Studio Inspiration - Barbara Hepworth

You know when you walk into a gallery, or see a painting, or a studio or a pot and your heart flips? It doesn't happen often and I guess it shouldn't because we all interact to 'art' in different ways. 

I live near Dulwich Park which is just beautiful in its own right. Tucked on a curve on the path is a Barbara Hepworth sculpture. I make sure I walk past it every time we are there and it brings great pleasure.

We were in Cornwall last week, so top of the list was her studio and garden. It was a delight to see my mother break into a frenzy - literally filled up by the plants, and the light and the art. For me it was uplifting, inspiring (an overused word I know, although not as bad as 'love, love, love')and a chance to see another way of living.

A couple more pictures of the studio below (notice the painting that is a most excellent starting point for a quilt.

A tile designer who should inspire a new paint collection

See what I mean? Go here to see the complete collection.

Artisan No. 5 - Yishav Garbasv

Times are-a changing...... As we squeeze our way out of this recession, so many of our personal priorities are in perpetual adjustment. One of the most challenging will be the physical and emotional need to slow down. Where did zoom, zoom, zoom get us? About 5 years behind where we started it seems.

Slow food, slow living, slow fashion - all are bubbling up in importance . Lets get excited by artists and designers who look backwards, forwards and sideways in their approach and produce work that archives, curates and records the life of a product or idea.

Yisav Garbasv is a photographer who took the need to slow down literally and physically by using a bulky, large-format camera on her latest and emotional project.

In My Mother's Footsteps, is an exploration of the inheritance of memory, as well as a healing process. Garbasz retraced the steps of her mother across Europe during World War Two.

Often travelling on foot over long distances, having such a large camera forced her to stop and spend time at each location, letting the image come to her, opening herself and the lens to what was there. An emotive, inspiring journey that would never have happened without allowing herself to slow down.

Image from www.yishay.com

Artisan No. 4 – Catherine Cazalet

Last year I tore out a page of US Vogue and have kept it in my inspiration folder ever since. The article highlighted the work of Catherine Cazalet – a decorative painter who creates really beautiful screens and murals amongst other things. Beautifully simple, yet striking with fantastic colour combinations.

After art school and an apprenticeship at the Stirling Studio in London, she has been working for herself for the last four or so years. You can commission her directly here, or buy from Shop Curious.

She is inspired by the V & A and Charleston – my two favourite places in England so I imagine she would be very nice to be around.

To commission a bespoke piece - this is what makes home, well a home.

Artisan No. 3 – Justin Smith

Though his visual aesthetic is far from traditional, up-coming milliner Justin Smith revels in the traditional values and techniques of his trade whilst leading millinery into the realms of art and commerce.

Handcrafted his hats may be, but the Royal College of Art graduate has rethought the hat as sculpture, using his handcrafted skills to explore new proportions and unexpected materials.

Although a successful hairdresser, he began designing and making hats in 2000 while studying millinery part-time at night. In 2007 he graduated with an MA in Millinery from London's Royal College of Art, where his graduation show caught the eyes of those that mattered.

His star is rising with industry accolades including the Maria Luisa and i-D styling awards at ITS#6, as well as sponsorship at the Last London Fashion Week.

If you like Stephen Jones, you’ll be surprised by but love Justin Smith.

Artisan No. 2 - Matt Dwyer

'It takes all the running you can do to keep in the same place'. This is what you will find engraved on the lid of the silver teapot above. Created by Matt Dwyer, the little silver teapot was shown at the V & A's annual Collect exhibition in 2008. Fascinated with with idea of teatime as a ritual, he created a range that would captivate adults and children alike.

The range - entitled 'Curiouser, Curioser!' contains said teapot, cups and saucers (with curly wurly handled spoons Alice would cherish), sugar bowl and creamer, as well as a very beautiful tactile teabag. Crafted in silver and ebony and made for tiny hands, this teaset is handcrafted by an artisan and are objects of pure delight.

Artisan no. 1 – Sarah Cihat of Rehabilitated Dishware

Yes we are in a recession, but out of this recession is coming a most exciting time. Whether by financial necessity or just from frustration, there is a burst of creativity on the horizon. Even better is the rise of the new artisan. Making things that last are desired again. As is taking the idea of traditional craft (it’s not a dirty word) and giving it a modern spin.

Rehabilitated dishware by Sarah Cihat is such an enterprise. Sarah finds used or unwanted ceramics, adds quirky new designs and re-glazes them in contemporary colours. Each is unique and a truly lovely way of recycling.

She calls it an exercise in sustainability . I think its genius. Unfortunately only available in the States, her website www.sarahcihat.com is still worth visiting. Beautiful and thought provoking.