And now for something completely different

 A most exhilarating weekend workshop with an inspirational tutor - Eleanor White from Bridgehouse Studios. This was one of our wonderful workshops with my friends from the Textile Study Group and presented through the medium of Zoom.

The tasks Eleanor set us were very challenging with several writing exercises to help us understand our chosen object. Just the sort of way I enjoy working.

My chosen object was this compressed plastic bottle and continued my passion of making art work that commented on an aspect of conservation. Hence the topic I chose to develop for the TSG two year project to collate contributions from all members to compile our new book 'Insights'. So it felt natural to continue with this theme, hence the choice of this object to study this weekend.

The first stage was to prepare a large sheet of paper with a painted ground of gesso, followed by  Asemic writing. The study drawing was then built up with line, using pencil, graphite, chalks and charcoal as well as a rubber, giving delightful lighter, revealing marks as you rubbed away some of the darker areas.

Continuing to work into this piece to highlight the distortions more.

Invitation to 'Somerset Reacquainted'

Especially for those who live in or near Somerset - I invite you to visit this exhibition at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury. It's a project called Somerset Reacquainted that I've been taking part in throughout the Summer - organised by Somerset Art Works (SAW) as a support project for Somerset artists during 'lockdown'.

It should be fascinating. The recent posts here in my blog show how I've been exploring elements of my garden during 'lockdown' which will be represented by my contribution to this exhibition by 63 fellow Somerset artists.

Please note that you'll need to book your visit with the museum in advance https://swheritage.org.uk/somerset-rural-life-museum/ 

If you'd like to listen to the podcasts that these Somerset artists are making, you can listen to them talking live or if you wish to catch up, as a download. The podcasts are being broadcast live between 6 and 7 on 21st, 23rd, 25th, 28th and 30th September and 2nd October from this link https://somersetartworks.org.uk/somersetreacquainted/live/ 

The 2nd of October would be a good one to listen to!!!!

A new skill learnt and a tour around my garden and studio

A skill I wasn't expecting to need but has becoming very useful in this period of 'lockdown'. I've learnt how to edit simple films that I can take using my phone and I've been very pleased with the results although lots of things I would improve next time. 

Somerset Art Works (SAW) have provided training sessions by zoom and have encourage all members to contribute images and short films to show glimpses of you and your work to the public who would normally visit our studios and galleries. These are now being collated on a newly up-dated website www.somersetartworks.org.uk. At the time of writing this, this seems a few days away as I can't see my film or artist details yet.

So here is the short film I made showing you around my studio and showing you how I have responded to some of the elements in the confines of my garden during this summer.