Essex Open - is Now Open!!!

We've been along to see our work displayed at the Essex Open.  In case you don't know where the Beecroft Art Gallery is - its almost next door to the Southend Victoria train station, in what was previously the Library premises.

Alas, this year there is no printed catalogue, so you will need to read the notifications under the pieces and look for the labels with the various awards.  There are three areas of display, and my work can be found to the left as you enter.

As always at these events, there are very few textile related pieces, but I have 3, and there are also pieces by Karen Apps and Jane Barry, both of whom I know.
The large white worded piece displayed with mine, is also a textile, and is by a lady I don't know, Abbie Cairns.

Here's a photo of my work on display.  You will be able to find and see more detail from a recent posting.

Here is a photo of Keith's piece on display, just around from mine.

Plenty of time to visit, but do go along, lots of exciting work in various formats.

November Voice for Stencil Girl Products

Here I am with my second contribution for Stencil Girl Products.  Still equally as excited and thrilled to be participating.

The Stencil Club stencils are launched on 1st of every month.  November sees a set designed by Jessica Sporn.

You can see the launch of the stencils here on the blog: Stencil Girl Talk

You will see from the reveal that the designs are floral based.  Whilst very pretty and I'm sure I could do lots with them as they are, I decided it was time for a personal challenge.

It was time to look.....

deeper - sideways - upside down

and I found this motley bunch lurking

I'm still thinking if they are partying, or on their way home..

The one on the right is miffed for being the designated driver, or else has a curfew!

First of all I had a play, quick tracing of the shapes with a pencil, not very accurately, but the ideas came from it.  I immediately saw not a flower/seed head but shoes!

All of the stencils are used somewhere on this piece.

~ The background used the 6x6 - acrylic paint all over Daler Rowney 250 gsm Mixed Media paper.  Two colours of acrylic paint but I thought it a little bright, so brushed gesso over the top.

I made something for them to stand on, with acrylic paint and the large stencil.

~Then to the Girls.  I started with the feet and worked my way up

I coloured them in using Derwent Inktense pencils, made it very easy to get into the small spaces, then once wet the colour, boom soo much intensity.

Outlined with a black pen, but still needed something so this time, I added some sparkle, using Spectrum Sparkle pens  - black, gold and clear.

The only element which is me, are the eyeballs (not the eye shape) and the eyelashes, everything else is found within the stencils.

~ They were begging for some words - but I couldn't think what suited, until a magazine supplement arrived with loads of quirky phrases, so I cut one out and stuck on.

I have a feeling that at nighttime, when I'm asleep, they get up and cause mischief... what do you think?

Please click to see larger images.

Take a look at the blog here to see what the other Voices made with the stencils, and I'm not the only one to see characters!

Success!!

I'm a happy bunny.  I have work accepted into the Annual Essex Open Exhibition.  I have been in it twice before, but the last time was 2005!  I've entered a few times since but no luck.

25th November 2016 -  11th February 2017

57th Annual Essex Open Exhibition

Beecroft Art Gallery

Victoria Avenue

Southend on Sea

I tried last year and vowed, not to bother again... but then along comes the info, last year it moved to an online application, whereas previously the work was taken in and selection from actual, so it now becomes an easy process.
Utterly amazed that ALL of my pieces were selected.  I wonder if its because I refer to it as Mixed Media?  We still fight the assumptions of Textile Art being certain things, and as I stitch on paper, I think its safe to say it is Mixed Media.  In fact I'd go so far as to say most Textile Artists are... they use dyes, paints, found objects, unconventional materials, etc.  I guess we keep banging on the door until they let us in.

So here are the pieces which will be on show....

Burnham Bound

Machine stitch on paper and map pages

Floret 1

Machine stitch, book pages, sewing patterns,

mono printing, stencilling and lace embellishment

Resolution 1

Printing, machine stitch on paper, distressing, wax, acrylic paints

But there is more to the story.... him indoors also entered.  This year marks the first year he has turned his photography hobby into work to be seen by the public.  He also entered three pieces, and has had success with one!

Urban Decay and Graffiti Arch