Christmas Pop Up Shop

Last night I spent a lovely evening at the preview for Creative Up North's first ever Pop Up Shop.
The shop, which runs from 4th to 7th  December 10am - 6pm, is the brainchild of the hub's Creative Director Sarah Davy. On arriving at the hub I was made to feel most welcome, the wine and mince pie really helped, and it was great to meet and chat to some of the artists. Sarah has done a great job setting out the shop which is full of visual and tactile goodies, I definitely felt I wanted to explore to see what wonders I could find.You can follow what's happening at the hub on Facebook too.

I best mention the welcome warmth of the cappuccino from  Hairy Bear Coffee, thank you it was lovely.

To give you an idea of some of the delightful treasures in store for you on a visit to the shop, I  thought  a few photos were in order. So here's a selection taken on my mobile, I apologise in advance for the quality!
                                                                                                                                                  
     

 

                                           
        

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                

Links to some of the artists participating in the Pop Up Shop. Please let me know if I have missed anyone so I can add them.

 Jennifer Wyse Art and Design                            Emily Faulkner Photography
 Missus Print                                                        Lindy's Loops
Jessica Kinnersley Textiles                                   Low Moon Over High Town                    
Tynemouth Book Art                                            Russ Coleman
Jessica Jewellery Design                                      Sea Drift Design
Pretender to the Throne                                       Muro Buro                                                    
Britt's Litle Paper Shop                                        Flip Stitch Knit
Heart & Sew                                                         Lena Archbold - Textile Art and Design
Hilburyhouse Design                                            Blinkin' Imp
Sea of Rivers Sea Glass Creations                       

Art and Yorkshire at the Mercer Gallery

Had a fab day out in Harrogate with my friend Alice on Thursday. We went to see Art and Yorkshire: From Turner to Hockney. I thought it was a wonderful exhibition which introduced me to a few artists I hadn't come across before, as well as giving me the pleasure of revisiting some pieces by some more familiar ones!

Hockney always inspires me and I have to admit I came home with a lovely little book 'A Yorkshire Sketchbook', having managed to convince myself I had been working extra hard recently and deserved a treat!

I particularly liked this one although the detail is lost here, a 1989 print in the artists private collection. I love the gathering of separate moments that go to make up the whole as we are invited into the varying scenes, such as the windows with differing interiors and the cyclist on the right hand side. Oh yes, and what is the shadowy figure in the foreground up to?

I was also very taken with the work of Constance Pearson, again perhaps because we are invited in to a scene reminiscent of the Dutch genre painters. 'Morning Tea' - an everyday domestic scene, is a snapshot of a moment cleverly reflected back at us as if we are the hand about to drink the tea. Likewise in de Hooch's 'A Woman Peeling Apples' the mirrored cupboard above the seated figure serves as the device as to which the scene is reflected back to us  This in turn brings me to Bonnard who never ceases to evoke my total admiration as an artist and master of the everyday. In his 'Cherry Pie' it is the dog greedily peeking over the table edge at the pie that serves as the mirror; which unnervingly draws us into this simple scene.




Constance Pearson - Morning Tea

de Hooch - A Woman Peeling Apples

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     


Bonnard - Cherry Pie

 Back to the exhibition...



John Piper

Lydia Bauman

            and of course...                                                                      

JMW Turner

All in all we both came away feeling revitalised and inspired by this wonderful exhibition - Thank you Mercer Gallery! 




Preparations!

Oh dear I can't believe we are rapidly approaching, dare I say it, Christmas! I have to admit I've been busy preparing so I thought I'd share a few of my gifting projects which will be available either through my Etsy shop or at a couple of  seasonal fairs where I shall be selling my wares!

To start with here are my framed prints based on 'Dwelling Place', an original oil painting inspired by a visit to the West Coast of Scotland.

Dwelling Place

Followed by my Christmas cards for this year, I
am eagerly awaiting their arrival from Moo.com. Here's
a cheeky sneak preview of two of them for your eyes only.






















Finally, these two are my festive coaster designs in the making...