Perthshire Open Studios- de brief!
I can't believe it's almost two weeks since Perthshire Open Studios finished for another year! I shut my front door at 5.01pm on Sunday evening, did a little jig of happiness and delight and then promptly poured myself a MAHOOSIVE (and well earned) glass of wine!
Last year (my first Open Studios) all I wanted was for one person to turn up, even if they didn't buy anything! This year I was worried again. What if last year was a fluke and no one turns up? Or people turn up and find it a huge disappointment? Or........
But, yet again my greatest expectations were well and truly shattered! 166 incredible, lovely people came and visited me and bought themselves (or some very special, lucky loved ones) some of my work.
I really enjoy chatting with all my visitors about, paper cutting, Open Studios, The Green Route, library evaluation forms (don't ask!) and a hundred other topics! There were a few times (especially on both Saturdays) when I had 4 or 5 people in my studio and my visitors were kind and patient enough to wait to have a chat with me.
My tote bags disappeared (I kid you not!) in the first two days.
My Christmas decorations also flew out the door. I take my hat off to all you super organised peeps who have started thinking about Christmas! (Mind you, I've kept the few decorations that I have left hanging in the window.......they look so jolly! But don't tell anyone!)
So a huge thank you to all you brilliant visitors, with out you it would just have been me..........on my own..........in my studio!
Last year (my first Open Studios) all I wanted was for one person to turn up, even if they didn't buy anything! This year I was worried again. What if last year was a fluke and no one turns up? Or people turn up and find it a huge disappointment? Or........
But, yet again my greatest expectations were well and truly shattered! 166 incredible, lovely people came and visited me and bought themselves (or some very special, lucky loved ones) some of my work.
I really enjoy chatting with all my visitors about, paper cutting, Open Studios, The Green Route, library evaluation forms (don't ask!) and a hundred other topics! There were a few times (especially on both Saturdays) when I had 4 or 5 people in my studio and my visitors were kind and patient enough to wait to have a chat with me.
My tote bags disappeared (I kid you not!) in the first two days.
My Christmas decorations also flew out the door. I take my hat off to all you super organised peeps who have started thinking about Christmas! (Mind you, I've kept the few decorations that I have left hanging in the window.......they look so jolly! But don't tell anyone!)
So a huge thank you to all you brilliant visitors, with out you it would just have been me..........on my own..........in my studio!
{ this moment } The end of an era, a lifetime........
Inspired by the fabulous SouleMama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
{ Perthshire Open Studios } Annette Forsyth, venue 89, The bothy in the garden
Next up in the Perthshire Open Studios, Green Route-erers series is Annette Forsyth, venue 89, The bothy in the garden.
Annette's photographs are all so varied and stunning, an extra incentive (as if you needed it!) to visit venue 89!
My photography business has essentially grown out of a love of nature. Born in Germany, I became interested in photography when I was at university, studying Biology and Geography to become a teacher. I bought my first film SLR and taught myself the basics of photography.
The field-trips
really inspired me and filled me with the urge to capture the beautiful moments
around me. In those days I took mainly slides and probably bored my friends
rigid with long slide shows. I took a year out of uni to work as an assistant
teacher in Scotland, where I became infatuated both with the Scottish landscape
and my husband. Back in Germany I finished my studies and started work as a
teacher. During that time photography was an important hobby for me. When our
two kids arrived, many of my interests took a back seat for a few years. I
stopped working as a teacher and we built up a walking business, which is still
our main business. In 2000 we moved to Scotland. When my kids were a bit older
my love of photography was rekindled and at the start of 2011 it had got to the
point that I decided to take the plunge and become a nature photographer.
Thankfully I got a lot of encouragement from friends and family. Things have developed very quickly and I now sell my images in several shops and I have been to a good number of craft fairs. Several of my images have appeared in magazines, including a couple of front covers in the Scottish Mountaineer. All this is very exciting and I am very much looking forward to growing my fledgling business.
I will have my images for sale as hand-made greeting cards and mounted prints in various sizes. There will also be some framed prints for sale. In terms of new work and subject matter I had an incredibly cold and windy, but very productive trip to Assynt in March and I will be exhibiting some of those images. Another good trip took me to Harris in May. It was still cold there and spring was biding its time, but fortunately there was some good light. Apart from that I have a lot of new macro and close-up work. Well and then there are also a lot of Puffin and seabird images from previous trips to Lunga.
-Explain your creative process. What journey do you take from idea to final product?
-What or who are you most inspired by?
Annette's photographs are all so varied and stunning, an extra incentive (as if you needed it!) to visit venue 89!
-Please give a brief bio of your business. What is your background? How did you begin as an
artist?
My photography business has essentially grown out of a love of nature. Born in Germany, I became interested in photography when I was at university, studying Biology and Geography to become a teacher. I bought my first film SLR and taught myself the basics of photography.
The field-trips
really inspired me and filled me with the urge to capture the beautiful moments
around me. In those days I took mainly slides and probably bored my friends
rigid with long slide shows. I took a year out of uni to work as an assistant
teacher in Scotland, where I became infatuated both with the Scottish landscape
and my husband. Back in Germany I finished my studies and started work as a
teacher. During that time photography was an important hobby for me. When our
two kids arrived, many of my interests took a back seat for a few years. I
stopped working as a teacher and we built up a walking business, which is still
our main business. In 2000 we moved to Scotland. When my kids were a bit older
my love of photography was rekindled and at the start of 2011 it had got to the
point that I decided to take the plunge and become a nature photographer. Thankfully I got a lot of encouragement from friends and family. Things have developed very quickly and I now sell my images in several shops and I have been to a good number of craft fairs. Several of my images have appeared in magazines, including a couple of front covers in the Scottish Mountaineer. All this is very exciting and I am very much looking forward to growing my fledgling business.
-Have you taken part in Perthshire Open Studios before?
This is my second time taking part in Open
Studios and I am really looking forward to it!
Last year was just the right time for me to go for the Open Studios. I teamed up with my friends Katy Galbraith, Anna Olson and Christine Forsyth and exhibited in the Bothy in the Garden. Doing it together with friends was a lot less daunting and worked very well in terms of footfall, manning the space, filling it with work, providing a bit of variety and just generally proved to be a lot of fun. I loved meeting all the people who came to visit last year and getting their feedback about my work. It was a big effort, but it was great to see it all come together and to have so much of my work on display.
Needless to say we have teamed up again this year.
Another aspect of the Open Studios I really enjoy is meeting and connecting with so many other artists. I find it utterly inspiring to see so many people following their passion.
Last year was just the right time for me to go for the Open Studios. I teamed up with my friends Katy Galbraith, Anna Olson and Christine Forsyth and exhibited in the Bothy in the Garden. Doing it together with friends was a lot less daunting and worked very well in terms of footfall, manning the space, filling it with work, providing a bit of variety and just generally proved to be a lot of fun. I loved meeting all the people who came to visit last year and getting their feedback about my work. It was a big effort, but it was great to see it all come together and to have so much of my work on display.
Needless to say we have teamed up again this year.
Another aspect of the Open Studios I really enjoy is meeting and connecting with so many other artists. I find it utterly inspiring to see so many people following their passion.
-What artwork will you be displaying over
the week?
I will have my images for sale as hand-made greeting cards and mounted prints in various sizes. There will also be some framed prints for sale. In terms of new work and subject matter I had an incredibly cold and windy, but very productive trip to Assynt in March and I will be exhibiting some of those images. Another good trip took me to Harris in May. It was still cold there and spring was biding its time, but fortunately there was some good light. Apart from that I have a lot of new macro and close-up work. Well and then there are also a lot of Puffin and seabird images from previous trips to Lunga.
-Explain your creative process. What journey do you take from idea to final product?
I am very lucky as our walking business
takes me to many beautiful and remote corners of Scotland and I get the chance
to spend a lot of time outdoors. My work
can be roughly split into landscape, macro and wildlife images and I have a
different approach to all three.
My macro work is probably my most planned. I have a big garden and avidly watch what is coming into bloom.
When the light is right I am out there taking images, rather than weeding as I most definitely should. I take most of my macro work over spring and summer, whereas for the rest of the year my landscape work has the upper hand.
My landscape images are a bit of a mixture. Sometimes I go out with specific images and locations in mind, sometimes the light prompts me out and sometimes, especially when climbing new Munros I take my camera and tripod not knowing what to expect, just seizing the moment.
My macro work is probably my most planned. I have a big garden and avidly watch what is coming into bloom.
When the light is right I am out there taking images, rather than weeding as I most definitely should. I take most of my macro work over spring and summer, whereas for the rest of the year my landscape work has the upper hand.
My landscape images are a bit of a mixture. Sometimes I go out with specific images and locations in mind, sometimes the light prompts me out and sometimes, especially when climbing new Munros I take my camera and tripod not knowing what to expect, just seizing the moment.
When it comes to my wildlife images I am more of an opportunist and I
admittedly don’t sit for hours waiting for a certain animal to appear. I take
my hat off to those who do! I enjoy
taking images of insects and birds and any encounter with wild mammals makes my
day.
-What or who are you most inspired by?
My inspiration mostly comes from nature itself
and both the biologist and the geographer in me are always vying for attention.
I am fascinated by minute detail, patterns, shapes and by how beautiful light
can transform a simple flower or view into something truly extraordinary that
takes my breath away. The challenge as a photographer is to capture that moment
in a way that can evoke a similar emotional response in the viewer – not an
easy thing to achieve.
Looking at the work of other unknown and famous photographers has also been a great inspiration and gives me a lot to aspire to.
Looking at the work of other unknown and famous photographers has also been a great inspiration and gives me a lot to aspire to.
- What are your contact details, website address and any
other links you would like included.
In an ideal world there would be a blog, but I am not quite there yet
In an ideal world there would be a blog, but I am not quite there yet
All images are copyright of Annette Forsyth, 2013.
A huge thank you to Annette for her patience, she sent her interview to me THREE weeks ago and I've only now, finally, managed to get it on here!
A huge thank you to Annette for her patience, she sent her interview to me THREE weeks ago and I've only now, finally, managed to get it on here!
{ Perthshire Open Studios } Gill Hunt, Wildgrass Studio, venue 99
It's now only twenty two days until Perthshire Open Studios kicks off. Artists and crafts people across Perthshire are beginning, just beginning, to get a slight case of, to quote King Julian from the film Madagascar (Yes I have watched it far more times than is necessary, or indeed probably healthy!) "the heebie-d jeebies"!
Nombre trois (French and I'm now going to have to use a translator to get any further with this idea!) in the Perthshire Open Studios, Green Route-ers series is..............Gill Hunt, Wild grass Studio, venue 99!
I love the beauty and delicacy of her Faerie Ballet work and how her work has caused me to look at nature in a very different way. Rather than being captivated only by the huge landscapes in front of me I often find myself being swallowed up in the petals and leaves at my feet.
- Please give a brief bio of your business. What is your background? How did you begin as an artist?
Dave Hunt and I run our business of Wildgrass together. We both have a background of working in Broadcast TV on the artistic technical side. So we have both spent many years working with images. Both Dave and I have are creative and photography has given us a way to express our creativity. Dave started a number of years before me and watching his journey gave me the courage to start my own. I have always been terrified of the technical side of cameras and have run away from them because of this - but Dave changed all that and taught me what I needed to know to get started. I have the 'eye' for which I am very grateful - I believe this is something you are born with, and unlike learning techniques, the 'eye' can't be taught.
We got into printing because it gives you far more control over presentation than allowing a company to do the printing for you and the same with framing. Getting our work framed was expensive with long waiting times and often we were unhappy with the work. So we invested in some good printers and also in the necessary framing equipment and a good quality mount cutter. Gradually we found ourselves doing printing and framing for other people and thus our business at Wildgrass Studio developed. Dave also does tailor-made photographic courses and I do the odd Facebook one to one courses - I am a FB lover :)
- Have you taken part in Perthshire Open Studios before?
We went along to the first ever meeting of POS. This was a meeting to discuss if POS was feasible and who wanted to be on the pioneering committee. Dave volunteered. The rest is history - POS was born and had a very successful first year. I joined in year two and have been doing all the admin for POS ever since. I did the first two years on a voluntary basis and was also on an advertising sub-committee in year two. However as the job of admin developed it became very time consuming and it was decided that a post of Admin would be created along with a small salary . . . I was offered the post - but had to stand down from the committee. I miss being on the committee - but love the admin job which has evolved even more and this year I found myself heavily involved with up-loading artists details to the web amongst other things :)
I am most looking to meeting people and seeing their reactions and listening to their feedback about my work and indeed Dave's work.
- What artwork will you be displaying over the week?
I launched my Faerie Ballet during Fortingall Art where it was very successful - I will be featuring this in POS and also introducing my Disturbia work. My Faerie Ballet is now on my website - but I am undecided as when I want to put my Disturbia work on my website. I have completely re-vamped my website and removed a lot of my older work as I have moved on and am developing new work. I will also be featuring my Aluminium prints of my Faerie Ballet :)
- Explain your creative process. What journey do you take from idea to final product?
Eeeeek tricky one. My process is experimenting and taking many photographs and I have over the years developed my own style. My Faerie Ballet started four years ago and has been developed over the last four years. I saw something in a shoot four years ago and then spent the next three years developing it - because it is flora based I have to wait each year for the right conditions. Disturbia made its appearance two years ago and has been developed alongside my Faerie Ballet. The conditions this year did not allow for any additional shooting for Disturbia.
I don't keep notebooks as such - I keep it all in my head - but I am getting to the point where there is so much going on I do need to write it all down.
- What or who are you most inspired by?
I am most inspired by nature. I also find listening to music really energises and works for me. I have recently discovered Mumford and Sons and find their music emotionally electrifying and I use these feelings to develop my images. So where ever I am - Mumford and Sons are with me . . . :) they will never know - but thank you guys :)
Here are all of Gills contact details, I hope that you get the chance to go and see her work.
Gillian Hunt ARPS www.westerlix.com this is our rental cottage and we are also looking to offer artist retreat breaks.
www.photographybygillianhunt.com this is my own website.
www.wildgrass.co.uk is our printing and framing business. We are also planning on printing and selling other artists work alongside our own.
All images Copyright Gillian Hunt 2013
A midweek weekend!
We had a bit of a break from our usual routine this week. We spent Wednesday at my mum and dads farm helping with the sheep clipping. Now, when I say helping it should probably be "helping"!
Me and the boys spent most of the day in the garden playing, interspersed with bursts of cooking and washing up! I did manage to tear them away from their toys for long enough to go over and see the clipping in progress. I used to love clipping time as a child, the noise, the bustle, the smell! Mostly it was the numbers of extra people needed to chase sheep here, open and shut gates there and the fact that we got to eat lunch and tea with everyone else in the shed!
Watching someone clip a sheep is kind of mesmerising, a bit like staring at the flames in a fire. It's the rhythm, the white noise the machines makes, the long smooth strokes the clippers use right down the length of the sheep, the repetition and the joy and delight of the sheep when it's let go, minus it's fleece. They rush off out of the shed, skipping, jumping and bleating like lambs, it still makes me smile!
On Thursday we headed to Pittenweem for the fantastic Pittenweem Arts Festival. It's an absolutely brilliant settling for a Festival, with 87 venues opening their doors to the thousands of visitors who flood the town during the week long event. Their invited artists this year are all huge favourites of mine and if you're not familiar with their work go and have a peek, Alasdair Gray, Bridgid Collins, Jonny Hannah and Keith Brockie.
We met up with some friend of ours (Mr & Mrs K of An Ordinary Life) and we had a thoroughly lovely day! We hung out on the beach. Building castles from stones and drift wood. Wandered along the street to slurp some ice cream.
And I managed to nip away and wander in and out of studios, workshop and houses marvelling at the talent and work on display and soaking up the atmosphere, it was bliss!
My highlights this year were catching up with Louise Scott and Philip Raskin. I met both of them at Scone Game Fair and absolutely love their work.
I was going to add a list of all of my favourite artists and then realised I was listing just about everyone who took part! So instead I'll direct you to the Festival website which has links to all the artists personal websites! http://www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk/artists.php
We rounded off the day with two tired boys and fish and chips on Anstruther harbour!
Me and the boys spent most of the day in the garden playing, interspersed with bursts of cooking and washing up! I did manage to tear them away from their toys for long enough to go over and see the clipping in progress. I used to love clipping time as a child, the noise, the bustle, the smell! Mostly it was the numbers of extra people needed to chase sheep here, open and shut gates there and the fact that we got to eat lunch and tea with everyone else in the shed!
Watching someone clip a sheep is kind of mesmerising, a bit like staring at the flames in a fire. It's the rhythm, the white noise the machines makes, the long smooth strokes the clippers use right down the length of the sheep, the repetition and the joy and delight of the sheep when it's let go, minus it's fleece. They rush off out of the shed, skipping, jumping and bleating like lambs, it still makes me smile!
On Thursday we headed to Pittenweem for the fantastic Pittenweem Arts Festival. It's an absolutely brilliant settling for a Festival, with 87 venues opening their doors to the thousands of visitors who flood the town during the week long event. Their invited artists this year are all huge favourites of mine and if you're not familiar with their work go and have a peek, Alasdair Gray, Bridgid Collins, Jonny Hannah and Keith Brockie.
We met up with some friend of ours (Mr & Mrs K of An Ordinary Life) and we had a thoroughly lovely day! We hung out on the beach. Building castles from stones and drift wood. Wandered along the street to slurp some ice cream.
And I managed to nip away and wander in and out of studios, workshop and houses marvelling at the talent and work on display and soaking up the atmosphere, it was bliss!
I was going to add a list of all of my favourite artists and then realised I was listing just about everyone who took part! So instead I'll direct you to the Festival website which has links to all the artists personal websites! http://www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk/artists.php
We rounded off the day with two tired boys and fish and chips on Anstruther harbour!
{ Perthshire Open Studios } Heather Eliza Walker, venue 100
ONLY 33 days until the front doors to studios, sheds and workshops across Perthshire are flung open to welcome visitors to Perthshire Open Studios! Are you getting excited yet?!
Número dos (Spanish you know!) in the Perthshire Open Studios, Green Route-erers interviews is Heather Eliza Walker, venue 100.
I was completely captivated by Heathers beautiful drawings as soon as I saw them in this years brochure and I'm sure you will be to!
-Please give a brief bio of your business. What is your background? How did you begin as an artist?
-Have you taken part in Perthshire Open Studios before?
-Explain your creative process. What journey do you take from idea to final product?
I doodle, but with rules. A long time ago I realised that I have a magpie sensibility to mark-making and materials, which is a disadvantage to achieving consistency. It's one reason I am not painting at the moment; I made the decision a few years ago to limit my materials and strip it down to the bare minimum, preferably pen or pencil and paper. I doodle randomly at first, allowing my natural curiosity free reign - but then the challenge is to finish the piece, to resolve it into an image. That's harder than it sounds, even with a very small drawing. I believe this process helps to sharpen individuality, as only I can solve my own problems I have set up on the paper in my own way.
What artwork will you be displaying over the week?
I will be showing as many of my doodles as I have completed by the time POS begins, as well as larger drawings, and a series of drawings of imaginary microscope slides (as featured on the POS website).
-What or who are you most inspired by?
How much time have you got? I get excited about something every time I blink! - but here a few of the constants which crop up, not in any particular order:
Victorian glass models of sea life and Victorian microscopy slide collections; early engravings;organisms under the microscope; scanning electron microscopy; medieval manuscripts - the Voynich, Robert Fludd, alchemists' documents; textiles - Anatolian carpets, Ghanaian wraps, Japanese kimono design; Japanese woodcuts; moss, lichen, flowering ferns; moths and craneflies; leaf structure and phyllotaxis; old tin toys and automita; the Bayeux tapestry; the night sky; stringed instruments and pianos; diagrams; the weather; rocks and streams - I did say I was a magpie.
Here are all of Heathers's contact details, I hope some of you get the chance to pop in and see her work!
Heathers website is http://www.heatherelizawalker.co.uk/ and there are links from there to other media; but if you would prefer to go straight to her blog where she writes a little about her doodles and drawings, it's http://heatherelizawalker.blogspot.co.uk/
All images and designs Copyright Heather Eliza Walker 2013
Número dos (Spanish you know!) in the Perthshire Open Studios, Green Route-erers interviews is Heather Eliza Walker, venue 100.
I was completely captivated by Heathers beautiful drawings as soon as I saw them in this years brochure and I'm sure you will be to!
-Please give a brief bio of your business. What is your background? How did you begin as an artist?
I began drawing as a very small child in Dunfermline, and it never occurred to me to do anything else (not the best financial decision!) I took as much art as I could at school, and went on to art school to study drawing and painting at Grays in Aberdeen as an undergraduate and then completed my postgraduate at Chelsea School of Art and Design in London. After graduating, I was lucky enough to have my work exhibited widely, and to have the opportunity to work in several creative environments which broadened my horizons and allowed me to meet some wonderful artists. After my stint in London I returned to Scotland, and am now based near Killin at Wester Lix.
-Have you taken part in Perthshire Open Studios before?
I have taken part in every POS since the first, even though I had not long moved in and didn't have very much to show! I had loved taking part in open studios with friends when I lived in London, and as very excited when I heard about POS when I first got back here.
It is such a motivating force when artists and makers take it upon themselves to throw their doors open and invite everybody in. It's just great to tidy up the studio, paint the walls and get all your work out on display and talk to visitors. Because I work on paper almost exclusively, it tends to lie hidden away in drawers all year, and lots of it would probably never see the light of day if it wasn't for open studios - so it's also a good time to review the body of work in quiet moments, take notes, and look at where you're going with the work.-Explain your creative process. What journey do you take from idea to final product?
I doodle, but with rules. A long time ago I realised that I have a magpie sensibility to mark-making and materials, which is a disadvantage to achieving consistency. It's one reason I am not painting at the moment; I made the decision a few years ago to limit my materials and strip it down to the bare minimum, preferably pen or pencil and paper. I doodle randomly at first, allowing my natural curiosity free reign - but then the challenge is to finish the piece, to resolve it into an image. That's harder than it sounds, even with a very small drawing. I believe this process helps to sharpen individuality, as only I can solve my own problems I have set up on the paper in my own way.
I will be showing as many of my doodles as I have completed by the time POS begins, as well as larger drawings, and a series of drawings of imaginary microscope slides (as featured on the POS website).
-What or who are you most inspired by?
How much time have you got? I get excited about something every time I blink! - but here a few of the constants which crop up, not in any particular order:
Victorian glass models of sea life and Victorian microscopy slide collections; early engravings;organisms under the microscope; scanning electron microscopy; medieval manuscripts - the Voynich, Robert Fludd, alchemists' documents; textiles - Anatolian carpets, Ghanaian wraps, Japanese kimono design; Japanese woodcuts; moss, lichen, flowering ferns; moths and craneflies; leaf structure and phyllotaxis; old tin toys and automita; the Bayeux tapestry; the night sky; stringed instruments and pianos; diagrams; the weather; rocks and streams - I did say I was a magpie.
Here are all of Heathers's contact details, I hope some of you get the chance to pop in and see her work!
Heathers website is http://www.heatherelizawalker.co.uk/ and there are links from there to other media; but if you would prefer to go straight to her blog where she writes a little about her doodles and drawings, it's http://heatherelizawalker.blogspot.co.uk/
All images and designs Copyright Heather Eliza Walker 2013
{ Perthshire Open Studios } Katy Galbraith, The Bothy in the Garden, venue 89
Perthshire Open Studios is beginning to loom, somewhere, just out of sight, almost on the horizon! This year I'm venue 93 on the Green Route, which follows the A85 west from Perth all the way to Tyndrum and includes 21 fantastic venues. I'm really looking forward to taking part again this year and I've put together a whole series of interviews with fellow Green Route-erers!
There are some fantastic, wonderful and just all round lovely people who open up their studios and workshops over the course of the 10 days and the ONLY drawback to taking part is that I can't get round and see everyone else's work and have a chat with them all!
Kicking off the series is the lovely Katy Galbraith, The Bothy in the Garden, venue 89.
Please
give a brief bio of your business. What is your background?
How did you begin as an artist?
I
wish I had gone to art college after school, but followed a different path
instead – following poorly judged (imo) parental advice. Having dabbled in
various medium as a hobby over the years, I discovered mosaic about 12 years
ago, and was hooked.
I
was taught by a friend, Jan Kilpatrick of Wild Tiles, who used to live in the
area. My first project was a table top for the garden – as my husband and I at
first couldn’t decide on what table to have, but agreed on mosaic – nothing like
being ambitious! When Jan moved away from the area, we started to run mosaic
classes using my B&B as the venue… so over the years, I have been able to
tap into her expertise, and sometimes she in to mine.
I
took the plunge a about five years ago and started selling and being more
pro-active in promoting myself. I have done a lot of soul searching over the
last few years, and have realised that for me, being deemed ‘an artist’ is very
important, and that I want to be represented in quality galleries or ‘craft’
outlets.
Have
you taken part in Perthshire Open Studios before?
This will be my fourth year. The first two years I did
it on my own. 9 days is a long stretch to always be in attendance, especially
as I have other commitments with the B&B! So last year, I invited some
friends to join me. Our work complements each other, and by sharing my workshop
space, it brings in a different mix of visitors.
What are you most looking forward to about the event?
I do enjoy seeing people
appreciate the mosaics around my garden, but the downside is that i have to get
my (large) garden in order first!
What artwork will you be displaying over the week?
I have a variety of mirrors and smaller mosaics on
display, made from my usual mix of recycled materials. I will also have the
mosaic which i was working on last year (Moulin Rouge). This piece was created
for a mosaic exhibition hosted by the British Association of Modern Mosaics in
London.
I will also have a large, and complicated, mosaic
entitled 'Scapes", which was the winning piece in an exhibition last
year.
I also have some photo books
of past projects. My latest book includes photographs of a bathroom mosaic
which came as a result of visit during Perthshire Open Studios 2011. (photo to
follow).
During this year's POS, in
anticipation of me having my own exhibition in April 2014, I will be working on
some sculptural pieces, which will be suitable for the outdoors.
Explain your creative process. What journey do you take from idea to final product?
As
mentioned above, i am a passionate recycler, and love the use of mixed materials
in creating a mosaic, and feel that it is an important part of my work to
illustrate the reuse of materials. It is often the receipt of a broken plate or
cup that stimulates a new thought process and resulting mosaic; the colour or
the texture of the item have a part to play.
In
terms of subjects, I love flowers and gardens, so many of my pieces are floral
representations… though occasionally other ideas do pop into my head at
times. I
do have scrapbooks and mosaic books, but have recently started storing images on
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/katycrieff/)
categorised by plants, birds, hearts etc). I don't really use sketchbooks, as i
am not so good at drawing. Mosaic is more about blocks of colour and rhythm of
the pieces, more akin to appliqué than painting.
What or
who are you most inspired by?
Klimt
and Tiffany, again it is more to do with the blocks of colour &
rhythms.
For writing and outlook on life, Barbara
Kingsolver – novelist and essayist. She writes about various social issues, and
has a strong environmental commitment. Her work has been consistantly good, and
inspires a change in our own lives. The message that you get is that you can
live a good and fulfilled life, be considerate to your neighbours, have sound
social and environmental ethics and still achieve what you want out of
life.
And
for music, Natasha Atlas! i can shimmy around my workshop any day.
Here are all of Katy's contact details, I hope some of you get the chance to pop in and see her work!
Katy Galbraith
01764 655721
B&B: www.galvelmore.co.uk
Mosaic: www.katygalbraith.co.uk
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/katycrieff/
All images and designs Copyright Katy Galbraith 2013.
{ this moment } Long hot summer days
Inspired by the fabulous SouleMama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
New prints on the block!
I had a bit of a listing bonanza on Etsy last night!
I've FINALLY got around to taking photos of a couple of new prints and also some better pictures of some old favourites. It's been lurking on my (never ending) to do list for about a month and I was finally inspired to get my camera out and get snapping!
I was so pleased with the results that I kept working into the wee small hours and listed the newbies and revamped the older listings!
So first of all the newbies.....................
And the old favourites............................
I've FINALLY got around to taking photos of a couple of new prints and also some better pictures of some old favourites. It's been lurking on my (never ending) to do list for about a month and I was finally inspired to get my camera out and get snapping!
I was so pleased with the results that I kept working into the wee small hours and listed the newbies and revamped the older listings!
So first of all the newbies.....................
Initial......C.
Perfect for the completely captivating Claire's, Caroline's, Chloe's and Cicely's in your life.
Need it in your life?
Screen printed Moleskine Cahier
A botanically inspired screen printed Moleskine Cahier journal. The print shows a swathe of leaves, flowers, hanging hearts and birdies in a beautiful deep, rich purple.
Perfect for keeping in your bag to jot down those important, never ending lists.
And the old favourites............................
You Smiled
"When I saw you I fell in love and you smiled because you knew"
A beautiful, romantic sentiment, making this a perfect gift to give to your other half on your wedding day, your anniversary or just because you want them to know how much they mean to you. Something you can hang on your wall and enjoy as you grow old together.
LOVE
The print shows the word love, embellished with flowers, delicate, lacey leaves and a pair of birdies. It would make a beautiful gift for you to give to a special couple on their wedding day, something they will hang on the wall and treasure forever.
The Art Market and Scone Game Fair
What a whirlwind the last 3 weeks have been! All the preparing, travelling, setting up, chatting, selling, taking down and travelling for The Art Market in Holmfirth and Scone Game Fair have left my studio in a total and utter bombsite and me as a slightly vague, dishevelled wifie.....OK as MORE of a slightly vague, dishevelled wifie!!
But we have just come back from a fabulous weekend at the boat. I spent Saturday doing nothing, and when I say nothing I really mean it! I stayed on the boat as anchor watch while John, the boys and the dog rowed ashore to the castle and the beach. I lay in the sunshine listening to the radio and snoozing. I didn't pick up a book or a pencil or anything. I really can't remember the last time I've spent so long just..........being. Long overdue and so needed!
Anyway I've come back renewed and rejuvenated and red faced! Note to self, if you're going to LIE in the sunshine please try and remember to put sun cream on you face! It's going brown now, thank goodness!
In true Louise McLaren style I do not have a SINGLE photo of my stall (or anyone else) at The Art Market, however The Art Market Blog has a lovely roundup of the weekend here, and if you scroll down you will see a picture of yours truly clutching my very exciting and hugely unexpected Special Commendation for stand design! I've got it framed, next to my Cycling Proficiency and 50m front crawl certificates!
And I also have NO photos from Scone Game Fair, however 3D2D who organised the Craft tent have a Facebook page here, with photos of some of the exhibitors goodies!
I will have some photos for you later on in the week of what we have come to call "The Great Bee Saga of 2013"........never a dull moment here!
But we have just come back from a fabulous weekend at the boat. I spent Saturday doing nothing, and when I say nothing I really mean it! I stayed on the boat as anchor watch while John, the boys and the dog rowed ashore to the castle and the beach. I lay in the sunshine listening to the radio and snoozing. I didn't pick up a book or a pencil or anything. I really can't remember the last time I've spent so long just..........being. Long overdue and so needed!
Anyway I've come back renewed and rejuvenated and red faced! Note to self, if you're going to LIE in the sunshine please try and remember to put sun cream on you face! It's going brown now, thank goodness!
In true Louise McLaren style I do not have a SINGLE photo of my stall (or anyone else) at The Art Market, however The Art Market Blog has a lovely roundup of the weekend here, and if you scroll down you will see a picture of yours truly clutching my very exciting and hugely unexpected Special Commendation for stand design! I've got it framed, next to my Cycling Proficiency and 50m front crawl certificates!
And I also have NO photos from Scone Game Fair, however 3D2D who organised the Craft tent have a Facebook page here, with photos of some of the exhibitors goodies!
I will have some photos for you later on in the week of what we have come to call "The Great Bee Saga of 2013"........never a dull moment here!
{ Sneaky Peek Thursday } Possibility
This post has been a while in the making. In fact so long that it's morphed from a { Sneaky Peek } into more of a TA DA grand unveiling!
So here is Possibility, the latest heartfelt moment to be captured and celebrated.
A crossroads in life. Endless decisions, countless outcomes and oh the possibilities, the boundless possibilities.
Where will decisions made or unmade take you next? What opportunities lie over the hill, around the corner?
The most important decision to take? Live life, dwell in possibility.
As always, I was inspired by a fantastic piece of poetry. This time by Emily Dickinson's,
a brilliantly, inspiring place to live.
Thumbnail scribbles, working out the general layout and form of the design.
Various "life size" sketches, looking at different ideas and combinations of flowers and leaves.
Voila, all finished and painted!
{ Sneaky Peek Thursday } Top secret project "A"
I don't want to give too much away about this super, top secret papercut, so the photo shows the design back to front and the wrong way up!
I've done a design similar to this as a commission but this one will be available as a screen print, and possibly making some other items super special and pretty!
I'm hoping to have the prints ready to launch at
on the 29th/30th June so watch this space!
My June newsletter will be sent out this afternoon so if you'd like to join the mailing list, fill in the form on the right hand side. As this is my very first newsletter there's a special offer for EVERYONE who signs up and I promise I won't spam you with endless news of what I'm having for lunch or how to lose 3 stones in a day!
Little a Designs, Help Arthur Smile
This week I'm going to forego my usual Friday post and instead share the fund raising raffle being run by the lovely Marna Lunt of Little a Designs.
I read her blog post about her son Arthur with a mixture of disbelief and anger. I'm not going to try and summarise their story in my own words. You'll only get a feel for what a hard time they've been having by reading the post yourself.
There are lots of beautiful goodies up for grabs (including a couple of mine!) so if you can spare a few pennies and would like to make a huge different to the Lunt families life, pop on over and donate. You'll find the raffle page here, http://littleadesigns.co.uk/blog/help-arthur-smile/
Thank you.
I read her blog post about her son Arthur with a mixture of disbelief and anger. I'm not going to try and summarise their story in my own words. You'll only get a feel for what a hard time they've been having by reading the post yourself.
There are lots of beautiful goodies up for grabs (including a couple of mine!) so if you can spare a few pennies and would like to make a huge different to the Lunt families life, pop on over and donate. You'll find the raffle page here, http://littleadesigns.co.uk/blog/help-arthur-smile/
Thank you.
{ this moment } Freshly hatched cheepy chicks!
Inspired by the fabulous SouleMama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
{ Treasury Tuesday } May - Fresh Soft Spring Brights
Welcome to Treasury Tuesday! I hope you all had lovely Bank Holiday Weekends. Ours was great, lovely and relaxing. Weather wasn't too sunny, but it was mild and overcast so pretty much what's to be expected for a Bank Holiday!
It's been AGES since I've made an Etsy Treasury, but I've been hugely inspired by the sparkly new month of May and the soft, fresh weather we've been having.
So I give you...... May - Fresh Soft Spring Brights click on the link to see the Treasury, in all its glory, on Etsy.
Here's a list of ALL the beautiful finds with links directly to the fantastic sellers Etsy shops.
First row L-R : Beautiful painted, scarves by Emily Magone, of LoveArtWillTravel
Delicate, floral wreath by Jess Quinn of JessQuinnSmallArt
Beautiful, soft Spring Hare print by Lily Moon of LilyMoon
Bright hardback journals by Susan Green of SusanGreenBooks
Second row L-R : Colourful kite brooch by Lucie Ellen of lucie0ellen
Muted wool felted slippers by Rita Felt of RitaJFelt
Zingy heart earrings by Marieanne Cavacuiti of damsontreepottery
Soft printed silk cotton scarf by Lillian Z Baird of CrossWoodStore
Third row L-R : Fantastic Taurus print by Sabrina Tibourtine of EineDerGuten
Spring-y snowdrop tile by Ceri White of CeriWhiteStudios
Bright, distressed antique skittles set by Crol of CrolAndCo
Striking emerald green enamel earrings by lukely of lukely
Fourth row L-R : Stunning yellow patent satchel by frenchenglish of frenchenglish
Beautiful yellow poppy fine art print by sparksoffire of sparksoffire
Colourful felt, bunny brooches by Tocha Aga of TochasWorld
Zingy tribal print tea towel by Sam Osborne of SamOsborneStore
{ this moment } Spring has sprung.....at last!
Inspired by the fabulous SouleMama
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A
single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special,
extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.
Two boys, their dog, a shed and the sunshine = bliss!
{ Sneaky Peek Thursday } My home
Inspired by the fabulous Cupcakes for Clara and her
posts.
A sketch, photo, or work in progress. A little glimpse into the way we work or what we're working on. Keeping creative and sharing the goodness.
This week I thought I'd share some photos of a new screen print, My home, that I've been working on.
The design starts life as a papercut. As always hand drawn and then cut by my own fair hand.....and my scalpel! I then use the papercut image to expose a screen. This means that the image fixed on the screen is an exact copy of the papercut design.
Here's a very rough test print to see how the colours look, dusty dark blue on a plaster background. I've recently started to produce two colour screen prints, with a solid block of background colour and then the design in another colour and I've been really pleased with the results!
And here's the finished article, available to buy
P.S. If you want to join in with the posts please do share your link in the comments so we can pop by and have a peek
Siberian Spring, goodbye March, hello April!
Well, March certainly lived up to its "in like a lamb, out like a lion" reputation! We've been really lucky here in Comrie, we've had hardly any snow over the last month, it's just been bitterly cold. Anyway, April is well underway and spring can't be too far behind.....can it?!
I was selling my ware at the fantastic Lady Magpie and Me Spring Fair this weekend. It was supposed to take place on the 23rd March, but due to the ridiculous amount of snow they had in our Siberian Spring, the event had to be postponed. There were STILL snow drifts, in places, of about 3 feet deep!!
I have never really been down to Dumfries and Galloway, in the bottom left hand corner (technical term obviously!) of Scotland before, and I don't know why. Castle Douglas was so pretty and had a really lovely "feel" about it. I didn't get much of a chance to explore the town but I will definitely be back in the future! Now, this is where I should insert lots of lovely pictures of the buildings in the town and the quirky shops and even the aforementioned snow drifts but.......I forgot to take my camera! Mahoosive FAIL on my part!
So I have NO photos of all the lovely stalls and vintage goodies on offer at the fair. The magnificent bread and hot cross buns that were for sale opposite my stall, the AMAZING cakes and cups of tea being sold by Mrs Greens Tearoom! But if you hop over to the Lady Magpie and Me blog or Facebook page you can find the detail of all the stall holders and some fantastic pictures!
I've also been a busy bee, updating my Etsy shop and have listed all of my new screen print designs and also the few canvas tote bags that I have left! So don't delay and miss out!
I am going to add an Events page to the top of the blog, (I've put it on my To Do list, and now I've told you, I'll HAVE to do it!) which will have details of upcoming exhibitions, craft fairs, art markets and open studios events where you can come along and see my work in "the real world" and have a chat!
I was selling my ware at the fantastic Lady Magpie and Me Spring Fair this weekend. It was supposed to take place on the 23rd March, but due to the ridiculous amount of snow they had in our Siberian Spring, the event had to be postponed. There were STILL snow drifts, in places, of about 3 feet deep!!
I have never really been down to Dumfries and Galloway, in the bottom left hand corner (technical term obviously!) of Scotland before, and I don't know why. Castle Douglas was so pretty and had a really lovely "feel" about it. I didn't get much of a chance to explore the town but I will definitely be back in the future! Now, this is where I should insert lots of lovely pictures of the buildings in the town and the quirky shops and even the aforementioned snow drifts but.......I forgot to take my camera! Mahoosive FAIL on my part!
So I have NO photos of all the lovely stalls and vintage goodies on offer at the fair. The magnificent bread and hot cross buns that were for sale opposite my stall, the AMAZING cakes and cups of tea being sold by Mrs Greens Tearoom! But if you hop over to the Lady Magpie and Me blog or Facebook page you can find the detail of all the stall holders and some fantastic pictures!
I've also been a busy bee, updating my Etsy shop and have listed all of my new screen print designs and also the few canvas tote bags that I have left! So don't delay and miss out!
I am going to add an Events page to the top of the blog, (I've put it on my To Do list, and now I've told you, I'll HAVE to do it!) which will have details of upcoming exhibitions, craft fairs, art markets and open studios events where you can come along and see my work in "the real world" and have a chat!
I've discovered Anthropologie, watch out bank balance!!
I had a very rare trip to Edinburgh (by myself!) a few weeks ago to submit a papercut for the Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition. My papercut didn't get accepted BUT I did manage to visit Anthropologie's Edinburgh store which more than made up for the disappointment.
I was in heaven.
I could have spent hours wandering round and looking at all the beautiful items for sale, thankfully (for the staff) I only had an hour before I had to get the train again. I bought a lovely dark blue top with a lovely balloon print, a fantastic yellow kitchen timer and some lovely initialled chrome pegs for the boys room. A vain attempt on my part to make picking up clothes more attractive!
So imagine my delight when I saw that Anthropologie were running a promotion to win £500 of vouchers and all I had to do was select an outfit that I'd love to wear on a trip to Thailand, from their March catalogue, easy peasy. Cue much drooling and lusting over items from the catalogue. It took my ages to narrow my choice down from just about everything in the catalogue!
So here you have my submission.......
If you've not already had a look at the website you'll find it here, just make sure you're not supposed to be doing anything important for the next hour, enjoy!
I was in heaven.
I could have spent hours wandering round and looking at all the beautiful items for sale, thankfully (for the staff) I only had an hour before I had to get the train again. I bought a lovely dark blue top with a lovely balloon print, a fantastic yellow kitchen timer and some lovely initialled chrome pegs for the boys room. A vain attempt on my part to make picking up clothes more attractive!
So imagine my delight when I saw that Anthropologie were running a promotion to win £500 of vouchers and all I had to do was select an outfit that I'd love to wear on a trip to Thailand, from their March catalogue, easy peasy. Cue much drooling and lusting over items from the catalogue. It took my ages to narrow my choice down from just about everything in the catalogue!
So here you have my submission.......
 |
| Ribbon striped sun hat |
 |
| Split curve shades |
 |
| Ursa beaded clutch |
 |
| Colour strike scarf |
 |
| Pattern gather shell |
 |
| Pattern Collage Crops |
Red Nose Day
A HUGE, MASSIVE thank you SO much to everyone who made a donation to Red Nose Day in exchange for one of my special edition Grow Old screen prints. Together we managed to raise £195!! I've been blown away by every ones generosity and I only have one lonely print left!
I've been promising to have a giveaway for about six months but have never got round to it, completely rubbish I know! So.....since Red Nose Day is still a whole 11 days away (it takes place on Friday, 15th March) I thought that a raffle in aid of Red Nose Day with this beautiful papercut as the prize would be MUCH better! Hang it on your wall and enjoy it forever whilst getting a warm, fuzzy glow from knowing that your hard earned pennies are making a REAL difference to someones life.
All Will Be Well, a fantastic uplifting sentiment to remember when it seems as if the whole world is on your case. The words are surrounded by delicate, lacy leaves, birdies, hearts and stars in a lovely deep green with a hint of teal.
To buy a ticket, hop over to my giving page http://my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/louisemclaren and leave a donation, there is NO minimum ticket price, just give whatever you can.
I would love to get as many people as possible involved in raising money, so this is how YOU can help! If you're on Facebook and share my status about the raffle I'll give you a bonus ticket (just let me know you've shared by leaving a comment as FB doesn't ALWAYS tell me!) Same goes to Twitter, just retweet any tweets about the raffle and I'll give you a bonus ticket. Again let me know that you've done it, just in case!
I've been promising to have a giveaway for about six months but have never got round to it, completely rubbish I know! So.....since Red Nose Day is still a whole 11 days away (it takes place on Friday, 15th March) I thought that a raffle in aid of Red Nose Day with this beautiful papercut as the prize would be MUCH better! Hang it on your wall and enjoy it forever whilst getting a warm, fuzzy glow from knowing that your hard earned pennies are making a REAL difference to someones life.
All Will Be Well, a fantastic uplifting sentiment to remember when it seems as if the whole world is on your case. The words are surrounded by delicate, lacy leaves, birdies, hearts and stars in a lovely deep green with a hint of teal.
To buy a ticket, hop over to my giving page http://my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/louisemclaren and leave a donation, there is NO minimum ticket price, just give whatever you can.
I would love to get as many people as possible involved in raising money, so this is how YOU can help! If you're on Facebook and share my status about the raffle I'll give you a bonus ticket (just let me know you've shared by leaving a comment as FB doesn't ALWAYS tell me!) Same goes to Twitter, just retweet any tweets about the raffle and I'll give you a bonus ticket. Again let me know that you've done it, just in case!