I attended a two-day workshop at the Stables in Potten End near Hemel Hempstead. Once I’d found the Stables, I was made welcome with a cup of tea while we waited for everyone else to arrive – there were eight of us in all.

We had a lovely life model on the first day. We modelled her form straight into clay, which was a wonderful process. We made six model forms, then were shown how to pick out and hole them so that they would dry out and not explode in the kiln when firing.

The second week I arrived to discover that all our forms had survived the firing and were complete, which was a great feeling! Jola set up the raku kiln outside with sawdust and metal buckets. She showed us the different slips we could put on the forms. The firing itself was a great experience, with instant results.

ANB Art Exhibition

Moat Farm Gallery
Leighton Road, Stoke Hammond
Milton Keynes MK17 9DD

9/10 June and 16/17 June, 10am–4pm
Private View: 7–9pm Friday 8th June

Exhibiting artists:
Bea Brown, Jan Drury, Cecilia Gatehouse, Helen Hooper, Sue Melville,
Joanna Stone, AnyaPenger-Onyett, Jill Taylor and Louise Wooldridge

Make Polymer Clay Jewellery in Your Own Home WORKSHOP

I will show you how to make jewellery in a Klimt style; brooches, beads, earrings, bangles and anything else you would like. My teaching style is very supportive and relaxed; it will be a fun day. 8 places available.

Saturday 9th June 10am til 4.30pm, bring lunch, I will provide drinks

Jupiter House, Chapel Rd, Meppershall, Beds, SG17 5NQ

Cost £40

Contact me if you are interested in doing this workshop

gillychegwyn@hotmail.com or 07939 66 20 45

Printmaking Workshops
at the Paper Trail

Collograph Printmaking
Venue: The Paper Trail, Hemel Hempstead
When: Thursday 10 & 17 May
Time: 10.00 to 3.00pm
Fee: £30 (received funding so reduced from £85)
Learn the low relief collage on cardboard technique of printmaking, using found objects such as string and wallpaper. First week make the plate, second week printing. Learners will have to pay for some materials, approx £1-£4 dependent on use. Booking is essential.
To book a place please telephone Maureen Charlton or Sue Woolnough on 01442 234600 or email maureencharlton@thepapertrail.org.uk . The Paper Trail is found at: Apsley Paper Trail, Apsley Mill Cottage, London Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP3 9RL. Courses may be subject to cancellation if minimum numbers are not met.

Printmaking Workshops
with Susan Erskine-Jones at her studio
Pressmore Studio, Ashley Green Road, Ashley Green (near Chesham), HP5 3PF, Buckinghamshire.
Small classes of up to six people.

Solar Printing – 1 day workshop
Thursday 26th April 10am-3pm or
Wednesday 13th June 10am-3pm
Cost: £40 plus materials
A solarplate is a light sensitized polymer material used by artists as an alternative to etching. It is a simple, safer and faster technique than traditional etching printing.

Monoprinting– 1/2/3 day workshop
Tuesday 15th, 22nd, 29th May 10am-3pm
Cost: materials plus either £100 for full workshop
or £40 per day
The appeal of monoprinting lies in the unique translucency that creates a quality of light very different from a painting on paper. Mediums used are oil paint and water colour paints on drypoint plastic. The artwork can also be drawn into and manipulated using additive and reductive techniques. Chine collé can also be used in conjunction with monoprinting.
Participants may attend one or all of the workshop days as different aspects of monoprinting will be covered each session.

Collograph – 2 day workshop
Thursday 5th & 12th July 10am-3pm
Cost: £80 plus materials
Making a collograph is a constructive process – materials are added to the surface of the plate. We will cover the use of ‘liquid ‘materials for example pva glue and various fillers. Material can also be added to the plate which can be cut out and glued down for example string, tissue, textured papers and found objects. Rich tones can also be created with the additional use of carborundum powder (silicon carbide crystals) to the plate.

Drypoint Plus, 2 day workshop
Wednesday 20th, 27th June 10am-3pm
Cost: £80 plus materials.
Drypoint is a direct way to make an intaglio print. The drypoint line has a softer velvety quality than the sharp detail of an etched image. Chine collé and monotypes can be printed with drypoint plates to add extra colour to the print.
Materials needed: Materials for printing can be bought during the workshop.
Please bring: Protective clothing – apron or similar. Sketch book / ideas for prints. Paint brushes suitable for water colours and oil paints, if you have favourites of your own.
Please bring a packed lunch, (refreshments are provided)

What to do: To book a place, or if you have any questions, please email the tutor, susan@erskine-jones.com or phone 07818 293847.

Printmaking Workshop at Artworks-MK
In the company of experts
Great Linford Arts Workshop,Parklands, Great Linford,Milton Keynes, MK14 5DZ
Tel : 01906 608108 email: mailto://info@artworks-mk.co.uk; website: http://www.artworks-mk.co.uk/
Please note spaces are limited and booking is essential.

Monoprinting with Drypoint
Saturday, 9th June 10am-4pm
Cost: £57
Drypoint is a direct way to make an intaglio print. The drypoint line has a softer velvety quality than the sharp detail of an etched image. Monotypes can be printed with drypoint plates to add extra colour to the print.

Monoprinting
Saturday 14th July 10am-4pm
Cost: £57
The appeal of monoprinting lies in the unique translucency that creates a quality of light very different from a painting on paper. Explore this versatile printmaking process working on drypoint plastic with water-miscible oil paints, using reductive and additive techniques.

I am looking a space about 400/500sq/ft with access to water and adequate lighting. It would be shared with 3 or 4 other artists with a communal space in the centre.

The rent per artist will be about £60 per month (I hope!) depending on the size of the space. My idea is for each artist to have a space for their desk and set of shelving so they would have area to put up their inspiration/leave their drawing/painting gear out. The rest of the space would be communal. This I think would make maximum use of the space and so the most economical. I am a member of another shared space studio at the moment. There are seven members in a space which realistically could only comfortably have 4or 5 at the same time. In reality I am quite often the only person working there because we all have different schedules. From speaking to other artists this seems like the regular scenario. I am a printer/painter so there would also be a 35cm bed printing press available for studio members to use.
The studio would also be used to give workshops. It could be hired out to other artists to give workshops with a percentage of their earnings being taken. That way it doesn’t matter if the tutor has only one person doing the workshop.

Susan Erskine-Jones
www.erskine-jones.com

Over 100 visitors came to the evening Preview of the Franklin’s Gallery Exhibition where ANB had a significant representation. This followed close on the heels of a special Preview for Corporate and Business Customers.

ANB work was shown on 4 walls, sponsored by the Network, together with larger/heavier work hung on three sections of the barn’s brick walls. In addition 5 ANB members had secured their own walls and, combined with 3D and smaller counter top displays (in the Gallery 2 space), our presence was certainly felt!

Overall it was a very strong show and viewers were very complementary about all the work. Jill Goodyear was successful in selling a piece on the night and there was considerable interest in several other ANB works, which potential buyers wil revisit in the next few weeks.

The show is open 11-4 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 31st March to 6th May so there is still plenty of time to view.

Karen Franklin is already taking bookings for the next 6 week show – a wall costs £150+VAT and they are selling out fast – so if you are interested in appearing in the next exhibition at the Barn please contact Karen by phone or email: Tel. 01234 880694 e-mail. info@franklinsartgallery.co.uk

http://www.franklinsartgallery.co.uk/

Good luck to all who are currently showing.

Joanne

Sue Melville
A Journey In Paint

14 – 21 April 2012
10-5.30 pm

Private View
Saturday 14 April
3-5.30 pm

OPEN DAY
Sunday 15 April
11-4 pm

Eagle Gallery RSVP
101 Castle Road melville26uk@yahoo.co.uk
Bedford 01525 406200
MK40 3QP

Entries Invited for “Four Seasons” Themed Art Exhibition at Obsidian Art

No Entry or Hanging Fee.

Obsidian is currently inviting artists and makers to create work inspired by the seasons – either a series of 4 pieces or a single piece representing all 4 seasons.

Entries are invited in any medium – painting, printmaking, photography, glass, textile, ceramic, sculpture, jewellery, wood, etc.

The entry deadline is July 1st for submission of images.

Images should be emailed along with details of medium, size & price guide to trisha@obsidianart.co.uk (email size max 1MB please).

The exhibition takes place at the gallery from Aug 10 – Aug 27.

See http://www.obsidianart.co.uk/for_artists.htmlfor more opportunities to exhibit in 2012.

Obsidian Art, Layby Farm (The Bucks Goat Centre), Old Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville, Bucks HP22 5XJ

Creative Bedfordshire’s next Network meeting will take place on Thursday 5th April at China Potts, formally KC”s Stir Fry, at 5 Greyfriars, Bedford, MK40 1HP, from 7-9pm.

Tinder Potts and Asha Davy will be delighted to welcome you to their newly branded restaurant, giving an excellent opportunity for you to network with other local creative individuals and businesses and to discuss a unique and exciting opportunity for artist involvement in a planned Charity Event for the Stroke Unit at Bedford Hospital on 27th April.

Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you there!

Have you joined the Creative Bedfordshire Facebook Group? Join us at http://www.facebook.com/groups/35989413519/ to keep up to date with all the daily member posts, events and news feeds.

Supported by Bedford Borough Council – Economic Development

ANB members are participating in the first Spring ‘pop-up’ exhibition at Franklins Gallery, Haynes, Bedfordshire. The exhibition will run for six weeks, from 31 March to 6 May, Thursdays to Sundays, 11-4. For full details, please click on the poster.