Another Year - NEOS post script

The doors are now closed for another year. Anne Thomas, Alan and Alana Florence, Susie Hunt and my guest stars, Loiuse Gardner who tackled her limestone carving with great dedication for most of the week, Sjharifah Roberts who demonstrated clay technigues, Marga Schnell and Lyndsay Gibb who both worked with printmaking methods - wish to thank all the visitors who made the effort to come to Mill Farm.
Its been a good solid week with much food for thought.
I am enjoying the calm after the storm, even if the wind is blustering through the trees.The sun is shining and I am off to Cornwall to experience more weather and landscape.

Thursday 15th September

'Tumble Turn' - Work in progress. Photo by Anne Thomas - (thanks Anne)

One of the many good things to come with this week of Open Studio's is getting on famously with my niece Anne. We are equals in this place and she is certainly putting in her share of effort to making the event go smoothly for us. Her patience with visitors who have a go at Lino Cutting is unending and the printed results are testament to that care. I miss the artists and makers who have shared the event here in previous years - there is nowhere to hide with just the two of us, it is both sets of hands to the pumps. I miss Magnhild and her waffles. The competitive baking has taken a dive since I never did make cakes. So Anne would win.

There was a lovely half hour this afternoon, of sunshine and sitting on the wall talking with Louise who is chipping away at her Limestone sculpture: we appreciated the lull and then enjoyed the next visitors. I do not think I have felt so tired for ever.

Still - managed to get to the first session of creative writing with Roddy Phillips tonight and although my brain felt like the insides of a rusted watch. Contrast is always good. Trying to write something .. anything... after painting all day: Tough.

Today - The 11th September 2011

We are into the second day of this years NEOS event. This day that marks the poignent ten year period since the attack on The Twin Towers.

Things so large and significant shadowing our small but important studio opening.

North East Open Studios 2011

Oh My.... Goodness.
That time is here again, and if another person askes me if I am ready!
No! I am not, and Never have been on Wednesday before opening at 10:00am on Saturday.
But we will be.
Anne Thomas - my niece, arrived safely having driven all the way from her home near Guildford. Not bad for a young lady who looked like she might not bother to pass her driving test but a few months ago.
She will be showing excellent Lino Cut Prints and encouraging audience participation. Come and get your hands dirty.

I will be progressing a large painting of a figure - 'Tumble Turn' and will also be working on a watercolour still life.
Come and see!

Alan Florence is exhibiting paintings which show bold awareness of the bigger artistic world. - Again. Come and See.

Donnie Ross: Latter day Renaissence man, at Venue 136 is showing a great range of work in his self built 'Shed' (Well worth visiting even apart from the Art)
Generously giving space to exhibit 'Portraits' by participants of my art groups alongside fine works from his talented nieces. So much to see...so make no excuses - make the time.

Shades of France.

The artists week near Limoges went smoothly thanks to the logistical skills of Mike and the cullernary skills and charm of Sara. The House - which comfortably accommodated all participants also had enough space to give us a studio area - somewhere to leave art materials and wet paintings. It was a successful week and enjoyed by all... I am pretty sure anyway. The gathering together of an unpretictable mix of folk all of whom worked well together and since we spent the most part of each day in each others company - breakfast, painting, lunch, painting and dinner, I think it is a testament to the good nature of all (well mostly all) that it was such a good time and with jolly good banter to boot. I was lucky to spend a good time with Rita, who first encouraged me to tutor a painting holiday in Florence nearly 20 years ago - some other familiers mixed with some fresh faces. It is forever rewarding. This is not so far mentioning the three quietly charming young people - Olivia, Harriet and Thomas, who were obviosly living in their home but only brushed past us smiling - occasionally chatting.. or did magic tricks or played music.

The journeying too and from Aberdeen to near Limoges makes it a ? for next year. I need to talk with Mark and Helen who travelled from here to there by train, to see what the costs were and see if that is a viable option. Nothing simple - but glad to have the choices.