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The musings of three artists on their joint venture into the world of Print Pastel and Paint

can long distance (art) relationships work?

6/27/2018

1 Comment

 
As the preparations for Patchings Art Festival begin to ramp up into frenzied bursts of activity crammed in-between commissions and child care I ponder, can our art relationship stand the pressure of a big commitment?
Karen is situated in the Shrewsbury - in a teeny weeny incy pincy titchy witchy little settlement at the end of a farm track (great in the winter months! NOT!) and I (Alison) am in sophisticated and well connected (haha) Cheshire. As we forge ahead with our own work for the stand, there are other things to consider. Things such as the layout of the stand, the decoration, signage, equipment, hanging space, prices, wrapping in the event of a sale (wonder if we'll need it), and food/wine. It's all very well coming up with a snazzy logo and a colour theme but who is buying what in the way of props and presentation, and who is making stuff?
Picture
Hedgehog Lino Print by Karen Sillar
PictureExcellent frame
​Alas, I confess, that my other half is NOT a wizard at anything remotely D.I.Y. and doesn't know one end of a spanner from another so he could not be called upon to make a folding screen. On the other hand, Karen's beloved husband is a whizz with an electric screwdriver and despite a few naughty swear words has managed to make us a perfect (well it looks perfect on the pictures she has sent anyway) hanging facility for some paintings! 
Racked with guilt over the effort and time this must have taken I dismantled an old frame and painted it pink! That should even out the score in the "what did you do to make the stand look amazing?" stakes! It did take three coats after all! And a coat of varnish!

PictureWine fuelled tutorials courtesy of YouTube!
Then came the revelation that Karen was going to make her own frames! Now we all know how ridiculously expensive framing is, but also that the right frame can make a bad painting, and that a bad frame can break a good painting, so it was no surprise to me to find photo's pinging through of a frame cutting machine sat in Karen's studio! Hat's off to her! Excellent plan...but with only three weeks to go I am not sure that there is time to perfect the technique. I had my doubts. Which if anyone knows Karen, is just pointless, because despite the instruction manual being in German, she has turned 'Learning How To Use My New Toy' into a leisure activity, and I have no doubt that she will be getting a big list of things to frame for our next foray into the world of exhibiting! Still it's nothing that becoming a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild won't solve as I am sure there will be framers happy to give advice! As a member myself I will luckily be insured in the event of a thief with an eye for a masterpiece for the duration of the show!

So on to the actual production and refinement of what will be appearing on the Stand (Stand 60, Marquee 17 in case you want to come and admire our efforts). As this is my busiest month for commission work I have been relying on a few paintings from the archives making an appearance, and adding some new work into the mix. I was quite proud of my efforts and was giving myself a quiet pat on the back when 'PING!' my phone alerted me to a new update from the Sillar Studio! 
OMG!!! She's either hyper thyroid or on some sort of recreational performance enhancing drug!
Look what I got! Her tile cutting hands must be covered in Band Aid!
Picture'Perfect Harmony' Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas 30x40cm by Alison Stafford
Not to be outdone I rustled up a new painting of a horse that I had been pondering for a while!
'PING!' Ha! Sent! That'll get her going! HAHAHA!!
So despite the frenzied activity in the Sillar Studio, and a deep feeling of guilt that I harbour, I personally cannot wait to see how the stand comes together and spending some time with my PPP friend will just make our 5 days together all the more enjoyable.
It will just be Karen and I showing this time as Jenny takes some time out with her little boy, but we are so excited to be able to show you what we have been up to.
Do come and see us on Stand 60 at Patchings.
We are at the top of the first bend so easy to find - plus the Stand will be several shades of cerise pink so you can't miss us! x
Now, on with weaving that cerise pink carpet for Karen to rest her feet on! ;)
 
​

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1 Comment
PhenQ link
6/8/2019 06:43:15 pm

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    We are three artists and more importantly friends that share a love of art, wine and cake!  Gathering for weekly art making sessions over the last 10 years, and even when one of us moved counties, we are bound together through a common thread whose tapestry of life, laughter and art come together in our first exhibition!

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  • Home
  • About
  • ARTISTS
    • ALISON STAFFORD
    • KAREN SILLAR
    • JENNY RAINFORD
  • EXHIBITIONS
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  • Contact Us