About me
I have been working primarily in batik and pen and wash but have just taken up painting using pigments with various mediums – so we shall see what emerges.
I trained as an artist in the 70’s at Camberwell School of Art – mainly in printmaking but very quickly abandoned the art scene for the punk music scene joining Cardiacs as there saxophonist and keyboard player which was as surreal as it gets. I didn’t return to creating large works of art until about 12 years ago when, unexpectedly, I fell in love with the batik process on a day workshop. My work is in response to colour and beauty and sound and nature and friends and digging for the truth.
I currently create my art works and meditate in a studio at the end of the garden. I also run batik workshops in primary schools and a couple of afternoons a week I can be found serving healthy food at the Bran Tub here in Malvern. In 2017 I became an order member in the Triratna Buddhist Community which is why I have this unusual and beautiful name Akashalila which means – the play of luminous space.
The Art of Batik
“The art of Batik was originally considered to be a way to develop spiritual discipline. The essence of the batik process is to produce a design on textiles through the use of a dye-resist. The resist, usually wax prevents the dye from penetrating the covered areas of the fabric, thus creating a pattern in negative. Additional wax is added to embellish the design or preserve areas in the color of the initial dyes The cloth is then painted again this process is repeated a number of times depending on the number of dyes involved. Producing a high quality batik painting usually onto fabric is time consuming and requires a high degree of skill.”
(adapted quote courtesy of Trish Hodge)
Please feel free to contact me regarding my work I would love to hear from you.
What is a ‘Giclée Print’
Giclée (pronounced ghee-clay) originates from the French verb “to spray”, and is used to describe a digital high resolution print providing a look and feel similar to that of original artwork. Prints are available on original artists materials such as water colour paper and canvas. Fine Art reproduction has been revolutionised with the giclée printing process due to the exceptional results it produces. The brilliant colour, sharp definition, and tone give a visual quality, which is eye-catching and captures the characteristics of the original artwork.