Lorna Picton

Artist and Illustrator based in Bristol lornapicton@hotmail.co.uk // @lornapicton

Venturefest 2011

Back in November last year, whilst Interning at Science City Bristol, I invited an array of artists, performers and musicians to perform and exhibit at Venturefest 2011 with the aim of inspiring a creative and innovative way of thinking, whilst showcasing the wealth of creative talent in the South West. ‘The Festival’ as it quickly became known, encouraged relationships to emerge and to develop between the arts and business communities, whilst illustrating the importance of the Bristol and Bath Science Park as a rich cultural resource within the local community.

With generous Sponsorship from Bath Spa University, the creative programme added a dynamic twist to the day. Featuring an exhibition of work from both local and international artists including Luke Jerram, Karin Krommes and Alice Jones, live drawing from some of Bristols finest including the wonderfully talented Dave Bain and Music from Alphasphere, The Festival was an overwhelming success and will be returning again to next years Venturefest.

For more information on the artists and their work have a look at http://venturefestfestival.tumblr.com/

Study 2011, Pen and Pencil on Paper

Study 2011, Pen and Pencil on Paper

Studies, 2011 Pen and Pencil on Paper

Pen and Pencil on Paper

Pen and Pencil on Paper

Bluebottle Wings 2010, 1016x1372mm. Graphite powder and Pencil on Paper.

Three Butterflies 2010. Cellulose Transfer and Pencil on Paper.

Three Butterflies 2010. Cellulose Transfer and Pencil on Paper.

Fly Drawing 2010, 1016x1372mm. Graphite powder and Pencil on Paper.

Three Journeys 2010. Pins on Reclaimed Pinboards

‘Three Journeys across America’ places a butterfly migration, the road trips in Lolita and Nabokov’s own journeys alongside each other, with little obvious differentiation between the three of them. However, by placing the fictional journeys made by Humbert and his young concubine amidst factual events, the gruesome nature of the imagined journey takes on a heightened sense of reality.

Sketchbook pages:  pen, pencil and paper

Nabokov’s Blues 2010, Madeleiniea 2010,  Cellulose Transfers on Paper

‘Nabokovs Blues’ and Madaleinea are a more literal amalgamation between literature and Lepidoptera.  Madaleinea takes its name from the butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae, extensively discussed by Nabokov, while ‘Nabokovs Blues’ visualise the world Nabokov immersed himself in, and where he drew on for inspiration for the characters he insisted were entirely fictional.

Solar Plate Etchings on Paper 2010

Sketchbook pages; pen and paper

The Truth is Stranger than Fiction 2009. Pen and pencil on paper

A monster is no more than a combination of real beings and the possibilities of permutation border on the infinite. There are endless varieties of creatures, limited only by our own boredom or disgust. The zoology of dreams is far poorer than the zoology of the maker.

Jorge Luis Borges.

The Truth is Stranger than Fiction forms part of a series of works responding to Borges’ ‘Book of Imaginary Beings’ and ‘Darwin’s On the Origin of Species’, juxtaposing concepts from these texts with contemporary issues such as genetic modification and animal research. Taking inspiration from the anatomical works of George Stubbs, I play the role of scientist, anthropologist and inventor, dissecting and reassembling Stubb’s studies into creatures that are both familiar yet alien. Informed by the writings of Richard Dawkins, I reflect on animal behaviour and its relation to natural selection, when science fiction becomes science fact, and question the place of religion in a time of ever increasing scientific awareness.

Within my work I address the transient nature of contemporary fine art practice. While my drawings allude to the traditional anatomical illustrations reminiscent of a museum exhibit, my concepts, theories and techniques remain firmly rooted in the present. The Truth is Stranger than Fiction blurs the margins between the disciplines and illustrates how we can use the old to inform the new.

The Truth is Stranger than Fiction, 2009

Pencil and Ink on Paper