David W Slack

I’m experimenting again away from oils for a bit, and although I truly didn’t aim to make finished paintings while in playful experimentational setting, I could not it seems stop myself. I drift toward an imagined finish line as excitement builds, and I just WANT to end up with a finished painting in my hands. It’s quite magical really, conjuring up an idea into a physical object of desire. These little paintings took many days each as I wrangled a medium I’d not used for yonks, there was blood sweat AND tears, but I worked through it like a brave little soldier, and Hey Presto – new paintings.

There is an eye-popping extravaganza to see at the pop-up show Ali @aliallpots and I have had the best fun assembling at no 8 Mermaid Street, Rye. Largely, I’m on the walls, Ali is on the surfaces. Paintings and ceramics both sculptural, useable and wearable. On the surface, our work is quite different to one another’s, she exuberant, me meticulous but standing back, once the show was put together, it’s clear that our work contrasts and communicates with a grin and a wink to cheerful nostalgia and the not so inner child at our helm. That’s me trying to keep it short – there’s a lot going on here. This weekend is the second and final of this show, Saturday & Sunday 6th & 7th Sept 11-6pm. It’ll be lovely to see you there.

I’ve been making inlaid stoneware matchbox pin badges by hand, but in a small production line, which means I’ve been able to make them affordable. Each one goes through many processes (see vid below), each different from the last. To be worn, or stood up in its little matchbox as a reminder that we will all shuffle off in the end, so best blooming well get on with it.

Introducing the new Hitchcock Smoking incense burner (or pencil holder – the choice is yours). Heavy, coarse, black stoneware 11cm £95.