A couple of people have asked, and the answer is, I am not taking part in Somerset Open Studios this year.
Plans
My own studio is much more mobile, so is not suited to be a venue. I’ve managed to reduce my equipment down to a few boxes and I am planning to move around in the next year, hoping to get out and about, around Somerset and the South West.
I may take part in a local Christmas Fayre, more about that when I have details.
I plan to do a workshop in Wells next year. Probably just one.
I may do an occasional art/craft fair.
I plan to focus on printmaking, mainly reduction linocut prints.
I’ll be running a one day “Introduction to Linocut” workshop, in Wells, on Saturday 11th August 2018 from 10am to 4pm.
It is the only workshop I will run this year and will be limited to a maximum of five participants. As a beginner’s workshop the focus is on helping you to get started and giving you enough information and experience to carry on with linocut after the event. I’ll be showing you a method you can use at home, without the need for a press or too much expensive equipment.
The workshop will include demonstrations followed by practical hands-on experience and experimentation with tools and techniques to create your own unique linocut print. Mark-making is incredibly important in linocut, so there will be time to learn on a practice piece before moving onto working on your design. The tools are sharp, so I will teach you about safety too.
Prints from a workshop in Crewkerne
I always like it when people bring their own ideas/subjects to the workshop. It is amazing how diverse people’s interests are and it always makes for some lively conversations during the day.
If you subscribe to my newsletter I can send you emails relating to workshops, exhibitions, new work and work in progress, anything relating to my linocut printmaking.
Somerset Art Weeks 2017 festival has finished. It was the first time I’ve taken part and was an interesting experience. I’m afraid I didn’t get out to see any other venues.
Kilve Beach (Detail)
I made some new work specially for the Prospect theme, joining the many artists who have created work inspired by the landscape at Kilve Beach. I’ve been intending to extend my choice of subjects for some time.
Chestnut tree, Nynehead
While I was at the gallery I was working on a linocut of an ancient sweet chestnut tree that I saw at Nynehead near Wellington. I didn’t manage to finish it during the two weeks. I’ll add it to the gallery on my website as soon as it’s done, so you can see the results.
Have A Go
The Family friendly “Have a Go” event was lots of fun. I’m very grateful to St. Cuthbert’s Mill for the idea and for providing the paper too.
I created two ready cut lino blocks so that people could try printing on St Cuthbert’s lovely Somerset paper. It was a popular event with some very enthusiastic participants ranging from three years old to quite a bit older. I interpreted “family” very openly to mean “anyone at all.” I will do a rerun of the “Have a go” event sometime, perhaps at half term.
Although the Paper Prospects exhibition is now finished, my work remains on display on my website.
My linocut prints are currently on display, until 8th October, in Wells, as part of the Somerset Art Weeks festival 2017. I’ll be there most days, working on a linocut, so please do call in.
I have a new selection of greetings cards available on the LoveFromTheArtist.com website.
The theme is Sea & Coast, and the images are based on my linocut prints of Kilve beach.
Kilve is part of the Jurassic coast. It’s a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is worth visiting for the views out over the Bristol Channel, the amazing ammonites, the geology and the rock pools.
Tomorrow, Sunday 16th July, I’ll be selling my linocut prints at the Frome Art Car Boot sale, in the Old Cattle Market car park in Frome, from 10am till 4pm. It’s an annual art sale organised by and raising funds for the Black Swan Gallery.
This is a fantastic opportunity to meet over 50 artists, and to buy art direct from the makers.
It is also one of the few occasions this year when you’ll be able to buy my prints without paying a gallery commission. That’s up to a 45% discount. If you are looking for “affordable art”, then this is the place to be.
