Perthshire Open Studios 2016

The exhibition of artwork and crafts in Spittalfield, Perth & Kinross was a resounding success. In early September our group SEVEN welcomed over 400 visitors to the charming village hall. Paintings, linoprints, bronze sculptures, ceramics, hand turned wooden bowls, pebble/driftwood pictures and fragrant organic beauty products garnered admiring comments, sales were made and commissions placed. We put a lot of time and energy into this event - interesting conversations and the satisfied faces of our visitors made it all worthwhile.

Painting: oil

Another one of my paintings prepared for Perthshire Open Studios 2016. It is a still life, called Candlelight Dinner. I don't place items for a still life in front of me when I paint, I remember or invent them and arrange them so that they tell a story. The viewer is invited to find their own stories when looking at the image.

Candlelight Dinner. Oil on canvasboard. 2016

Printmaking: linoprint

I'm working on a series of linoprints for Perth and Kinross Creates, a group exhibition at Perth Museum and Art Gallery in October 2016. 
Artists were asked to submit proposals for work they wanted to show, preferably work based on the museum's collections. I decided to take a look at a series of photographs featuring Lost buildings of Perth, pictures of long demolished houses, taken between the 1880s and 1930s.
Apart from liking the traditional architecture of these buildings I am interested in how it would be possible to translate the often desolate mood in these images into linoprints with a similar feel.
To prepare I went to study the framed photographs at the museum, took my own pictures and made detailed sketches. Here is a page from my sketchbook:

The first finished linoprint shows the General Post Office at the corner of Tay Street/High Street in Perth, after a photograph from before 1891. 

Post Office on Tay Street. Linoprint, 2016.  30 x 21 cm

I've used clouds, shadows and a distorted perspective to add something morbid to this image of a classical public building.

Studio materials

These are all the erasers I could find in my studio. Some of them are really ancient. Usually I just use the ones nearest to hand, and quite often I notice that they don't do their job well. 

Jackson's Art Materials have just published a blog post that explains everything about erasers, the different kinds and what materials they work best on. Take a look here.

Printmaking workshop

Are you interested in learning how to create linoprints? 

I'm holding the next workshop in my studio in Kettins / Coupar Angus

Tuesday, June 28, 11am - 3pm. 

You'll learn how to prepare the linoplate, develop a design in black and white, carve the image and print it. Cost: £35, including materials and refreshments, plus a comprehensive hand-out containing step-by-step instructions, tips and tricks and a list of suppliers.

To book a place please contact me before June 26 on cwdesign2@btinternet.com.

Exhibition

In May I showed samples of my upcycled handpainted furniture at "Meet the Maker 2", a craft showcase at Cargill's Bistro in Blairgowrie, Perthshire. Busy afternoon - my stall was beside a craft mead producer...
The showcase was part of a fundraiser for guide dogs; you can read the full story here.

My corner at Cargill's

The group of makers and host Lesley (front left)

Event

Meet The Maker 2
 

Cargill’s Bistro, Blairgowrie
Sunday 22nd May, 3 - 5pm

Come along and meet some of Blairgowrie's talented local craftspeople:
 

Sarah Cave, Silversmith
Christine Findlay, Author
Michelle Hewitt, Artist
Tracie Dick, Crocheter
Chris, The Rookery Craft Mead
Cornelia Weinmann, Printmaker & Upcycler

Find out a little more of their craft, how they design and make their creations
and watch as they demonstrate on the day. They will also have a small selection of their work on sale and be able to take bookings for commissions.
You never know - you may just find that perfect gift or something for yourself!
 

Cream Teas will be available.
 

Why not enjoy a meal before or after? Call 01250 876735

 
There is a small entry fee of £2.50 which goes directly
to the Discover Blairgowrie Name A Puppy Appeal
 

Lower Mill Street, Riverside, Blairgowrie, PH10 6AQ
Call 01250 876735
www.cargillsbistro.com