My studio – Page 20 – An artist's practice

Incredible

Yesterday I got an email alert from Kickstarter about a Cyan games project called Obduction. Cyan are the makers of computer games Myst and Riven which I had fun playing 10, 20 years ago. I immediately backed the project to get their new game even before I watched the video and read about the rewards for the various levels of pledges. I then had to change my pledge because further down the list I found the following:

Become the Artist ============================

Help us design an item in Obduction! Your personalized item has a chance to be seen by anyone playing Obduction. You’ll provide the look (some restrictions apply), and we will put your item in the game. Your name will also be in the “Additional Design” section of the credits. (+ all previous rewards)

So if the project goes ahead I get to design an ‘item’ in their new world, plus get the game, signed poster and postcards, t-shirt, book of design images and more! I do understand the wording which suggests that my ‘item’ may not necessarily be chosen to be front and centre of gameplay, and that I am paying for the privilege. But that’s a great challenge as far as I’m concerned, and I’ve always thought it would be fun to ‘collaborate’ with other visual artists/designers so this is an incredible, fun first step!

The Kickstarter project for Obduction has reached more than a third of its goal in 2 days so fingers crossed that it will go ahead!

Paying homage to a dead poinsettia

My poinsettia died. My mother had the poinsettia, then gifted her (the poinsettia) to me. I repotted her and she immediately became this crazy, quirky bonsai version of a poinsettia with tiny delicate leaves and gnarled branches. She was beautiful and gentle, and seemed strong and quite unique. My mother didn’t recognise her when she visited.

My poinsettia started dropping leaves and we recorded the exquisite form of the leaves, and I started painting them. We then went to Japan and when we came home my poinsettia had died. She died even before my mother came (after a few days) to water her.

A number of the works in my exhibition at the Ensemble Theatre pay homage to my poinsettia. I hope I have captured her spirit and made her larger than life. In the work ‘Centrepiece’, her leaves are permanently encased and protected. In ‘Yule (flor de Noche Buena), her colour is intensely and lavishly displayed. The irony of the ‘Fall Remnant’ paintings exhibits her on a big textured white stage. In ‘Kawaii charm (lucky blossoms)’ she is apotheosised and integrated into an ‘amulet’.

Detail: ‘Kawaii charm (lucky blossom)’

Detail: ‘Fall remnant (leaf)’

Detail: ‘Centrepiece’

Detail: ‘Yule (flor de Noche Buena)’