New website.....

Finally I have a website all future posts news and updates

 will be there...

here's the link for you

  http://suzithompson.co.uk

Summer update

It's summer already even though the weather doesn't think so and time for me to catch up with my blog.
I've been busy generating some new work much of which is currently being added to my online store on Etsy which you can access following this link
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SuziThompsonPrints?ref=l2-shopheader-name



I had a great time in May at the Saltaire Art Festival,
my first proper one of the year although I joined
West Yorkshire Print Workshops on their stand
at the Hepworth Print Fair in March, Saltaire
was the first opportunity I've had this year to show my new prints together as a group and I think they went down quite well with the visitors so that's always a boost.
Met some great artists, made a few new friends
and also sold a few pieces along the way
so a successful weekend all round I think.

I've also managed to restock new work with my galleries now so if you live locally there's All Good Stuff on Arundel Street in Sheffield, if you're up near the borders there's Gallery Number 4 in St Abb's, Eyemouth or travelling down south then look into Shire Hall Gallery in Staffs.

Now I'm busy planning and making new work for my next art fair coming up on the 26th of June, The Art Market at Holmfirth which I'm really looking forward too. It's a really friendly event in a great setting with some amazing artwork on display and of course to buy. Click on the image to find out more...

After this I have a very busy July ahead of me with Sheffield Print fair at the Millennium Gallery, a group exhibition at Foxtail Gallery in Holmfirth as part of Holmfirth Art week fringe, then a solo show at the Anglers Rest in Bamford, Derbyshire so lots of printing, dashing off to the framers at the last minute, packing and unloading the car, mounting and hanging prints will be afoot I think for me over the next few weeks. I will post more on these events as and when they get closer.



New Year brings new prints..

What a very dismal start to the year it's been so much sadness surrounding us and with all this grey cloud and rain it's been very difficult to catch enough good light to do much printing to lift my spirits.

I have managed a couple of decent days though and printed up Harvest Mouse and Beetle so far from the new plates I've been working on over December.

  

   Harvest Mouse

 Beetle

There are a few new Hare prints in the making too as the edition of twenty Moon Gazing Hare has nearly sold out. They're still in my sketchbook at the moment but will hopefully be out and in print soon.

Christmas 2015

So its nearly half way through November and as its feeling a little bit more like winter today I thought I'd post an update of where my work will be available over the festive season. I have been busy in the studio fulfilling gallery orders for the last few weeks generating little towers of books with hand printed covers, stashes of fine bone china jugs and pitchers with hand collaged prints and finishing editions of my British Wildlife series of prints.
So here's where you'll be able to find the fruits of my efforts over the festive season just click on the pics to follow the relevant links to the gallery sites and if you want to meet me in person I'll be at the Art Market in Holmfirth on Sunday the 29th of November come and say hello ...

Handmade for Christmas
 Millennium Gallery Sheffield

 

Christmas Craft
Shire Hall Gallery, Staffs
 

 

 

 

 Christmas Crafts

Cooper Gallery Barnsley

 

 

All Good Stuff, Butchers Works Sheffield

 

  

Cupola Gallery
Hillsborough Sheffield

 

Art Market
Holmfirth West Yorkshire

 



Catching up....

Summer is nearly over and it's been a hectic one this year.
I've had a really great time working and exhibiting. Folk in the Forest in Sheffield was a great weekend despite the weather and The Pop up Shop at the Winter Gardens in Sheffield was an especially nice experience exhibiting alongside my fellow Octo Works group members, a small group of eight makers who have joined together to take part and support each other with exhibitions and events.

 

Now the dust is settling a little I'm concentrating on Christmas orders for galleries and starting to develop new plates for my printed book covers and notebooks working along the theme of English hedgerows with intertwining thistles, nettles and grasses, elements that are featuring a lot in my recent collagraph prints. I have been developing the ideas in my sketchbook and am really looking forward to getting back into the studio to make the plates and start proofing the images. I really want the covers to be like mini prints that you can carry around with you and hopefully inspire people to open the covers of their sketchbooks and get creating.

 

 

      
 



 



 



We've been lucky to have Nigella an old cottage garden favourite growing in our garden this year, its self seeded itself from a neighbours garden as we haven't planted it but the seed heads that follow the flowers are beautiful and have made perfect sketching specimens. I've collected seed so hopefully we will be able to enjoy them again next year.





Collagraph Print Workshop

I'm really looking forward to teaching the workshop tomorrow at All Good Stuff on Arundel Street in Sheffield a two day print workshop. We will be exploring texture and layers using the Collagraph print technique.

On the first half day session tomorrow we will be plate making and then next week on the 21st a full day printing the plates.

I'll be taking lots of different textured papers, pastes, threads, string and different fabrics to use for the image making and we will be using mount board as the collagraph matrix so we can add some incised marks and dry point type detail to the plates as well.

It promises to be lots of creative fun and hopefully I'll be able to take some photographs of the plates and final printed images which I will post here after the workshop.

Wow! I cannot believe it's nearly the end of May, so much has been happening this Spring with exhibitions at Cannon Hall in Barnsley, Gallery No 4 in St Abbs restocking at All Good Stuff and Cupola Gallery in Sheffield, getting work ready for Open Up Sheffield and planning for the Collagraph print workshop I'm holding in June and even amongst all that I've managed to do a couple of new prints too.

It was great to take part in Open Up Sheffield again, its such a fantastic event and really gives you an opportunity to talk none stop about your work, my throat was fairly sore after the weekend but I really enjoyed it. This year I was invited to take part at All Good Stuff, Butchers Works on Arundel Street in Sheffield and spent a lovely three days in their workshop space behind the shop with some very talented makers:

Linda Baxter from the Blackfish Press
Joanna Mathewson from Faerie Filigree
Natalie Burton Illustrator

 

 

It was a really busy weekend and we had lots of visitors all very interested in the work we were producing, and having the opportunity to work alongside other creatives instead of in isolation, apart from the radio, was great. I set up with my small mobile (ish!) Gerstacker printing press which proved a good starting point for people to ask questions and took loads of Collagraph plates with me to help explain the process better.

 

 

Working on the edition in my temporary studio at All Good Stuff

 

 

Rock Pool. Collagraph Print. 

 

 

The Rock Pool print above is one of the prints I worked on during the Open Up Sheffield weekend, the image is 14cmm x 14cm and in an edition of twenty, printed on Fabriano Rosapina 285gsm acid free paper, and fortunately there were no public printing disasters during the event as the plate printed really well - you never really know until you start inking and printing how a plate is going to turn out but I am more than happy with the results and I think the visitors over the weekend enjoyed watching me pulling the print through the press.

 

Once back in my studio, and inspired by the success of the Open Up weekend, I made a completely new collagraph plate using textured papers and mount card of a moon gazing hare. The image again measures 14cm x 14cm, printed onto Fabriano paper using predominantly Prussian Blue. There will be a small edition of twenty prints from this plate hopefully once I finish the editioning.

 

 

 

Moon Gazing Hare

 

 

I will be taking both of these new prints with me across the border into Derbyshire next bank holiday weekend when I am really excited to be taking part in the inaugural Arts Festival at the Old Station Gallery in Rowsley.

 







 

 

I'm not taking the press with me this time but I will be doing some stitching up of handmade books whilst I'm there (more to follow on this subject in my next post) but I will share a picture of a few here for you now.

 



 

Getting ready for Spring....

Its March already and at last the sun is starting to rise earlier, shine for longer and feel a little bit warmer in the early mornings when I'm out walking. I have been busy working away upstairs in the studio over the winter months on some new Collagraph plates,  a couple of the new prints have been travelling with me in my minds eye for quite some time so it's been really good to get them into print.

The first is Tentative Twilight Steps.

 

 

I have wanted to include a badger into my collection of prints for some time, and this will probably be the first of a few. Although I have never been privileged to come across any in the wild or whilst out hiking, I find them fascinating animals and have been deeply moved by their plight during the planned culling of recent years. They to me are a quintessential British mammal that we should endeavour to protect, the English Countryside wouldn't have the same sense of mystery at twilight if Badger setts became a thing of the past. 

 

The second image is concerned with the fascination I have of watching the Goldfish and Koi swimming and chasing each other, firstly as a child in My Fathers Fishpond and now more recently in our much smaller pond at home.

 

 

 

They suddenly start to re-immerge from the depths of the pond at this time of year after laying fairly dormant over the winter, its almost as if they too get the sense of Spring's approach as the days start to brighten and warm up and it's a relief to see them again and that they've survived the winter. Twisting and coiling around each other, breaking the pond surface and shyly taking food from our hands they are a joy to watch and many an hour has passed in the Spring sunshine enjoying that tranquil sense of calm their graceful movements give me.

 

Another of my favourite 'returnees' of Spring and Summer is the Swallow. Erratic and full of energy sweeping over our heads as they chase and catch their buglife prey, who could not stand in wonder and watch their playful antics. Swallows Return is my way of saying welcome back...

 

 



 



 

All three of these collagraph prints will be making their way to Gallery No 4. in St Abbs at the end of March for the Spring exhibition plus, more locally, Tentative Steps and Swallows Return will be joining others at Cannon Hall in Barnsley in April for the Spring is Here exhibition running until June.



 

Love and Devotion....

I'm currently taking part in a group show with other members of Sheffield Printmakers at the Cooper Gallery in Barnsley. The title for the exhibition is Love and Devotion and our work will be exhibited alongside pieces of the same theme from the Gallery's permanent collection plus ceramics from the Red Ceramic Group.

 

The Cooper Gallery is a great little Gallery in the centre of Barnsley
and helps promote the work of local artists through their creative connections programme, offering exhibition space to local practicing artists groups such as Sheffield Printmakers and Red Ceramics. The exhibition runs until the 28th of February and once you've had a look around you can enjoy something delicious from the Impressions coffee lounge on site.

As well as the prints and images we are also exhibiting print plates and sketchbooks giving an insight into how the images are created and a suggestion of the processes involved. I developed some of the original artists proofs created during the process of developing I will wear my Brown Gown and Little Cock Robin into an artists book which I have also included in my Gallery submission.

The covers are made as Collagraph plates using textured pastes and found materials but I have then coloured and drawn into them with ink and mixed media before sealing with French Polish.

 

 

 

They are hand bound with a wrap around leather closure fitting and the book of proofs itself is constructed from a concertina group of cut and manipulated proof images.

 

 

The nursery rhymes and fables my mother shared with me as a young girl when teaching me to read, and the beautiful and magical fairy tale books of my childhood recently re-discovered are the prime source of inspiration for this group of works; tales of castles, knights, princesses, demons ,wizards, tall stories of love, devotion and often tragedy. The final fatal blow dealt to little Cock Robin by the Sparrows arrow- a misdirected shot at the Cuckoo who was causing ‘a rout’ at the wedding, is a tragic ending to an otherwise happy  tale of love and devotion.  Many parables may be made with the brides blushing demeanour and the grooms wish to provide her with every element of every finery possible and even, although thankfully not to the same end, with the behaviour of some of the wedding guests at the Marriage of Little Cock Robin and Jenny Wren.

Links for The Cooper Gallery:

 

http://www.cooper-gallery.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cooper-Gallery/331408703599637

 

Sheffield Printmakers print festival and print fair

Just  enjoyed a fantastic event at the Workstation in Sheffield alongside my fellow members of Sheffield Printmakers. A week long exhibition and two day print fair.
Our theme for exhibition was 'Inspired by the written word' and we were asked to create prints reflecting our inspiration.
For me the first time I became 'inspired by words' was at a very young age when my mother, teaching  me to read, spent time reading and sharing fairy tales from the classic collection Old Mother Goose Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes with me.
I chose to revisit the fable of Little Cock Robin declaring his love for Jenny Wren and proposing to marry her, a sad ending comes to him as the story concludes when he is shot through the heart at the wedding by the Sparrow with his bow and arrow. In revisiting these stories the level of tragedy surprised me, but fables and nursery rhymes have so many hidden meaning and uses within society for relating stories of their time as Mary Mary Quite Contrary and Ring O' Ring O' Roses quite clearly show, and have been used to convey messages through society throughout the ages.
As yet I haven't reached the tragic ending for Cock Robin but am still enjoying exploring the characters of the fable within the series of prints I wish to make. Three are already finished and editions competed, they received a good reception at the exhibition too.

 

 

 

 I will wear my brown gown.Collagraph edition/10.

 

 Jennywren.Collagraph edition/7.                              

 

 Little Cock Robin. Collagraph edition/10.          

  

 

 Set up at the print fair.                         

 

Art in the Gardens ....

I have just spent a wonderful weekend talking about and selling my work in the beautiful gardens at Sheffield Botanical Gardens. As part of twenty makers from All Good Stuff in Sheffield it was a fantastic opportunity for me and I have been blown away by the interest in my work...

The new ceramics want down a treat and some of them now have new homes

Although I'm using a digital transfer process from my original hand pulled prints, each one is hand collaged onto the bone china blank so they are utterly unique in their design. The pieces are then fired to secure the designs. I may use the same theme of images but the placement and arrangement of each one will be different so no two pieces will be repeated and they will reflect my current theme of work at the time and will develop visually in the same way as my prints and collages.

The first day of the event was a typical late summer misty wet day and it was more about keeping things dry, but I was amazed by the amount of dedicated people still happily engaging with artists in the pouring rain- many thanks to those who did.

Our group stall was also very honoured as we we're independently judged on our display and awarded gold, then on the Sunday we actually came first in the category and we're presented a prize by the Mayor of Sheffield at a small ceremony securing our position to attend next year. A really positive reflection of all the hard work that the team from All Good Stuff put into attending the event.

Onwards and upwards I'm looking forward to being there next year and having as positive a time as this year. 

Thankyou to everyone who stopped to talk to me about my work over the weekend, there is nothing I like more than to talk about my inspiration and techniques, and they now probably know I can rabbit on a bit! special thanks to those who also made a purchase your support is immeasurable.

Catching up .....

So much has been happening lately that I've neglected posting on here for quite a while, many apologies.

I have been busy making and printing to keep up with sales at All Good Stuff at Butchers Works plus work for Holmfirth Art Week and the Art Cafe and Deli at Penistone. 

 

I'm pleased to say that Song Thrush, which you can just see a bit of on the right here. ....

  

found a new home at Holmfirth last week. I hope the new owners are getting as much enjoyment from their new purchase as we did the short time it was with us.

My new range of bug inspired cards and mugs seem to be going well at All Good stuff....

and the rest of the ceramic range should be ready in time for Art In The Garden weekend at the Botanical Gardens in Sheffield in September  - meeting a potter on Tuesday to discuss firing so fingers crossed.

 

There's lots more to do for new Gallery contacts plus Sheffield Printmakers exhibition and print fair 'Off the Press' at The Workstation in October during the Off The Shelf festival in Sheffield. 

I am also doing a couple of pop up shops in November and December and hopefully Kelham Island Victorian Christmas fair, plus there's the garden project I have on the go next door (progress pictures to follow soon)  

Phew! so busy all round but extremely happy.