The advantages of opening post...

Hi!

Earlier this week I assisted in the opening of a large pile of post, belonging to my boyfriend Dave. Of course this is exciting in itself, but a major plus for me is that I ended up with a large pile of glorious security envelopes, the inside of which I have recently started using in my collages. However, while organising my new pile of materials, I thought I'd try something different with them. I have mentioned before that I sometimes make jewellery out of recycled things, and over the last few months have really got into making beads from paper, particularly maps. I thought I'd try and make the same beads with the envelopes, and I'm really pleased with the results!

I really love finding everyday things and using them for something completely different. Envelopes are often printed with a variety of interesting patterns, and are a perfect example of a readily available, inexpensive material.

This friday I'm heading over to Norway to spend the weekend in a cabin by the sea. I've never been before but the area looks beautiful and will hopefully be very inspiring. Tomorrow I'll be in The Gallery, helping Josie hang our next exhibition, Impression, which features 5 fantastic printmakers from around the north.

Find out about my travels to norway next week!

Rosie

The Biscuit Factory and New work

Hello!

Last week I mentioned that I had taken a pile of work to my framers, and was waiting for it to be ready, so that I could take it up to The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle. I'm pleased to announce that I dropped off the work at the gallery on friday (with the help of my dad), and six pieces of my work should now be on display somewhere in the vast and lovely space. If you get a chance to visit The Biscuit Factory, it has a really great selection of works (even better now mine is there too), a cool shop and a cafe that serves an excellent raspberry cheesecake!

Here  are a few of the pieces up at The Biscuit Factory...

As well as a trip up to Newcastle last week, I also enjoyed an afternoon out of the house on Thursday, when I attended a lecture by renowned artist Cornelia Parker. You may know her for here exploded shed installation, or a famous work involving Tilda Swinton asleep in a glass case, but at the moment one of her earlier works, '30 pieces of silver', is on display at St.Mary's church in the centre of York. The lecture was free, and it was great to get a chance to hear such an interesting artist discuss her work.

This week I have managed to get a few new pieces done, before heading down to Birmingham for a couple of days to help my boyfriend Dave pack some of his belongings up (he's moving to York - yay!). I'm focusing on work for the Trace exhibition - a show I am organising for The Gallery in Masham. 

I'm also developing my latest obsession of using envelopes - I'm really pleased with these new clouds!

Thats all from me, have a good week!

Rosie

Something different...

Having finally got a big pile of work off to my framers, I'm feeling very relieved and relaxed today (I may be now, not sure how I'll feel when I get the bill), so I decided to try doing some slightly different work.

I've been focusing a lot on Coastal pictures lately, trying to appeal to some seaside galleries, so for the last couple of days I turned my attention to trees, and came up with two new pieces.

My collages used to incorporate quite a lot of paint, and I've returned to that style recently. I've also become a bit addicted to using envelopes to create skies and water - they really are fantastic materials for collage, as you can come across a wide variety of interesting patterns printed on the inside of them. Plus they're readily available, and I do like to recycle!

My next workshop at artisOn is all about collage. Myself and Josie Beszant will be doing projects inspired by some of the great collage artists of the 20th century, such as Peter Blake and Robert Rauschenberg. I'm really excited about this workshop, and extra pleased because it's already sold out!

Thats all from me, have a good weekend everyone- I'm going househunting!

Rosie

Inspired by The Island

I recently had my first visit to the Isle of Wight (to meet my boyfriends parents!), and really enjoyed my time there. I felt a bit silly when I realised how little I knew about 'The Island', particularly as I pride myself on having covered quite a lot of Britain. I stayed in Newport for the weekend, and visited Osbourne House, Carisbrooke Castle and the amazing Garlic Farm (it's a lovely place, with all the tasty pickles you can eat, but do take some mints with you), but strangely enough felt inspired to make a piece about the ferry journey over.

I'm hoping that some galleries on the island may be interested in this piece, and hopefully I'll make a few more once I've another visit...

Tiny Maps and Coastal Pictures

I've been working in The Gallery, Masham, for the past week while some of my fellow artists were busy with the North Yorkshire Open Studios, so today I'm back at my desk after a little break. I've got two pictures finished which I'm hoping to put in The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle. 

I was given some little maps from an old guide to the north east coast recently, and they've been really useful as I often struggle to make small map collages, and lately the big ones have been reaching quite ridiculous sizes! The other great thing about these little maps is that they're all of places I know fairly well. I really enjoy making coastal pictures, and hopefully The Biscuit Factory will be an appropriate place for them.

The most difficult aspect of making these pictures is trying to fit all the pieces back together. I'm gradually working out how to shape the pieces of map so that I don't need to leave too much space between them, as that creates a massive picture, and thus a massive framing bill.I really like the slightly jumbled, off-centre arrangement of the pictures, as it creates a bit more movement and depth.

I'm very excited as I've been given another collection of small maps, this time in the form of the White Cross Road Atlas of Great Britain. It's a pretty old copy, but has a fantastic selection of maps, and even a list of route planners, with your starting point, destination, list of towns in between and miles in between them covering 342 routes around the country. I would just disconnect my internet but I fear other towns may have been built since publishing...

I found a really inspiring blog yesterday which is definitely worth a look.www.tumblinghills.com is the blog of Hebden Bridge - based artist Angie Rogers, and it's full of really interesting and unusual art projects. I particularly love the tree house book back in March.http://www.tumblinghills.com/

Thats all from me today!

Rosie

Beads, Maps and Books

On saturday I co-ran a workshop at ArtisOn titled Beads Beads Beads. My fellow tutor was local ceramicist Charlotte Morrison, and between us we made beads from Porcelain, Paper, Felt and Wire. I'm always nervous before a workshop, and this one was no different (especially because I'd had a small disaster with one of my proposed projects and had to change our lesson plan the day before!). We had a lovely group, a really enthusiastic bunch, and everyone came away inspired, including me.

Here are a few snaps from the day...

I thought I'd mention an exciting event coming up this weekend, just incase anyone reading is stuck for ideas of what to get up to. This Friday is the start of North Yorkshire Open Studios, an event which allows visitors to see into the workshops and studios of artists and craft makers all over the region. My co-tutor Charlotte is exhibiting her fantastic work up at ArtisOn, along with the work of mixed media artist Josie Beszant and painter/printmaker Ian Scott Massie.

A preview evening on Friday (from 7.30 - 9.30) is taking place onsite, a chance to meet the artists and also check out the new schedule of forthcoming workshops. Incidentally, I am running another workshop in July 31st, titled Collage, Inspired by Vintage. This workshop (co-run by Josie Beszant), is all about using recycled and vintage materials to create unique and unusual mixed media pieces. I will also be running a number of other workshops later in the year, so check out the new workshop schedule...

Have a great week!

Rosie

Tea and Sympathy

Its been a long time since I've posted, having had quite a busy month (and a few issues with signing into my account), I'm pleased to be blogging again!

I seem to have had a bottomless list of things to work on this month - I'm still putting together a selection of pictures to take up to The Biscuit Factory gallery in Newcastle, I have a few commissions to work on, and I have been preparing work for the new exhibition at Masham Gallery which opened last Friday. Having helped hang the exhibition last week, I'm really pleased about how it looks. My two new pieces are hanging alongside some great stuff, including some beautiful collages by Harriet Quilty, and amazing stitched sculputres by Priscilla Jones. I created a new deconstructed map picture for the show

and something slightly different - and collage on a OS map cover, titled 'A long way for a Cup of Tea'

Royal Academy Update

Last week, after nearly two months of waiting, I finally had a letter through the door! Unfortunately, both the pieces entered for the Royal Academy Summer Show were rejected. 11,000 pieces were entered, and although I didn't make it into the final show, one of my pieces was shortlisted. Maybe I'll have better luck next year!

Thats all from me this week!

Rosie