Category Archives: website

Artist Support Pledge

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many artists like me have found themselves without art fairs, teaching and gallery work. Exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress a UK artist Matthew Burrows instigated the ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE #artistsupportpledge

The concept is a simple one. Artists post images of their work on Instagram, which they are willing to sell for no more than £200 each. Anyone can buy the work. Every time an artist reaches £1000 of sales, they pledge to spend £200 on another artists work.

Matthew said. “I realised the work needed to be cheap enough to make selling it an act of generosity, but also I needed to make that infectious because generosity creates generosity.” Since Matthew posted his first image and wrote those fateful words ‘I pledge’ it has become a global movement towards a generous culture and economy in support of artists and makers.

The first 4 embroideries I created under the scheme inspired by my walks with my new dog in the glorious weather we are having here.

I thought this was such a great idea so I have joined in this initiative on my Instagram and Facebook pages. I have created new work especially for it priced at £200 or less. It has been successful and I have subsequently bought pieces of artwork from participants on the scheme! A painting of a seascape by an artist on the @scillyartist, a watercolour by @debourahgourley and a beautiful misty landscape in oils @davidsmithart

4 more embroideries based on the beautiful cherry blossom I saw in Japan

These £200 embroideries are also available on my website for people who don’t follow me on Instagram and Facebook. If you want to see the new ones as I post them you can follow me by clicking on the Instagram or Facebook logo on my home page. Thanks!

It feels good to produce new work, sell to all over the world and the best bit is having the perfect excuse to buy art, its addictive!

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Aurifil Artisan Challenges

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I am prepping for various activities ahead. An exhibition in Napier, New Zealand, another in Sydney and a Quilt Symposium in Auckland to mention just few.

I also have an Aurifil challenge scheduled for this month and I have  been eagerly awaiting the arrival of my threads. The colour choice is just one of the things that Aurifil cotton 50wt does so well in my opinion, it is superb. Their beautiful colours in a wide range of tonal values enables me to paint with stitches and create my trademark 3 dimensional effect.

My embroideries begin as a simple photograph which I translate into a silk painting, so that when I start on the stitches the process becomes about making marks in thread.

Silk painted base

This is when the process becomes all about definition and texture. These marks create the artwork through pattern and colour.

Here is the sequence tracking my progress with this ” Patio Pots ” inspired embroidery. It includes a little reverse stitching (aka unpicking) having originally misjudged the amount of yellow flowers in the foreground.

 

That’s better! A minor adjustment but worth the effort. If it’s not right it has to come out. Hope you enjoyed it! Thank you Aurifil, awesome threads!

ThreadLink

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I have a new addition to my website called ThreadLink. It’s for people who are interested in knowing when I add anything new to my site.

It may be a new post on my blog, an addition to my courses list, a new exhibition or embroidery in the gallery.

It’s free and easy to sign up!

Members will get an email which takes them straight to the newest content on the website. If you are student who recently came on one of my courses it will let you know when your embroidery is on my website. If you follow me on my travels to Australia or like to keep up to date with my latest work ThreadLink is perfect for you!