Sunny visits and new exhibitions

Hello there!

Now that I'm thoroughly settled into my studio I have started working on a number of new pieces in preparation for my forthcoming exhibition Down Hidden Tracks. Having done a fair few small pieces so far, I have got stuck in with some larger projects, one of which I got finished today. A few weeks ago we took a lovely trip to Duncombe Park in Helmsley, where I dropped off my picture 'The Terrace Temples' to Mr.Duncombe himself! It is lovely to know that the piece is going to be displayed in the very place it's based on, and a huge compliment that someone so familiar with the temples likes the work. After handing over the picture we took a walk around the grounds and visited the temples in question, and I felt immediately inspired to start another papercut. The Ionic temple looked lovely in the sun and there was cow parsley everywhere - here is a snap I took on the day and my finished picture.

 

Tomorrow I am heading over to Wensleydale to assist in the hanging of my dad's solo exhibition Tales of the Dales. The exhibition, which officially opens on Saturday, July 27th, is inspired by stories, myths and rumours from the dales and moors. The exhibition of paintings and prints will be on display at Wensley Church until August 11th. I shall be enjoying a glass of wine at the church tomorrow evening for the exhibition preview, where an accompanying book about the exhibition is also being launched.

Finally, I have now finished my piece on the Triangular Lodge at Rushton. I'm very pleased with the piece, but is has given me some ideas around using a darker colour in the background, to ensure that the detail doesn't get lost. What do you think?

Have a great weekend!

Rosie x

Finding follies

Hello!

It is shameful that I haven't written a blog for so long, but I am going to excuse myself just this once as we got the keys for our beautiful new house on July 5th, so before and after was a little hectic and my studio consisted of a pile of boxes. I'm incredibly pleased to say that I have been upgraded from working in our living/dining room to having use of the spare room now, which is just fantastic after nearly two years of having to pack my work away every evening! I now get to look out of the window at my little garden, swooping swallows and the backs of the houses on our quiet street by the river in south York.

The new studio

It's great getting back to papercutting too, after a little break. My exhibition 'Down Hidden Tracks' draws ever closer and I am miles away from covering all the subjects I want to cover, let alone getting on with publicity and working on the catalogue. I am getting a some help though -  having met some lovely people from the Folly Fellowship at North Yorkshire Open Studios in June, I was very excited to be contacted by them this week and told that they would like to do an article about me for their summer magazine. This will be my first ever magazine feature, and it's brilliant knowing that it's going to be read by folly lovers. I hope I'll get to meet more members at the exhibition in September.

Before diving head first into northern follies however, I have a few pieces left to finish for the Itch gallery in Oakham, Rutland. I got one completed earlier this week, of a striking structure in south Lincolnshire called Belmont Tower. The tower can be seen from Belton House down a 2 mile long tree-lined walkway, and I have wanted to work on it since I first started researching follies. I chose to make a flat collage of this one and loved the contrast of sharp lines and flowers/trees.

I have just today finished cutting one of my most difficult subjects to date - the Triangular Lodge at Rushton. This mind boggling building was built by Thomas Tresham, a devoted catholic, and the folly's design is excessively influenced by the number 3 (presumably in reference to the holy trinity). Three sides, each measuring 33 feet, three stories etc, right down to the tiny ornate details.  I have not found it easy to draw and cut this building and I strongly suspect I will be having another go in the future, but this is how it's looking so far.

Well, I think I will get back to work, more updates very soon.

Rosie