I have been working on getting together a decent amount of small affordable items to sell as I think they will be more appealing at this sort of event. I am currently working on 3 more magnetic shopping pads and a hardback note-book. I have ordered plenty of new cellophane bags in which to display and sell these and am waiting for their delivery.

These are the ones I have already created and I have since made a few more in a similar style. If I don’t sell them all at the weekend I will be putting them up on my Etsy shop and my personal website too.

Painted all over with a metallic blue acrylic paint, I then glued some metallic blue cord in a spiral shape and filled each segment with various beads and dots of acrylic white paint. It was only when I’d uploaded it and was varnishing it, however, that I noticed it bears a resemblance to a collaboration painting done by fellow RGC artists Kosana Marton and Andrea Farmer. I must have had the image of their painting in my sub-conscious mind for ages without realising it!

Here is my latest creation, “Mutable Cell I”. It is 7 x 5 inches.

I think it rather resembles “Sensuality” -which can be seen here on the RGC website. Although that was not my intention as I started creating this piece, it shows what an impact art has on you whether you are aware of it or not.

Prepared background for Amanda

I painted this using a plastic palette knife. I deliberately left a small area either side of the crimson red strip strip down the middle of the painting as bare canvas. I painted lamp black at the top and bottom edges of the canvas, then used a “shimmering red” interference acrylic medium, which gives different effects depending on how you use it. It has created a pinkish hue on the black areas, but I have a feeling it will change even more as Amanda creates the foreground layer. I am really looking forward to how she treats this one and wonder if she is wishing I’d done a more traditional landscape instead!

No doubt Amanda will report back when she has finished it. I am hoping Kos gets her background painting soon, too – I posted it yesterday so it shouldn’t take too long to get to her.

I love the freedom you get when working on a collaboration – not sure if I prefer painting the background or the foreground, but either way, it’s a really exciting way of creating something. You can see the rest of the Rogue Gene Collective’s Collaborative Artworks here and by browsing through the individual members’ galleries.

I was originally thinking about giving Amanda something that would tie in with her usual style, but decided to give her a bit of a challenge instead – it will more than likely end up being an abstract piece of art as far as I can tell.  Photo to follow next week!

Next collaboration back-ground is for Kos.

I will be writing about the weekend in more detail on my personal blog soon, once this nice weather has gone!

Mike's Work

The Rogue Gene Collective is a small group of artists who are committed to helping each other attain a higher level of visibility for their work. We do this by networking; pooling resources, information, knowledge and contacts. There are currently seven members, and four guest artists

As a group we hold exhibitions all over the country acting as agents, couriers and publicists for each other. Our aim is to offer a wide variety of quality original artwork to the collector, occasional buyer or corporate buyer.

This exhibition is a rare opportunity for the group to come together in person to exhibit a comprehensive collection of original quality work, representing some of the best competitively priced contemporary artwork available. There will also be a special stand showing a selection of collaborations between the group members. This is a new and unique idea where two artists have worked together to create an original artwork.

The exhibition will be on Sunday 16th May at Pinder Hall, Lower Road, Cookham, SL6 9EH. Amanda Hunt, Andrea Farmer, Helen Davison, Kos Marton and Rob Kirbyson will all be available throughout the day to answer any questions or just for a chat.

Cookham is a small village on the banks of the Thames just off Junction 4 on the M40, and Junction 8/9 of the M4. Why not come for the day – a visit to the exhibition can easily be combined with a stroll along the river and maybe a pub lunch in one of the many small local country pubs. Entrance is free and the event is suitable for all the family.

Geranium Mini Art and Trinket Box

I have recently completed another in my series of mini artworks and matching trinket boxes. The latest addition is based on one of my very early paintings (Variegated Geranium Leaves) and I have concentrated solely on the leaf of the geranium plant for the design. The background of both the min canvas and the trinket box have been painted with a mixture of burnt umber and orange to give a deep rusty orange shade overall. The easel has been painted in sap green to tie in with the green along the stem of the geranium leaf. The trinket box is decorated in the same way, with a brown felt lining added to it and funky foam feet attached underneath to prevent any scratches on delicate surfaces. Both these items will be added to my Etsy Shop today, along with another one or two soon!

I am also working on a set of small paintings on box canvas all with a similar theme. The idea is that I paint an abstract landscape or seascape or any other imaginary scape, always incorporating the letter “H” somewhere in the painting. I will then be naming them “Aitch at the sea-side” or some such!