New Workshop Programme

The new programme of workshops being held from August through to December is out now,  and online.  For details of all the exciting workshops on offer, click here

but just to whet your appetite, we have-

*  Christine Benson, a popular AVG regular tutor presenting a two day workshop entitled the  The Silk Sensation starting on 31st August

* Gillian Hand, a tutor all the way from Australia making Four Fabulous Artists' Books on 6th/7th September.  See examples of her work on her website here

* Jo Mabbutt, who will be at the Studios on 8th September, to teach Mixed Media Metallics, examples of Jo's work can be found here

* Jill Flower will be teaching Paper Fabric - Recycled and Stitched on 12th/13th September.  Have a look at Jill's website here

And that's only the first two weeks!!

Last week saw Kim Thittichai tutoring one of our three-day Summer Schools, entitled Hot New Surfaces for Stitch.  I managed to sneak in after Day 2 and take some photographs - the surfaces looked fabulous -

For more photos of the students' work, and also a description of some of the techniques used , have a look at Kim's blog

Right, I'm off - going to have another look through the workshop programme myself!

A belated post about Ruth Issett's summer school - a wonderful riot of colour as you'd imagine.  I didn't take part but I did call in to see them and everyone was having such a good time they'd almost staged a sit in.  We had to drag them out to the pub just to be able to shut up shop.

Here's just a small selection of the work produced

 

  

Fabulous work and hopefully we may get to see how some of it develops at the next 'Made at AVG' exhibition.

We have some workshops coming up with one or two spaces - next Thursday 21st July Gina Ferrari will be going back to basics with "About The Stitch" - a workshop dedicated to perfecting the various stitches used in Machine Embroidery.  I would really love to do this one myself as I am definitely in need of it, but I can't make the 21st unfortunately, so I shall keep an eye out for a re-run of that one.

Sharon Osbourne will be 'In Residence' on Friday 29th July - and will be happy to demonstrate techniques or answer any questions you have - there's no charge and no need to book - we'd love you to drop in.

Frances Pickering, book artist extraordinaire and author of Page After Page is teaching a four day workshop entitled "Summer Lovin'".  You will make a book with a durable and creative cover, using wallpaper lining paper and powdered water colours, which will then be embellished with stitch, and Frances will give you masses of guidance and inspiration on how to create a celebration of Summer in a beautiful book.

Oh, incidentally, Viv may be looking for someone to assist with admin stuff in the future - like the workshop programme and organising the diary.  (Actually, just finding the diary would be a start)

The job is part-time and you'd need to be local - and flexible.  Some of your work could be done from home, but you'd need to be able to work from the studio too sometimes.  If you yearn to produce order out of chaos and believe you could succeed in organising Viv, where others have failed - we'd love to hear from you.

Oh, and there's no truth in the rumour that Viv mislaid her last assistant under a pile of papers.

Bobby Britnell Summer School - brilliant!

I've just had a fabulous four days at Summer school entitled "Locating and Abstracting" run by Bobby Britnell. (I recommend you check out her website!) 

Bobby's workshops are always very popular, but I was lucky and managed to book while there was still a space.

The programme said we would be introduced to processes and techniques in mixed media using paper, fabric and stitch, leading us into unknown territories and producing individual textile work or a series of smaller pieces - intriguing!

On Day One, we started working in tone, with shading and line, which was a relaxing and absorbing way to 'limber up' for the workshop.  We progressed to finding ways of making expressive marks using graphite and charcoal, before experimenting to make a full composition using some of the elements we had learnt during the day.

On Day Two we started with some drawing - always a bit worrying, but it was nothing too daunting - just 'little drawings' from some of the interesting source material Bobby provided. (We could have gone outside in the garden, but to be honest it was a bit too cold and wet!)

We then moved on to print making - making our own print blocks from our drawings and printed onto paper and fabric

On Day Three we did some artist research - Bobby had brought piles of really inspirational art books for us to look through, in order to progress our work.  Later we did an exercise in three dimensional drawing which was great - I think we all learned loads from that.

Finally on Day Four, we worked towards a final resolved piece of work, or series of pieces.  Here are photographs of just some of the work that we produced during the course of the four days.

 - and of course we all went away with sketchbooks stuffed full of ideas and inspiration.

Thanks Bobby - it was a wonderful inspirational four days - and I, for one, will be back!

Kev was noticeable by his absence - he had taken the van to Windsor for the East Berkshire College Diploma show.  It is sadly, to be the very last Windsor show - definitely the end of an era. 

And of course, as he was swanning around in Berkshire, enjoying himself - Viv was having to work EVEN harder than usual!

So if all this talk of workshops has whetted your appetite - coming up soon - on Friday, in fact - is Goldwork Embroidery for Accessories run by AVG's very own Lucy Reed.  Learn stunning goldwork techniques, to work on a design to adorn a special bag,  from a kit supplied by Lucy herself.

Then the following week two tutors will be showing different approaches to the subject of 'sketchbooks'

In 'Sketchbooks for Embroiderers', Marian Murphy who will be showing how to start a sketchbook in an easy and fun way to record ideas and making some stitched samples.

The following day, Vanda Campbell, will be showing how to make 'Scrummy Sketchbooks' using mixed media, quick pencil sketches, collages and montages.  Make yourself a sketchbook to be proud of! (or, a sketchbook of which to be proud - if you're pedantic!)

Extended Exhibition

Just a quick update - the current exhibition showing the work of Fen Edge Textiles is now to be extended and will run to 12 March 2011, so you have an extra week to call in and see their fabulous work!

And, a quick picture I took of Viv and Kevin at Textiles in Focus on Friday. 

I spent the day there with my sister and we had a fantastic day, meeting up with lots of friends.  We did a workshop called "Mini Textile Masterpieces" tutored by Bonnie Osbourne, and I actually came home and finished mine.

If you didn't get to Cottenham you missed a great day out, so you'll have to keep your fingers crossed that Pauline Verrinder can be talked into organising it again next year!

Fen Edge Textiles Exhibition

I can highly recommend a visit to Art Van Go to see the current exhibition - showcasing recent work from Fen Edge Textiles - there's some really fabulous and varied work - and as an added bonus, some beautiful sketchbooks to accompany the work.  Do try to get to the gallery - the exhibition runs to 5th March

Also, don't forget, we will be at the Textiles in Focus show at Cottenham Village College this coming weekend, Friday 25th to Sunday 27th February.  For more information, see www.textilesinfocus.com

Hope to see you there - it's a lovely friendly show!

With a huge sigh of relief we can finally say that the spring/summer issue of the Workshop Programme is now out!   Many apologies to all those who have been wondering where on earth it was, and thank you for your patience.

spring/summer 2011 programme

currently includes fully detailed workshops scheduled through to the end of August - more workshops to be 'spliced' into the programme over the coming months.

There are half day, one day & two day workshops. 

  

Summer Schools run for three or four days.

You can see the Workshop Programme on line by clicking HERE

Happy New Year!

I have been authorised to pass on three bits of exciting news.  

Firstly, new radiators have been installed in the gallery, which will make it much cosier to work in when there's snow on the ground.

Secondly, Kevin has asked me to advise you that the toilet is now connected to mains water pressure, so it now flushes as it should!  

(Oh it's mod cons all the way for 2011, believe me!)


Thirdly, in the not TOO distant future, you will get the opportunity to experience these 'facility upgrades' as Viv tells me that the new workshop programme is imminent.  (I'm sorry, I tried, but I couldn't get her to be any more specific than that)


In the meantime, if you're quick, there is still time to see Ruth Issett's gloriously colourful exhibition.
And if you needed any more incentive to visit the shop, Art Van Go will not be passing on the VAT increase during the whole of January - so what are you waiting for - come along and stock up now!