Sophie Douglas and The Arts School
East Sussex based artist, photographer and art teacher. Inspiration, Education, Wellbeing
Whilst on a train to London, I explored my camera app called Slow Shutter developed by Cogitap Softwear. I ran the images through Snapseed developed by Nik Softwear, then put them into a 4 square collage on pic stitch developed by Big Blue Clip.
What do you think?
© http://www.sophiemayer.com 2015
©http://aphotographaday2014.wordpress.com/
©http://littlestoriesbysophie.wordpress.com
If you would like to use or share my images, please contact me directly, thanks for looking!
Today I met up with an old friend that has also moved to East Sussex. We explored old Hastings and it’s amazingly eclectic shops.
You can find anything here, from the practical, to religious, to the macabre!
And a special mention to A.G. Handy Homestore. A truly beautifully designed store! (And thank you for letting me take some photographs!)
© http://www.sophiemayer.com 2015
©http://aphotographaday2014.wordpress.com/
©http://littlestoriesbysophie.wordpress.com
If you would like to use or share my images, please contact me directly, thanks for looking!
© http://www.sophiemayer.com 2015
©http://aphotographaday2014.wordpress.com/
©http://littlestoriesbysophie.wordpress.com
If you would like to use or share my images, please contact me directly, thanks for looking!
©www.sophiemayer.com
©http://aphotographaday2014.wordpress.com/
©http://littlestoriesbysophie.wordpress.com
If you would like to use or share my images, please contact me directly, thanks for looking!
It’s slow steps but finally getting the new studio sorted!
©www.sophiemayer.com
©http://aphotographaday2014.wordpress.com/
©http://littlestoriesbysophie.wordpress.com
If you would like to use or share my images, please contact me directly, thanks for looking!
Mingei: Are You Here? Is the current exhibition at Pace London, open till January 18th. Situated in trendy Soho (Lexington Street) this gallery space is on the first floor, you have to be buzzed into the building (into a slightly run down stairwell), and follow the signs. This type of space I find hard to negotiate. It feels intimidating, from the access, to the security guard standing sentry in the echoey space, to the helpful when asked but really uninterested in my presence gallery worker. Who is the exhibition for? Who would go there? It seems like a space for people in the know. It isn’t a place I would normally go, but pleased I did, having no knowledge of Mingei, I found the exhibition interesting and enlightening, as well as aesthetically gorgeous.
A bit of background:
THE MEANING OF “MINGEI”
The word mingei, meaning art of the people, was coined by a revered Japanese philosopher named Sōetsu Yanagi. As a young man living in Korea in the early 1920s, he was taken with the timeless beauty of Yi dynasty (1392-1910) pottery—a simple, rustic type made in numberless quantities over the centuries. Used for everything from tea cups to kimchi jars, the pottery was everywhere and taken for granted.
(Quote from https://www.mingei.org/about/history-of-mingei/)br />
The exhibition places a range of work to put forward the discussion of the craft movement Mingei, developed in the 1920-30’s. It has reference to the arts and crafts movement, Art Deco, constructivism, minimalism. It is about functionality and form. You can see the blend of Eastern and Western art and design practises. The exhibition for me raises the question of the functionality of art, how form and function blend, usefulness of objects. I was unaware that I didn’t consider Japanese art to be influenced by Western art, but I am very aware of a range of famous Western Artists being influenced by Japanese, one if those thoughts that didn’t really cross my mind but makes me happy that there is this exchange between different Arts and Crafts and Folk Arts movements.
If you are interested in Arts and Crafts, Folk Art, Japanese influences, or just want to see a little exhibition that is a bit different, I would highly recommend it, just don’t get intimidated by the space.
Further references:
V & A
Wikipedia
Yakimono.net
Images taken with permission by gallery and for educational use only.
©www.sophiemayer.com
This New Years is different from any other, because this New Years really is a new start.
At the end of November by husband had a heart transplant after just over two years waiting, and three years of being unwell. He is doing great and hoping to be home next week. In the time he was in hospital his nurses taught me to knit and crochet, and I met amazing people.
We have moved to Sussex, and I have my own studio, something I always dreamed of.
What am amazing way to start a new life in a new beautiful place!
Others things I am grateful for this year:
Got to see loved friends get married
Got a to meet friends baby’s who are healthy and gorgeous
Got to see art, music, sport, theatre, and eat some great food
Re confirmed how amazingly wonderful and support my family and friends are.
My end of year thoughts are as follows:
How do you verbalise/articulate gratitude?
Gratitude to the stranger that donated their organs, and the sadness that another family is in grief, a grief we understand slightly having been so close so many times.
Gratitude to the doctors, surgeons, perfusionists, intensivists, anaesthetists, pharmacists, nurses, sisters, matrons, health care assistance,physiotherapists, speech and language therapists,porters , cleaners, caterers, and everyone at Papworth Hospital for saving my husband so many times, for caring so many times, for being amazing and inspiring, kind and loving.
Gratitude that we live in this country with our amazing NHS, I’m not sure I would still have a husband in another country.
Gratitude to our friends and family for being so supportive over the past 3 years
Gratitude for the strangers that we have met in this process. We hope you stay life long friends, and hope we get to watch you all have full and amazing lives!
For 2015:Continue reading “End of 2014”
This work is created by Sophie Mayer
©www.sophiemayer.com
The joy of being an artist is when I get to learn a new skill or two in unlikely places.
As mentioned before, my husband and I are on a long road of waiting in a hospital. He needs a new heart. We are now in critical care at Papworth hospital, he is doing really well, but we are not leaving till he has had a transplant, and it could be a long wait.
So what do I do to pass the time? I can to photograph because he doesn’t want me to, I can’t draw and paint because I am seriously messy, so what to do?
Well I am learning to knit and crochet because I found my grant hers knitting bag!
It’s great therapy, meditation, time wasting, and creating. When I get asked what I am making I say it depends on how long we are here, I hope it doesn’t end as a giant blanket!
Nurses are dropping by to give me lessons and tips. It is very enjoyable in a world that could be very sad.
My lesson to pass on today is to go get yourself a handbag project that teaches you something new, and gives your something nice to touch.
God bless, be happy. Xx
©www.sophiemayer.com
©http://aphotographaday2014.wordpress.com/
©http://littlestoriesbysophie.wordpress.com
If you would like to use or share my images, please contact me directly, thanks for looking!
I have been very quiet for a while due to my husband being unwell, and us trying to move to the country and start a better life. It is tough having a love one sick.
Today’s mission is to come up with ways of staying positive in the face of horrendous reality. I know we are not the only ones in this situation, even if it sometimes feels like we are.
Sitting here I started scrolling through the pictures on my iPad and a few mad me smile, so I share them with you.
The first is that amazing, enthusiastic, innocent love from animals as well as the basic pleasure of going to a work in the snow.
the second makes me think of the potential for excitement, exhilaration, and laughter.
and the third and last is an image I took in a Dubia years ago, it reminds me that part of life is being at the right place at the right time, the love and support of my friends and family, and is just such a kissable mouth, even if it is a camel!.
If anyone has any top tips for getting through long stays hospitals both for the patient, and for the visitors, it would be much appreciated!
©www.sophiemayer.com
©http://aphotographaday2014.wordpress.com/
©http://littlestoriesbysophie.wordpress.com
If you would like to use or share my images, please contact me directly, thanks for looking!
Sophie Douglas and The Arts School 