A new beginning

Time to relax…..

Somerset Art weeks have ended and it’s time for me to sit back and take it all in! It felt like such a surreal time that I haven’t even managed to process everything that happened.

It was such privilege to show so many lovely people my work and the feedback I got was amazing. People seemed to really connect with my miniature work, with people telling me stories about their childhood, it was so humbling that my work made people remember a time they may have forgotten.

I feel sad that it is all over and I will miss the drive down the wooded valley to Dulverton but at the same time I hope this is a new beginning for me…

So before I sign off for a well deserved break I want to say thankyou to SAW, NADFAS, Davina and Jan at number seven for all their hard work and opening their hearts and home to me, Zoe for helping to make it all happen and most of all my husband Nigel, For all the support and love. xxx

The final weekend of Somerset Art Weeks

And so the end is in sight – all the hard work and preparations have resulted in lots of visitors and so many interesting conversations.  Seeing and hearing the response to my work has been fantastic and encouraging.  Now the exciting journey ahead is about to begin…further developments of this body of work, commissions to work on, future exhibitions planned and moving into a new studio space at the Silk Mill.

I would especially like to thank my son Alex and friends Suzi and Di for helping me with the stewarding when I was unable to be there.

Outcome

It’s been a week since Somerset Art Weeks 2014 has started.
I supposed to send articles of my work development but now it’s already our show time!
At least I should report my work here.

‘Levels – STREAM – ” is inspired by the meandering stream runs though the Levels.
You don’t see the ‘meandering’ on the map but once you drive along the stream you will find the amazing meandering.
Now the stream is clam and beautiful, although huge disaster was  brought by this stream this winter.

It has double layers – double weave.
One layer is dark colours – series of bules
The other layer is light/pale colours – ecru to very pale blue
These two layers inter change the position – upper side or lower side.
Creating a pattern with the interchanges.

‘Levels – HILLS –” is inspired by the gentle hills across the fields.
That area is very calm and peaceful, usually.

The colours represent green meadow and blue sky.
You see the woven in pattern – hills

It’s a table runner. I’m weaving place mats to go with the runner at the venue.

“ren” shows ‘float’ with strong geometric lines.

This is my presentation at The Courthouse Gallery, Somerset Guild of Craftsmen.

I’m demonstrating on 22nd – 24th & 29th – 1st.
Please come along to see my work.

A rollercoaster week!

First of all I would like to give a huge apology for not keeping up to date with the blog whilst the art weeks have been happening. It has been an amazing but draining experince setting up and being invloved in the exhibition, I say draining but don’t mean this in a negative way. It’s almost like the months of build up and anticipation are being released and I’m beginning to understand my work more and my confidence has grown in leaps and bounds after watching people fall into the miniature felted worlds I have created. The draining process has also ment that I have new room to grow fresh ideas within and I have so many plans for future pieces that I just can’t wait to get started!! 🙂 Tomorrow (saturday 27th) I will be in Number Seven demonstrating my felting process, It would be lovely to meet you 🙂 xxx

Day Two at Thornreed Studio

Another busy day at Godney with lots of visitors coming in to see us. It is really positive that so many people are coming. It is very interesting to see the publics reaction and hear their comments. I have been working in my studio for a few weeks now, and whilst the work made perfect sense to me I am never sure if it will translate to an audience. However, people seem to really connect with the voices and the originality of the work.  I have even managed to get a couple more willing volunteers for my interviews which means the project can continue after Art Week has finished.

In yesterdays post I promised to share some images from Thornreed Studio so that you can get a feel of this amazing place, I have also taken a couple of pictures of Jane and Simon and a little of their work, I think you will agree its really worth a visit.  Please remember we are open every day from 11am – 6pm

The walkway to Jane and Simon’s studios

Jane’s Studio (look at the beautiful lining on that coat)

Simon’s Studio complete with two of his Paintings hanging outside

Jane hard at work

Simon taking a quick break

24 hours in the life of an artist

I can’t believe how busy the last 24 hours have been. I wanted to keep up to date for the whole of Somerset Art Week but things got a little hectic during setting up the show. So please forgive my quick summary but I hope to post every day to share my experience of the exhibition with you.

I have been really thrilled with the response I received to my work I feel very positive that the work has really found its voice.

Simon, Jane and I had a really busy day with lots of visitors, interestingly lots of people travel to the venues by bicycle which seems a wonderful way of enjoying Arts Week and the Countryside at the same time. Tomorrow I will share some images from around Thornreed Studio, so you can get a feel of the place, and hopefully some  of Simon and Jane’s amazing work.

Just a reminder that Thornreed Studio is open every day from 11am to 6pm so please come and visit us.

Hanging the work

hanging my work at Thornreed Studios

Photographs taken during setting up the show

Summing up before setting up

Earlier this year, I spent some time wandering around and across the Somerset Levels, allowing my meanderings to seep into my sketchbook, making mental notes about what inspired me.

As I started to pull ideas together, I was drawn to the structures that bridge the rivers, land and ditches and how the shadows and reflections they cast, extend the space they occupy.

Three in particular represented to me the imprint of agriculture, architecture and change on the Levels.

  

My main inspiration has been the Cocklemoor Bridge at Langport, designed by Richard La Trobe Batemen, contrasting with one crossing the Parrett further downstream on Stathe Drive near Stoke St Gregory.

On first appearance, the Levels are a slowly changing rural environment, but at every turn there is evidence of the human impact through technology and materials. I have tried to capture this in subtle ways through visual and sound recordings that will be projected onto surfaces, creating change and movement.

Working from their structures and the imagery of shadows and reflections thrown by them, I have distilled shapes into surface pattern, cutting away areas to create new shadows and line.

Now to display it all so it makes sense to me and everyone who visits the Black Swan.

Hot off the press….

With an international reputation for designing and building structures from bridges to furniture,  I’m very excited and privileged to be able to display Richard La Trobe Bateman’s scale model of the Cocklemoor Bridge alongside my own work.

New work from Joy Merron

Here are the images of Joy’s new work. Visit Joy’s pop-up studio at Black Swan Arts from Monday 22nd September until Saturday 4th October.  Venue 132 http://www.somersetartworks.org.uk/openstudios/black-swan-arts-centre

Evolver – September and October 2014

Exciting news I am mentioned in Evolver magazine’s September – October issue . The current issue isn’t online yet so here are some images of the article or you can look for yourself if you have a copy.

Remember Thornreed Studio opens its doors for Somerset Art Week this Saturday at 11am.

Evolver Article

Article Close Up

Learning through the moors

The weekend is nearly here and so begins another stage of the creative pathways journey. Last week I spent the day at my venue, Number Seven in Dulverton assembling my window display.
I have to admit that I found it a daunting task at first. I never really work on a large scale as most of my work is miniature, it was hard to see the bigger picture. But it turned out to be a great lesson in trusting my judgement. Sometimes as an artist you forget that there is life in your art after the studio so it was great to see it come to life for a second time in a beautiful window display.
My mentor and I decided on a kingfisher theme for the window as since the beginning of the project I have focused alot on these little birds and wasn’t really sure why; yes they are seen fishing along the fast flowing valley rivers but surely it’s not the typical animal you think of when you speak of the moors.
Then it occured to me when I arrived in Dulverton and I saw the beautiful lush wooded slopes and liquid silver river. Like the kingfisher the moors can be vivid and full of brightness but underneath the kingfisher isn’t the bright blue he appears, he is a trick of the light for his feathers aren’t blue at all it’s just an illusion. This may seem dissapointing to some but to me it makes him seem even more magical and that’s how I feel about the moors. On those bright sunny days the moors are welcoming and intriguing to so many visitors but underneath it can be harsh and dark in the murky depths. It’s a place of such perfect balance, dark and light, bellowing gales and the stillness of sun, obvious beauty and hidden charm, just like the kingfisher.