ANOTHER GRAND DAY OUT

Another day off, another road trip. This time into deepest, sunny (today) Wales to see my good chum Lesley Crawley. I set out up the M4, crossed the bridge into Wales and drove almost, but not quite as far as Haverfordwest.

Lesley is a great teacher and has an innovative approach to techniques. She also lives in an idyllic place with the most wonderful garden. 

So trying not to be too distracted by the beauty and birds all around me, Lesley cracked on and showed me how to make cynotypes.

Once again, I found myself in another inspiring shed on my day off.

Lesley has a chalet sized shed that houses the diverse range of Lesley's experimental creative techniques. Another collector of inspirational objects,

so everywhere you look there are

gorgeous collections.

And I am sure she would not agree, but everything has a place and can be found (on the whole). Lesley makes beautiful books using her experiments and is constantly experimenting embracing the 'what if ' factor all the time

I presented her with pre rusted fabric and after just a couple of hours

came away with all these cynotype experiments. Paper, fabric, rust and gum arabic transfer...just add Lesley's generous teaching. Thank you for a fantastic day.

Fancy learning how to achieve this? Lesley is coming to the yard:ARTspace in 2018, 16-17 June to teach Cynotype printing. Celebrate the summer solstice with us, book early to avoid disappointment.

END OF TERM

The end of my third academic term at the yard:ARTspace is a mixture of sadness and relief.

The 10 week courses have progressed well with everyone making lovely silk aqua tint collagraphs.

The last day of term prints were embellished using

gum arabic transfer printing. Some straight into sketch books,

some designed especially to place into collagraph prints together

with lots of experimentation.

Everyone took away a successful set of work.

And the sun shone on both groups making it a relaxed

last lesson.

It is always sad to see the end of term, after 10 weeks we have all got to know each other pretty well,

everyone knows how to deal with me more to the point.

This has been a busy term with Cheltenham Open Studios in the middle...so I am ready for a holiday.

But I am very pleased with the work that has developed and I am looking forward to the Autumn term starting on 20 September.

There are places left on the 10 week collagraph courses. AM, PM and evening classes. For more information contact me through the web site www.theyardartspace.com. Or why not come along to the Summer Exhibition.

Preview evening 20 July, 6-9pm. Exhibition continues 21-23: 11-4pm

A GRAND DAY OUT AT HENS TEETH

At last a day off and an outing. I set off down the M5 to pay a visit to Viv Sliwka aka Hens teeth. A fab lunch, crafty gossip and complete and utter shed envy.

It was a real treat to be introduced to her delicious work space and take a glimpse of what inspires her textiles and see new projects in the making.

All 'lady' sheds are about the knick knacks that gather in corners and hang from beams, Viv's space is no exception.

The whole idea of having a room of ones own is to be able to leave out partly developed ideas to go back to when inspiration hits.

It was lovely to see Worried Wilf at home.

At every turn textile deliciousness drips off the walls.

I know Viv would perhaps disagree, but it was a neat shed with a place for everything.

Her work nestles among collected pieces from other artists.

Even her raw materials look

picturesque. 

It was a complete privilege to see work in progress. Viv is making these gorgeous

blackbird scenes, each flower hand dyed, hand made. The blackbirds a 3D version of her drawings, all placed in a treasured vintage tin with stitched details. These art objects can be yours check out her Esty shop.

Viv' delicate work was everywhere, I felt totally refreshed and inspired. The energy that comes from someones work space is wonderful.

I am very excited to have Viv delivering a specially designed Create for Christmas workshop at the yard:ARTspace on 25 November. An alternative Christmas angel could be on your tree this year and then handed down as a treasured heirloom. 

Viv will also be joining the yard:ARTspace on 28 April 2018 with her signature Garden Tin workshop. All are booking now so don't miss out!

Thank you Viv for your generous hospitality, delicious food and the huge dollop of inspiration.

GONE...!

9 days, 3 artist/makers, 2 cats and around 600 visitors and now Cheltenham Open Studios is finished until 2019.

COS 2017 was the best yet, the whole of the artistic community in Cheltenham flung open the doors of their studios to welcome the public in. Looking, talking and art was bought.

My lounge turned into a gallery space, one of my visitors (who stayed so long we gave them a cup of tea) said it was magical. But what was magical was the beautiful work of my friends. 

Caroline McCatty who makes painted automaton and Sharon McSwiney who is a metal work artist and jeweller have been my friends for years. They put up with me being bossy, but I have a week of fab lunches, catching up and living with their fabulous work.

I had new collagraphs to show together with the printed textiles I have been experimenting with.

Iris has been determined to steal the show and become part of our exhibition.

But not only could you have a good look around my house, there was the garden too. Festooned with the bunting that Caroline and I made for Art in Action last year and tidied to receive visitors. 

Head out to my shed and see where I work...

In fact I had several visitors who wanted to move in and a couple of people brought husbands back saying...like this one please!

I thought I would be spending the week drawing in my sketch books, 

but the steady stream of interested people stopped that and so did Frank.

Iris took up marketing the yard:ARTspace for me, thank you Iris.

And thank you team Commercial Street, Caroline, Sharon and 

the lovely Mr Brown who worked so hard on the garden and supported me through the dark days of planning the Open Studio. The sign refers to the new deck chair I bought in case visitors sat in it.

 

So Frank says good bye for another year. Thank you to everyone who ventured out in the heat, who admire our work and bought from us. See you in 2009 I hope.