Oystercatchers

 

Way back in the summer holidays we spent a couple of weeks in the Outer Hebrides. A considerable amount of time on this holiday was spent trying to take a reasonable photograph of oystercatchers (one of OH's numerous favourite birds). Nature watching with a five year old boy is nigh on impossible most of the time but on one walk ours was content to amuse himself jumping on and off of the same rock time and time again and we managed to get just a little bit closer. 

My linoprint "Oystercatchers" will be on show at The Art Market Showcase at Huddersfield Art Gallery from the 2nd December to the 14th January. Click here for more Showcase details

Art Market aftermath

Phew! After a frantic few weeks of mounting and framing, pricing and packaging in preparation for the Art Market, i am kicking back a bit and looking forward to some printing. I had a good day with lots of lovely conversations about nature, landscape and technique with a reasonable dollop of sales. I was really heartened that several were to repeat customers who had bought from me at last November's Art Market. My only regret was not having enough time to visit all the other stalls, my "helpers" when they arrived were dripping wet from their bike ride to Penistone and frankly i didn't trust these two drowned rats with my precious stall.      

sneaky peek

at some of the work I will be bringing with me to the Art Market on the 12th June. These pieces are part of a small collection of original lino prints in vintage frames. I've been scouring antique centres & fairs and charity shops for just the right frames to compliment some of my favourite prints. I've sanded, painted, waxed and hand cut new mounts. There are one or two that I would rather like to keep but we shall see how they go. If you're coming along on Sunday 12th do drop buy my stall and say hello!

Newt love - sketch

We spent a lovely Monday at the in laws in laws on the edge of the Peak District. They have a fabulous garden with several linked ponds, which are brimming over with life at the moment. As well as squillions of frog tadpoles we saw a fair few courting newts, hence this sketch. I plan to post about this work as it develops into a  lino print, but don't be surprised by the snail's pace of progress! Everything seems to take weeks at the moment but fingers crossed it will be ready for the Art Market on the 12th June. 

Its been a busy old couple of weeks. Not in an overly eventful way just with lots of little jobs and loose ends to tidy.

I popped over to the Bowery in Leeds last weekend to drop off another Betty's Hen print. There's just a few more weeks to catch my Hen and Thief exhibition over there. I've dropped off a few replacements for sold work over the 3 months but I won't get a tally of the sales until the end so I'm quite excited to hear how its gone.

I did find out earlier this week that I have been accepted for the next Art Market at Holmfirth on the 12th June. This is a wonderful event run over two weekends (there will be different exhibitors on the 5th June). Its superbly organised and brings in a wonderful range of people who are really interested in art and craft. Needless to say the quality of work on show is very high so I am really very pleased to have been offered a stall again this year. Lots of work to do in preparation! 

Its great to see my cheeky magpie flying with the rest of the L.ttle Bird  flock at The Dukes in Lancaster. I was hoping to get across to see the exhibition but this probably won't happen but luckily they have posted some great photos here. Fingers crossed for this fundraiser.


I've managed to squeeze in a couple of hours linocutting and printing too. I've printed some old favourites in some fresh colours for spring and i've half-printed a new one but i'll leave that for later.

Art Market 7th November

Just to report that I had a great day at the Art Market in Holmfirth last Sunday. A great venue, superb organisation and a good stream of people with a genuine and informed interest in handmade and crafted work. A really rewarding day all round.  


I thoroughly recommend a visit to the next Art Market which is on Sunday 14th November. 

Did I mention...

That I will have a stall at The Art Market on the 7th November?

Click here to see The Art Market Blog and Q&As from the exhibitors.