Hello - this newsletter starts with an event announcement (or rather a reminder).
York Printmakers Print Fair
It’s just over two weeks now until the annual York Printmakers Print Fair. I’ll be taking part with fellow members - all of us there in person to chat to you about our work and methods and maybe sell you a print or two.
The official blurb:
York Printmakers promote original printmaking and engage and inform the public about the joys of printmaking. Members use a variety of printmaking techniques, including lino and woodcuts, collagraphs, screen printing and etching. We produce original unique or limited-edition prints, (i.e. handprinted prints, not mass-produced digital prints including giclée) covering a wide range of subject matter, with styles varying from illustrative to abstract.
Saturday 23rd - Sunday 24th September, 10am - 5pm
York Cemetery, Cemetery Road, York, YO10 5AJ
FREE ENTRY
Out and about
I had a lovely day at Newby Hall at the weekend. I haven’t been there since the summer of 2020, when everything was rather different and the indoor attractions were of course off-limits. So this was somehow my first visit to the Dolls House Exhibition which is, quite frankly, gloriously bonkers. Many stately homes have one or two old dolls houses, and you might see the odd one in museums too, but this is an apparently endless and bewildering array of room sets and scenes. (Husband on turning a corner: “Oh good grief, there’s more!”). All are accompanied by enchanting and often funny and irreverent explanations from the owners of the collection, which tacitly acknowledge the fact this is a totally mad obsession.
It was when my husband and I came to this miniscule sewing kit that we turned to each other and both said ‘The Third Policeman’. (We have been together a long time).
In case you cannot immediately see how ridiculously tiny these items are, here is the handy photo displayed next to the case which includes a drawing pin for scale.
Now look back at that first photo. That needle case is utterly insane.
And here are some more.
Meanwhile outside in the normal sized world, the gardens and woodland are as beautiful as ever. A special treat until 1st October is a sculpture trail through the woods featuring more than forty contemporary pieces. Tastes vary, and we did feel that the main function of a couple of the abstract sculptures was to make you realise what astonishing geniuses Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth were (like the idea of getting a member of the crowd to take part in Olympic events as a sort of control specimen), but no doubt others will love those pieces and not agree with our views. My own favourite piece was ‘Skeletal Leaf’ by David Watkinson, a mesmerising kinetic sculpture which slowly turns in the gentlest of breezes. A still photo doesn’t really do it justice.
Work in progress
I had been planning a short break from printmaking for various reasons, but apparently it doesn’t work like that so yesterday I found myself starting a new piece. There won’t be very much progress for a while as I have a lot of other stuff on (hence the planned break and shop closure mentioned below) but it’s actually good to know something is happening in the background.
Shop closure
Just a quick reminder that my shop closes THIS EVENING (Wednesday) and will reopen after the Print Fair. So if you’ve had your eye on something grab your chance now before it sells at the Fair. (The thing with small limited editions of reduction linoprints is that by definition I have very limited stock and once something is gone it’s gone).
I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with an update and to remind you (again) about the Print Fair.
All the best
Jane
It looks fabulous. One day... One day.