Welcome to Newsletter 16
Earlier this year I moved into a new studio which is also my new home. I’ve had to be a bit ingenious to fit everything in and have been rather distracted by the nesting instinct. Now that I’ve almost got the inside sorted, I have started to create a bit of a garden outside. This is in addition to the wildflower garden at the front of the building that I have been looking after for many years. I just need to get my picture hanging system sorted out and then I shall be ready for Open Studios – see item 1.
Here’s a quick list of what’s in this newsletter:-
- Art Week Exeter / Open Studios
- The Observatory at University of Exeter
- New Postcard
- What’s next
- New at Double Elephant
1. Art Week Exeter / Open Studios
I am opening my new studio for the first time as part of Art Week Exeter.
Art Week Exeter takes place 13-21 May and is the second year that this visual arts festival is taking place across the city.
There is a lot happening at a wide range of venues – ranging from the Cathedral being turned into a playable instrument; burnt timbers being turned into a temporary sculpture to reflect the recent and devastating fire that took place on the Cathedral Green; an art Vending Machine; art car boot sale; street art projections as well as 30 Open Studios with approximately 60 artists participating. Look on the AWE website and pick up a brochure for more information.
Open Studio
Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st.
10am-6pm.
My new studio is at Venue 30.
31 St Leonards Rd, Exeter EX2 4LR.
I’m in Flat 2 and my partner is in Flat 1. There is a jolly little stepping stone path between the two studios (see photo in intro). As always I will be showing a range of my artwork – new work and some familiar old friends ranging in price from just a couple of quid to quite a lot really... Plus cards, photographs, mugs, bookmarks and a few random tote bags amongst other curiosities. To make life a little easier I now have a card reader that worked jolly well during my studio relocation sale in February.
In addition to visiting me in my studio at flat 2, you can also pop into flat 1 to see my partner Ben Bennett’s artwork too. We are completely different in style and types of things we make. So if you have a friend with you who is underwhelmed by my artwork, you will probably find that Ben’s rocks their boat, and vice versa. And – if that wasn’t enough, there is the little garden that links us. This is where I have been photographing various bugs and bees and grow some of the plants that I use in my artwork when not foraging from local hedgerows.
We are both open 10am-6pm 19-21 May.
Hope to see you soon!
2. The Observatory at University of Exeter
The Observatory: perspectives on landscape, society and spirit.
University of Exeter Art Exhibition.
11 – 18 June, 10am – 5pm.
The Forum, Uni of Exeter, Stocker Road, EX4 4SZ.
I have one of my “Urban Bees” selected for The Observatory exhibition. Artists from across the region were invited to submit artwork that respond to the idea of ‘observatory’ as a channel for exploring a certain type of vision, investigation or view. The University of Exeter is a place of learning and also a place of research. This exhibition is invitation to explore and investigate a specific area of research at the University of Exeter and submit an artwork that reflects this enquiry.
 The artwork I will be exhibiting is “Rooftop Hive I”, and is from a body of work created in response to Princesshay’s rooftop bees which I believe fits in well with Exeter University’s Environment & Sustainability research.
Bees are good indicator species that highlight what is happening in the environment. The hive even acts as an observatory that indicates the chemical impairment of the environment the bees live in, with residues of pesticides & heavy metals detectable in their bodies & hive products.
“Rooftop Hive I” shows a classic bee hive sited on a notional hard-edge architectural space. Bees fly out in all directions to bring back pollen and nectar from the suburban garden. Pollen & nectar is indicated by flowers from my garden apparently flying back in with the bees. Bees & flowers appear to fly in & out of the picture area, through the frame. If the exhibition organisers permit it, the bees can also escape onto the gallery walls.
I’m looking forward to seeing the other selected artworks and whilst you are at the exhibition you can also vote for your favourite piece...
There will also be a free Artistic Activities Day Think..Art on Saturday 17 June, 11 - 4pm offering a variety of interactive experiences with artists on research themes.
3. New Postcard!
Not your average postcard.
 I’m piloting a new postcard at Open Studios in May that I hope will be a useful marketing resource particularly at art fairs and similar.
Other than having my contact details it is also intended to flag up that I am available for one-to-one tuition and editioning artwork via Double Elephant. Also that I am available independently as a mentor – or “critical friend”. While I don’t pretend to have all the answers, I have been a practicing printmaker and managing to make a living as a self employed artist for more than 20 years now. I have had mentoring training at Double Elephant and so far have helped emerging artists with exploring their personal artistic voice; examine how they are putting themselves across on social media; take their first steps in framing and presenting their work for exhibition; Etsy shop critique; and a whole range of technical issues with their printmaking.
If you are interested in discussing any of these options – do please get in touch.
4. What’s next
The Devon Guild and Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) have been in conversation about a DWT project which highlights the ecological importance of blanket bogs. The project is led by DWT in partnership with Dartmoor National Park, Dartmoor Preservation Association and The Duchy of Cornwall. It is supported by Heritage Lottery Funding.
For the 2017 August bank holiday weekend the Devon Guild shop will use Beautiful Blanket Bogs as a theme. Interested Members have been invited to participate by making work with a Magnificent Mires/Beautiful Blanket Bogs theme for exhibition and sale in the shop over this period. I am interested! I will be taking part in a guided walk to Cranmere Pool to learn about the blanket bogs, myths and legends, wildlife, sphagnum mosses, sundews and sedges. At this stage I have no idea what sort of artwork I might produce – but hope to be able to say more in my next newsletter.
The next craft fair I shall be taking part in is the Exeter Craft Festival on the Cathedral Green. Thursday 6th July, Friday 7th July & Saturday 8th July. This is the first time that I have taken part in this one, and will flag it up properly in my next newsletter.
Meanwhile I have managed to find to create a small amount of new work looking at lovely little Dotted Bee Flies and their possible host grey mining bees.
5. New at Double Elephant
As mentioned in my last newsletter, there are some more “Specials” at Double Elephant taking place this Summer. These will be going live on the Double Elephant website SOON.
Here is your advanced warning for what you might like to take part in.
 Introduction to Mezzotint with Debby Mason Saturday 22nd July.
It is quite rare to see a mezzotint workshop being available – so grab this while you can. For this introductory day, course participants will be provided with ready prepared mezzotint plates so that you can quickly get on with your artwork and learn about the process. As you will see from Debby’s website, it can otherwise take 25 hours preparing the plate before you even get started! It’s 37 years since I did my one and only mezzotint print, so I am looking forward to taking part too and producing a “Richly Inky” gorgeousness.
 Silk Aquatint weekend with me! 5th & 6th August.
Also reffered to as Silk Mezzotint. This is another “Richly Inky” process that also involves working from dark to light. But rather than having to use a lot of elbow grease, more time in spent waiting for paints and varnish to dry. Luckily, at Double Elephant we have a very effective drying cupboard and you can work on several plates at a time.
 Carborundum Weekend. 19th & 20th August.
A very popular “Richly Inky” process that involves a variety of ways of applying different grades of fine grits to an intaglio plate. Like the Silk Aquatint you can be quite painterly in your approach, but this time working from light to dark. - Ima ge courtesy of Paula Youens. (This will either be with Sally Hebeler or me. Depending on which of us is available).
Plenty of other courses are also available as always – pleaae see Double Elephant’s website.
Hope to see you again soon
Thanks Lynn
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