Short Creative Course Proposals...

First of all apologies for non-communication recently - we've had a number of family and friends' health issues and personal ordeals to go through - but things seem to be settling down a bit now...

Recently I was approached to provide some short course proposals for college.
These will (if they go ahead) be non-accredited, 'leisure and pleasure' type workshop courses.
I would run them in the evenings or at weekends maybe. This would be a grand 'rehearsal' for the workshops / courses I'd like to run in our outbuilding...
I put together very quick outlines. Under the umbrella of 'Make A Start' I put a short description - the sort of blurb that someone might initially read on a poster or website - for the following:

• Creative Sketchbooks
• Typography and Lettering
• Contemporary Graphics

Want to read what I wrote?

Here we go...

Make a Start: Creative Sketchbooks
If you think looking through artists’ sketchbooks is sometimes more interesting than the finished work, then this is the course for you. Want to make amazing sketchbooks/journals of your own? You will explore the sketchbook techniques of others, picking up tips on how to create exciting pages and experiment with materials and techniques to develop your own sketchbook style.
Some previous creative drawing/art experience will help, but an open mind and willingness to have a go is just as important.

Make a Start: Typography and Lettering
Like type and lettering? You will have noticed an interesting recent trend: designers, crafters and artisans bringing an extra dimension to their work by utilising text. This short course introduces you to some of the basics of typography, which you will then consider while creating your own hand made/drawn/digital lettering.
Some previous technical/computer experience will help, but an open mind and willingness to have a go is just as important.

Make a Start: Contemporary Graphics
A fusion of handmade and digital imagery with text creates the look we see around us in ads, posters, packaging, magazines etc. This short course will show you how to study and critique existing contemporary graphics. You will get hands-on creative yourself too, by exploring lots of materials and techniques. You will then begin to create your own signature graphic style.
Some previous drawing/art experience will help, but an open mind and willingness to have a go is just as important.

All images from Pinterest

Ultimate Satisfaction When It All Comes Together

Ooops...

Enjoy a sweet little film with Melvin as a star performer...

College Rules My September

Oooh - sorry to have been so elusive - the start of term is BUSY BUSY BUSY - and I have been so very very very tired at the end of each day - energy for anything other than children, teaching and the odd 'Fitsteps' class has all but disappeared... 

Therefore - I'd like to share some fun stuff we've been doing with the students.

This week our forty-four open minds and creative souls spent the day working very hard to make one hundred drawings in just one day - I love that!  Lots of styles, techniques and materials - plenty of approaches to making a drawing were explored...

Here's the Maths:

4 people, 

+10 groups,

+11 zones, 

+10 drawings in each zone; 

+10 zones visited by each group

= 100 drawings

Themes were: 

'Let's Get This Job Done - DIY'

'Stationery Still Life'

'Woodland Wonder'

'Letterform Chalk Drawings'

'Car Park'

'Hey, Good Looking, What You Got Cooking?'

'Following In Your Footsteps'

'Patchwork'

'Monsters'

'Urban Recovery'

'Ten Green Beans Hanging On The Wall':

Last week our students became human photocopiers - as they enlarged and replicated gorgeous 'mid-century modern' book cover designs from all over the world. They had to work together to mix up batches of paint and attempt to match up their personal quarter enlargements - to create the whole. They were given A6 images and had to paint on A1 - finished articles are double A0...MASSIVE! Here are some of them - and the originals. They make an amazing impact on the walls of our little old Hub:

There are more but maybe they're for another post....

Lastly, something different...

I was checking emails tonight and one from Etsy flew in with a link to an article about this seller and her ethos. There was this little video of her made a few years ago.

I found it quite inspiring and want to share it:

I rarely feel in control of my life so it feels like a place - a life - a million miles from mine - a dream..

Should I Be This Nervous Before A Show?

What a lovely venue St. Lawrence's Art Centre is.
After a nervy morning, we left rather late and I was the last one to set up my work (t'was ever thus..)
I get SO worried before putting my work up - and it's difficult to sort out exactly why - as even thinking about trying to assess it all seems so emotive.
But this is something I really have to address as it almost ruins the experience every time for me!

I wonder if I am on my own or if there are many peeps out there who get nerves like me...?
it's almost a kind of 'stage fright' I suppose - and yet it has also stopped me from selling online so far.
I joined Etsy in 2008 and had a shop set up since 2011, but it sits empty!
How silly is that?
OR
How lazy?
OR
How chicken is that?
OR
How techno shy? Or what...?

All of that continues in my head and there are butterflies in my tummy - yet I'm there and it's the preview - with over seventy people looking, chatting, milling about. The whole space looks great, my work is out, it looks fine - lovely people come along and say complimentary things about it - and I smile - and - and I should be talking to everyone.
The other artists seem to make it look easy - working the room; 'networking' -
I just feel awkward and self-conscious...
How do I start? What do I say?
Smile, open mouth; words will come out:

"Hello there..." 

Once I get that far, it's a bit easier and things to say start to come into my head, finding their way to my mouth and I say stuff, ask people questions.
It's funny because I can normally talk for the Northern hemisphere...but put me in front of my work, tell me to sell it and I'll freeze.
Am I the only one, or does everyone find it hard?
Is it too personal? - I'll sell your work for you, if you'll sell mine - that could be a way round it...

 

I'm OK with eye contact though...

Next time I'll tell you how I felt after three days of exhibiting my work - did I hide up; serve teas and wash up away from my work?

Workshops Went Well..

*Scroll down for Steve, The Dancing Thing
What fun to share an hour or so at 'play' - in a simple yet effective creative print workshop.
I ran three short drop-in sessions for children, for families, for all - last weekend and here's the evidence:

Here he is...

A Good Turnout..!

A big Thank You to all those who came along to our preview last night - it was very encouraging to see so many folk - well over seventy people there!
Considering Corrin only dreamed up our group show a couple of months ago, we have done really well.
We had one meeting and it's been emails since then to organise, market, publicise, print, etc. in preparation for last night...
And - it came together really well:

A great turnout as you can see!

The gorgeous Michelle Daniels and her gorgeous pottery:

Bruce Rushin's fascination with trompe l'oil is evident in his wonderfully detailed paintings:

Here's Colin Giles explaining his enigmatic photography and great digital prints, which address movement:

Corrin Tulk's paintings sit together well - creating a strong series of bright abstracted landscapes and seascapes:

Here's a quick snap of my set up. I have to say I'm happy with a new way to display the work - I think it portrays the way I am - quite well..!
I'll explain that better tomorrow!

Jeweller, Ann Lamb, had a fab idea - a competition for a fingerprint in silver - with the proceeds going to the Hare Preservation Trust:

Right - doing this has made me realise that I must take more photos tomorrow - the list incldes:
Close ups of Ann's beautiful jewellery
Close ups of my work
A record of my printing workshops
The prints produced in my workshops
Our yummy homemade cakes - and delightful teas -

Yes - you can get refreshments too!