Hi All
I hope you are well, sorry about the delay, I’ve been ill with Covid and mega busy but slowly on the mend, although the busy-ness continues!
I had wanted to send out my shiny new course list for the next academic year, but I haven’t had the head-space or the energy to do anything about it yet. I’m sorry. So, another post will follow as soon I’ve got it written up and put the courses on here.
I did, however, want to tell you about the other things that are coming up. I’m particularly excited about the Chris Daunt wood engraving workshop at the start of September. Chris is a highly-respected member of the wood engraving world, an accomplished printmaker and he also makes the blocks for Lawrence Art Supplies and artists around the world. Please consider this unique opportunity to work in this special medium with a very experienced tutor and share with anyone who you think might be interested. Attached is a little poster to share.
Wood Engraving
Saturday 10 September and Sunday 11 September
10.00am-4.00pm
£140 + wood engraving blocks purchased directly from Chris
Two-day course where you will learn how to design an image and prepare a block, cut your design, and print it. The blocks are handmade in Chris’ workshop and will be either lemonwood or boxwood. Wood engraving is a very special medium in that you need to consider the balance of light and dark, the use of white line and silhouette to create powerful, delicate, graphic and expressive work. Thomas Bewick, Monica Poole, Eric Ravilious and Anne Desmet are all wonderful artists who work/worked in this medium.
Letterpress at Blackwell House 26-30 July (next week!)
I’m running a series of letterpress workshops at Blackwell House to make mini PROTEST signs for an installation on the South Lawn. The workshops are free with ticketed entry to the house but booking is recommended as spaces are limited.
International Print Exchange
An international, unjuried print exchange where you submit a small edition and receive 8 prints by other artists in exchange. Hosted by the lovely Green Door Print Studios in Derby. They do do a group submission but I’m sorry I don’t have capacity to administer it this year. But you're welcome to take part as individuals!
Deadline 31 August 2022
£30 submission fee
Jac Ridley and Alison Duncan Ridley exhibition at Linden Print Studio 18 July-30 September 2022
I’m very happy to be welcoming Jac and Alison to the studio to show their work. We’re starting a little later than anticipated due to illness all round but so it goes!
DOUBLETAKE – An Exhibition A Cumbrian twin sisters’ individual response to the visual delights of the Solway Coast and Wetlands Alison Duncan Ridley and Jac Ridley ‘Why? … Burgh by Sands, Solway Coast and the Wetlands are special to us. We came often with our parents as children. It is a hidden gem and as artists we are fortunate to have studios here. The big skies, ever changing light, reflections, wildlife, feed our raw creative needs and we are so fortunate to be able to come together for this exhibition, for the first time in Cumbria.’
Historic Quarter Arts Festival and Competition
A competition to enter an artwork about Carlisle and win a commission worth £1000. Deadline 25 July.
Dorothy Ramsay at Florence Arts Centre
16 September – 30 October
Following on from Dorothy’s little show at my studio, I’m delighted to tell you that Dorothy Ramsay is having a retrospective at Florence Arts Centre.
Print at the Priory
23 September-2 October, 10-4, daily
I will be showing alongside fellow Cumbrian printmakers at this lovely exhibition at Lanercost. There will be a range of cards and gifts and framed and unframed prints from a great range of artists.
Once Upon A Planet, Tullie House
25 June – 10 September 2022
Natural England invited me to work with Tullie House and the Heathlands Centre with a range of participants on this community-curated exhibition. It was a wonderful experience and made me think even more about my practice and sustainability. It’s what I do, but I can always see more ways of making art practice challenging and thoughtful. I hope you get to see the work we made.
Artist Educators North West (AENW)
I know a lot of people on my mailing list are connected with schools and this is just a heads-up that the network I set up a long time has been relaunched under the wing of Lakeland Arts! There have been several fab events and you can get in touch here:
best wishes,
Vega