Designer Crafts at the Mall 2015 - The Twenty Five Exhibit

I am excited to be exhibiting again at The Mall Galleries London.

It is the 25th anniversary of the Society of Designer Craftsmen exhibiting at The Mall and they have asked for pieces of work 25cm x 25cm to commerate the occasion.   I have produced a solar print which I have stitched into.

20:20 PRINT DESIGN PROJECT - NEO ARTISTS STUDIO - "LIFELINE"

"Lifeline" Solar plate etching with copper and stitch

This is a print I created by solar plate etching made from a photograph my son took.  I was quite moved by these photographs he was at school at the time and took them on his mobile phone (see below).   I was intrigued with the idea of the lifeline in the hand and the faded dried rose.   I added copper and machine stitch to the image.

 

Hand and Rose Photograph

In the second image he has drawn lines and tattoos which were quite thought provoking to me giving an image of scaring and lifeline.  

Tattooed Hand

I may do more work with these images.  It makes me think that tattoos show a  partial insight into a persons life history just as wear and tear and old age does.

William's Wish Book Illustration

This summer along with the workshops,  and print work I have been illustrating a children's book "Willliam's Wish".   It has been incredibly hard work but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  The characters were originally puppets created by children using socks so the machine stitch interpretations worked well with the theme.  It is not quite finished but I thought you might like a sneak review.

Machine Stitch on Paper

Recently I met Bridie the owner of a new wool shop in Horwich, called Fine Yarns, we got chatting and I am doing a workshop there on Machine Stitch on Paper.

The workshop will be held Fine Yars, 99 Lee Lane, Horwich on Saturday 19th July, 2014 12 p.m - 3 p.m.  The cost is fifteen pounds and includes refreshments and materials.  An easy going workshop suitable for beginnings, you will learn how to free-machine stitch on paper and use brush watercolour paint to produce lovely designs.

To book a place please call in to Fine Yarns or ring 07866 328645.

Danish Felt Artist Kirsten Lang Visit to my Home Studio

I had a lovely Sunday morning this weekend.  Kirsten Lang a Danish Felt Artist and her family visited my home studio.  We had met when I was exhibiting at the Knit and Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace last year and she said if she visited her friend in Manchester she would make a trip to see me and she was true to her word.



It occurred to me how wonderful it is to share creative ideas with fellow artists who love to express themselves creatively.  She is a lovely person and very interesting and I was so pleased she liked my work.



The sun was shining I sold some work and even the hens got in on the act!

The Dairy Barn Arts Centre U.S.A. "Art We Use" Exhibition

I was pleased to be accepted for the Art We Use Exhibition at The Dairy Barn Arts Centre.  I have just sent off my Quirky Telegraph Plates really excited.

The Dairy Barn Arts Center is one of Southeast Ohio's premiere art galleries, drawing nearly 15,000 visitors to the region every year. It is The Dairy Barn Arts Center's mission to: offer exhibitions, events, and educational programs that nurture and promote area artists and artisans; develop art appreciation among all ages; provide the community access to fine arts and crafts from outside the region; and draw attention and visitors to Southeast Ohio.

Built in 1914, The Dairy Barn Arts Center was originally a functioning dairy barn in part of a complex owned by the Athens State Hospital. No longer of use, the barn was scheduled to be razed in 1977. A Citizens Task Force Committee headed by artist Harriet Anderson and her husband, Ora, was formed to preserve the barn and turn it into a non-profit arts center. With only nine days to spare, the Task Force Committee and the Hocking Valley Arts Council succeeded in their petitions to the governor, and The Dairy Barn Arts Center was founded and added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Since then The Dairy Barn has become a respected arts center with 5,423 square feet of gallery space in addition to a gallery shop, offices, and five spacious rooms for arts classes and community events. The Dairy Barn Arts Center features a variety of exhibitions and events, from the regional artwork of OH+5 and Athens Voices to the internationally famous Quilt National and Bead International.

The Dairy Barn Arts Center is supported by admissions, memberships, corporate sponsorships, grants, exhibition tours, and art sales. The full-time staff of seven is assisted by a corps of more than 200 volunteers who donate thousands of hours annually.

The John Ruskin Prize 2014

I recently entered The John Ruskin Prize 2014 competition.  The subject was Recording Britain now and entries were invited from all over the UK offering "Fresh, contemporary visions of the UK's urban, rural or social environment.  I entered this image above.  I used watercolour and stitch and manipulated it digitally.

I was very pleased to be included in the preliminary shortlist of 90 artists out of nearly 600 submissions.