Dale Chihuly at the Halcyon Gallery

A must see, Dale Chihuly at the new Halcyon Gallery on New Bond Street until the 28th February 2012. The astonishingly beautiful glassworks take your breath away. Uplifting organic forms and vibrant colours, a show to blow away the January blues.

 

Victoria and Albert Museum, Entrance Hall

  

The wonderfully atmospheric entrance hall of the Victoria and Albert Museum.  These images were taken from another fabulous room: Room 141, The McAulay Gallery of Contemporary Ceramics on Level 6, full of cutting edge pieces and site specific installations.

OBA (Old British Artist) gets into The Cabinet of Fame

Very old and decrepit British 'artist' makes the 'Cabinet of Fame' at Morley College, with an over sized pear. 

Made with pugmill clay over a period of five to six weeks.  Spray glazed with 'Lime Green', 'Yellow', 'Philmore Red' and tooth-brushed flicked and flecked with 'Sherry' glaze.  The stem is courtesy of Morley College's garden, and the fruit sticker produced in Photoshop.

Useless bowl was glazed 'Shiny Yellow' inside with a TOXIC 'Sky Blue' outside.  The blue glaze was poured on an upside down pot in patches to achieve this patterned effect.

Grayson Perry's Alan Measles inspired tray.  Depicting Alan Measles on his journey on the Kenilworth AM1 motorbike tour of Germany to Backnang (twin town with Chelmsford).  Glazed with Copper Oxide and Celadon.

These hearts have been lovingly imprinted with Savoy cabbage leaves, glazed with 'Crackle #2' over a red slip.

Foggy Roundwood Park

A wonderful foggy November morning in Roundwood Park, feeling like Sherlock Holmes out in the London Smog solving one of life's great mysteries.  Not many people out, only the hardened dog owners and prospective Premier League football players.   The fog is super atmospheric and gives nature an eerie and close feeling.

Teddy does London!

This is Big Ted's first outing in 10 years, in honour of Alan Measles (http://alanmeasles.posterous.com), Grayson Perry's saviour.  It is a test run for the Late Night at the British Museum (http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/grayson_perry.aspx).

Big Ted and Jolie on the Jubilee line early in the morning. Luckily they manage to get a train out of the siding, so plenty of seats. Big Ted is not up for standing at the ripe old age of 46!

His Lordship is wearing a mushy pea-green coloured bespoke one piece with Koala badge and cream pocket handkerchief.

Having a quick freshen up in the beautiful parqueted South Bank ladies. A bit cheeky considering he's male!

The carousel at the South Bank. What a ride, all to himself, with the wind flowing through his pale locks!

Policeman Plod happy to see such a law abiding citizen.  No arrests there!

His highness on location at the Portcullis House,filming for the BBC News at 6.

Only looking when one is watching one's waistline!  

An Oyster Card - the only way to travel in London.

Relaxing on the Jubilee line on the way home for a well deserved rest in preparation for the big night out with Pinny, Alan Measles' stand-in.

Autumn in Kenwood / Hampstead Heath

It's that time again to change the summer wardrobe to winter clothes, to get the wellies out and watch the leaves fall.  Nothing more magnificent than a potter in mild temperatures, a deep blue sky and wine coloured leaves falling like snow.  A walk on the wilder side of London leaves one feeling that maybe the winter is survivable!

The Start of Life!

Possibly the strangest photograph I have shot, but one of the most organic, condensation on the inside of a plastic bag!  The plastic bag is covering a ceramic pot that is being kept moist for further work. 

The pot is a coil pot made from pugmill clay.  It is based on African pots.  It has gone through an upside light bulb stage but is heading towards a guord shape. (Family: CUCURBITACEAE, Genus: Lagenaria, Species: siceraria).  Pot to be seen shortly.