Ink & Mess

PAPER X MEGAZINE

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Issue 2 of Paper X is now out and I am featured! Paper X is a fabulous art magazine, the brainchild of Edinburgh local hero Sandy Christie, and features a ton of great, hard-workin' artists. If you are interested in going to the launch then click here. Check out more info after the skull-jump. Paper X is available to buy now from Sandy Christie's website.

CUT-OUT AND KEEP MASK BY ME! FREE WITH PAPER X MEGAZINE!

"Paper X is a unique platform for artists and writers to showcase their work. The open submissions policy has netted an astounding volume of work - locally, nationally, and internationally, with over 80 artists and writers represented.

(Tech specs) A5 booklet 46 full color pages, using 100 gsm, for text and 160 gsm, for images (content) 16 written works 69 image works

So whats new ?
There are some new developments in issue 2, including the 3 new Paper X directories. These directories contain a real mix of works - this means more work gets in, its like 3 mini group shows. Also the directories give an overall flavour of what has been sent in.

Plus there is an extended writers platform with some fantastic pieces including Catherine Paytons Moustaches, Gemma Nelsons Ecstasy Stacy, Oli Higham - Am I of sound mind, and Chirly and Chancer the talking fish, and many more.

Features
This issue will be looking at the Ego and sort of explains how it actually works. Read the Ego Manual for more. Plus, free inside, your very own death mask template by Ink and Mess. also Paper X asks “what kind of artist are you?”, with some flippantly hilarious results."

Ink & Masks in Worthing.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:28:00 +0000

This Saturday I will be installed at this Artists and Makers event in Worthing, this Saturday 14th November from 10am-4pm. My mask line will be erected once more in the hope that people will be enticed into selecting a new face. As well as live drawing I will be carrying out a participatory art installation in which everyone can come and help me make my audiovisual piece for a future exhibition. See you there!

ARTISTS AND MAKERS PRESS RELEASE:

"The biggest empty shop in a south coast town is going to be used by the local community in the run up to Christmas.

A massive shop just off Worthing's Montague Street Precinct which was formerly an Allied Carpets showroom is to be used by fifty local groups, clubs, charities and artists in a project brought together by Worthing Lions Club, supported by national organisation the Empty Shops Network and Worthing Borough Council.

The 1200 square feet shop in Buckingham Road, Worthing will be used for six weeks as 'The UpMarket', a market selling vintage, recycled and upcycled goods to support local charities. Already booked up are groups that help people with disabilities, find new homes for unloved animals, look after people with cancer and run home for the elderly.

Meanwhile, a wide range of artists and craft-makers will have spaces to exhibit and sell their work. Another area in the shop will be dedicated to community activity, hosting a range of workshops, meetings, talks, poetry performances and more.

Finally, for two weeks of the project the warehouse behind the shop will be used for a contemporary art exhibition by the Revolutionary Arts Group, which they promise will be 'a bit of Tate Modern by the sea'.

The project has been brought together by Worthing Lions President John Sayles, who spotted the potential of the huge space owned by Worthing Borough Council.

'Our ambition is to help as many local groups as possible' he said, 'and this unit lets us carry on the good work of our popular summer seafront market in the busy Christmas shopping period'.

He has been helped by the advice of Dan Thompson, Worthing-based founder of the national Empty Shops Network.

'This will be one of the biggest empty shops initiatives in the country' says Dan, 'and it's great that it is happening in Worthing in the same week that the town hosted the first ever Empty Shops Conference.'

The UpMarket will be open Wednesday-Saturday from 11th November until Christmas."

Joke.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:46:00 +0000

I thought of a joke this morning. The punchline is 'Liverpool'.

Maribou eyelashes.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:26:00 +0000

Livingstone on LBC just said something about Michael Caine coming out with his switch to the Tories this week, that they will get his vote in the next election. Who did he vote for before? Thatcher in the 80's and Blair in the 90's. If he then votes for Cameron that's got to be a hat trick of naivety, surely?

Mental Nose Karate Woman.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:48:00 +0000

Feelin' Fine!

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:46:00 +0000

I am updating my website and blog. Apologies for the shitness of both while I am working on them. Let's hope that million dollar deal doesn't come in whilst it's going on. Ho ho.

James Mason reads Poe.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:45:00 +0000

More special Autumnal listening. Thank you to WFMU's Beware of the Blog for posting these three James Mason recordings of Poe's 'The Tell Tale Heart', 'Annabel Lee' and 'Silence'.

Autumn Night-time Singers

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 10:54:00 +0000

Do You Want To Be Buried With My People? Scout Niblett
Willie Cat Power
I Must Be In a Good Place Now Vetiver
My Body's a Zombie For You Dead Man's Bones
The Loneliness of Magnets The Handsome Family
The Fox Walt Robertson
Nothing To You Two Gallants
Cities Beneath the Sea Gravenhurst
The Butcher Boy Lau
(Wading Through) The Waters of my Time Richard Hawley
Lo! What It Is to Love Rory and Alex McEwen

An album for you.

My new pens.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:35:00 +0000

I bought lots of lovely new pens and nibs in Bologna. Lamy, Micron and Staedtler. The grandfather of the shopkeep was the inventor of Nettuno pens, which, according to theinkflow.com was "the first Italian fountain pen by their founder Umberto Vecchietti, made in Bologna in 1911. The name Nettuno was borrowed by Umberto Vecchietti from the statue overlooking a square in the historical center of Bologna."

Here is a picture of the pen shop I bought them from.

Three from my sketchbooks.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:01:00 +0000

Insides, 2009.

Baby, 2007.

Housewife, 2009.

Leaving Bologna

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:44:00 +0000

Bologna Diary, Day 4: Ha-ha-hallowe'en.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:54:00 +0000

Festivals are a big thing in Italy. So here's a delightful Samhain collection for you. Having seen this, I did not want to come home. I never want to come home from Italy though. Or Scotland. Italy and Scotland, boom! I love you.

Bologna Diary, Day 3: Daytrip to Florence

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:51:00 +0000

Took an early train from Bologna to Florence to spend the day trotting around the same streets walked by Machiavelli, Caravaggio and Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal. Skipped past the Uffizi but didn't go in this time, choosing instead to spend the afternoon at the extraordinary 'Art and Illusion' trompe l'oeil exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi. Lots of tricks of the eye, there was even a life sized woman and child in the exhibition, set up to appear like a passing punter. Lots of classic trompe l'oeil and plenty I hadn't seen before. I fell in love with Jacques Poirier too, as well as some Dutch painters who painted curiosity cabinets stuffed full of quirk and oddity.

Jacques Poirier and Pere Borrell del Caso

In the afternoon I found this magical mask-maker man, up by pontevecchio. His workshop was open and he's very friendly to curious passers-by. He let me take lots of photos of his workshop, and one of him making a mask mold. Not sure that he'd dig my masks but maybe my creepiness as he had plenty of that on show. He also had some very sweet self portraits of him and his doggy.

Caravaggio's Medusa, also seen in Ralph Steadman's 'Medusa Slain'

Bologna Diary, Day 1:

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:46:00 +0000

What I see around Bologna.

Friendly dogs of Italy #1:

The Great Red City.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:23:00 +0000

I'm in Bologna. I'll be here for the next few days. So fine to be out of all the BNP circus of the UK. Although here we've got Berlusconi and Lega Nord. Never mind, Bologna is known as La Rossa (the red), not only for its flame coloured buildings but also for its political leanings.

The plan is to eat well, go to the theatre, shuffle around, take photos, dream.
When I get back there's lots on. An entire room of masks to illustrate, workshops to consider, the clown pictures to be finished and a lot of other noodlings and doodlings to be completed by Christmas.

Ok, well I'll leave you with the news that my favourite Ralph has lots of new work for sale on his website. As well as new prints he is selling some lovely artefacts from the archives.

Gemma Correll's 'What I Wore Today'

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:08:00 +0000

As previously mentioned, Gemma Correll has started a fab Flickr group called 'What I Wore Today'. It already has over a thousand members and has had a big-up from Grazia magazine (there's no such thing as bad press, right?). I drew my first contribution today, in my specially made 'WIWT' yearbook (an old cloth bound hardback that I will add a drawing to each day). Gemma has also started a blog for WIWT, so please do check that out too: 'What I Wore Today' blog.

Here is my first entry

Freak Show!

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:58:00 +0000

Last week I took part in a very exciting cabaret-art experiment curated by award-winning, cross-disciplinary artist, Sarah Ruff. The event was a chance to try out new material and give form to bright ideas, as well as a platform to perform DJ and band sets. Poets, artists, musicians and weirdo's sat together on an amazing, diverse line-up. There was also an open spot - sadly no one stepped up. I considered doing a Ju-Ju dance in a mask, alas, my nerve did not withstand.

I invited people down to the night, friends and also people I had not yet met, so I was really hoping the event to be an interesting and irregular one. Well, that it was, and I know all my guests had a wonderful time! Here's the full line-up, please do check out these creative folk, they mean business (I do not have links for them all - will try and find more info):

Trombone Poetry, Arie Ruvinsky, 3-sided triangles, Paul Taylor,
Sophie Cameron, Zoe Padley, Sam Ball (performanc poet), Nicola Bolsover and The Readers.

Trombone Poetry

Masked people

This was my first time taking the masks out. I did it because I wanted to see how people would react given the opportunity to mask up and do whatever want. Some people got a bit cagey and insecure, others overcompensated, and some did the most fantastic thing: let the mask find their mood and they followed.

Arie Ravinsky was the perfect mask wearer. As soon as she put it on something took over her, she set about throwing shapes, posing and acting rather curious. Arie didn't speak the whole time she was doing it. Then her partner put on a mask. And that was the highlight of my night - two masks communicating perfectly well, in silence.

Honestly, I did not direct them in any way, they just did what they felt they should when they put the masks on. Another interesting thing I found was that some people acted the same way in some of the masks, people who weren't in groups but individuals who had not seen what the previous wearer had done whilst inhabiting the mask.

There is a bigger purpose to me wheeling out the masks and having a good old time in them...more news on that to follow. It is going to be a long process though - hope you'll be reading my blog and following my masked capers!

A few photos.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:58:00 +0000

Freak Show was a great success. Fabulous performers, a great host, good friends came down and I made lots of new acquaintances too. Couldn't have asked for more really. Here are some photos taken by Caroline Duah-Nantwi. More photos and information from last night to follow! Whet your appetite for mask love with these creepy beasts...

After last nights excitement I am rather looking forward to settling down in my cosy home, listening to the wireless, for some good old pen and ink drawing for Gemma Correll's wonderful Flickr group 'What I wore Today'. WIWT is a fun group participation project that encourages people to draw their outfits and explain what they mean, where they're from, how they feel in them. I think I might put different people in mine, or people with animal heads wearing my clothes.

Check out these contributions by Naramiki and migue m, I love them

by Naramiki
© all rights reserved.

by migue m
© all rights reserved

More sketching and doodling.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:57:00 +0000

Bacchus Boboli

Clown Fighting.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:17:00 +0000

Clown fighting. Sketching and doing some colour tests on old book ends. I quite like to think her beard is made up of swarming bees or a massive flea circus.

Style and Substance - Black History Month special!

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:08:00 +0000

My friend and fellow artist (poet) Carol Ohemaa is performing at Style and Substance next week. See below for details. Everyone in London should come to this!

"Caroline Ohemaa will be performing at Style and Substance, The Black History Special. Caroline has amazing stage presence, her poems are deep, funny, amusing all at the same time....New to the scene and is sure to set it on fire!

Carol Ohemaa

This special month Miss London will be educating the audience with facts of black history. The acts are culturally inspiring, motivating, and deep with one twist: they are all Female! We will be supporting Action aid UK, and EVERYONE male or female are invited!!

HOST
Miss London

DJ
D'Star

PERFORMANCES ON THE NIGHT BY
Madame Pepper, Kadija Kamara, Caroline Ohemaa, Louise Golby, Phresh Mentality, Poetic Pilgrimage, Wreh-asha, Yetunde Johnson, Lady Rhyme plus many more...

£6 on the guestlist before 8pm / £8 on the door and after 8pm / £1 from your entry fee will go to Action aid UK. Doors open 7pm, show starts 7.30pm till 11.30pm.

BIRTHDAY BOOKINGS
includes a Sistova birthday, reserved seats/table, birthday cake, birthday girl/boy plus one free and a Sistova goodie bag for the birthday girl/boy.

For more information on birthday bookings please call 07837 180 048
For more birthday booking please call 07837 180 048
For guestlist please sent names to events_sistovaproductions@htmail.co.uk

JOURNALIST Joanna Abeyie * PHOTOGRAPHER Angela Dennis * DRESSCODE Smart casual"

Masks and a bunch of clowns.

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:21:00 +0000

A wee peck at some work in progress.

Marie-Louise Plum - live art at Freakshow!

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Come and see me draw live and mask about at Freak Show, hosted by award winning artist Sarah Ruff. Freak Show is an exploration of the space between art and entertainment, attracting London's best up-and-coming stand-up comedy, live art, spoken word, circus and burlesque. A truly magical casket of wonders for anyone who is hungry for an alternative. Experimental cabaret at its most extreme!

I will be showing some 3D exhibits, drawing live and asking for participation in mask play. If you live in or near or even far from London come and have some fun!

Freak Show at The Star of Bethnal Green - Free entry - food served all day - 11:30am-12:00am

GizMag

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:56:00 +0000

I recently got a nod from the online version of GizMag. It took me a bit to work out the format (basically a list of links to illustrators, a bit of blurb on the top link) but it's a really ace, handy way to get a few pecks at new work. The real meat is a hand drawn, printable PDF version of the mag with neat illustrations and other mini features (links after the jump).

Link to the Issue mentioning me!

Download the current PDF issue featuring the wonderful Julian Kimmings!

Lots of exciting news!

noreply@blogger.com (Marie-Louise Plum) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 09:39:00 +0000

Ok, so it's only September but I am already planning for next summer. There's a chance I will be exhibiting something very strange and grand in Edinburgh that everyone can take part in. Keep tuned in to my blog to find out more info as soon as I can release it.

I'm also taking part in a burlesque/geek/freak/art project in Bethnal Green in November. I can't be too loose with the details yet but again, stay tuned.

Also to come is a load of new merchandise. New t-shirts, badges, stickers and other fab items including original drawings will be available to buy online.

Here is a clue: