VITREOUS ENAMEL

Here is another instalment about the public art commission I am making with Rachel Merelie for the Bath Road, Cheltenham.

We are making smaller pieces which will screw onto the 3 larger panels.

These extra pieces are made from ceramic steel with coloured transfers of 1950's shopping lists, an image of a 50's ration book and vintage and modern day views of the Bath Road.

So much can go wrong technically at this stage.

But after applying the transfers onto the steel 2 days earlier, we felt

sure that the images would slowly fire on without a hitch.

CHELTENHAM OPEN STUDIOS

3 DAYS TO GO!
Thankyou to everyone who has been to see our Open Studio Exhibition, Melting Point. We have met some lovely people, talked lots of art and so far the weather has been kind. But if you haven't seen us yet there are 3 days to go. We are venue 29 in the Cheltenham Open Studio Guide. http://issuu.com/cheltenhamopenstudios/docs/cheltenham_open_studios_2013_guide_book?e=1870341%2F2305684
Sunday Sharon and I will be demonstrating our working processes and Christopher will be here to talk about how he makes his lovely garden sculptures.

An unexpected visitor to the garden,Chrysolina Americana

My ladies and Gentlemen are proving popular.

Sharon McSwiney will be on the Cheltenham Prom this weekend at the Craft Market and then back in my shed Sunday morning demonstrating her working processes.

My garden has performed beautifully with these poppies coming out just this week.

Christopher Lisney's sculptures have added so much to my garden, I will miss them next week.

My enamel crow has bemused my cats.

It has been a fantastic week and if you are in the area there are still 3 days to go before my house turns from a gallery space back to my slightly chaotic home.

DAY ONE IN THE HOUSE

The signs are up, the sun is shining, we are ready to receive visitors.
Sharon McSwiney, metal work and jewellery.
Christopher Lisney, large steel garden sculptures.
And me Sue Brown, collagraphs and enamel.
Cheltenham Open Studios starts today!!

...GO!

Cheltenham Open Studios starts Saturday 8 June.

The house has been cleaned to within an inch of it's life.

The garden has been improved by Christopher Lisney's sculptures, yes he has popped a small lawn in there.

Sharon McSwiney has exciting metal work and an enticing collection of jewellery available.

I have enamel spoons again, but this year there are other enamel treats to come and see.

Christopher has 3 sculptures on show.

And Sharon's metal work garden sticks are always popular.

Of course there will be collagraph rooks, ravens and crows around. We are looking forward to a very sociable week, it is an opportunity for my friends to find me in one place for a period of time and see my house in an unusual state of tidy calm.

CHELTENHAM OPEN STUDIOS 8-16TH JUNE 2013
VENUE 29 Open daily 10am-4pm (closed Wed 12th)
Both Sundays there will be jewellery demonstrations 11am-12pm/Enamelling 2pm-3pm

Details of the event and directions to venues, http://issuu.com/cheltenhamopenstudios/docs/cheltenham_open_studios_2013_guide_book?e=1870341/2305684

READY, STEADY...

Once every 2 years the spiders become homeless and I know where everything is...briefly!

My shed has had it's big tidy, yes you can see from this picture it is all under the press.

Work is being labelled, there will be a few bargains to be found here.

Sketch books are waiting to be thumbed.

The garden has been tweaked

and is waiting for Chris to place his work strategically to join the 2 enamel crows that have Great Tits visiting every day.

 

Thanks to my friend Dinny I have turned my enamel brooches into small sculptures, happily perched on cotton reel stands (with brooch pins still in place). Thanks Dinny.

IF IN DOUBT DRAW!!

Life has been somewhat unsettled of late...massive amounts of tidying and sorting getting my studio and house prepared for Cheltenham Open Studios. I find that this sort of activity mutes my creativity.

So for the last 2 days I have got stuck into the sketch book and allowed myself

to return to images of birds to get warmed up.

Working on pre prepared pages.

It then occurred to me it might be interesting to combine lost relative imagery

with my crows and moths.

Corvid, the bringers of mischief and life for some cultures.

Moths the symbol of death.

I could go on and on.

I am enjoying the playfulness combined with the eerie gothic quality 

these images have.

Must add some colour before it all gets too gloomy.

COLLAGRAPH PRINTMAKING

I am at the Forge 2 Gallery, Culworth OX17 2AZ today, demonstrating Collagraph printmaking. Lots of cake, if you are in the area come and say hello. http://www.forge2.org.uk/ for more details.