Cat painting

V&A drawing

I finally did a drawing of one my favourite views in London - the view from the balcony of the Medieval and Renaissance Gallery at the V&A. With its classical sculptures, ornate doorways and working fountain, it feels a courtyard in Florence - albeit one just off the Cromwell Road.

London collages

All 2013, each 21 x 14.8cm

Framed silks

Someone who bought some of my silks has had them framed, and kindly sent me some pics. I'm thrilled with the results. I've always loved framed fabrics, from Victorian samplers to needlepoint pictures. So much thought, care and time is invested in these fabrics; the frame seems to heighten how precious they are. I usually show my work unframed, I love how the fabric moves of its own accord. But looking at these pics I could get used to frames too.

Barbican Conservatory

Pencil on paper, 29.7 x 42 cm

Barbican conservatory is one of my favourite places in London. A palm house perched on top of a concrete tower block, it feels a bit like stepping into a JG Ballard book. One where the plants are the victors. I drew this pic as a wedding gift for my pals Karen and Charlie. They have just moved back to London from Africa, so a city jungle felt just about right.

Super Natural install shots

The install shots from my recent show, Super Natural, at Islington Arts Factory.

Super Natural works

Here are images of all the works from my recent Super Natural show. All works are 140 x 140cm, and silk, paint, burn holes.

The Story is This


Please Tell Me


Weeping Widow


Close up

Golden Veil


Cold Kisses


Speak to Me


Private View


The Figure in the Gallery


Close up

Vanishing Tam

Super Natural, Islington Arts Factory, May 23rd - June 6th

The time has come. To mark the end of my residency at Islington Arts Factory, I will be showing the fruits of my labour in a show entitled Super Natural from May 23rd to June 6th. The private view is on Friday 23rd May 6-9pm. All invited; 2 Parkhurst Road, N7 0SF. Press release below and I hope to see you there.

PRESS RELEASE

Islington Arts Factory (IAF) is pleased to announce "Super Natural" by Henry Blackshaw, the first exhibition in our artist residency programme. Henry has been the IAF's artist in residence from September 2013 to May 2014.

"Super Natural" presents Henry's work on narratives surrounding ghosts, spirits and poltergeists, and their parallels with our notions of art. All of the works have been made whilst Henry has been in residence.

The world of ghosts and spectres has more in common with the nature of art than might first appear the case. Thinking about the archetypal ghost story in relation to art might help shed light, like the flicker of a lone candle, on the similarities. The story goes that a ghost, a strange representation of something not there, appears to the lone, vulnerable viewer. It will be silent or mouth a message which we cannot hear. We are pinned to the spot, rendered speechless by this rift in how we perceive the world. The encounter will always be a deeply personal one. We only see the ghosts that we want to see, they exist in the eye of the beholder, and so we can never be sure if they are real or have been cooked up by some lowlife fraudster.

It is by thinking about these stories, by substituting the ghost for an artwork, that Henry has tried to glimpse at some of the traits at the heart of an artwork. In some cases he has overlaid ghost-lore onto art in an attempt to summon a ghost on silk.

For the last four years Henry has worked on silk and his project on ghosts grew organically from his experience with his materials. “I’ve always thought that my silks have a ghostly quality to them. They move by their own accord when caught by the wind or someone walks past them. And effectively they’re just a sheet with some holes in.”

Henry has largely developed his own techniques for working on silk. The works are made with a combination of fabric dyes, fabric paints, screen printing, gutta lines, burn holes, and are steamed, stretched, washed and ironed.

Henry (b. 1979) studied fine art at Chelsea College of Art and Design as a part-time student. His first degree was in German & History from the University of Birmingham. In 2013 he was selected to show at Futuremap, the UAL's annual survey of graduate talent. You can see more of his work at www.henryblackshaw.blogspot.com. Please follow him on Twitter at @henryblackshaw.

The Islington Arts Factory was founded in 1977. It is the only multi-arts community centre in the London Borough of Islington and provides over fifty educational courses in art, dance and music for children and adult learners. Online at http://islingtonartsfactory.org/; on twitter at @IAFholloway.

Silk Drawings

Studies for works that I'll be showing on May 23rd. More info to follow soon.

Vanishing Tam

140 x 140cm; silk, paint, burn holes.
I'll get there one day with photographing the back lighting..

Silk drawings

Drawing, drawing, drawing, trying to get my work how I want it in time for my show in May. Arghh.

The Figure in the Gallery

140 x 140 cm; Silk, paint, burn holes

Arnold Circus

Leaving gift for Seb and Iz. Will always think of them when I'm at Arnold Circus.