The 2013 summer edition of the Affordable Art Fair, Hampstead, has opened its doors this weekend to showcase a range of works from 113 galleries and hundreds of handpicked artists for its third consecutive year. Over 20,000 art lovers are expected to flock to the heath to browse original prints, paintings, sculpture, photography and etchings from established names and emerging talent alike. All art on sale will be priced from an affordable £40 up to £4,000, with selected pieces featuring in the curated Art Under £500 exhibition.
Thread artist, Debbie Smyth exhibited for the Fflow Gallery (the younger branch of the Woolff Gallery), and her exquisite, intricately detailed thread drawings were particularly eye-catching. The playful works are created by plotting pins into a surface and then stretching a network of threads between them, which create sharp lines and angles as the drawing comes into focus. Her work beautifully blurs the boundaries between fine art drawings and textile art, illustration and embroidery, literally lifting the drawn line off the page.
“On first glance, it can look like a mass of threads but as you get closer sharp lines come into focus, creating a spectacular image. The images are first plotted out before being filled out with the thread, the sharp angles contrasting with the floating ends of the thread. And despite the complexity of the lengthy process I try to capture a great feeling of energy and spontaneity, and, in some cases, humour.”
Bubble Blower, 60 x 25cm, thread & pins
World Map, 50 x 80cm, thread & pins
World Map detail
Keefer 1916, 80 x 50cm, thread & pins
Balloon Girl, 80 x 50cm
Fly Away Home, 2011, 8 x 3.5m
Fly Away Home detail
Balloon Dog
