'The Gilded Hedgerow' - New Looking Glass Collection
The brand new and reimagined collection of Looking Glasses is released this Thursday! I’m delighted to finally reveal what I have been working on behind the scenes for the last few months. My resin journey has come to an end. I feel a little sad that I’m no longer working with the material that launched my career back in 2012, however as a curious artist, I was growing tired of this medium, and I was looking for an exciting new way to create my miniature wildflower landscapes. Working with resin everyday - even with a high spec respirator, gloves, and ventilation - is not ideal. When a pour was finished, I would feel dizzy and fatigued (especially during the summer months and when I’d do big consecutive pours). It’s tiring, hot, painful on my hypermobile hands and back, and lots of things can go wrong while pouring. I wanted to have a more relaxing and mentally fulfilling means of creating my botanical artworks, and one which doesn’t have a negative effect on my health.
During my experimentation adventure I had delved into various new materials and techniques. Some I quite liked, and some I really did not. I first began experimenting with cut glass and soft soldering using the tiffany technique. The prospect in theory seemed to be a great choice, but only by working with the material directly, I soon discovered it was not for me. This was mainly due to the fact that I wanted to refrain from using toxic substances. The noxious flux fumes and the lead in the solder were not a combination which impressed me, to say the least! Once set, the strong metallic smell of the soft solder is released, and it can also oxidise on contact with the skin. So, it was back to square one, and I continued with more experimentation.
I investigated clays of every kind, and creating 14k gold filled bezels with inset glass and so on. However, I had a vision in my mind of something solid, of an heirloom quality, which was an ode to antique craftsmanship. I have an antique Watkins bee o’ meter which my sister had gifted me a few years ago. Its curious casement design was something I kept revisiting for inspiration. I wanted to create a Looking Glass whose design was inspired by both an antique locket and a pocket watch. I eventually created a sketch, which was followed by numerous technical drawings. The result was what we have today; a beautiful high quality Looking Glass, with panes of glass instead of resin.
I now compose my dried botanical scenes at my desk, with a few kitty friends by my feet, and the radio playing our favourite songs. It feels like a completely different experience now - one which I am much more fond of. I feel healthier and relaxed. I have the opportunity to continue to create what I love, in a new reimagined way. I hope you like my latest creative vision as much as I do. Thanks for reading!
~ Gillian x