LUCY FIONA MORRISON - OIL PAINTER

''depicting the alluring romanticism of nature''

Having graduated from Norwich School of Art in 2010, I have pursued my passion for painting, working as a professional artist and painter in the UK. British landscapes, often depicting the alluring romanticism of nature are my inherent strand of oil works, created using traditional methods of paint-making and application.

Career highlights include exhibiting at The Other Art Fair, Bristol, Art Fair East, Norwich, The Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate, The Brick Lane Gallery, London. My paintings are represented by Gallery 104, New York, USA and held in private collections Internationally.

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INSTAGRAM

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ALEXI K - ABSTRACT ARTIST

''developing naturally towards abstraction''

Above: Woman Disrobing, Pen & Ink, 2013

After college, I started out doing figurative and illustrative art, and even got signed to a big agency, but I eventually realised that the kind of art that I wanted to explore had little to do with commercial considerations.

Above: Controlled Explosion, Acrylic on Canvas, 76cm x 101cm, 2015

Influenced by movements such as Cubism ( Picasso and Braque ), Bauhaus and the Dutch Avant-Garde ( Kandinsky and Mondrian ), I developed naturally towards abstraction. 

I share my studio with fellow painter Zarina Keyani, and we often use our wall space to exhibit work by friends from our art collective The Cobalt Blue.

Below: Studio Wall, also featuring work by Zarina Keyani ( bottom left and bottom right ).

Alexi has exhibited in Japan, Greece and the UK, and have clients in various parts of the USA.

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FACEBOOK

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INSTA

ZARINA'S HOMEPAGE

JOYCE TREASURE - MIXED MEDIA ARTIST

''a collection of mixed media drawings especially created for Birmingham Open Studios''

Having completed my first year as a mature student studying Black Studies at Birmingham City University, I feel the creative need to expand my studies into my artwork. 

Black identity is a theme that runs through my work, as I’m interested how as Black people we form a sense of who we are. 

Below: #7 in the Hymn series, graphite / mixed media / collage

Hymns is a collection of mixed media drawings especially created for Birmingham Open Studios: Portraits of civil right leaders and people that I have sourced from the internet have been drawn on to hymn pages. I use these portraits to splice cultural and iconic imagery together over symbols of power and hierarchy by using collage, graphite, ink and acrylic.

I am interested in making enquiries into our visual, historic backdrops; the examined and unexamined, the seen and the unseen. My work also uses symbols of colonialism to view how patriarchy often underpins and exploits society and how this too can influences our psyche.

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MAHESH CHAUHAN - LEATHER CRAFT

''It will take many years to be named a Master Craftsman, but that is OK with me''

I am Mahesh, Founder of Parshotam and Sons Ltd.  Parshotam was my Grandfathers name, pronounced Pur-sho-tum. 

It is with his background and our ancestor’s heritage of being cobblers, known as Mochi's within the Gujarat, India, that has inspired me to be an owner and creator of a brand. 

I graduated in 2007 from Coventry University in Graphic Design. I worked within the Graphics industry for twelve years, owned a business in the field for two years, and in between went backpacking around the world to six different countries in a year.   

That journey was the most inspiring for me, seeing Mother Nature, such beautiful cultures and experiencing different lifestyles that are unimaginable from the concrete jungle that we live in today. Suddenly my desire to find job satisfaction was at the forefront of every thought, footstep and experience. Graphic Design was no longer for me.

I believe my hands were designed to physically draw on paper, cut with blades and stitch with needles to create what I can only say is the most soul satisfying notion called Leather Craft, one of a few names given artisans in the trade. 

Traditional craft meets modern sensibility ( below ).

Since 2013 I’ve learnt the skills of saddle stitching, cutting, dying, studying hides of leather and its properties, pattern making and all the techniques used in the process of crafting leather goods with traditional tools.

It will take many years to be named a Master Craftsman, but that is ok with me because being the best at something means you've stopped learning. Change is the constant.

Mahesh on Instagram

STEPHEN EARL ROGERS - FIGURATIVE ARTIST

''a vivid sense of character and atmosphere''

Stephen Earl Rogers is an artist with work held in collections across the world. He is a highly sought-after portrait painter whose clients include international art collectors, public institutions, private individuals and families. 

Below: Portrait of Esther, Oil on A5 board

Working mainly in oils, he creates striking contemporary portraits through a highly collaborative process.  His work brings together a deep understanding of the traditions of portraiture with a very broad range of cultural references. Stephen's clients are drawn to a vivid sense of character and atmosphere and the clarity of colour and light present in all of his paintings.

Below: Miss Davies

Over the last decade Stephen has also created several collections of work that sit outside the parameters of portrait painting. His latest collection, the ‘Stirchley Twitcher’, brings together images of birds in their natural habitat with a rich and varied range of representations from different cultural contexts, including tapestries, ceramics and historical artefacts. These are vividly coloured and detailed works that employ a broad range of painting techniques.

Below: Stirchley Twitcher - Migrants

Below: Moped ( Work In Progress ).

Instagram:  stephen_earlrogers

T : 07743 195692

E : Stephen_earlrogers@hotmail.com

W : www.stephenearlrogers.co.uk

AL LEEMING - EXPERIMENTAL COMMUNICATIONS

''blurring the line between visual designer and artist''

Currently studying for an MA in Visual Communication (Experimental Communication) at the Royal College of Art, I don’t quite fit into any of the usual industry moulds, blurring the line between visual designer and artist. Sometimes this helps, sometimes it hinders, but I enjoy the creative freedom it gives me.

My work often includes the manipulation and adaptation of old tech in order to create my visuals. As a result my work focuses mainly on experimental photography, experimental film, light installations and interactive visual pieces.

I’m not a big fan of working with digital, VR, AR etc. I choose to work predominantly with analogue, preferring the natural and sometimes unexpected results you can achieve. Results that are very different from the visual noise of domineering corporate imagery.

Recently, I have completed work for the Royal College of Music, BUPA Great Run and TED Talks, with work displayed at the Mexican Institute of Design

Instagram

Website: www.postalcreative.com

email: al@postalcreative.com

LAURA RHODES: CURIOUS ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY

Welcoming the latest member of #422 Custard Factory.

''To me, my camera is a tool to lift people up, to empower people in what they’re doing and how they feel''

I am Laura and I offer photography for brand content, portraits, weddings and bespoke artworks.

I build honest connections and collaborations with other creatives, businesses and individuals. My value is seeing people clearly and bringing that out of them. It's imperative to deeply understand you and your brand; I ask a lot of questions. To me, my camera is a tool to lift people up, to empower people in what they’re doing and how they feel: whether it’s a wedding, a commercial shoot or a portrait session. It’s all about the people and the connection.

I have a unique combination of a Fine Art Degree; with years of fashion and brand experience rolled into one. My work reflects this with its honest expressive and engaging imagery that communicates the essence of the brand, couple or individual.

I strive to seek balance within my photographs; my shoots are fun, relaxed  balance: like a vodka martini with smashed avocado toast. Yoga in the morning and dancing in the evening. To me the best work is produced when we are well-fed, relaxed and open; we will work hard, and enjoy the work.  

Website

BLUE SKY THINKING

We're experimenting with some blue in the blog's colour scheme. The white grid depicts the bright sunlight that we've experienced during this beautiful summer so far.

STARTING THIS WEEK

Over the coming few days, in this blog we will be introducing the various artists at #422 CUSTARD FACTORY. This year we have a great variety of arts represented, from portraiture, to abstraction, mixed media, conceptual and landscape, as well as a leatherware craftsman. We will be including biographical information, photographs, video and links to the members of 422.

Whether you are a student, a new graduate, a budding art professional or an interested person simply wondering 'what artists do all day', the Open Studios will be a great way to learn directly from those living 'the art life', in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere.