CREATE FOR CHRISTMAS

I know we have only just got over Halloween and bonfire night, but it is alway our intention to be prepared for Christmas earlier than we actually do!!

With this in mind, Create for Christmas at the yard:ARTspace is now well under way.

There is even a small outbreak of Christmassy imagery coming out of the 10 week printmaking course.

We kicked off in late October with lovely Lorna Prudden and a glass decoration workshop.

This had to be early because Lorna had to take things away to fire in her furnace.

Gorgeousness was made, 

2 weeks later everyone was able to take their heirloom, handmade decorations home.

I think these will be treasured for years to come. Thank you Lorna for going the extra mile with this very successful workshop.

Yesterday Danielle facilitated the Lino cut Christmas cards and gift tags workshop.

Some very sophisticated creations came out of this class.

Lots of cutting (no injuries I am pleased to report)

and new skills were learnt.

Perfect preparation, how often have we said, I'm making my cards this year and then time gets away from us?

Everyone was able to take their lino away with the confidence of being able to continue at home. And the first mince pie was enjoyed, thank you Danielle you spoilt us.

We even had a curious neighbour pop in to see what exactly was going on.

The festive fun has not ended...

The yard has the talented Julia Jowett popping in next week to create decorative wire and stitch bird cages, this workshop has been full for sometime, but I have pursued Julia to run a workshop for the yard on 23 April (not on the website yet) so pop that date in your diary if you missed out on the Create for Christmas workshop.

Dinny Pocock is running a Bobbin Robin workshop on 21 November, again this booked up after her successful appearance in the yard over Cheltenham Open Studios this year. Again I have tempted her back next year to make Easter chickens on 12 March 2016, places have started to go...!!

Last but not least, 28 November Louise Hamilton-Smith is running a Christmas Wreath workshop, places are still available.

It has now been a year since I took the lease on the yard:ARTspace, I have regretted not a single moment, but that is due to the support of all the people I have mentioned above and many more friends and family who have been behind me in this new venture. The lovely Rob who fixes things and my digital web Mistress, Holly who has done a wonderful job with the website.

Here's to what is happening in the yard:ARTspace in 2016!!

TOE IN THE WATER...!

So I have entered a new world and I have to admit I quite like it! I decided to try my first contemporary craft show and as Select Showcase was on my doorstep why not?

Initially it was like Printfest, everyone set up in their own spaces and then spent a weekend talking and explain what, how and why we make what we make. Sharing stories and secrets.

But on setup day the difference hit me like an articulated lorry. Not just a case of popping up a few Collagraphs, craft shows involve styling and setting your work into what I can only describe as an installation. A plan I have to say I had been working on for weeks!

Thanks to my lovely friend Caroline  and my long suffering daughter Holly, set up went very smoothly. The furniture was made by a lovely local carpenter Fred who came to visit the show and I hope he was pleased with his handiwork. (Could have sold those tables several times over)

Throughout the weekend I met lots of lovely friends, students from courses, people I had lost touch with and lots of talented interested folk. Thrilled to have talked to Viv of Hen's Teeth fame and Cleo Mussi...I have to admit a bit star struck on both counts.

And then there were my fellow exhibitors, well what can I say...?

The gorgeousness of Caroline Lingwood.

The exquisite beauty of Claire Cawtes textiles. Excited that she will be teaching at the yard:ARTspace next year.

The exuberant Julie Jowett (yes it is difficult to catch her when she is still) Another talent coming to the yard in 2016.

Her stories in stitch.

The quirky mixed media ceramicist that is Claire Baker.

Of course I have to mention Karen Suzuki while I am having a budgie moment.

But what made this show for me was the encouragement and friendship of  Claire, Julia, Claire, Caroline and Holly and to all the lovely exhibitors and visitors that took time to chat.

What next?

BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR

This is the view of the yard:ARTspace from the street.

And behind the green door during term time I teach 3, 10 week collagraph 

courses on Wednesdays in the morning, the afternoon and evening. We have now reached half term and yesterday explored viscosity inking on the silk aquatints we have been making this term.

From this intaglio inked plate with a touch of chine collee to...

this plate with a viscosity inked surface.

From this blended colour plate to ...

this exciting richly coloured work.

Everyone had exciting results, lifting already successful plates

to ooohs and aaahs when printing.

I first learnt to ink in this way from the artist/printmaker

Peter Wray, now living in Cornwall.

The process was developed in the

1930's by the British artist

Stanley Hayter

Thank you to both these artists for developing this inking technique,

I am sure you will

agree, it brings collagraphs to life.

For details about the next 10 week Printmaking Course at the yard:ARTspace go to www.theyardartspace.com

THE HALF WAY MARK.

This term is moving at speed, next week is the last session before half term for the 10 week printmaking course at the yard:ARTspace. 

This week has been very exciting as everyone has started to print the 

 very carefully made Silk Aquatint plates made over the last 4 weeks.

It is such a sophisticated way of making a collagraph plate.

Rich, velvety dark tones can be achieved together

with subtle tonal variations.

Combined with Chine collee during the printing...!!! Well?

I have to admit to indulging myself this term, with 3 groups I did have to do a number of examples

and demonstration pieces. So I raided some old sketchbooks for inspiration

and hunted through my private chine collee stash.

So far we have all made small 5"x 4" plates. But next week we will be viscosity inking and I will be handing out A4 sized silk aquatint plates to work on for the last 5 weeks of the course.

For more information and how to book onto the next 10 week collagraph course go to 

the yard:ARTspace for details.