I went quiet there for a while again. I have been drawing at different points and also getting on with other tasks too. April is a transition month as seasonal jobs start back up and in between lots of rain showers I have been back on the river bank at Wareham Boat Hire. I have been painting, but in decorating not canvas or paper. A birthday cake and went, notable because I asked for some dip pens and drawing inks and I have started to draw with them for some pieces.
Purbeck Art Weeks programmes
I volunteered earlier in the year to help unload programme delivery at the Boilerhouse gallery as I had last year. This year three volunteers plus two delivery crew moved and stacked 139 boxes very efficiently, although it did catch up with me later. Now I am involved in distributing and will be setting up my gateway information point soon so that passers by can learn about both PAW 2018 in general but also my open studio which is still damp from recent weather.
Meet the artist,March 31
The Purbeck Artisan Yard completed March with our Meet the Artist day on the 31st. We had lots of visitors and I based myself mainly upstairs in my bay. I got to talk with a range of people including familiar faces from previous events. Biggest purchase to date saw my miniature original of Swanage beach huts go. I also offered the chance to make your own art postcard and had a number of takers who enjoyed free reign with the Promarker range of colours at their disposal. Best of the day was a Hare picture by a 16 year old visiting from Scotland – a very adept artist and many fellow Artisans were impressed.
I also worked on two new hand coloured cards and two pieces based on some photos I had taken by the river Frome earlier in the Spring.
Purbeck Artisan Yard Duties
As part of my belonging to the collective of Artisans in the Yard I have a duty responsibility – each bay does a day (1 in 12) manning the yard,welcoming visitors and promoting the work of all of our work. I did a duty swop and my own first full duty. I followed this the next day with my own timetabled duty. Two consecutive days allowed me to familiarise myself with routines, tidy up the notice grids and sell a range of work. I also got to see a few friends who dropped by. Drier weather especially on the second day allows me to sit outside and work on two pieces based around the yard’s location.
Looking south to St Mary’s church:
Looking into the yard from the gateway:
I also started some drawings, none of which are complete yet of some local Landrover Defenders which I will share when finished.
Artpostcards at Abbott’s Quay
While working / in between customers for precipitation breaks (geographer talk for rain) I have drawn and left art postcards -three so far. The first two went on the same day and by people I had chatted with re. Canoeing and my work at Swanage Primary in February. The latter piece I will see if it has gone when on duty today.
Drawing at work in quiet patches
I have also started a more detailed drawing of the view across the river which I am adding to when it is dry enough to sit outside between bookings, bailing and cleaning duties.
Birthday dip pens and starting to try out…
My younger son asked what I wanted and I identified some drawing inks and dip pens which he ordered for me. I am now trying them out and enjoying the fineness of line.
On the actual day I enjoyed a damp walk on Studland beach and managed to fit in some sketching of views from both Knoll beach and Middle beach cafes. Both of which also received art cards.
On reflection
Life has been busy but I have done quite a bit of work the last fortnight…. hope you like my ongoing work.