Monday 18 July 2016

THE LAST ART IN ACTION: WHERE THE FUN IS IN TENTS!

The 2CV was packed and ready to tootle off to Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire to the biggest 
and the best arts event in the country...Art in Action. 
4 days in a marquee with 8 other printmakers demonstrating how to make a collagraph and print gum arabic transfer, well, that was what I was doing, other printmaking techniques were available in the tent. 
Wednesday was spent setting up my work 
and demonstration area with fantastic help from 
the lovely Rob. He was also in charge of establishing
Brown HQ. 4 nights camping with the wonderful facilities that the Art in Action volunteers provide to make us artists feel at home. 
Day 1 started off a bit chilly, but coffee is a great pick me up.  
The 2CV looked on while a hearty breakfast was prepared. 
With the sun coming through everything was set for the best Art in Action ever.
The printmaking tent was ready,
festooned with bird bunting all gum arabic transfer printed with my bird drawings and put together by the lovely and talented Caroline McCatty.
Ben Boswell was the man who had the tough job of keeping us all in order, brilliantly generous, fabulously organised, great fun to work with...and he had a lot to put up with from me!! 
So ready to start.
But I was not alone...I was humbled to be with some of the best print-makers in the country. 
Frans Wesselman, etchings and wood cuts .
Laura Boswell, Japanese woodblocks. 
Ian Phillips, lino cuts.
Debby Mason, Mezzotint.
Robin Mackenzie, wood engraving
Diana Ashdown, lino printing 
and the lovely Graham and Beatrice from New North Press. 
Last but not least Morna Rhys, etching. 
Our job for 4 days was to inform and instruct the 
visitors to Art in Action about our process.
It did not all go to plan, but this was the only disaster as I stepped into my ink.
I could have done none of this without the wonderful support of my little helpers. I have mentioned the wonderful, lovely Rob, but Kate also volunteered. 
As did Annie and Alison, 
Caroline who also made the bunting and Jo
The very glamorous Gwen who kindly made the aprons that everyone sported during the demonstrating kept me going as I flagged a bit on the last day. It is here that I have to say a great big thank you, for their energy, expertise and sense of humour, I could have done none of this without them.
Occasionally I was able to get out and visit a few other tents, the whole event was packed with artistic talent and the few mentions here does not do justice...it was wall to wall creativity. Lucy Jade Sylvester, one of my favourite jewellers.
Alex a fellow Hothouse 4 artist.
Sarah Morpeth, who has agreed to do a workshop at the yard:ARTspace next year.
And all of us could not have done any of it with out you, the visitors and this year was packed with interested and creative people.
Here are just a few of the lovely folk who
popped in to see
me in the
Printmaking tent. 
Thank you to everyone who listened to me explaining what a collagraph is,
who waited for my demos to begin, stayed to the end and bought work and leaflets. Art in Action is about sharing and meeting the makers. But it's lovely to meet you too. 
My 2CV had a small romance , but all too 
quickly a holiday romance comes to an end and after 4 fabulous days Art in Action was over.
All I can say is thank you to the School of Economic Science and Simon Buchanan for the care you take with us, for looking after us and valuing our creativity. Art in Action I will miss you.

Wednesday 6 July 2016

SUMMER EXHIBITION

I am pleased to invite you all to the Summer Exhibition at the yard:ARTspace. The preview evening is 21 July, 6-9pm.
So if you find yourself in sunny Cheltenham that evening join us for a cup of Pimms and celebrate the art of Collagraph with my Solo Work Group.
The Solo Work Group have been coming to the yard:ARTspace for 5 terms now and use the printmaking facilities with light technical support from me.
Solo Working is aimed at artists who need the facilities of a printmaking studio to develop work, explore techniques learnt in class and realise their printmaking ambitions in a supportive atmosphere.
There has been a busy air in the studio as exciting experimental work is wrapped for the browser.
These spaces will be transformed from class room to 
exhibition spaces and will be open from 11-4 pm 22-24 July.
It will be well worth a visit if you are interested in printmaking. Here are a few examples to whet your appetite.
Robina Haylor
Mandy Fish
Jo Biggadike
Alison Roberts
Shelley Winnett
Anne Berry
Annie Grocott
Kate Upton.
Collagraph in all it's varied plate making forms and inking techniques. Come and learn more about it, add a lovely piece of original art to your collection or find out how the yard:ARTspace can develop your creativity.