Art Project course gallery No. 13

Art Project: And So To Bed…

This week’s brief centred on the bed.

Beds, bedroom, bedfellows, sleeping and waking has been the subject of art since ancient with artists taking inspiration from rooms where they rest, recover or stop-over. A number of artists including Frida Kahlo, Matisse, Picasso, David Hockney and Tracey Emin have also made work whilst in bed. Artists were invited to consider exploring what they can see when in their own bed, a memorable room they’ve slept in, interesting or beloved people or pets they’ve shared a bed with (or wanted to), a favourite story / lyric / poem / film scene relating to a bed or bedroom, or a bed they’d love to sleep in. Artists could also take inspiration from the bed as an object / piece of furniture – the shapes and forms found in a bed (both positive and negative shapes), be it traditional beds or something different such as a hammock, sleeping bag, cot or air bed for example. Inspiration could also come from textiles associated with bed or sleeping such as pyjamas, nightshirts, blankets and quilts…

Here’s a selection of artwork and prepatory studies made by some of the Art Project course artists taking part in the project.

Look out for another gallery of work coming soon…

Jane Goddard – Bed Studies Graphite on paper

Lorna Howell – Our Four-Poster Pastel on paper

Lorna Howell – Reaction on Hearing the Today Programme Headlines Watercolour

Lorna Howell – No bed ( Refugee Week 15 – 21 June 2020) Acrylic on paper

Tony Townshend – Sleeping Grandchild Watercolour on paper

Christie Archer – And So To Read II Pastel on paper

Christie Archer – And So To Read I Acrylic on paper

Dieter – Having a Rest Linocut on paper

John Cutler – Leroy Dreaming on his Bed of Feathers – Feathers suggests a symbolic meanings in both African and Indian cultures. Dreaming might suggest the hope of the black person for their future, rather than something already achieved Collage

Lynn Laws – Rough Sleeper
Graphite on paper

Lynn Laws – Night Terrors
Acrylic on paper

Lynn Laws – Afternoon Nap
Acrylic on paper

Jill T. – Children’s Counting Song Photograph with text

Jill T. – Sunbeds with Windmill Collage and watercolour

Chris – Comfort Vs. Discomfort Wax pastels on paper

Chris – A Paper At Bedtime Wax pastels and collage

Chris – Who’s Been Sleeping In My Bed? TRACEY?! Photograph

Chris – Abstract Pillow and Quilt
Acrylic on paper

Paula – My Favourite Dressing Gown
Gouache on paper

Paula – Textile Design (Dressing Gown and Bedding Merged) Gouache on paper

Harriet Hall – Footbed Wax crayon, ink and clay on paper

Maurice – A Midsummer’s Night Dream Digital image

Maurice – A Midsummer Nightmare Ink, wash and watercolour

Maurice – To Sleep, Perchance To Dream Graphite and watercolour

Sylvie Fenton – Le Reve Est Toujours Bizarre, Une Bizarrerie Inconsciente I Collage