Ashwinstudio art blog

Visit to Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny

Ashley — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 09:13:15 +0000

Visiting, Impressionist artist, Monet’s garden in Giverny was like a pilgrimage to me. To see one of my favorite artist’s legacy – where he painted some of his most important works. Paintings, such as his water lilly series, that opened to the way to abstraction.

I must admit I did not expect the gardens or the house to live up to all the hype but I am delighted to to say they did! In fact, the gardens were one of our holiday highlights – my wife and my children loved it as much as me.

Anyway here a just a few of the pics I took:

Photos from exhibition at Williams Art, Cambridge

Ashley — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:08:34 +0000

Thought I would post a few photos of some of the sculpture and furniture from my Lost & Foundry 2 exhibition at Williams Art in Cambridge.

Yellow Hat – metal head sculpture

Ashley — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:00:49 +0000

This is a real fun piece and I really enjoyed making this. It is another sculpture that almost made it’s self – in that I looked at assortment of parts and see a hat, hair and a head. And it is always a good feeling to recycle found objects to create art.

Combine 1 – sculpture created from combine harvester

Ashley — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:55:23 +0000

Combine 1 is created from many blade holders originally used on a combine harvester. Four blades are welded together to create a diamond then the six diamonds are joined and finally mounted on the beech base. I recently exhibited it at my Lost & Foundry 2 exhibition at Williams Art in Cambridge.

Steel Life

Ashley — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:27:26 +0000

This sculpture is created from a collection of farm tools and parts that date back over a lifetime of work on the farm.

I am a huge fan of the late and great sculptor David Smith and based my dissertation on his and Caro’s work and methods. And I freely admit he has influenced much of my work.

Lost & Foundry 2 – Williams Art

Ashley — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:08:40 +0000

I am pleased to announce that I will be exhibiting again at Williams Art Gallery in Gwydir Street, Cambridge. All of the work, much of it new, is created from found objects and recycled materials. This includes sculpture and furniture.

“Ashley’s ability to see art, function and humour in discarded materials – and metalwork in particular – singles his work out from everybody else’s.”

This exhibition is for one week only.

Meet Ashley on Saturday 17th between 3 and 5pm.

Lean On Me – Sculpture in the Sanctuary

Ashley — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 08:55:13 +0000

Many people have asked what is the meaning behind Lean On Me. I prefer the viewer to find their own meaning but here is part of my thought process: This sculpture is metaphor for the unsung heroes – for the down trodden – the big, heavy and primary coloured red and yellow girders are supported by the smaller and calmer blue section. However, it is in fact the smallest and insignificant green (secondary colour) angle that holds the whole sculpture together.

Lean On Me is made from reclaimed scrap metal including RSJ beams and box section. This metal sculpture has been a labour of love, needing countless coats of car paint and lacquer. Not to mention the rubbing down between coats and masking off each section and the hastle of moving it. However, I am very happy with the end result and am looking forward to seeing it on show.

Trinity – Sculpture in the Sanctuary

Ashley — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:22:21 +0000

Of all the sculptures I have created, Trinity is one my favorite sculptures as it was a milestone in my development as an artist. I visualised it my head and then created it without drawings. The only real planning was to program the CNC to punch out the shapes. So it is great to Trinity in such beautiful landscape with a lake as a backdrop.

Ridger Bird – Sculpture in the Sanctuary

Ashley — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:15:23 +0000

I am pleased with how the Ridger Bird sculpture has been positioned beside the water.

This metal sculpture is created from farm implements; the tail is an old potato fork, the wings are skimmer points from a plough and the head is a ridger for earthing up potatoes.

Chair of Reflection – Sculpture in the Sanctuary

Ashley — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:52:34 +0000

Chair of Reflection on display in the glasshouse at Sculpture in the Sanctuary.