emma o'brien soft sculptor and monster maker

toadstool seats

2011-04-11T11:57:00.000-07:00

I'm busy making 16 toadstool seats for a commission, short timescale, but they look awesome! pictures to follow

eye and hand props

2011-04-07T14:53:00.000-07:00

I made these last year for bootworks theatre company, a big challenge but well worth it, and enjoyed every minute of it!

I've been away

2011-04-07T10:42:00.000-07:00

I've been away from blogging, but I'm back! and loads has happened, there's commissioned work, a new gallery and some naughty monsters...
so I'll be posting things to catch up on the last 2 and a half years...
Hope its not too boring!

finished film

2008-08-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

i would like some feedback on the animated film that i have made as part of my installation for my MA. the large scale sculptures that form the other part of the installation have been on display in my gallery as i make them creating feedback and public opinion, but so far only friends and family have seen the finished film.
as i already have 3 websites to manage i thought it best to add this film to my blog, rather than create a whole new site.
i would really appreciate and welcome all comments.
thankyou.
emma

The Movie is finished!!

2008-07-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

Stripey Finds Himself is finally finished.. Music is composed, thanks to the wonderful Samuel Bordoli. now i just need to finish those giant sculptures, and figure out how to get them to uni and put everything together...gulp

Call For Artists

2008-07-14T04:28:00.000-07:00

I'm looking to host a contemporary crafts exhibition in november.
looking for artists to exhibit, working in textiles, metal work, jewellery, ceramics.
2d and 3d work needed.
please contact Emma O'Brien Via The Lock Gallery website with images of your work and a brief description.
artists local to coventry and warwickshire preferred but not necessary.

The Next Sketchy!

2008-06-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

As the first session was such a success (if a little quiet) the next one is scheduled for 27th june a little later at 7pm til 10.
i'm very excited, we all enjoyed the first one so much!

more test shorts

2008-05-15T07:27:00.001-07:00

test short

2008-05-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

i am trying to create a short story about a poor little fellow trying to fit in, he finds it hard as he is stripey and everyone else isn't
here is a test short.

A New Dr Sketchy

2008-05-15T06:56:00.000-07:00

Dr sketchy's anti art school started in new york in 2005 and was the brainchild of the fabulous molly crabapple. it has since gone from strength to strength with dr sketchy's popping up all over the world.
the newest one is mine!! starting on friday 13th june at the lock gallery 6pm til 9pm a tenner to get in
sharpen your pencils for dr sketchy coventry, and ms storm e knight!!
see you there dharlings....

the Lock Gallery

2008-05-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

well the gallery is now open!
I just need to sort the website out and we're away.
Don't forget to pop in for a look round, or if your a frustrated warwickshire, or midlands artist, pop in for a cuppa and a chat, and we'll get your work exhibited!

call for artists!

2008-04-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

If anyone out there is interested in an outlet for their work.
then get in touch.
i will provide a great space for anythink between 4 to 8 weeks exhibition time, a private view complete with wine and nibbles, posters and flyers and invitations sent.
all for a reasonable price. drop us a line

got the keys!!

2008-03-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

just completed on the gallery!!
we've got the keys and we're ready to go!
I wonder if anyone has any advise on what to charge for the space to exhibit, have a private view evening and up to six weeks of exhibition?
please if anyone has any ideas let me know, i'd welcome the input.
Also in the mean time please feel free to come down and have a look i will post a blog when it opens but would love to meet people that are interested in exhibiting!
its unit 10 canal basin coventry xx

stills

2008-03-16T06:42:00.001-07:00

I'm having trouble posting a video to show my animation shorts, for some feedback, but here are some stills from "different" stripey is being explored by the other curlies because he is different from them.

the lock gallery

2008-03-16T03:11:00.000-07:00

i am very excited! we only have to sign the lease and the unit is ours!
unit 10 canal basin, coventry will become the lock gallery.
I will be looking for artists to exhibit, in the space so if you are interested, please contact me via blog, or my website: www.softsculpture.co.uk

back to animating

2008-03-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

i am back tracking to animating for my ma
although my characters are somewhat smaller, and not stuffed.

random strangers meeting mega stripey

2008-02-03T13:39:00.000-08:00

mega stripey went to town and met a load of people.
i've had a lot of positive feedback, and the general consensus is that people want to hug him and squeeze him!

interacting with sculptures

2008-01-29T13:03:00.000-08:00

thanks for the help in the studio soni!!

little curlies that arent soft!!

2008-01-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

oh my god, i've made things that are small.....and aren't squishy
whats happening to me?

strange things in the woods

2008-01-13T07:17:00.000-08:00

i've had great fun over the past couple of weeks making giant stripeys and now i've let them loose on the woods

nearly new year

2007-12-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

I am stressing about the looming 8th january assessments.
hoping I have done enough!
after moving from the pub and loosing my cellar I decided to take the children to Brandon Woods and try to scare them there all in the name of art of course!

shadows of Binky

2007-10-15T13:19:00.001-07:00

scaring ellie and sam in the cellar

2007-10-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Binky Diddle-Warp has been scaring Ellie and Sam

curzon street exhibition

2007-10-10T06:02:00.000-07:00

i'm glad it's all over and i can gat back to the pg diploma stuff.
what a fantastic experience though, and good practice for next years show
here are some pictures of my stuff on display

dark soft sculpture part 3

2007-07-12T05:27:00.000-07:00

dark soft sculpture part 2

2007-07-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

darker soft sculpture

2007-07-12T04:58:00.000-07:00

i have been looking at ways of making my animated sculpture darker, by videoing it in less well lighted ares, using shadows and scary environments like my cellar.
also combining it with the nicer sculpture, animations and video with ellie and sam playing and having sinister soft things creeping up to get them.
please tell me what you think

ellie and sam in chalk on the roof

2007-07-11T01:18:00.000-07:00

we did some chalk drawings on our roof yesterday, and ellie and sam lay in the middle of them.

kids in soft sculpture

2007-07-03T08:12:00.000-07:00

these are some stills i did of the children playing amonst the soft sculpture.
i am thinking of combining this with eerie animated things lurking around, using dim lighting and creepy backgrounds to make the stuff look less "nice" make people feel uncomfotable around it, like it is going to do something sinister, or just make you uncomfortable.

work in progress

2007-06-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

these things are going to pop out of holes in a stuffed squishy duvet type background and grow, until there are loads of them all crammed together.

images i like

2007-06-09T00:44:00.000-07:00

my beautiful babies

2007-06-07T00:07:00.000-07:00

caterpillar

2007-05-30T07:16:00.000-07:00

these are a couple of stills of a movie i did, that i havent been able to upload yet..watch this space x

moving onto more recent things

2007-05-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

here is a start of what i am moving into..
still stitching and stuffing fabric, but i am attempting to animate it, a bit hard to show it all here, but here are some pics of the objects that i have animated, they "grow"..exciting!!

more soft stuff

2007-05-22T01:57:00.000-07:00

some soft stuff!!

2007-05-20T04:54:00.001-07:00

here's some soft things that i made quite a while ago.
i hope some of the pieces make you want to have a good feel,
i like to touch everything, a little obsession of mine, i guess thats why i like to make big abstract things that are begging to be touched!

vinyl pods

2007-05-19T01:36:00.000-07:00