Big Draw at Fenners

Hard to believe this is the third year that we have run a Big Draw at Fenners.  This year it is on the 1st and 2nd November and the theme is The Day of the Dead, part of Letchworth's exciting Fire and Fright Festival taking place this month.

Digswell artists will be running workshops over the two days, including Sarah Bellisario, Debbie Bent, Amanda Bloom, Christine Harrison, Abu Jafar, Lizzy Lane, Helen Mason, John Vincent, and myself.  There will be mosaics, felt, masks, acrylic paint, shadows, wire and of course a range of traditional drawing tools and equipment.  

All of the workshops are free, drop-in events and are suitable for everybody although children do need to be accompanied by an adult.

It's always pleasing the range of people who come, from complete beginners to professional artists.  Last year we welcomed toddlers as well as pensioners (and obviously people in between).

Here are details about some of the other events happening throughout this month as part of the Family Arts Festival and Big Draw - in Letchworth and throughout the UK.

Big Draw: http://www.thebigdraw.org/

Family Arts Festival: http://www.familyartsfestival.com/

And here is information about Letchworth Fire and Fright happenings:

Fire and Fright: http://www.letchworth.com/heritage-foundation/artsandculture/fireandfright

Digswell Arts Trust: http://digswellartstrust.com/ 

 

Tuesday 21st October 2014

I am enjoying the process of developing a slightly different daily 'task' for every month this year, based on the idea of drawing an aspect of the weather.   As I come to the end of a month, I start to think about the approach that I'd like to take the following month.

This month I am making a daily picture from memory of something that I have seen outside that day.  I have been printing images of the pictures and binding them into books that open out so that groups of pages can be seen at the same time.

                      

Some of this work can be seen at Courtyard Arts in Hertford next week as part of the Threads of Time show.  For more information please see links in previous posts.

13th October

I am currently very lucky to be attending a class about drawing the graphic novel run by Emily Haworth-Booth at The Prince's Drawing School.  Very much enjoying it.  Making lots of pictures about education from memories (of my childhood, my own children and my years as a class teacher). Here are a couple of attempts at pictures from a memory of breaking the goldfish bowl at school when I was five:

1st October 2014

Delighted to have been nominated for a Creative Hertfordshire Flame award:

A list of all successful nominations are available to download here Creative Hertfordshire Flame Awards nominations 2014.

The winners, who are selected from the nominations by a panel of judges, will be announced at the award ceremony.

The award ceremony takes place at 7.30pm on Saturday 4th October at the Weston Auditorium, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield and will see the winners announced from a shortlist. The evening will recognise the achievements of organisations and individuals, of all ages,  who symbolise the very best of Hertfordshire’s arts and culture. It will also feature performances from talented young people in the Heart of Flame Festival, the county’s cultural celebration of work by young people for young people. Tickets are available at £5.00 from The Weston Auditorium box office (10am – 4pm) on 01707 281127 or uharts@herts.ac.uk.

You can find out more about the Flame Awards here

Wednesday 24th September 2014

Enjoying painting in the garden - glad I am forcing myself to make a painting outside every day this month for my diary.   Often end up making several tiny paintings, working on them all at the same time until they gradually feel finished.  Hours pass very quickly like this.  I've been choosing one a day for the diary (see last post if you'd like to have a look at it as it grows).  Here's one of the extra drawings from today:

16th September 2014

This month my visual diary is made of paintings from our garden.  As with all the other months of the year I set myself a slightly different task based on a personal response to 'being outside':

For this month I am not allowing myself to work from photographs but go out into the garden every day and paint until I have something that I am reasonably happy with.  Once I have made the painting for the day I don't allow myself to change it and, even if I end up hating it, it takes its place in the diary.  If I am away from home all day, I go outside and make a painting in the dark when I get home. Sometimes the paintings take hours and sometimes minutes - I often make several and choose the one I like best for the diary.

I just choose something that catches my attention;  some of the paintings are quite illustrative, some are more painterly and less obviously 'of' something; the whole diary is self-indulgent and playful - by the time I get near the end of a month I am beginning to think about what I'd like to do for the next month.

Each month I print tiny versions of the pictures and make them into books that open out so that all the images can be seen at the same time.

Here are the September images so far (will add more as I do them):

4th September 2014

Here are a few of the pictures from the August section of my 2014 diary: a picture of our dog Milly for each day of the month.  I took a photograph of Milly outside every day and then drew the pictures at my studio and fiddled with them on photoshop.  For September I am painting something outside every day - not allowing myself to use a camera.  I like setting myself a slightly different task each month.  The diaries are a trace of time passing but also a trace of an educational process.

29th August 2014

Saw Radical Geometry: Modern Art at of South America at the Royal Academy today.

I loved all of it - felt warm and inspired like when I saw the Lygia Pape exhibition a couple of years ago at the Serpentine (there are three Pape pieces in this exhibition too).

Made me want to drop everything and devote myself to line, colour, shape and play.  As with Matisse's cut outs (simple and geometric on one level - the kind of thing that looks like it could be produced in a couple of minutes with a good painting programme on a computer) when you look closely you are aware of the painterliness of the surfaces, the almost imperceptible differences in the strength of the lines, the human endeavour, energy and sense of purpose, that has wrought these seemingly simple pictures and sculptures and, despite their lack of figures or references to anything that isn't abstract or mathematical, they feel compellingly warm and optimistic.

Much of the work, although from different places and times, shares these things: an interest in shadows, shapes, line, colour, the connections between 3D and 2D. Co-curator Adrian Locke explains some of the geographical, artistic and political contexts of the exhibition in the video below which is followed by Johathan Jones's Guardian review.

You can find Adrian Locke's interview in the middle of this page: 

Here is a review of the exhibition by Jonathan Jones in the Guardian.

Here's one of Gego's wire drawings - the photograph doesn't show the shadows or the beautiful joins made with looped wire.

Wednesday 2nd July 2014

Tired but excited about things:

My growing 2014 visual diary started as a response to Sir John Witterwronge's weather diaries made 300 years ago (Threads of Time: HALS), evolved through a residency at Dot to Dot and an exhibition, The Longest Day, at Fenners, and is currently on show at the Cafe Gallery at Letchworth Arts Centre.  There are six completed diaries, each of which opens out so that all the pages can be seen at the same time and a print for each of the months showing all of the pictures together.

On Saturday 26th July Lizzy Lane (who also has a show at the Arts Centre) and I will be at the Cafe Gallery  between 10.00 and 3.00 to answer questions about our work and help people to make a bit of art work of their own.

Also excited because I have finished my June diary of midsummer evening dresses and have started on July's diary.  Here is a picture of all of the June dresses, taken from photographs of the night sky taken at 9.00 in the evening.

I am going to have a sleep in a minute but just wanted to say how much I enjoyed visiting the new, shiny, clean Foyles yesterday evening for Laydeez Do Comics.  Very inspiring and I am so pleased that I am going to be making graphic stories in September, with the help of the Prince's Drawing School - I have been fumbling towards this for some time and a couple of chance discussions with people made me sign up for the course.

Last night, as well as being inspired by some very talented and funny women at Foyles, I bought and read a wonderful book, "Billy, Me and You" by Nicola Streeten - I highly recommend this very moving and humorous account of coming to terms with the loss of a child.  (I read it last night in bed, trying to giggle and weep silently so as not to wake my husband.)

The other imminent thing is our family holiday in France which begins tomorrow.  

Saturday 14th June 2014

First Day of Free Art Drop-In Workshops at Fenners

Great day today at Fenners with drop-in workshops for people of all ages and abilities. Lizzie Lane  helped visitors to create beautiful wire sculptures, Helen Mason showed people how to work with texture using a wide variety of media, Louise Lahive helped people create large scale paintings of faces and Amanda Bloom introduced people to the art of felt making.

The workshops were in conjunction with an exhibition of work by Fenners artists, exploring mid-summer.  It was great to offer people the opportunity to engage with art and with the artists who made it, exploring techniques and ways of thinking.

Tomorrow is the last day of our free drop-in workshops.  Abu Jafar will be teaching the art of water colour painting.  Christine Harrison will be offering print making tasters.  Debbie Bent will be inviting people to explore their creativity with clay and I will be introducing simple book making techniques.

All these workshops were made possible with support from The Letchworth Heritage Foundation and North Herts District Council, as well as Digswell Arts Trust.

Please come along tomorrow (Sunday 14th) if you can.

Here are a few of the photographs from today:

Please drop in if you can, stay for a few minutes or for the whole day.  We would love to see you.

Saturday 7th June

Delighted that I have new work on show at two wonderful exhibitions:

The Longest Day, opening at Fenners tonight

and

Threads of Time, opening in Hertford on Tuesday

For both these exhibitions I'll be showing recent visual diaries about being outside, inspired by the three hundred year old weather diaries of Sir John Witterwronge, from Hertford Archives and Local Studies Collection.  I'm excited about all the work in both these exhibitions and very pleased to be part of them.

For the Longest Day artists were asked to respond to the theme "midsummer" and I am making a June diary with a dress picture created from a photograph of the sky at 9.00 every evening.  I'll also be showing my May diary (about my May experiences of looking at the built environment from outside) and my January diary (quick sketches created in response to a short sentence about my experiences of the weather each day). See the link above for information about work of the other artists.

For Threads of Time all participants responded to archive material about the Witterwronge family who lived in Hertfordshire.  I'll be showing three visual diaries (February, March and April) that respond to different aspects of the weather as I experienced it every day. Follow the link above to find out more and see work by the other artists.

Sunday 25th May 2014

Two of the things happening at Fenners during Letchworth Festival next month:

An exhibition of work by Digswell Arts Trust artists, including myself.  I'll be making the June section of my yearly visual diary: "Outside Where I have Been" which will grow day by day throughout the month.

and we'll be running free art workshops for people of all ages and abilities on the 14th and 15th June.  There will be painting, drawing, ceramics, printmaking, bookmaking and sculpture.  Looking forward to it.

Saturday 26th April

Very pleased that I'll be at the lovely Hertford cafe and children's book shop, Leaf, this afternoon between 2.00 and 4.00 helping people make small books. Very much looking forward to it - they also sell the most delicious gluten and dairy free cakes. Please join us if you can.
Wonderful selection of children's books + making books + cake = perfect afternoon

Saturday 12th April 2014

Please do come and join me for this if you can get to Letchworth next Saturday between 10.30 and 2.30.  I am really looking forward to it.  If you need any further information please email: janeglynnphillips@gmail.com 

Here's a link to more information about A vision of Utopia: http://www.letchworth.com/artsandculture/vision-utopia

A Vision of Utopia

Here's a link to info about this exhibition, running throughout Letchworth at the moment, a collaboration between Letchworth Heritage Foundation and Digswell Arts Trust:

http://www.letchworth.com/artsandculture/vision-utopia

Delighted to be taking part in the events programme which takes place at 34 Leys Avenue.  See below for info about Saturday events and tours:

Here is a little more information about the events programme: http://www.letchworth.com/heritage-foundation/news/events-offer-chance-to-be-part-of-utopia

Very much looking forward to 19th April when I'll be working with the local community to create a tower of tiny books remembering, celebrating and imagining Letchworth: "Lost, Found, Imagined". (Also excited about taking part in the other artists' events - and can't wait to see John Vincent's film: "A Dystopian Vision".)

Saturday 15th March 2014

Luke Pearson was at Gosh Comics in Berwick Street today signing his new book - didn't have time to queue for a signature but so pleased I have the new book which I love.

This is what I bought:

Hilda and the Black Hound (by Luke Pearson)

Nobrow Magazine 9: It's Oh So Quiet (How is silence expressed?)

Bought a couple of things for my daughter's birthday too but not going to say what they are as I expect she spends all her spare time reading this.

Monday 10th March 2014

Just got back from a few days in Devon.  Great to see and hear more about the Plymouth School for Creative Arts.  Also enjoyed plenty of walks by the sea over the shockingly sunny weekend. Primroses everywhere and blue skies.

28th February 2014

Here is a link to an article in the Comet from last week, about my February residency at Dot to Dot. Really enjoyed being there this month, finished off yesterday with a book making workshop for adults, punctuated with delicious cocktails created by Venice Shone (who also has beautiful work on show in the gallery). Thanks to everybody who came to the show, battenberg tea party, and workshops and especially to Rebecca, Kate, Ruby and Venice for making me so welcome and organising everything so smoothly.  Have a look at Rhapsode to find out what is happening at Dot to Dot.

Monday 10th February 2014

Very much enjoying my residency at Rhapsode's lovely gallery Dot to Dot in Letchworth this month.  Dot to Dot is in the Wynd, the pretty pedestrian street viewed through my studio window - saw a huge double rainbow this afternoon and rushed outside to take this picture.  (You can see the gallery just under the rainbow.)

Co-incidentally it is Rainbow Day at the gallery on Saturday.  Everybody is invited to come and make some rainbow art.  There will be painting, window and pavement pictures, decorated trees and a rainbow table will be made.  The event is free but people will be encouraged to make a donation so that Rhapsode can continue to offer lots of art opportunities to Letchworth families.  They also serve the most delicious coffee and cakes. If you are near Letchworth please pop in between 11.00 and 4.00.

Sunday 2nd February 2014

Delighted that I will be the artist in residence at Rhapsode's lovely art gallery, Dot-to-Dot, in Letchworth starting on Thursday 6th of Feb until the end of this month.  I'll be showing new originals and recent prints and running art activities.  The overall theme will be "Sunshine, storms and showers". Please have a look here for details and times.  Here's a bit of sun, some rain and a little fog.

Also very pleased that I'll be showing my cabinet of 366 books at Turn the Page in Norwich in May.  Very excited to have my work there and also to see the rest of the exhibition.  Here are some of the books packed away comfortably in a box for winter.

And finally, here is a video of my book, "Meine Schwester Mag" being read by a little girl and her grandfather in Germany.  It's very pleasing to see it being read.