Autumn Holiday (hopefully with Follies)

Hello

Rather excitingly, I'm going to be on holiday next week, so I thought I'd get a little blog out there before signing off tomorrow, just so you don't worry. This long-awaited week off is going to be jam packed as it includes two birthdays, and luckily for me I get to visit nice places for both!

To kick off we'll be heading up to one of my favourite spots, a popular subject in my work, Saltburn-By-The-Sea, for a couple of nights. It's a beautiful victorian seaside resort, I've been totally captivated by Saltburn since I was commissioned to make a picture of it last year. Here are my artistic representations so far...

At the end of the week we're having a lovely family weekend away in the Lake District, our childhood camping holiday destination. I'm quite relieved to say that we won't be camping, not that I don't enjoy it, it just might be a bit cold at this time of year! I'm hoping to visit another of my favourite places while there, Grizedale Sculpture Park, and maybe even spy a couple of lovely follies, such as Storr's Folly on Lake Windermere.

Obviously I will be doing my best to take plenty of photos and do as much artistic research as possible, and hopfully I'll return bursting with new inspiration. Not that I'm lacking in it at the moment - I've just finished this piece of the Lakeside Folly at Kiplin Hall...

...and I have a ever growing list of new subjects ready to be tackled!

This new collection, the pinned pictures, will be available to see and buy in the Treasure exhibition at Masham Gallery, which opens on November 17th. If one has caught your eye already, please get in touch by visiting my website.

Have a good week

Rosie x

Crafted by Hand(s)

Morning!

Just a quick post today to remind you all to get on down to Masham this Sunday for Crafted by Hand at the town hall. This fantastic one day art market will be showcasing the cream of British artists and makers, and is a perfect opportunity to start (or continue) your Christmas shopping. As well as stalls to peruse, you can also enjoy some tasty homemade refreshments from the onsite cafe, and even try your hand at stone carving, blacksmithing, ceramics and more. Artists/Makers involved include:

Janis Goodman (printmaking)

Vinegar and Brown Paper (glass)

Charlotte Morrison (ceramics)

Elizabeth Shurrock (Bookbinding)

And many more...

On top of all that, you will be greeted upon entry by a rather 'handy' papercut installation, inspired by the many artistic disciplines on display, made by me! As my very first installation, I can't wait to see it in place, and I hope visitors to Crafted by hand will enjoy looking at it as much as I've enjoyed making it.

The installation explores the multitude of skills represented at the event, as well as taking design inspiration from my favourite aspect of Masham town hall, the wallpaper. You'll understand when you see it!

So don't forget - Sunday, Masham Town Hall, 10am to 4pm, and only £1.50 admission. How can you resist?

Rosie x

Coming up...

Hello

I've had quite a busy few weeks developing my pinned pictures as previewed in the last blog, while preparing for workshops, developing my first installation and planning exhibitions for 2013!

First things first, my pinned pieces are coming along very nicely - I'm really enjoying experimenting with the depths and shadows, the only draw back so far is that they're pretty impossible to store so my living room table is covered! They're also fairly difficult to handle until the pins have been clipped (a slightly unnerving process in itself) but I'm sure once they're in frames they'll look great. The complete collection so far can be viewed on my Facebook page, and you will be able to see them in person in the Treasure exhibition, which opens at Masham Gallery on November the 17th.

The Doric Temple, Duncombe Park, Helmsley

Fishers Hall, Hackfall

The Temple Folly, Wensleydale

In the last blog I mentioned that I'd been invited to create an installation, on display for one day only as part of the Crafted by Hand fair at Masham Town Hall on October 28th. The deadline is fast approaching and things are looking good, although I have hit a few unexpected obstacles along the way. I'm sure when the day comes I'll have everything under control...! In the mean time here's the latest photo evidence.

Last but by any means least, myself and fellow artist Charlotte Morrison have just confirmed the dates and title for our joint exhibition at Fountains Abbey next year. Down Hidden Tracks will be on display in Fountains Hall (pictured below) from the 12th to the 26th of September 2013. The exhibition is inspired by the hidden, secret and unusual aspects of the northern landscape. Charlotte will be producing a new range of contemporary ceramics, exploring maps, trails and pathways, while I will be exploring the easily overlooked but often bizarre and wonderful follies which crop up around the northeast and northwest. More details to follow...

Rosie x

Another Dimension

Hello!

Last week I forgot to blog, having been swept up in a new way of making my collages.Having researched lots of interesting papercutting artists for my workshop at ArtisOn a few weeks ago, I felt inspired to try something new and add 'another dimension' to my small papercut collages, so I bought a pack of foam board and borrowed some dressmaking pins and got to work...

I had a great week and found it really addictive once I'd started. I've designed my papercuts in the same way as I normally do, but instead of gluing the finished piece down into board, I wanted to see how effective it would be if I pinned the pieces of paper to board, allowing space behind them to create depth and shadows. I must say I'm really pleased with the results and am looking forward to much more experimenting this week.

Here are my results so far:

The Banqueting House, Hackfall

Flamborough Head Lighthouse

Brizlee Tower, Alnwick

The Temple of Victory, Allerton Castle

I am researching follies at the moment as early preparation for my exhibition with Charlotte Morrison at Fountains Abbey next year. The dates have been confirmed - September 12th to 26th 2013. We are yet to decide on a title but the themes will focus on hidden paths, and unusual buildings. Put the dates in your diary and watch this space for more developments.

This week as well as working on my 3D pieces I'm going to be cracking on with my installation for Crafted by Hand. I will be installing an eye catching paper artwork in the entrance of Masham town hall for one day on October the 28th. Although I have my design idea confirmed, I have a lot of cutting out to do and now only 4 weeks to do it! here's a little taster of what to expect.

Have a great week,

Rosie x

Follies and paper

Hi there

This week I am preparing for my Contemporary Papercutting workshop at ArtisOn this weekend. After the success of my last papercutting workshop I will be exploring the same projects this time such as cutting out names and  making layered greetings cards, while introducing a couple of different projects such as papercut tealight holders. If you are interested in spending your Saturday learning how to design and make your own papercut artwork, visit the ArtisOn website to book a place.

Next year I will be holding a joint exhibition at Fountains Hall,  Fountains Abbey with Charlotte Morrison. The exhibition, which is yet to have a title, will take place for from the 13th to the 26th of September 2013. It will be my largest exhibition to date, and I'm so excited as It allows me to explore some subjects that I haven't had a chance to look at yet. Although the theme is not set in stone, follies will certainly feature heavily. These often bizarre buildings have become a fascination to me over the last few years, and I'm already becoming completely engrossed in researching them. Take this amazing place, The Wonderful Barn in Leixlip, Ireland. Surely life would be more exciting is more buildings looked like this?

But maybe not - maybe I love follies so much because they are so different and unique. Anyway, watch this space for more news on the exhibition over the coming months.

Have a great week!

Rosie

Back to Normal

Hello!

Summer seems to be disappearing fast, I think we may have just had the last sunny weekend as today in York it is looking decidedly dull. Having just completed my last planned art fair for the time being it feels to me a lot like starting a new term today - the last few months have been busy busy with open studios, galleries to deliver to, Art in the Pen and finally Saltaire Maker's Fair last weekend. On the one hand it's nice to get back to 'normal', on the other I know that I now don't have an excuse not to catch up with my bookkeeping...

Saltaire Maker's Fair

I had a fun day at the 'fair on Saturday, chatting to visitors and meeting some lovely fellow makers such as printmakers James Green and Sarah Harris. The fair took place in the absolutely gorgeous Victoria Hall, just up the hill from Salt's Mill, and was packed with exciting and unusual art and craft items. I was lucky enough to get a chance to have a wonder round the fair and bought a few early Christmas pressies (trying to be extra organised this year) from Finest Imaginary, and fell in love with the work of Butterscotch and Beesting, in particular this lovely Circus Lampshade. All in all it was a long but good day.

So now I've got to devote some time to catching up with the less exciting paperwork, and also start preparing for my forthcoming Papercutting Workshop at ArtisOn. Having a had a few months off from tutoring I'm really looking forward to getting back into it again. There are still a few places left on my course on Saturday the 22nd of September, so if you fancy trying your hand at papercutting check out the course details here.

Have a good week!
Rosie

Events...

Hi there!

I've had a busy few weeks, though I must confess it hasn't all been work related. I actually spent a very pleasant week on a canal boat which was a new experience for me. I can now say that I've been responsible for crashing a 55 foot long boat into a not one but two other boats. Woops.

I had to earn my holiday though, as just before it I went to Art in the Pen in Skipton for the first time, which was great! Lots of visitors, and it was great to meet lots of other artists and makers (and see a few I already knew) and see everyone's beautiful pens (like those of Charlotte Morrison, Hester Cox and Ian Scott Massie, below)

Next I'm off to the Saltaire Maker's Fair at the Victoria Hall on September 8th. It's a one day contemporary art fair, part of Saltaire's annual festival. This is another new experience for me and I'm really looking forward to it. The selection of artists also exhibiting looks great so I'll have to be careful not to spend any money before I've made any!


Lastly, I am just starting work on my biggest piece to date. I've been asked to create and installation to welcome visitors to the Crafted by Hand event in Masham town hall on October 8th. This is a one-day contemporary maker's fair featuring the cream of British artists and crafts people, and this is it's first year. I shall be making a large scale papercut piece for the entrance/lobby of the town hall, which will in part be inspired by the town hall's fantastic flock wall paper. That's all I'm going to give away for now....

Bye!