Southbank Bristol Arts Trails 2015

I attended a committee meeting last week to become part of the Southbank Arts Trail 2015.  I'm rather excited as since little Freya came along I haven't taken part in any arts trails and do miss the excitement.  I can't wait!  (This also means that my studio room will need to be finished in time ;) Another deadline Dan!!!)

       

     

This volunteer run organisation enables artists and creatives from Southville, Bedminster and Ashton, (plus visitors from further afield) to exhibit and share their work in homes and public spaces over one spectacular weekend in May each year.  Visitors have the chance to meet artists and makers in a relaxed environment and also enjoy diverse and fun workshops.  ‘One of the oldest, biggest and best Art Trails that have sprung up around town’ - Bristol Post 2014.  Now in its 13th year, this popular week-end has attracted an impressive 4000-5000 visitors in recent years, with one house alone recording 600 visitors on its first day.

The arts trails is looking to attract new artists, performers, musicians this year to help grow and attract more visitors.  If you know anyone that would like to get involved please follow the links on the SBA website to find out how to become a member, register you home, business or workshop. 

 Join Southbank Arts Trail 2015

The countdown has begun . . .

Only four days to go until the St Werburghs Arts Trail, I've still got a lot to do.  This mainly involves getting the space ready to hang my work, Dan's still got plastering to do in the living room!  Then we're having a painting extravaganza on Wednesday night to get the living room white washed.  My job tonight is to finish the painting in the hallway and then start deciding which pieces I'd like to exhibit.  I've got some lovely frames to use for some of my research work.  I can't wait to see what the finished pieces will look like.

If I have enough time I'd like to bake some rock buns to entice people into the house!  Fingers crossed I'll get everything ready in time.  I'm quite excited about hanging the bunting on Saturday morning, I think it will feel like we've reached a massive goal post with the house, getting so much completed.

The Arts Trail will also be the launch of my new cards, I picked them up this weekend from The Bristol Business Centre.  I'm really happy with the outcome, you'll have to come and have a look . .

If you are going to pop along to the event then Sunday afternoon would be a fab time to call by, you could follow your visit by joining in the after party celebrations . . .

Compass presents

The Official Arts Trail Afterparty @ St Werburghs City farm Café

Sun 26 Sept 19.00 - 23.00

Free Entry

Come and celebrate the end of a great weekend of art & culture, meet local artists, bring your friends, & end the weekend in style!

Live music, excellent food, licensed bar.  Keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground for

The Compass: Festival of Lunacy coming soon to Bristol!

Visit http://www.compass-film.co.uk/ for more info

Preperation for the local St Werburghs Arts Trail

Phew we've been busy.  Since my last blog we had family to stay in August, we then commenced work on the hallway and the living room.  Hopefully I'll finish the painting of the hallway this weekend, Dan's still got quite a bit to do in the living room before we can start painting in there, it may be bare plaster walls for the trail!  Dan ripped the fire place out so needs to make a new surround to fit, which I have a feeling may take a while.  I'm sure it will be worth it though.

I've started to research companies where I can get my images printed onto cards, I found that Bristol Business Centre do a good deal.  I'm quite excited!! It seems very professional, I'm looking forward to getting a few samples next week.

Card Samples.

The inspiration for these images came from wooden printing blocks.  I've created a series of these.  I quite like the depth and the roughness to them.

I really like these images, anything paisley related takes me back to my student days at Glasgow School of Art.

My plan for the next week is to finalise the card images to get printed then start framing some of my work for the show.  I'm going to show some drawings that I haven't exhibited before, I'm quite excited about these as I've got some unusual ideas on how to display them!

House Renovating

We've been in our home now for two years and a month.  It feels like a long time, we've done quite a lot, but still have a fair bit left to do.

We've now completed the kitchen, whooo hooo.  After a lot of deliberation we finally settled on colours.  It's quite difficult compromising, when I would love to go really girly and Dan loves black and white, we aimed for a retro feel instead (I thought I can girlifie it later with curtains, pictures and
soft furnishings, I 'll just slowly ease them in!  sssshhh!!).

We opted for Dulux Apple White - A classic, clean pale green which can make a room feel fresh and alive. We used this on most of the main walls, but stayed below the dido rail.  Above we kept fresh and clean with a pure white.

Then we used a dark Overtly Olive - A calm, muted green that has an air of sophistication about it.  On the chimney breast wall.  As you can just about see in the below right image.

By using the same colour but in different shades you can create interest in a room without being too overpowering. Overtly Olive works well with Apple White.

 

The next project is to complete the bathroom, this was started about Easter last year.  

Since then we've been having a bath every morning, this started out as a luxury but soon wore of it. You get a bit fed up of getting up 20mins prior to bath time! 

Dan has been very good and made us a lovely swish bathroom. It feels such a luxury to use it now.  We have an awesome walk in shower that Dan designed and made for us.  If anyone wants a bespoke shower you know where to come! 

I have to give lots of praise to Dan as he has been  working so hard, I can't keep up with the pace he's going at.   Dan really encouraged me to apply to take part in the St Werburghs Arts Trail this year.  This has really spurred me on to start thinking creatively again.  It has also however given Dan a very tight deadline to work to.  Dan's aim is to complete the majority of the building work in the house prior to the Arts Trail which is at the end of September.  This involves getting the living room in a usable state, it has been our store room for the past two years, then also decorating the hallway and landing.  If anyone would like to lend a hand painting get in touch!!

The bathroom is almost there, we now have everything plumbed in and working.  It's quite long and thin so we opted for quite pale, light shades to make the space feel as big as we could.  However, we did splash out a bit and just added a feature wall of GOLD!  How bling!  I wasn't quite sure about it at first but I think it actually works really well.  It's not too over the top. 

As well as getting the bathroom to a more finished standard our spare bedroom needs to be completed Oooo I'd say in about 2 weeks tops!  We have family coming to stay so have a lot of work to do.  I'll upload more pics of this work soon.

     

Cafe Kino Art Show

The Cafe Kino Continuous Open Submission Art Show is holding a private view on Thursday 26th of March from 7-9pm! We would love to see you all there, please come along, bring some chums and have a drink.

Hope to see you all there,
Hannah x

Cafe Kino

I'm showing a couple of items in Cafe Kino - I wonderful little cafe just off Stokes Croft -

'Cafe kino is a not-for-profit co-operative owned and operated by its' workers and run in part by volunteers. we strive to create a viable business which is open, fair and mutually supportive of all those with whom we are associated. We hope to continue developing the cafe as an inspiring community space and focus for independent cultural and political activity. we host regular meetings and events and are always open to interesting ideas.'

There is an opening evening on Sunday the 9th of November - The more the merrier!

John McAslan + Partners - Architecture that improves people's lives

I'm currently working on a proposal for 'Shout out for 78 Derngate Public Art Commission' in Northampton. They are looking for an installation for atrium space of this building.

McAslan are the architects who updated the contemporary extension. The Building was originally designed by Charles Rennie MackIntosh whos work has been a great influence to my life during my studies and to my working style.

I love the work that I have found that McAslan do they are very considerate to the surroundings . . . .


John McAslan + Partners - Architecture that improves people's lives

Hotwells First Arts Trail 2008

October 18th 2008 the first ever West Bristol Art Trail

I exhibited my work in the Hope Centre in Hotwells it was again a wonderful venue to be in and the turn out was excellent. My brooches (above) did really well at this event. Perhaps I should do more wearable Textiles?

I met some lovely people both exhibiting and visiting the event.