Saturday Silk Painting & Printing Workshop

Saturday at last..... My Silk Painting & Printing Workshop day had arrived and i was very excited........

The work shop was held in a studio at Goat Hall Lodge, Great Totham in a converted barn, the venue couldn't have been better.

There was nine of us in all including Becky my daughter and Maisie my sisters granddaughter.
Anne was our tutor, she taught us her craft with such  passion and love.....

The day started off with an introduction to silk painting, materials and the various techniques

My finished pieces of work. The front piece is batik and the two at the back are block printing

Here i am painting on the silk with Autumn coloured silk paints

A close up before i print with the blocks

I chose two different blocks to create this pattern

 A close up of my finished design.....

Anne showing us how to use the blocks......

Becky and Maisie's work. Here they have used brightly coloured silk paint to achieve a mottled effect. Ready to use a block print on top...

My 2nd piece of work. I used a twelve days of christmas block on my brightly coloured silk to achieve this desgn...  

Becky and Maisie painting on their silk...

Here is  Maisie's example of some screen printing she did with her silk. Can you see the monkeys?

Beckys Batik print....I just love the vibrante colours  and design she chose....

Maisie's batik design.....Its just lovely. Maisie is 11 years old and very talented for her age. To achieve this pattern Maisie used hot wax to draw the design then painted in carefully with the inks....

Kirsten's batik design..It was just lovely.

We all had a lovely time and learn't a lot about silk painting and printing.......

 Thankyou to Anne for all her hard work in teaching us such a great art and for Kirsten for being so helpful in sharing her knowledge and printing blocks...........xx

I hav lots more photos of the day, but this silly blog won't let me add anymore. Maybe its having a seniour moment!!!

The BEST ever Organic Pumpkin Soup....

My Pumpkin soup is not just Pumpkin soup its the best ever Linda Wilks Pumpkin soup.........

Why!! because all the ingredients are from my very own organic vegetable plot......All grown by little old me....

Potatoes, Garlic, Pepper, Chili pepper,onions and the,,,, pumpkin.

I found the recipe in a magazine and adapted it by adding Maldon salt and Bouillon, a vegetable powder to bring out the flavour of the soup as it can be very bland without some seasoning....

All my home grown produced ready to be prepped..... All grown from tiny little seeds in the Spring, fed and watered during the summer, harvested in the Autumn and stored over the winter. How wonderful mother nature is to supply us with such lovely food.

My old pine table has seen many a happy mealtime...

As you can see the page is a bit ripped, but i can still use it...

Here is the recipe for the soup. If you double click on the photo it will bring up the recipe much clearer....

Well! here it is the finished result. I love to eat it in a rustic manner... from a pudding basin topped with a strong cheese and some crusty bread while watching the television on a cold day.... I usually make some bread, but as i made the soup on the spur of the moment there was no time to make some so had to make do with shop ones.

So instead of throwing that pumpkin away after Halloween why not have a go at making this delicious soup .......

Awesome Friday..........

My  Awesome Friday took me to Julie's studio in Wivenhoe where she was holding her first print workshop.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but  i knew i was in safe hands with Julie as she is very dedicated and passionate person when it comes to her art work.

http://mycuriousteaparty.blogspot.com/2011/10/first.workshop-in-shed.ht

I went with Cherry and met Christine and Hillary (two of Julie's friends) there,

Julie was very patient and positive thoughout the workshop, She made me feel confident with every stage of the activity. I was really pleased with my finished work and would love to go on another one of her workshops and would certainly recommend her to other interested people

1st stage was to draw a simple drawing. As you can see mine is very very simple......

2nd stage  I drew around my shape using tracing paper.I then transferred the shape onto the lino by rubbing the paper with a soft pencil. 

3rd stage. I cut out the shape with a lino cutter and this is the result.

4th stage. I chose some red printing ink  and with a roller covered the shape with the ink. Now i was ready to print . This is my first attempt on some small envelopes..

5th stage... The final stage Printed on BEST paper. Pretty good don't you think for a first timer ?

I think Julie's print work shop was a great success. I JUST LOVED IT.......

Thanks Julie xxxxx

I am having trouble giving and receiving  comments. Not sure if other bloggers are having the same problems, but i hope blogger gets it sorted soon.

A Busy Saturday

My busy day started on Saturday morning, when along with my sister and her two granddaughters we visited  the Maldon Art Trail.......... Now in its fourth year the Maldon Art Trail has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the wealth of talent in the area, combined with support from local businesses and the local council.
We started our tour at the top end of the town looking at the fantastic array of art work on display in shops,boutiques, cafes and galleries taking in The Moot Hall where we visited the Mad Hatter's Tea Party........Featuring handmade ceramics and wacky sculptural figures- plus ceramic contributions by local schools.

 The Mad Hatter towering over the table keeping an eye on things.....

Milly and Maisie sharing a photo with the white Rabbit.....

If you look closely you can see all the hand made items made by local artists and school children.... These were for sale....

Milly with Alice..

As usual children get hungry so after our tour of the Art Trail we landed up at the Mac Donald's for lunch.

Our next visit, still connected with the Art Trail was a ride out to an Art Gallery at Goat Lodge Farm  Gt Totham to see  an exhibition of Vasant Chinchawadkar

Vasant is one of a group of artists who came to the UK in 1960s. They had all been students at the Sir J.J. School of Art in Mumbai and were the natural successors to Hussein and Bendre. His work combines a clear, sometimes whimsical, connection with his cultural heritage in Madhya Pradesh. His romantic vision with women has been a consistent thread in his output despite, or perhaps as a result of never having married.

Well!..  On seeing Vasants art works i fell totally in love with it.....  So! i just had to buy this water colour called A Peacock Maid.........

Vasant is now on his way back to India for the winter as he prefers the warmer climate.....

I really enjoyed my day and i know my sister and her two grandaughters did to. It was so lovely to see these two young people interested in the Arts.......

 

A New Beginning in the Art World.

Its been a month now since i started my new venture in the art world and i am really enjoying it...
I attend my class on Tuesday afternoon's at the Navigation Studio ' Lockside'  Heybridge Basin. The studio overlooks the Navigation Canal. Its the most amazing setting for any Artist to paint.. Its full of boats, water and sky........

 Sonia my tutor has been  patiently showing me the art of water colour, along with seven other budding artists. They are also beginners, so i don't feel too much is expected of me........

My first attempt in water colour was to paint a summer sky which if you haven't ever painted one you may think it was boring, but as Sonia is such a good tutor she showed me how exiting it was to paint one... Now i look at sky's in a different way.....   I have also learnt that by mixing blue, yellow and red water colour paints i can create different  types of sky's....

  These are my tools i used to create my paintings. Florence is looking for something to play with . She is a typical  kitten who is always into mischief.... 

 These three pictures show how i have used a blue, yellow and red wash to create different types of sky....

Growing in confidence i managed to add some scenery. My husband said it was good as a first attempt.....

I walk over these lock gates on my way to the studio....

Looking out to the river Blackwater as i go over the lock gates. Just take a look at that summer sky with its reflection on the water......

Sonia's studio on the other side of the lock...She also uses it as a Gallery where she sells paintings, unique gifts and jewellery...

As i come out of the studio i see all these lovely boats on the canal. What i would give to own one of those....

This is the walkway back to the lock. The white house on right is a pub and gets very busy at weekends. It over looks the river...

Another river view as i leave the studio...The boats have their own moorings.

I was lucky to capture this swan swimming on the canal....

I consider myself lucky to have found such a lovely place to paint.......