Stroud Open Studios 2012

Stroud Open Studios 2012 continues this weekend. I managed to take a quick peek at some last Sunday but didn't have much time to linger. However I did pop over to Frogmarsh Mill to see the studios of printmakers Barbara Webb and Jen Whiskerd.

Barbara was a founder member of Camden Printmakers and specialises in etching. She was so gracious and welcoming when we visited, showing us work in progress and describing techniques and processes. Her subject matter is fairly traditional but she has a light touch which makes the charming images hard to resist. Prices range from £10 to about £35 for unframed etchings.

Completely different in style, the studio above Barbara's is occupied by an amazing relief printer. Jen Whiskerd's large, bold woodcuts of animals are full of humour and narrative. I bought one of her cards as a Good Luck card for my daughter.

Hopefully I'll have more time this weekend to look inside other wonderful studios and see some of the huge diversity of work which is created in and around Stroud.

To view the Open Studios catalogue click on the link on the right. (Barbara is on page 12)

Almost there!

'50 people I've never met'  (2012)  Hannah Williamson

Went to Cardiff on Tuesday to help my daughter hang some of her work for her final degree assessment. Everything is due in  tomorrow so anxiety is reaching fever pitch. Couldn't resist showing you a photo of the piece which is going in the degree show. (And another one which is on the show poster). I'm very proud of her.

Curious crow doll

I finished the 'Big Cawdelia' doll today. She's the same pattern as the one I made for my daughter only 4 times bigger. She's even got the some of the same RAF braid on her dress.

I eventually took some photos of her sitting on the newly grey Ronnie Rhino. (the pink wasn't very popular). At first Cawdelia wasn't very sure about Ronnie and she refused to come down from the bird table for about an hour. But crows are by nature very curious creaures and by the afternoon hers had got the better of her. Now they are best of friends and settled by the window in the sitting room watching the goings on in the garden and dreaming of the adventures they're going to have together....

Three printmakers at Prema

Three exhibitions started down at Prema in Uley this week - and the artists are all printmakers! Or at least printmaking is a large part of their artistic practice. Just shows how much interest in the medium has increased from the public (and artists) over the last few years.

The three exhibiting artists pretty much cover all the print processes between them (including etching, drypoint, woodcut, lino and screen printing) and there is some really beautiful work. Well worth a visit.

In his subtle etchings and watercolours Ali Yanya  has caught ordinary people going about their business. I found the still, shadowy figures strangely moving, the sense of isolation and transience is really strong.

In the cafe Sarah Young is exhibiting some of her colourful relief prints. The illustrations for the Greek Myths book are particularly eyecatching. Having checked out her website I am in awe of her productivity and creative repertoire. (and she has an Etsy shop!) Something for me to aspire to.

Emily Hogarth is one of the growing number of artists creating intricate paper cuts which really lend themselves to screen printing and are very popular at the moment. She has created packaging and artwork for Cadburys, M&S and Lloyds TSB among others. A short video about her design process can be found on the Nivea website. Bit twee, but it's always interesting to see how artists get inspiration for their work.

Another reason to go (if you need one) is that the new cafe is open. Yummy cakes!   

Prema is a family friendly Arts Centre, promoting performance, live music and art exhibitions, as well as accessible workshops, classes and creative experiences for kids and adults. Prema, near Dursley in the Stroud valleys, offers an afforadable day out for all folk in the South West. 

         

Everything is going to be OK!

When a close friend was getting extremely stressed about her work for her final Art Degree show recently I gave her a little screen print to pin on her studio wall. The writing was added freehand with letterpress letters.
Even when there's only one magpie things can still turn out fine!

My daughter is also in the final year of a Fine Art degree and a couple of months ago I sent her this little screen print. It was made using paper stencils. The print is A4 size so I could add the writing by putting it through the computer printer.

Click on image to enlarge

I created these simple images at a workshop down at the Gloucestershire Print Co-op. I can't wait to be able to do some larger pieces. Shouldn't be long now before I can move in to the studio (if it ever stops raining!)

WINAPRINT Pushing Print fundraising event

Pushing Print is a not-for-profit organisation set up to promote and raise awareness of traditional and contemporary printmaking. They do this by hosting a month long printmaking festival in Margate which includes the Open Submission Print Exhibition.

A couple of months ago they asked if I would donate a print for their fundraising WINAPRINT event. They've just e-mailed me to say the website is up and running and ready for business. All the prints can be viewed at http://pushingprint.co.uk/win-a-print Only £10 per ticket.

Last year these two collagraph prints of mine were selected for the Pushing Print Open Submission exhibition when Anne Desmet was one of the judges. You can see the rest of the series on my Gallery page.

Meditations on Intimacy and Solitude I

Meditations on Intimacy and Solitude II

The studio so far.....

I'm back from the seaside and work on the studio has resumed. Just before we left I took these photos.I am so lucky to have had so much help. It already looks amazing!

 

I taped up the joins in the plasterboard and gave the room two coats of white paint. There are four windows which let in loads of light - especially now that the years and years of  yuck have been scrubbed off. I don't think the chickens were very houseproud! My old plan chest needs a good sort out. All manner of random stuff has got put in there since I moved.

My lovely brother fitted the secondhand catering sink which I bought on ebay. The splashback behind the sink is an offcut of printed vinyl-covered hardboard which I found in the freebee bin at Ikea. The handsome stable door was already there, luckily.

Most of the work has been done by my wonderful partner, Stephen, including fitting the worktop (£35 from B&Q), and the splashback. He also sorted out the electrics and customised the drawers (donations from two friends) so they fitted under the work top.

On one side of my new space is the old wooden chicken shed (which we now use as a log store). On the other is Stephen's workshop.