Frome Art Fair

A lovely space in Rook Lane Chapel with some of my new lino cut prints. Thanks for all who came, chatted and liked the work. Keep you posted on the adventures for next month.

Textures in Printing Class

Just had to show you some work produced from workshop-attendees at my recent Textural Mono print class. It's a class I love teaching - lace, bubble wrap and even the corrugated side of cardboard allows for some fascinating textures. In this particular class subtle earthy colour palettes emerge alongside striking use of stencils. Truly lovely prints. Very inspiring.

I hope to run another class in the autumn for those who may want to join the fun.

Happy Monday,
Angela

Luke Jerram - Withdrawn

Needed to share what I discovered on my country walk through Leigh Woods, Bristol today - a collection of abandoned fishing boats nestled amongst the trees. The colours and peeling paint invited me in and I couldn't help but smile at this surprise encounter created by artist Luke Jerram.

Bath Artist Printmakers in Alkmaar, Netherlands

Over the summer some of my prints have travelled north to Holland in a BAP group exhibition. The Grafische Atelier Alkmaar is celebrating its 40th anniversary and invited print workshops throughout europe to participate in an extraordinary festival in the Grote Sint Laurens Kerk in Alkmaar. The event includes exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations, discussions and lectures centred around printmaking. BAPʼs response to their invitation is to send an archival box containing some 30 prints produced by our members and for three of our members to participate in week long residencies. This is an exciting opportunity to see how similar studios operate in Holland, to exchange ideas and views on how we may both continue to survive and hopefully maintain a dialogue in the future.

http://www.grafischatelieralkmaar.nl/

Some wedding related Lino-cuts....

Lets start a conversation like we are old friends and not worry that some time as passed......

So back in Springtime I was asked to design and print a few wedding lino-cuts, not something I normally do but I thought why not - I do love text. This got me thinking to create a few simple but heart felt phrases all centred around loved ones. Here are just two of the prints in that range along with a lino block detail. Hope you like.

I am teaching more Beginners lino-cut classes as well as Colour Reduction lino-cut, swing your eyes to the right for details on this page or alternatively visit http://bathartistprintmakers.co.uk/courses/. (Sorry for the plug!)

Getting familiar with my alphabet

Well well what can I say - I just not very good at this blogging-thingy-ma-jig but do I get Browny points for trying?! If you ever wanted more of a day to day update of the adventures I get up to, do follow my facebook page: Angela Lai Yen - Printmaker & Textile Artist.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Angela-Lai-Yen-Printmaker-Textile-Artist/329188650491869 

I'm a lot more together on there as I rarely get time to sit and type - I'm more or unless on the sewing machine ( however the sewing machine has gone on his holiday so I'm only sewing little at the moment), in the print studio making friends with the press or teaching classes in Millie Moon and making friends with real people. I also have the occasional giveaway on my facebook page - so do come visit from time to time and say a hi.

So currently I am taking a little break (only a little one) from my sewing and I am concentrating more on my prints. I am drawing patterned letter designs, transferring them onto lino (reminding myself designs need to be backwards - I have already failed once.......or twice oops!) cutting the lino letters and finally printing them in various colours with oil based inks on a pinch press, all so I can get familiar with my alphabet. I've always been a fan of letters, text, and words (when I went into my Art Foundation Course I was sure I would come out deciding on a career in graphics - a bit of useless info about me, and as usual I am getting side tracked.)
I have had this idea of patterned letter prints before Christmas (or possibly longer) I've been aching to create them and for the last few months (amongst other work) I've been cracking on. Its become a bit of a mammoth challenge but I'm really enjoying it and although I haven't cut/printed the whole alphabet yet - it will come. I'm nearly there and I know once I have printed them all, I'm going to be a little sad.

At the moment its all just lower case.......mmmmm so maybe upper case next and some more decorative ones!! Anything to expand this range I am enjoying so much. I will keep you posted.

All prints are approx A4 in size, do get in touch if you would like one of them in your life.

Bye for now until next time - which will probably Christmas time knowing me.

Stitching away.......

Blogging is definitely not my strong point......computers just don't like me whereas sewing machines and printing presses do, and as of late felt and water colour pencils do too.

I have recently been producing felt rain for a window display at Millie Moon in Frome, if you are passing by please take a sneak peek. I hope you it makes you smile.
http://www.milliemoonshop.blogspot.co.uk/

I have also been working and experimenting with more stitch and textile pieces, they are nowhere near being fully resolved but the process is coming along. I don't think my stitch pieces will ever get resolved but that's the beauty of it. Hopefully I will have a good few pieces ready for display at the coming Widcombe Art Trail, Bath which I will be showing at. For now the work is 'untitled' -so must get my thinking cap on.
http://www.members.widcombeassociation.org.uk/item/270383

 I also like looking at the reverse of such pieces as they always inspire.

Angela's Antwerpen Adventure

So after the Great Create I thought I would sneak in a little adventure before the madness that is Christmas. Antwerp (Belgium) was the city of choice and it was bursting with places to see and things to do. First stop was a lovely little shop called JULJA'S  - you guessed it: a lovely little haberdashery stocking floor to celling trims, wools and lovely fabrics. It reminded me of Millie Moon and I felt right at home. 

http://www.julijasshop.blogspot.co.uk/

Second stop after indulging in a mouth watering Belgian waffle mmmmmm.........was a little gallery (the name escapes me) on Leopoldstraat, well it did seem little from the outside but as you travelled within it just grew and grew! Robert Combas was the artist I was interested in. His work is highly decorative in a patternly way and the photos just don't do it justice. If you are in the area I do highly recommend you go be wow-ed.

Third stop was just a couple of doors down in another little gallery - this I do remember the name of: Leonhard's Gallery. Jurgen Lingl-Rebetez is an amazing artist who sculpts lions, birds and various creatures from a single pieces of wood using a chain saw. I was really inspired by this work and awed by the skill - I've never seen wood manipulated in this way before.

www.leonhardsgallery.com

Antwerp was a real feast for the eyes and belly - what with all the chocolate, waffles and frites, now rested (huh!) and full of inspiration I'm ready for lots of making........Christmas will be here before we know it.

Felt and the Great Create.

Well where do I begin.................
First let me fill you in on the gaps - that would make the most sense. First there was a great deal of cutting and packing of kits in preparation for the Great Create with Millie Moon Boutique. An entire day spent speed crafting and jelly rolling racing with amazing crafters: there was sewing, glue-ing, cake, chatter, prizes, bunting and smiles all around. It was a truly fantastic day all in the aid for charity.

Read more at  - http://milliemoonshop.blogspot.co.uk/

I was teaching the Millie Moon crafters to sew Christmas decorations from felt. The concentration levels of some were amazing and there were lots of neat stitches!

So then after the Great Create I got a bit of a Felt addiction - this is coming from someone who when I was younger could not stand Felt. I did not like the touch of Felt and the way it squeaked and I certainly didn't care much for Fuzzy Felt kits - look at me now. I've cut so much Felt recently I feel like a cat with fur ball in my throat!!

My desk in my studio and Felt into crafting kits, you can find them in Millie Moon Boutique.

 Anja of Knopf Designs trying out my Felt creations! Giant Felt moustaches just in time for Movember.

If you would like me to fashion you a giant moustache, in any colour, do pop on by to my studio in the Black Swan Arts, Frome. I'm the one with the blue door and the bunting. Bye for now.

Workshops a plenty.

Crikey smokes...... its no wonder I'm feeling a little worn out recently - first there was a 'Teach me...' at Millie Moon followed by my Textural Mono print class and then another 'Teach me...' but this time in the Wells store. All in the space of a week, phew I've really enjoyed myself and met some lovely people but I could do with a sit down!

Josie mastering the press with Jo mixing her inks in the background.

Just look at the lovely work Josie and Jo have produced. I'm very impressed with their stencils which really makes the print.


Sarah, Lindsey, Meryl, Liz and Karen all learning to sew with me at Millie Moon, and coming out with lovely cushions at the other end, well done ladies. Just look at the concentration on their faces!

Handmade Fayre and the lovely talented artists and makers.....

 After a good few days off, a Birthday, a trip to the Paralympics and a nice relaxing day out in Clifton Village, I feel refreshed and ready to put my head down really for more words and prints. First though, some quick snaps of the Handmade Fayre and the lovely talented artists and makers who took part. The weekend was a lovely one and already there are plans for a Christmas one - sorry I said the 'C' word!!

I told myself I would stay strong but I couldn't the work was all so very lovely and I indulged a little. Oh well.

Jessica Palmer

Jo Lucksted

Suzanne Leather and Julia Davey

Suzanne Leather

Julie Ball

Caroline Walsh Warring

The work of David Birks and Madeleine Town

Kerrie McNeil