New exhibtion

June 14, 2018June 14, 2018 | LCillustrates

I am delighted to say that I have a new exhibition at Anna Mather’s new hair salon in Haddington. Anna has opened a fantastic new salon in the heart of Haddington. Anna is an amazing hair dresser and has a very dedicated team.

As well as being a amazing place to get your hair done, it is a beautiful space, with high lofty ceilings, fantastic light and plenty of space to show work. Anna wanted to keep a industrial and contemporary feel to the look of the salon, so it was my job to create work that would provide a good hit of colour and some pieces that reflected Annas personality.

Building on three previous illustrations I made whilst listening to music I decide to add two more to create a set of five to sit along the staircase as you come up into the main salon space. Using bright bold colours that sat well together and would visually jump of the wall was a important part of the design. They are hung opposite to where the clients will sit, allowing them to be reflected in the mirrors, feeling as though they are covering more than just one wall in the salon.

I designed two separate prints which were based on my experience of meeting Anna over the last several months. Anna strikes me as a very determined and strong willed character who is always up for a good laugh and is welcoming and is very passionate about her work. I felt that puns would sit well and would bring a fun light hearted feel. Using ‘Carpe Diem’ and ‘where there is a will there is a way’ as my two main quotes I created the two illustrations. These sit in the space where clients will have their hair coloured.

The main opening night for the salon is on Saturday the 16th June and I am looking forward to going along and see the space all finished in its final glory.

Thank you Anna for having my work in your space, and I look forward to discussing the next exhibition with you.

All prints are available for purchase, please send me a e-mail if you wish to purchase one at lauracaveillustrations@gmail.com

All prints are done on a print to order basis, so can take up to 14 days turnaround, not including postage time.

Artlink commission: part three

March 22, 2018March 28, 2018 | LCillustrates

As the commission comes to a close I am looking back at the artworks that have been created and the relationships formed during the process.

During vists to the Glasshouses based at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital I met many lovely and talented artists.

Works of one partcilaur artists drew me, I got lost in looking at their work, the endless lines, the prescion and the way they were executed. A collaboration between them and myself occurred oragaincally during one studio session. A easel sat upon the desk with a large piece of paper tentively stuck on. The paper looked vast but invited marks to be made. The artist is mainly nonverbal, the whole piece was created through a silent communication, where I took the lead from the artist. Taking a pen they started to make small drawings in different areas of the paper, they all appeared to sit alone, floating with no correlation to each other, rich in overlapping lines, delicate forms were created. Looking to me and nodding towards the paint, together we made cardboard tools to make marks with. As the paint went onto the paper it started to unite the piece together, dabbing and dragging the paint across the page brought a sense of flow to the image. The artist sat back and nodded to indicate they were done and it was now time for them to leave.

Contuning the collaborative process and with the artists permission I took a form created in the large piece and made a illustration to respond to the process of creating the large work together.

Togther it was named Pylons. By repeating the form in paper cut outs I wished to echo the feeling of repetition in the marks and lines made in the larger piece.

The works are exhibited in the Western General in Edinburgh until the close of March.

ArtLink commission part two.

March 20, 2018April 10, 2018 | LCillustrates

The ArtLink commission involved working on individual collaborations with staff and patients. This was a really interesting way of working, sharing ideas, creative concepts and getting to know one another so the finished product reflected all involved in the process.

One collaboration with local photographer SJ, was a visual exploration of escapism through art and music. The collaboartion resulted in a temporary exhibition in a centre which offers mental health services in Edinburgh.

In conversation SJ stated why she chose the locations and what photography means to her. , “I chose these locations as they have strong leading lines. I find a certain peace and calm in these types of places and photography give me a sense of escapism. It allows me to focus on the moment and be creative. Photography has been a good outlet for me allowing me to express thoughts and feeling that I find hard to explain.”

On display are illustrations that I created in response to SJ’s story, particularly how she creates her own work, through a process where music plays an integral role. After SJ shared her playlist with me, I created abstract ink drawings in response to certain pieces of music and the visual narratives they inspired.

Playlist:

Linkin Park – In the End

The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work

Linkin Park – Numb

Panic! At the Disco – Nicotine

Stereophonics – Local Boy In the Photograph

U2 – Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own

The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony

Oasis – Champagne Supernova

Radiohead – Creep

The Waterboys – The Whole of the Moon

U2 – With or Without You

Radiohead – High and Dry

Radiohead – No Surprises

Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

Puddle of Mudd – Blurry

Muse – Dead Inside

This collaboration is a development of work created for the Staff and Patient Open Show 2018, which is currently on display in the gallery at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. Newly commissioned by Artlink, I invited individuals to explore the theme of escapism through mark-making, line and pattern in composing works of art, bringing a linking thread through the overall exhibition.

Artlink commission part one

March 16, 2018June 14, 2018 | LCillustrates

For the past four months I have had the pleasure of being commissioned by Artlink to work with staff and patients from the Royal Edinburgh hospital, Western General, St Johns and the Royal Infirmary. Part of this commission was to set a theme and create a exhibition of staff and patients work with my own working sitting alongside it.

As a part of the process I got to enter into the NHS archives at Edinburgh University. I read so many fascinating stories of patients and staff, their relationships and how the NHS looked over 100 years ago.

Combining historical narratives and modern narratives there appeared to be a common thread. The process of creating art appeared to be a form of escapism, whether it was to relax after a long shift or a way to come together in open studio sessions to socialise and share ideas.

Combining my research and experience of meeting people, I created a narrative that depicts a blackbird finding a thread. The blackbird was chosen based on research where in the 1800’s several patients took to birdwatching or collecting images of birds to pass their time whilst in hospital. I kept a record of the birds I saw as I travelled to the hospitals, and the blackbird made the most appearances. The blackbird takes the thread and passes it to another blackbird. The idea reflects the coming together of people to share ideas over coffee and tea, ideas being formed and coming into being.

I feel very lucky to have met so many different people from so many different walks of life. Hearing their stories, ideas being shared, watching art works come to life and the how the process brings people together, the artwork becoming the common thread.

The exhibition is now open to the public in The Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, in the link corridor, from the Anne Ferguson building to the Andrew Duncan building.

More images to come after official opening in a few weeks time.