COLLAGRAPH AND ENAMEL EXPERIMENTS

My day out on Saturday must have done me the world of good as I have spent the last 2 days in
the shed finishing off prints and playing with enamel. These are the Eider ducks I started at Art in Action.

I have added strings and a label to the rooks.

I have completed this raven and I am calling it The Bargain.

This is a proof of Marley that creased because I had the paper to wet, so I thought I would experiment with cutting out a background. It certainly sorts out the crease!

I spent today making these little sculptures.

Etched copper, enamel and screen printed transfers My riveting is a bit out of practice, but I am pleased with the ease of firing in my new kiln.

I might take a day off tomorrow or do some drawing?

A GRAND DAY OUT

The lovely Mr Brown could see that I was getting a little frayed around the edges and needed a day out of the shed, so off we went on an adventure. Our first port of call was The Foal Yard in Bransford, Worcester to see my chum Sharon McSwiney. Sharon was not in but we had a fab time chatting to her Mum and her other half Tim and came away with a few purchases and a lovely lunch.
A treat from Mr Brown, these lovely silver earrings, made by Sharon. The Foal Yard is a great place to see designer jewellery, unusual kitchen ware, good food and more. Check out Sharon's web sight for directions http://www.sharonmcswiney.co.uk/.

Next stop was just outside of Worcester heading north, the Bevere Gallery, we have traveled past the AA signs to this gallery on the way to Kidiminster for years and at last we have had the time to pop in. What a gem for those of us interested in ceramics and artists prints.

At the moment there is a wonderful sculpture trail through the gardens. An amazing gallery full of big name ceramicists and printmakers plus a cafe with great cake. For those who know me well great cake is a vital ingredient!

These photos give just a taste of the variety of work available in the gardens. Mr Brown was tempted into a purchase, 2 beautiful ceramic pieces by Lara Scobie. I feel like I have had a bit of a holiday, so tomorrow I can tackle the Eider duck plates waiting for me in the shed.

PROOFING

I came back from Art in Action with freshly made collagraph plates and I have now had time to proof 2 of them. I am very happy with this raven plate, a portrait of Marley, the bird I met a few weekends ago. So this is now ready for editioning.

I am also pleased with this raven, but it needs a few added items to give the piece a narrative. I will get to work on that tomorrow.

ALL FIRED UP

So for those of you who know me slightly this will not come as any surprise.I just could not resist having a bit of a play, so even though I am going to have to wait patiently for the delivery of the large trivets I have fired a couple of pieces of steel, 4" x 3" with colour experiments. I now feel confident about using the digital control and just thrilled with it all. Thankyou again Adrian from Northern Kilns, so far so good!!

IT'S ARRIVED! IT'S ARRIVED!

If only everything was as straight forward, reliable and as much fun as buying an enamelling kiln! As promised Adrian arrived and installed a 9in cube (internal measurements) kiln into my studio this morning and instructed me about how to use the temperature controller. Now all I have to wait for, patiently, is a larger trivet and fork and I will be away. Yippee.
It's going to be a hot summer in my studio, I can't wait.

FIRED BY NATURE

I am very excited to have been included in an exhibition at the Rostra and Rooksmoor Galleries in Bath during August. Fired by Nature is an exhibition spot lighting new work by enamel artist Janine Partington. Also showing ceramics by Joanne Cooke and prints by Kirsten Jones and Trevor Price. For opening times and more information www.rostragallery.com.

ART IN ACTION 2011

Art in Action is like no other arts festival. Held every year at Waterperry Gardens it shows about 400 demonstrating artists to the public. If you want to know how and why art is made then book your ticket to Art in Action 2012 now.
I was invited by Nature in Art to join a group of artists demonstrating their passion for the natural world. Nature in Art is also an extraordinary place. Between Tewkesbury and Gloucester it is the only museum in the country dedicated to art work inspired by nature. www.natureinart.org.uk. I am very grateful to their support during the festival and also the camaraderie of the other exhibiting artists in our area. As you can see from this photo a good time was had by all.

The refreshing thing about Art in Action is that it is not all about sales, the public come and watch us working. We tell our secrets and send people away keen to have a go themselves.

I must have spoken to hundreds of people, but I still had time to make 4 collagraph plates.

Here are 2 of them, I can't wait to get printing. My favourite reaction when talking to people was the complete disbelief when I said I used tile cement to make my plates. I sense there may be a run on it at the closest B&Q to Waterperry.

As busy as I was, I made a real effort to look around at fellow demonstrators, especially as there were a few personal heroes at the festival.

I was very excited to be able to see Sarah Morpeth's work in the flesh. www.sarahmorpeth.com.

We share a passion for the natural world and Sarah is such a sharing artist.

I know I am completely obsessed when I look at the work that has caught my eye. These fantastic bronze casts, of clay built sculptures made by Brendan Hesmondhalgh and David Cooke. www.sculpturelounge.com

I love the character of these creatures, so strong and bold.

Back at the Nature in Art area I shared a space with Philip Nelson. www.philipnelson-artdecoy.co.uk. He makes the most beautiful decoy ducks, they have a wonderful soft , feathery look to them and they are skillfully carved from wood. We shared a wicked sense of humour throughout the festival.

Being involved with Art in Action is a real honour, it is wall to wall talent wherever you look, but more than that, as demonstrators we are warmly looked after by an army of volunteers, coffee flows and we are well fed. Our egos are boosted by 4 days of almost constant flattery. Thankyou everyone for making my Art in Action such good fun.