FIRST WEDNESDAY AT the yard:ARTspace

What a week it has been, the start of a new venture in a new venue!

This has been the first week of courses at the yard:ARTspace, Cheltenham and I woke up to a dusting of snow. Wednesday is full on with 3 classes, am, pm and an evening group.

Here is the morning group in the Work room. Everyone made a collagraph plate with tapes and sticky shapes and printed at least 2 images, so it was hustle and bustle from start to finish. 

Everyone went home with a print and ink in their finger nails.

I love this instant plate making process.

We were watched by the Ladies and Gentlemen in the Space In-between.

This space has an exhibition of enamel work this term.

In the Press room the afternoon group were getting to grips with the press

and as with the morning group

produced lovely collagraphs.

The atmosphere changed in the evening, soft romantic light and jazz in the background

did not change the fact that there was a printmaking frenzy and

lots of lovely collagraphs being produced.

We all survived Wednesday, but this is not the only thing happening at the yard:ARTspace in the week. On Tuesday and Thursday between 2-5pm there are Solo workers using the ARTspace to make there own work with just very light technical support from me. It is also a chance for you to pop into the yard and see what we are up to.

cREAte.ART? Would you like to be part of the yard:ARTspace? Sign up to my newsletter or go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sue-Brown/1478939815714857 for updates on course/ workshop details, news and events.www.theyardartspace.com

SUE OF THE YARD

2015 has arrived with a 'bang' for me. I have been talking about my last classes at Hampen Factory in previous posts and a new start at The Yard:ARTspace in Cheltenham.

 

I found a building to rent at the end of the road I live in and with the

support and enthusiasm of my landlady, Jen,

a great deal of hard work,

lots of this,

several days of painting from 

friends and family...not all of them liked their photos being taken.

Thankyou to all these lovely people who kept the project on time.

Lots of help and hard work from my ace builder, the lovely Mr Brown and Toby, who was often the other side of the camera.

And gallons of this kept the workers smiling.

Just before Christmas my press was moved out of the shed by

the lovely chaps from Art Equipment, http://www.art-equipment.co.uk/ fuelled by coffee and freshly made mince pies.

So just like Grand Designs or make over programs, here is the result after lots of hard work from so many lovely people.

 

The press room.

The yard.

The work room.

And the space in-between.

I have started to work in my new studio this week and my classes start the week of the 12th January. Check out the workshop page on my blog or like my facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sue-Brown/1478939815714857 for up to the minute news and details about courses and workshops. If you find yourself in Upper Bath St., Cheltenham, GL50 2AU on Tues or Thur between 2-5pm, pop in and see what is happening at the Yard.

TIS THE SEASON...

Have you been waiting for this seasonal post? About this time of year I start to get that Christmassy feeling. A little later this time as I have had a great deal going on.

Is red the theme or do robins just get me in the mood?

I am pleased that it was not raining when we got the tree, it is a half hour drive home with the roof back!

The mantle piece is decorated, just trying out a print in a Perspex box...another robin sneaking in there?

                       Yes Rudolf is on back the wall.                                                 

  

And the tree made it safely home. 

Yes my old favourites are up, just can't resist that touch of vintage.

And finally this years fairy challenge is, 'edible' fairy. Quite how I managed a middle aged, platinum blond in marzipan I'm not sure, but apart from the cocktail stick holding her head on, she is completely edible and gluten free.

 

Happy Christmas one and all and here's to a very creative 2015. 

 

DECEMBER...A PRINT A MONTH

I know I set myself a challenge this year when I announced I would make a print a month,

and December is probably the busiest time of the year, finishing off classes, preparing for the festive season and getting everything ready to open the yard:ARTspace in January.

But I just couldn't resist, so I have created a suite of prints along side my lovely students.

We spent the second half of the term creating collagraphs that could

be embellished with a gum Arabic transfer.

Experimenting with simple collagraph plate making techniques making abstract prints, designing them with spaces to

pop a gold, silver or bronze transfer image from drawings I found in a old sketch book.

I think I may explore this idea further in the New Year...it could be a whole new direction?

Now, there is more than one print here, does this mean I can carry 5 over to next year, this would take me to May...if only I could stop!!

FAREWELL TO HAMPEN FACTORY

I started blogging 5 years ago, the first ever post was about holding a Cheltenham Open Studio event at Hampen Factory. http://suebrownprintmaker.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/open-studio-event-at-hampen-factory.html

This was our second Open Studio exhibition. In fact I have been running courses and workshops at Hampen for nearly 10 years now.

But now it is time for me to pack things into my 2CV and move my studio and business to

the yard:ARTspace, Cheltenham.

There was a frenzy of printmaking activity

throughout the day.

Experiments went on in both the morning and afternoon groups,

with lots of colourful chine collee appearing on prints

The wall filled up with gorgeousness from everyone.

Both groups came together at lunch time and were join by Hampen alumni with a bring and share buffet; we ate, we chatted and memories were shared.

I have so much to thank Carolyn and Richard for, my business would not be what it is today without their imagination and support. Hampen has been a very special and creative space

for so many people.

It is not an end but a new beginning.