MEET - Bridget Farmer

MEET! an new regular posting idea for my blog! as often as I can I will interview an artist of interest and share with you their wonderful work and working practice....
I dont know about you but I am always interested to read about how other people manage their practice and balance their creative lives, I hope these posts to be informative and enjoyable. if anyone has any suggestions of people to interview let me know or if you'd like to put your selfs forward just drop me a line xxxx

Introducing - Bridget Farmer

Give us a little bit of background to yourself
I'm an artist/ printmaker from and currently living in Belfast Northern Ireland. I studied art in Edinburgh but didn't discover printmaking until 2006 while traveling in Australia. I did a weekend course at the Australian Print Workshop and fell in love with the process. I've always loved drawing and feel most confident in this medium, but printmaking was a way to take my drawings further. I stayed in Australia until 2009 (I met a boy there, I was only supposed to stay for 5 months, now I've brought him back home with me!) and you can see from my work how the Australian bird life inspired me. Now I'm back home I'm working on British and Irish birds, sort of making mementos of the bird life of home, because I'm intending to move back to Australia next year.

Describe your work

I'd say my work is mainly linear. I love lines, always been afraid of tone and too much colour, so I stick with simple lines. I also strive to be very lose in my drawing style, often changing hands from right to left if a drawing seems to be getting too tight. These lines then translate well into the medium of etching, both dry point and acid etching. I still feel a new comer to printmaking, there's so much to learn and so many different techniques.
My main theme is birds, I'm not entirely sure why, but I always find myself wanting to draw them when I see them. They are a lovely compact shape yet still so full of character.  I have branched out and made a few goats and a few dogs and I do like drawing buildings, but I always go back to birds. I found when I first arrived in Australia drawing the birds there was a great way to get to know them. They were all so exotic looking and so unfamiliar, they really inspired me!
For readers not so familiar with the process of etching you can read my 'how to prepare and etch a copper plate' and read about the printing of an etched plate here.

Describe your practice?
My art work is my full time job. Maybe foolishly I don't have a 'real' job, I don't think I would be disciplined enough to have one anymore! But since moving back to Northern Ireland I have found it difficult, it's hard to re-establish yourself, luckily I've moved back into my mum's house! These days I spend as much time as I can at the Belfast Print Workshop. It's a fantastic facility and it's great to interact with other printmakers. At the moment I'm there from about 11ish till 6ish. I love it, I'd be there all the time if I could, I have to make myself stay at home to work on an illustration job I've been asked to do. I'm illustrating an Australian poetry book, this is the second book I'm doing for the publishers and it's a great experience.

Where do you create your work?
I do have a little mini press at home, but I find the Belfast Print Workshop an easier place to work in, also I get my exercise from cycling or walking into town to the workshop. I think I need that 'going to work' start of the day to really get my head down. Ideally, when I move back to Australia I want to have a studio gallery. A place in which I have my printmaking studio at the back and a gallery at the front, I want to be able to make my work and man the gallery at the same time, not sure what to do about the ink up to the elbow hands if I have a customer, but I'll work that out later! I still feel everything is very much on hold until I move back and settle down properly, at the moment everything, including any workspace that i have, feels temporary.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Mostly just from walking around and taking everything in. Going to new places is alway inspirational, new food for my eyes. I think also just sitting down in various places and drawing as much as possible. I always draw from life, I think it gives the outcome more life to it.
How would you describe the themes present in your work
I'm never really trying to 'say' anything in my work. I just like seeing the world around me, drawing it, and making prints. I did an MFA while in Melbourne and I constantly had to give reasons for everything I did, I found it very difficult! I'm never really trying to be deep and meaningful, I just really really like drawing. I like to observe the world around me and draw it! 

 Where do you sell your work?
I have my work in a few galleries in Australia. There are some great printmaking galleries in Melbourne, Port Jackson Press, P. G. Printmaker and a lovely gallery called Bird's Gallery which my work suits quite well! I'm also in a few galleries in Northern Ireland and Ireland, The Yard, Copper Moon and the Leitrim Design House. I also sell online in my etsy shop.

If you had all the money in the world what would you buy today to further your artistic ideas ??
I can think of the most wonderful studio if I had all the money in the world, but since I want to have my studio in Australia and I have to wait until I move back for that I can't buy it today and you stipulate 'what would you buy today' so, I've decided I would buy tickets to travel to lots of destinations offering printmaking classes and drawing holidays. I'd love to learn lithography or be taught etching by a master printmaker. I'd also buy lots of copper, nice clean shiny copper to etch with. At the moment I use the backs of other people's plates and they need LOTS of sanding down and polishing up before I can use them.

Thanks so much to Bridget for sharing her process and work with us check out here links below.
xxxx
Etsy Shop
www.bridgetfarmerprints.etsy.com
Blog
www.bridgetfarmer.blogspot.com
Website
www.bridgetfarmer.com

almost caught up with myself

nearly there, just a few more images and I have caught up with my own mind!
just a couple of little brooches appeared towards the end of the week.
more lovely ladies. They were made to add to a parcel of other lovely things I was sending to Edinburgh for a new pop up gallery that is opening next week The Spider and The fly.
here are the ladies

a bit of flickr frenzy

I have had a flickr frenzy for an image I created yesturday! never happen before that an image has spread so quickly! was even on the front page !

it came out on an assignment from the experimental art course Im doing, Amelia asked us to play with paper, cutting and constructing and of course I had to use my vintage book pages, she showed some examples and this is what came from me. I know its not a new idea and Ive seen things like this before but I love how effective it is!I must try some more little scenarios out . might make a nice little series of greeting/postcards ??
a few more drawings appeared as well and I started preparing some pages for a little art book idea, I will share tomorrow if it gets any further along.

a couple of new birds

Just a quicky this morning to share a couple of new birds that arrived from my sewing machine today.

Garden birds

Had a hard end to last week in my head! very lost with the direction of my work, all felt to bitty for my liking. Ive had a few 'off the wall' ideas which Ive noted down and that fired me up a little but still current things felt lost! UNTIL I returned to what I love best of all, British garden birds! a poster in my sons room reminded me to re focus on whats right under my nose, my embroideries with birds have so much more potenial and there so much more to try out ! and now of course I have an ever growing supply of naturally dyed bits of silk and cotton! put 2 & 2 together and you get garden birds ( if your me!)

 details of garden bird stitches, more on my flickr page

I plan to make all of the common british garden birds and maybe a few summer visitors.
At the moment they arent framed, Ive stretched them in hoops and that looks good but I would like to play with framing them in other ways and see if I can make a coherent series from them! maybe to try and show somewhere? maybe not. I also like the idea of a huge flock piece ? so we will see.
but the fire is back in my belly so I'd better just keep on !!

a few new brooches

Just a few more Brooches in my shop started them a while ago and since thing are running low in my shop Ive finished these ready for sale, theres a few more photos on my flickr page.

Highgate adventures

a few more pic on flickr

I have been away on an exciting city adventure, where the streets are paved with gold....London town!
Ive been to visit my very dear friend Helen. we had some adventures yesterday visiting some of the more obscure London gems (more of that tomorrow when I have some energy to write more)
Today I  went alone to somewhere Ive always wanted to visit, Highgate cemetery a fantastic Victorian cemetery  in north London
 It was so beautiful, nature is engulfing the beautiful yet formidable Victorian structures, I sat for a while in the quite sunshine just listening to the birds admiring the jumble of structures and vegetation, when out from behind a grave popped a startled fox, we stared at each other for a bit and then he disappeared off into the bushes. a real  magical experience.
I will ramble on more tomorrow with links to some more amazing sights!!
xx

weekly drawing 14th march

This weeks drawing is another from the huge handed man. The kingfisher looks so stiff and upright, almost dead, but its alive and well.

Flock of Owls

Continuing the Owl theme, Here is my Flock of Eagle Owls!
quite a large piece for me about 9x7" I will put n my shop later tonight. I have on the go a flock of mixed owls same sort of size, will post when theres anything to show!

This week my life outside my art is all about being a proactive/pushy parent for me! really trying to sort out any club or interest either of my children has ever shown an interest in! also Joes school for September! we have a place at the local primary school but Ive been wanting the impossible and trying to get him a place at an amazing school in the country side just a little outside of our town, keep all fingers and toes crossed for us, we had a very positive meeting with the head and now just have to wait to see if there's any movement with people excepting and not excepting their offered places....Just booked Jesse a place at Camp Quest for the summer in an attempt to provide her mind opening experiences, she was born a little philosopher and we wonder if the week may signpost her to ways she could explore that either as future studies or just for fun!
All feels a bit scary trying to make the right choices for your children when A- there are so many choices and B- its such a responsibility! what if we get it wrong......and breath.....rant over....till next time.
X

weekly drawing 5th march

This weeks drawing a little later than planned sorry.
This is the first in what may turn into an interesting series of images, a friend of mine works ringing birds (not sure who he works for I presume the RSPB but maybe not) They observe the birds then catch them and ring them recording all the details! They photograph the birds whilst in hand just as evidence but I think they make the most interesting pictures, I have lots of his pictures now and he has pointed me to a few websites where ringers upload pics so I can keep looking for interesting ones! In this sketch I really liked for the huge hands, I haven't exaggerated them, the man ringing is a very big boy and I love the big fingers next to the tint delicate bird!

Ive been very busy this week with loads of sewing, will post pictures at the beginning of next week, they work really well as a whole so I wanted to wait till they were all done to photograph.

xxx

birds on the brian

Lots more brooches today, really enjoying making these. The bird cage idea has lead me to wanting to make a large version as a tea cozy! mainly because we need one but if it works I wonder whether its something people might want to buy. also thinking of little chicks in cages for Easter! that's tomorrows job now. Joe back from nursery and we are going for a baby chino in town! xx

Daily drawing takes a new direction

Here as promised is the long delayed daily drawing instatlment!
I have decided to reduce the pressure on myself by reducing this project to a weekly drawing rather than daily, I have found I leave it all to the last minute and then dont enjoy rushing 6 ideas out rather than just 1. Im sure some weeks there will naturally be 6 but then that will be fine and I wont get stressed about it the rest of the time!!!
these images have been brewing for a while and I will be exploring them further, I love the idea aof a crisp suited man with a huge hawk or owl on his arm!
still working on the seamstress series, nearly there, Im really loving them but we will see what you all think once I post them xx

more brooches in progress

 

Still havent got around to finishing this weeks drawings but late last night started a couple of new brooches, Ive had some lovely feedback from  my etsy shop so Im hoping they sell soon! 

I have also finished 2 of the 3 sewn collages from the seamstress drawings I have been working on, I dont want to post till they all done so hopefully will get the third finished this week, although its half term so we will see!!

new brooches

 

Two new embroideries! I wanted to make something with the embroidery Ive been doing that was easy to sell/ give as gifts. Im really happy with the result, I love the scribbles of thread to block in the birds.

Ive got a few more planned for weekend, I will try a few more flocks, I love the jumble of birds but I may also try some lone birds and I feel a change brewing.......Ive been thinking more and more about insects!! I may have to explore an old love of all things crawly and small but definatly not creepy!

I am going to put brooches in my etsy shop for weekend and see if there's any interest check out my shop and pass along to anyone you think may be interested http://www.etsy.com/shop/jennymccabe

A little behind with my daily drawings this week so may not post till tomorrow but I will try later when kids all settled 

Half term next week!!!!!!!!! I always dread them, not because  I dont love spending time with my family, but its just hard work with everyone out of routine and ( under my feet!!) there I said it, maybe now Ive admitted it the week wont be so bad!

finally started

I have finally decided how these works should exist!!! i did start painting them in oils, and may finish at least one off for practice, but it never sat right with me, the compositions and ideas excited me but the medium did not for some reason!
I have been doing all these embroidered pieces and not really understanding how they should be displayed, finally the 2 problems came together in my mind to lead me to the idea of making a larger embroidered drawing, layered with the naturally dyed fabrics Ive been creating, and stretch the finished piece over a frame so it looks like a stretched canvas! perfect way of displaying work and a perfect marriage of mediums for the content of the work!!!! Im pleased with the part Ive done so far, (this piece has another figure behind her left shoulder) really love the look of line drawing with stitch.
will post when nearer completion.
A weight has lifted from my shoulders, for now !
in the words of Hannibal "I love it when a plan comes together!"

Small birds

These are quite small pieces compared to the other work this week, Im really like them but struggling to find a way of the existing i.e how to display them or are they part of some structure or book or larger piece?????? don't know and its getting me down .....having a bit of a whats the point few days!!!
think its just because we skint and so i feel eternally guilty for having fun creating when I could be earning money somehow!!!
heyho, Im sure it will pass, I think tomorrows creative slot has to be spent getting something sell-able made! xx

More of Florence

Two more pieces about Florence, here she has caged birds and a goose. Not sure how to display these, I think in mounts and behind glass but will experiment over weekend.

Florence offers birds

After a week of illness I think Im making up for my feeling of lack of productiveness!
Meet Florence, she is a layered freehand machine embroidery, I love her shape she is the larger girl Ive been after for a while I think Ive cracked it. I used some scarps of the rust dyed fabric for the birds and hair and her dress is tea stained.
x

the first of my daily drawing posts

 Here is the first of my weekly posts with 6 selected drawings from this weeks daily drawing practice!

Ive decided to just share 6 each week

A- because it looks nice like this

B- because it gives me the freedom to do more than one a day or none if i cant get to a piece of paper!

C- its a nice way to review work at the end of the week and showing them together like this may mean i see links i wasn't aware of !

all shots were taken in different lighting states but i don't mind, its quite interesting to see how they look next to each other.

I am defiantly trying to look at human figures as well as my bird love, I want to really push my style and free up my creative juices, so I stop worrying whether or not it looks like a person or if its something my school art teacher would like !!!!! because thats not always a good thing!

Im very happy with this weeks progress, roll on the next 51 weeks!! xxxx

Review of 2009

1. tweet, 2. basket of eggs - youngsters series, 3. basket of birds - youngsters series, 4. hunting owl - youngsters series, 5. huntsmens chorus, 6. wagtaills landscape, 7. bird on a wire, 8. bucket of eggs sketch, 9. New baby final, 10. Nesting, 11. Bird in hand, 12. Wren pages, 13. made up bird on text, 14. Drying prints, 15. girl bird kneeling, 16. newspaper sketch, 17. bird bath final, 18. dolls raw, 19. big bird, 20. crouching bird, 21. sketch, 22. Mother & Child 3, 23. Mother & Child 2, 24. painted piggy back, 25. Proud Mums, 26. Bird doll with dress, 27. Proud couple, 28. basket of birds, 29. nightingale head, 30. bride heads, 31. stiched bird brides, 32. bird in hand skectch, 33. drying prints, 34. test bird head, 35. Test bird heads, 36. birds on wire

Inspired by Cathy’s end of year mosaic I have compiled my own, I was feeling the need to reflect on my work ready to move forward into the New Year. Thanks to Cathy for great inspiration and a fantastic link into the wonderful world of Flickr.

Over the last few months I have been more productive than in 10 years, It has been exciting to explore ideas quickly for a change. I am still struggling to except that I work better on mixed media pieces and I need to let go my obsession with painting as an exclusive medium and develop ideas and techniques further.

New year plan

 2010 to be the year of direction.

Daily sketches, Focused on the figure and scenarios.

More sewing, developing ideas and small projects

Collaboration with Claire Pickles on a textiles project……watch this space.

Continue to do what ever takes my fancy!

Maybe try to sell a little more so as to fund my projects (but not get stressed about it!)

It has been a great year for me in many ways, but certainly creatively its been the best for a very long time, more of this please, roll on 2010 xxx