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Meet the Artist - Ruth Molloy

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Ruth at work in her studio

 

 

 

Our latest interview is with Ruth Molloy, whose work we are currently showing at cambridge contemporary art for the first time. Ruth is a Bristol-based artist and designer who creates lovely unique rustic sculptures and wall hangings in steel. Each of these are hand-painted with a beautiful rusted patina and then sealed with a satin finish. Ruth hand-finishes every piece so no two are ever the same. The wall pieces come with little copper spacers to hold them out a little from the wall creating a lovely shadow. In addition to her steel artwork, Ruth also creates paintings and limited edition giclee prints of her paintings.

 

How do you go about starting a new painting?

I usually work from a memory of my childhood that has some meaning to me. My family spent their weekends outdoors and I spent a lot of my weekends by the sea or in a boat on Lough Derg in Ireland. My Dad always had a pair of binoculars in the car and he taught us how to look, just to look around and notice things. Birds on the shoreline or a cloud on a headland.

Steel trees, birds, hares and chicken

 

 

When did you start making your steel sculptures and how do they relate to the rest of your work?

In 2013 I changed direction away from painting for a year. This was due to health reasons and from this difficult period emerged a new style of work that I continue to explore. I'm always doodling in my sketch book and I translate these doodles into a vector drawing for the steel cutters to use. My work combines digital technology and rusted patina which creates a style of sculpture that is both unusual and contemporary. My paintings of birds and wind blown trees influence the designs and I've spent a lot of time researching different techniques and finishes to produce something a bit different. The shadow is an integral part of the piece as it shortens and lengthens in daylight and looks stunning when lit by candlelight.

Steel trees

How did your art career get started?

I started my career as a graphic designer and in 2005 took the plunge to try my hand at painting. As I was familiar with having lots of projects on the go at once I still work like this and jump from designing sculptures to publishing cards and painting. When I get stuck in one I can slide across to something else so I feel I’m always busy and creating.

 

Which artists do you admire ?

At the moment I really love the work of Karine Leger. She was also a graphic designer before becoming a painter. Her work reminds me of the beautiful rock formations in the Burren Co. Clare in Ireland. My early work was similar in palette and theme but I didn’t have the confidence as an artist then.

 

How do you see your work evolving in the future?

In the future my plan is to collaborate with interior designers and architects to explore the possibilities of combining technology with traditional mediums in art to create something new.

Ruth at work in her studio


Ruth's work on display in the gallery

 

Passion Flower Wall Piece

 

 

Passion Flower Wall Piece Detail

 

Crab and Lobster Panel

 

Crab and Lobster Panel Detail

 

Meet the artist - Gael Sellwood

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We are pleased to introduce you to Gael Sellwood. Gael has created a series of paintings for our current Spring exhibition.

We discovered Gael's work at the Cambridge Botanic Gardens, Gael is a RHS gold medal winning botanical and natural history artist who creates highly detailed work. She captures the beautiful but often ephemeral natural objects around us. To find out more about Gael and her paintings, we asked her a few questions:

 

How do you go about starting a new painting?


I am largely colour and texture driven.  By this I mean that the subject – whether a flower, insect, shell or feather - feels right and seems to speak to me until I take it into the studio to start work on it.  I usually have an idea of how a finished piece will look.  I also develop a feel for the layout as I want to recreate a place or a season on the paper simply with the natural objects I find around.

Gael at her desk

Sign of the Times September 

How did you get started with your art career?


I loved biology and art at school.  I especially loved going on a nature walk and gathering small natural objects, plants and flowers and bringing them back to place on the nature table.  We were encouraged to look at the textures and colours and I always felt a connection with the objects.  After leaving school I did an evening class in botanical drawing at Capel Manor College.  It created similar feelings for me to those evoked by the nature table.  I was hooked. To start with I worked part time as a painter whilst having a full time day job.  Over the past few years painting (and some teaching of the subject) has been my main occupation.

 

What is your preferred medium to use?


I LOVE watercolour; especially wet into wet.  I love the slightly uncontrolled aspect of watercolour and how you cannot quite predict the result you will get.  I have been using watercolour for years now, having used oils and pastels at school.  Recently I have been using very strongly pigmented paints and also natural mineral paints, just mixed with glycerin and gum arabic.  These contribute to the resulting colours and textures on paper.

 

What are you currently inspired by?


Colour and texture.  Oh and the seasons.  I love the idea that you can take the viewer to a hedgerow with some primroses and pussy willow, or to a bed in the garden, perhaps tended by a much loved older relative just with a full blown rose on paper.  I am also slightly pre-occupied by the thought of plants that we just cannot manage without.  This is an idea that is just beginning to take shape in my mind.  I will see where it leads but no doubt it will go somewhere.

My Heart Rests in the Garden

Enduring love

My Heart's Beside the Sea

Which other artists do you admire?


I love the clever sparseness of printmaking, especially the work of Angie Lewin and Angela Harding.  My most revered painter is Rory McEwen.  I also admire the work of Albrecht Durer, especially his great piece of turf.  I love the rich colours and patterns of Gustav Klimt

 

Could you describe a typical working day?


When in my studio I start by lighting the woodburner and tuning in the radio or getting an audio book ready.  I then wander round our 3½ acre conservation garden, wood and paddock for inspiration and ideas.  The weather, the light and what I find all play a part in deciding what to do. I then go back into the studio and start with a light line drawing.  Colour and form come next, usually working wet into wet. While topping up the woodburner and listening to the radio or a book, I become engrossed in my work.  The studio has no computer or telephone so I can work for several hours without interruption.  I usually have lots of short breaks though just to keep the work fresh and to make sure my neck doesn't get too stiff.

 

How do you see your work evolving in the future?


Even when I am not in the studio I am thinking about painting.  I may be driving and the wayside plants make me think about compositions or other ideas.  Cuttings from magazines might show combined colours that I think will work well on the paper.  I am interested in developing some work that combines contrasting textures, shapes and colours.  At the moment I am luxuriating in thinking about them. The planning work will take shape this Spring, in between exhibiting and running a few workshops.

 

Meet the artist - Mani Parkes

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We are delighted to introduce you to Mani Parkes. Mani has created a series of paintings for our current 'Art For The Heart' exhibition.

We first discovered Mani's work after seeing one of her paintings on Facebook, and thought her work would be perfect for our exhibition. Each of her pieces are delicately painted, and give a glimpse into the lives of her characters. To find out more about Mani and her paintings, we asked her a few questions:

How do you go about starting a new painting?

If I'm creating work for a specific gallery I like to find inspiration from the local area. I love looking for quirky buildings, landscapes, distinctive features and characters. I find Pinterest is a great source of inspiration. Once I have an idea, I draw a simple doodle in my sketchbook, jotting down ideas as I go. As soon as I'm happy with the sketch I embark on the actual painting.

Sealed with a Kiss

Be My Valentine

Be My Valentine

Guest of Honour

How did you get started with your art career? 

For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to be an artist. My mum has often told me that as soon as I could hold a pencil all I ever wanted to do was draw. As a small child I remember receiving a tin of Reeves watercolour paints for Christmas and it felt like the best present in the world, I can still remember the smell of the paint. 

What is your preferred medium to use?

 I love using Acrylics as they dry very quickly and I’m impatient to add all the tiny details to my pictures. I like to use muted colours building up the layers as I go.

A Lovely Cup of Tea

Love is in the Air

What are you currently inspired by?

At the moment I am inspired by the beautiful county of Dorset. I have lots of lovely photographs and memories from our summer holiday. The charming landscape, beautiful thatched cottages and our children playing on the windswept beaches are an endless source of inspiration.

Which other artists do you admire?

I admire so many artists, Elaine Pamphilon, Dee Nickerson, Emma McClure, Mary Newcomb, Mary Fedden, James Newton Adams and Gary Bunt to name but a few.

Could you describe a typical working day? 

After the school run I cycle home and pop the kettle and the radio on, sitting at my living room table, I turn my simple sketchbook doodles into cheerful paintings. My bulldog Florence is never far away, giving me moral support and snoring very loudly! I paint until my family arrives home. I check my emails in the evening and have a peek at all the lovely artists on Facebook.

'Art for The Heart', Exhibition, Cambridge Contemporary Art

Art for the Heart exhibition

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Whether you are looking for some beautiful handmade gifts to spoil your loved ones this February or just for a heartwarming break from winter, our gallery is the place to be!

  cambridge contemporary art will make your heart beat faster with vivid drypoints of hearts and lovebirds by Richard Spare and delicate butterfly collages by Joseph Silcott. We are sure you will also fall in love with the work of two newcomers to our gallery: Gael Sellwood’s beautiful botanical watercolours and Mani Parkes’ charming Valentine-themed acrylic paintings. Or perhaps you have your heart set on Helen Martino’s elegant ceramic sculptures, Gwili’s colourful heart-decorated pottery, or Timea Sido’s distinctive tangled ceramics. McNeill’s glassware with abstract heart motifs make a lovely Valentine’s gift too, as do Helen Russell’s cute sculptures of clay and wood.

To be one of the first to see all the wonderful new work arriving every day at the gallery, see our facebook page and twitter page