Studio News
Must be a couple of weeks since I updated my studio news - I've been busy!
I've recently finished an online course with Louise Fletcher www.louisefletcherart.com which was all about finding joy in what you do. I'd already found what I love doing but had been finding my work tightening up so the course was brilliant in forcing me to relax and bring back the energy into my work. As you can imagine the studio is a hive of activity now. Head across to my Facebook page or instagram account to see the time lapse I took of me working on 2 pieces at the same time.
The course also encouraged me to explore different paint palette combinations - I've found I like green! yes bit of a shock for me too. And finding out that cadmium yellow + black = green was a revelation. I'm exploring a few different colour palettes this week so look out for my work in a new light.
I've also recently got my hands on a concertina sketchbook - you can work across a number of pages in these. I'm using it with acrylic paint and mixed media. The way it's going the book will never close again as it's already thickening out.
Alongside all this I attend a weekly art course with Jos Blake; the last challenge was observational looking at food. I am please how this turned out - the work was created using a number of glazes of acrylic paint as well as creating different textures by dry brushing.
Have a good week
Karen
P.S. The bagels were delicious!
I've recently finished an online course with Louise Fletcher www.louisefletcherart.com which was all about finding joy in what you do. I'd already found what I love doing but had been finding my work tightening up so the course was brilliant in forcing me to relax and bring back the energy into my work. As you can imagine the studio is a hive of activity now. Head across to my Facebook page or instagram account to see the time lapse I took of me working on 2 pieces at the same time.
The course also encouraged me to explore different paint palette combinations - I've found I like green! yes bit of a shock for me too. And finding out that cadmium yellow + black = green was a revelation. I'm exploring a few different colour palettes this week so look out for my work in a new light.
I've also recently got my hands on a concertina sketchbook - you can work across a number of pages in these. I'm using it with acrylic paint and mixed media. The way it's going the book will never close again as it's already thickening out.
Alongside all this I attend a weekly art course with Jos Blake; the last challenge was observational looking at food. I am please how this turned out - the work was created using a number of glazes of acrylic paint as well as creating different textures by dry brushing.
Have a good week
Karen
P.S. The bagels were delicious!
2020
The final exercise was all about limitations - restricting the number of colours and the number of marks you could make. Find seascapes appearing again!
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Exploring new colour palettes with the Find your Joy course. Who'd have known that Cadmium yellow and black makes green - will need to order some in.
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Took part in the taster 'Find your Joy' course run by Louise Fletcher Art. This exercise was all about just covering the paper with different marks then removing the masking tape to reveal little windows of colour.
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And my 'big' painting is finally moving forward after a bit of a lull. Excited that I can now see it after playing with paint.
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I really enjoy a bit of still life from time to time. This acrylic was completed after a couple of tonal studies.
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I took part in this virtual arts trail. Work can still be seen in the gallery.
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The #artistsupportpledge is an inspired idea from @matthewburrowsstudio. In these difficult times, his initiative is a way for artists to generate income and also to help fellow artists.
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Studio improvements continue; an old trestle table top has now become a counter and useful storage area.
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Having a play with colour and collage for the #CVATCOVIDART for the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group online exhibition.
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Having attended a screen printing workshop over 3 years ago with 'lockdown' I have finally found time to have another go.
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Inspired by something I heard on the Art Juice podcast I sorted my older work. Made this little folding record of experiments - it'll be good for visitors to look through at exhibitions.
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Working on loads of small mixed media pieces
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Started work on a large piece...
chaos reigns in the studio! |
I've started listening to this really engaging podcast by 2 artists; Alice Sheriden and Louise Fletcher. Well worth a listen.
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Working on a commission using the Anders Zorn palette - amazed by the range of colours you can get from so few colours.
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I bought this book as a teenager so you’ll probably realise why I am looking forward to this exhibition https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/…/toulouse-lautrec-and-maste… coming up in February at Victoria Art Gallery
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Ran a sketching workshop for a lovely lady I met at the 44Ad Bath Humbug event. Really enjoy sharing art tips & techniques with people.
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Later this year I'm taking part in an exhibition with artist Gaynor Leverett - Jaques and we're both going to have some big pieces on show. Here's my first piece fixed to the wall of my studio ready for the paint!
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2019
What a week! Great to see so many visitors at this now annual event at 44AD running alongside the Christmas Market in Bath. It was my 3rd year showing my work alongside 7 other artists; a great mix of art (and inside keeping warm!).
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Had these cards made up for my Christmas events - nice and cheery for the time of year. Looking forward to expanding my card range in the new year for my Spring events.
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I bought a Gelli plate a few months ago - good fun to have a go at printing in the studio.
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Great to be back in the Saltcellar at Totterdown Baptist Church, Bristol for the Frontroom Arts Trail.
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I'm taking part in the pop up shop next month and am having fun making handmade recycled paper decorations to sell.
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Opened my studio for the Cam Valley Arts Trail weekend at the start of the month. Great to see so many visitors.
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After a long summer of building my studio space is finished (well almost!) - great to have some space to paint.
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My work at The Barn Gallery, Kington Langley as part of the Peacock Arts Trail. Superb venue and hosts. Delighted to sell lots of work including the central piece shown here 'Glimpse of light' framed just in time for the event.
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Thanks to Lucy Empson for the photo of my pitch at the Cam Valley Arts Spring Exhibition & Sale.
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'Exploring acrylic skies' workshop - great to share some tips and techniques when using palette knives with Redcatch Art Club
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Lots of work in the studio preparing for the Cam Valley Arts Trail in May.
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A few days on the computer helping the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group organise their next event - looking forward to getting back to the paint!
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Started this month spending some time at a Lino cutting & printing workshop with Andrew Eddleston and organised by the Cam Valley Arts Trail Group.
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Delighted that this commission 'Light Dances' in acrylic was well received by clients - all framed and on their wall now.
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A view of the studio with early stages of work in progress on a 50 x 50cm piece. Unusually the colour green much in evidence. This work is on gesso primed MDF; the gesso allows for textures to be incorporated right at the base layers.
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Really enjoying being back in the studio. I've been working on a commission but also a few pieces inspired by North Uist, Outer Hebrides.
Image below shows a detail of a piece that's 30 x 30cm. |
It arrived! - looking forward to having a play with this. Want to see what different print effects can be achieved as a starting point for a painting
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Working on lots of new pieces in the studio. New paint colours (for me!) being explored.
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Feeling really refreshed and raring to go after a good break. My last event of 2018 was at the 44Ad Bath Humbug Contemporary Art Market. Such a lovely group of artists to spend a week with.
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2018
Sketchbooks at the Bath Humbug event in December 2018. Visitors love looking at them.
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My work all set up for The Little Christmas Pop Up Shop hosted by the lovely Kate Westcott. Totally festive after Kate worked her magic touch.
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New cards and calendars made an appearance alongside my paintings this year at the Totterdown Frontroom Art Trail in November 2018. Always great to catch up with old friends I see at this trail.
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Couple of my paintings shown at the Cam Valley Arts Trail in November 2018. Great weekend at a gorgeous studio in the Paulton Basin owned by Batik Artist Shelagh Hetreed.
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Not a great photo but shows the Remembrance piece created at a workshop I ran at Farrington Gurney Primary School. 90 children made 90 poppies and 4 year 6 girls created the background with collage, paint & print.
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Superb weekend at this new Art Trail. Lots of visitors, great conversations and sales. Only wish I had had the chance to go around it myself!
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Attended the annual Black Swan Art Car Boot again this year. Great to clear less expensive work from the studio whilst catching up with artists.
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Visitors enjoyed looking through my sketchbooks at the Colour Pop Up Art Fair on the 9th June.
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Attended a 2 day workshop in Frome - well what a lot I have to learn! Really inspiring. Concentrated on monoprinting and collographs and look forward to working on the prints further using ink and overprinting.
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Fantastic display of work at the Friends Meeting House, Bath. A quiet day with most people watching the wedding! Good to catch up with fellow artists though.
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Thanks to John Loy at the North Bristol NHS Trust for inviting me to exhibit some of my work. Visited the new building when I was setting up - so much artwork in the atrium space. Wonderful.
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Fantastic day spent with Cam Valley Arts Trail Group. Great to be around such a friendly bunch of artists and sell my work at the same time.
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Delighted to hear that my painting 'Snow Clouds' which was accepted for the 113th Bath Society of Artists Open Exhibition has now sold. The exhibition is open to the public from 24th March - 12th May at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath BA2 4AT.
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On Saturday I attended a batik workshop run by artist Shelagh Hetreed. Need to iron off the wax but you'll see that I've enjoyed combining pattern with colour.
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Over the last 2 days I have been running a textile workshop with Cam Valley Arts Trail Group for a local school. Love how children are so expressive and open to learning new skills.
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Felt like a play today so am experimenting with mark making in acrylic paint.
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