Bobby very kindly agreed to take some photos of the work produced by her students yesterday and email them to me so you can see how their designs have progressed.  Continuing from the still life drawings they did on the first day, using print blocks, and introducing colour -

Really good to see the designs develop!
If you want to have a look at the Workshop Programme, the link is HERE

I called into AVG yesterday on my way past after hours.  I mean, I rang the doorbell, I didn't break in or anything!  Not only were Viv and Kevin still there, but Bobby Britnell was there after the first day of her late Summer School.  I took a sneaky photo of the work so far ...

The students did some drawings from a still life, and then added tone and pattern.

They are going to select a small area to make print blocks which will then be printed onto paper, and later fabric before finally being hand stitched.

I also had a look at the current exhibition in the gallery 'Making Stories' which is on now until 20th October.

It includes work from three artists, 

Sue Pegg who combines layered surfaces of handmade paper, wax and plaster with ephemeral themes worked in muted colours with words and stitch.

www.suepegg.com

Hilary Murfin who constructs papier mache vessels, 

(they might not look like vessels, but that's just my photos, I'm afraid!)

and

Aran Illingworth who makes almost three-dimensional textile appliqued canvases, which focus on the the predicament of women's poverty.

www.aran-i.com

There are still one or two places left on Marian Murphy's workshop this coming Saturday 22nd, making a small stitched album on the theme of "Seashore" - it will make a lovely personal reference source for future projects.

New Workshop Programme

In case you didn't already know, the new Summer/Autumn Workshop programme is out, and AVG staff are currently poised to take your bookings.  Well, actually, not at this very moment, as it's Sunday afternoon, and even Art Van Go staff are allowed a couple of hours off on a Sunday.

Click HERE for the workshop programe

The first workshop is this coming Wednesday and Thursday, 4th and 5th of September, and there are still some spaces available!  Make the most of this opportunity - Lynda's classes are always very popular and this one sounds very exciting - using thermofax screens, masks and stencils with various mediums to create a small book.  Having enjoyed previous classes with Lynda Monk, (and loving little books) I would definitely be booking this workshop myself, but I have tickets for the Paralympics on Wednesday.

If you like to see some examples of Lynda's work, check out her blog here and, if you haven't used thermofax screens before, they are a really easy way to try screen printing, and Lynda brings a huge selection for students to use.

Highly recommended!

Handmade Books and more ....

I popped into AVG yesterday to collect some supplies for a workshop, and saw the current exhibition

HANDMADE BOOKS

Sat 14th April - Sat 12th March

A collection of contemporary

and innovative handmade books

made by artists working with

colour & texture, paper and fabric

in surface embellishment

Coincides with the workshop

'Quirky Book Structures'

with Jen Henley on 3rd & 17th May

Also on display in the gallery is the work of textile artist Amanda Hislop.  Amanda combines drawn and painted marks with thread, paper and fabric to produce wonderful textured landscapes in subtle colours.

Just by chance, at the time I was visiting, Viv was chatting to a very talented lady called Lexi, who apart from other things, paints stones.  Now, I know what you're thinking, but they're NOT shiny poster-painted ladybirds, so you can stop that face!  They were really beautiful works of art, in various pebble-type sizes, painted in soft colours with lettering, and maps and hearts - miniature stone charms.  There will be some of her work for sale in the gallery, and hopefully a workshop in the next programme.  

And, if all that wasn't enough to make you want to hot foot it to Art Van Go, it's worth it just to see Viv's dinky little feet in these cute shoes.  

Makes a change from Kev in mis-matched Crocs.

Happy Birthday to Viv!!

Actually, a belated Happy Birthday - it was Viv's birthday yesterday, but I was too busy drinking champagne and tea, and eating cake to worry about blogging!  I arrived just in time to see the results of what had obviously been a wonderful two day workshop run by Frances Pickering, entitled A Few of My Favourite Things - there were some really beautiful books and it seemed as if everyone had been really productive.  Sorry there's no photos, I didn't have my camera with me.

However, I did have my camera last week, when I took part in a two day workshop with Lynda Monk called Scrim, Screens and Scrappy Bits.  We all had a brilliant time, printing through thermofax screens on scrim and Lutrador and pelmet vilene, bonding various layers together and even managing to fit in a bit of stitch, before painting the resulting gorgeously textured surfaces.  As you can see, everyone was far too busy to turn to turn and pose for photos

Here are some of Lynda's fabulous examples and inspiration ..

We did have to stop work briefly during the afternoon of the second day - to listen to Viv who was being interviewed on Three Counties radio, together with one of the artists currently exhibiting in the gallery as 

17@art van go

The interviewer asked a little about the exhibition and the gallery, but seemed more interested in asking what was the definition of 'art'.  Probably worthy of more discussion than a five minute interview would allow, but Viv did her best, and sounded like a radio professional.  

In fact, as Kevin pointed out more than once -  "Viv has the perfect face for radio!"

And finally, talking of perfect faces, Pam only agree to pose with one of Lynda's display pieces, on the proviso that I didn't put it on the blog, and if I did, I couldn't show her face.  But this is such a lovely smiley face, I couldn't just chop it off.  Anyway, she's my friend, and she knows I can't be trusted!

Lynda Monk will be back at Art Van Go as an "Artist in Residence" on Tuesday 8th May and Thursday 21st June between 1030 and 3pm, where you can come along and watch her working and pick up some tips.  There is no charge for these sessions, and booking is not necessary.

I'm hoping to have finished some of my pieces in time to take them along, just to prove to Lynda that I DO occasionally finish something.

Spectrum Exhibition

The Art Van Go gallery was host to a very special event yesterday - the Private View 'Tea Party' for "Close to Home" an exhibition of textile art, by Spectrum, a group of textile artists mentored by Gina Ferrari.  

For those of you who were unable to be there - this is what you missed ....

Viv and Kevin flew back from Madeira, just for the exhibition (they like to winter in the sun).  No pictures of Viv I'm afraid, she was much too busy, but Kevin just swanned about drinking tea and eating cake as usual.

The exhibition runs until 3rd March, so do call in if you get the chance, and if you do, it'd be lovely if you  leave a comment in the Visitors Book

See you soon x

It's arrived!!

As usual, it is appearing much later than we had hoped, so many apologies for keeping you waiting.   Bookings are now being taken and some will, of course, fill up quickly, so book early to avoid disappointment.


To view the Workshop Programme and see all the delectable workshops on offer through the Spring and into September - click HERE to download the Workshop Programme as a pdf

Exhibition and Workshop Programme

Just in case you wondered, Viv is very busy working on the new Workshop Programme at the moment - she couldn't ACTUALLY give me the date it'll be finished - but I think we're talking days, rather than weeks!
I called in today - not just to nag her and drink tea, but also to collect posters and invitations that Kevin very kindly produced for the exhibition that's running from 7th February to 3rd March

I admit to having a vested interest in this - I am one of the members of SPECTRUM - it's our very first exhibition!
Anyway, hope you manage to get to see it - and maybe you could pick up a workshop programme at the same time.