slow art…
Just in time for summer – or so it seems – we’ve opened our latest Discover Original Art exhibition in Datchworth, Hertfordshire.
I’m still pinching myself, I’m so thrilled to be hanging out with the rest of these brilliant artists.
We’re at the Mardleybury Gallery until 28th June, open Wednesdays to Sundays – and most of us will be demonstrating or explaining our techniques on Thursdays and Sundays over June, so please come along if you’re in the area.
Visitors to our forthcoming Discover Original Art Fair, will have the wonderful pleasure of seeing ‘up close and personal’, the abstract works from artist Jan Drury.
Jan creates superb pieces, using many different media, gradually applied in layers, each contributing to the overall beauty and mystery of the finished work.
These layers draw you into the experience, some would convince you they’re still wet, and you’ll find yourself wanting to touch them. Which is fine, because Jan encourages people to feel and touch her art.
Viewing Jan’s work in person, getting so close you can see every layer, texture and colour, is how Jan intends her work to be enjoyed. Come along to Ivinghoe and take a close look – what will you see?
You can read more about Jan at her website Jan Drury Art. Do pop over there and see other fabulous examples of Jan’s lovely abstract creations.
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Landscapes and the patterns created in nature, feature prominently in the delicious work of Joanne Bowes, who will be one of the eight local artists exhibiting at Discover – 29th & 30th November.
Joanne is an established, professional artist, who achieved Foundation Diploma (Best in Year End Show), and Fda in Fashion and Surface Pattern Design, both with Distinction, and BA (Hons) in Contemporary Applied Arts (Textiles).
Joanne loves natural forms, colours and textures, working with them to create drawings and paintings, which she then manipulates to develop her unique textile designs.
She focuses on the use of natural materials, combined with traditional techniques, such as dyeing, knitting and weaving.
Joanne’s mixed media landscapes are created using a range of techniques, including naturally dyed textiles, collographs, ink, wax resist and watercolour, and are often embellished with hand or machine embroidery.
She is currently developing a range of up-cycled garments and accessories using natural dyes and eco leaf prints.
You can see more of Joanne’s work at her website Joanneshewan.wordpress.com,or find her at Facebook Joanne Shewan Textiles and Twitter @JoanneShewanTxt
We’re all excited to see the work she’ll be showing at Ivinghoe, so don’t miss the opportunity to come along and meet her in person if you’re in the area.
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Today I want to introduce you to my wonderful, multi-talented friend, Judy Youssef.
Judy is one of those amazing artists who seem to be able to turn their hands to a whole raft of techniques always finding a way to express themselves that is both unique and inspiring.
Originally from the Isle of Wight, Judy has in fact spent many years living in remote parts of the Middle East, a fact that has undoubtedly greatly influenced her career in art.
Today Judy is based in Bedfordshire and will be one of the eight local artists exhibiting at the Discover Original Art Fair, at the end of this month.
As Judy herself puts it,
one lifetime isn’t enough to try out all the ideas jumping around in my head
But visitors to the exhibition will be able to see Judy’s latest work, including exquisite abstracts in alcohol inks – pieces that really do ignite your imagination…
and also her superb new jewellery and accessory pieces in polymer clay – Judy’s expertise in this material is renowned, do come along if you can and see what she creates, I guarantee you’ll be amazed.
There are lots of Judy’s finely observed paintings on her website, where you can also see examples of her jewellery and details of the other fascinating projects she’s been involved with during her fascinating career.
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I’m always intrigued by the way artists express themselves through a variety of media. Today I wanted to show you the work of Ali Mesley, who is also exhibiting at our Discover Original Art Fair in November.
Ali is a visual artist, inspired by colour, texture, line and form, who expresses her thoughts and feelings through a whole range of techniques and materials, including textiles, glass, papier-mache and found objects.
Her work is process driven, with all sorts of things inspiring her to create.
Most recently, she’s been exploring her responses to books and colour families.
You can see more of Ali’s work at her website, and if you’re near Ivinghoe on 29th or 30th November, come along and meet the artist herself.
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No stitching today, instead I thought I’d show you some of the work of artist Victoria Johns, who, like me, is based in the Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire borders, and will be exhibiting her range of original art, prints and greeting cards, at the Discover Original Art Fair, at the Ivinghoe Community Hub during the last weekend of November 2014.
Victoria’s works frequently develop from her interpretation and response to her location photography.
Having trained as an artist specialising in glass, she now works predominantly in mixed media and print, but her fascination with glass and the translucent quality it produces is evident in the many delicately layered, subtle and dramatic effects she creates.
There’s a gorgeous tactile quality to Victoria’s artwork and you often feel you could hold it up and see light shine through.
One of the best things about coming along to Discover, is having the opportunity to meet and talk to all the artists, who’ll be there on both days, delighted to talk about the processes and inspirations they use, so if you’re in the area, please come, I’m certain you’ll find much to enjoy.
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I am absolutely delighted to be part of the forthcoming Discover Original Art Fair.
If you’re anywhere near Ivinghoe in November, please do come along. There’s some seriously fabulous talent in the group and who knows, you might even find the perfect Christmas gift is just waiting for you there…
Well it’s official, we’re off to Ivinghoe again with a fabulous selection of original art for sale, just in time for Christmas. If you’re in the area, please come and join us at the Ivinghoe Community Hub on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November 2014, between 10.00am and 3.00pm on both days.
Eight talented local artists will be there with a wide variety of artworks, including paintings, gorgeous original prints, amazing creations in polymer clay, glass, textiles and even some new stitched tapestry items from yours truly.
The CuriosiTEA cafe will be keeping us all in the Christmas spirit with hot tea and cakes – I’m hoping for mince-pies…
I’ll let you know more about the various artists involved between now and November, but as things get hectic leading up to Christmas, do please save the date now if you’re going to be in the area.
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I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everybody who came along to Ivinghoe Community Hub at the weekend to support the Artists’ Network Bedfordshire’s art exhibition.
It was a superb weekend and a terrific location. But the best part – I think for all of us who were exhibiting – was getting to meet such an interesting and interested group of people. Exhibiting is all very new to me and it was so good to have the opportunity to talk to people about the stitched tapestries that I make.
I was really impressed by how much time visitors spent finding out all about the artists and their work, it makes all those hours in the studio feel worthwhile.
Some of us fell in love with the venue so much, I think we may well try to do something there again before too long – I’ll keep you posted.
