when my week gets very busy, I seem to end up making more art than ever, as if to prove a point.
But really, it’s love.
This week I adored; making a Pine Siskin with a lace-inspired train; obsessing over the exact tone of inky Orion-sky with my new watercolours and making big, bold, crochet bib necklaces courtesy of this generous tutorial.
Posted in studiologue |
Hannah Stoney is a British artist and writer.