Month: August 2023

As the summer comes to an end it is clear to see the changes in the landscape and in particular the effect the changing light has upon colour and textures.

I have been studying the ways in which the garden has transformed itself and is now quietening down ready for the new season ahead.

As the seasons change my colour palette changes too which in turn makes me look to other materials hiding in my cupboards and drawers.

Over the years I have collected so many different materials and have either tried them once or twice before putting them away for another day and completely forgetting about them or have loved them so much that I have used them exclusively, not giving the other art materials a chance to shine. So I am going to delve deep into the studio boxes and get everything out to try again.

Having a passion for both dry mediums and paints I often combine the two and have thoroughly enjoyed the unexpected outcomes of combining and layering colour, texture and mark making. Don’t be put off from combining pastels and paints as you can fix your finished painting by using a variety of different methods. I have been using a fine spray varnish to seal the pastels and other dry mediums over paints with great results.

These two have been framed under glass after a few coats of satin spray varnish, very pleased with the finish and not something I would have pushed had I not raked about in the cupboards and found so many different materials abandoned there. Just one thing to remember is to lay oil based on top of acrylic rather than the other way around. The first is an acrylic base with soft pastels, etc over the top and the second is a combination of wet and dry soft pastel with acrylic paints and other mediums. Explore and have fun!

July brought opportunities to exhibit my work with Prudhoe Art Trail and Holmfirth Art Week. Both events were hugely successful for the hosts and artists in both regions. The work submitted by local and regional artists was of such high quality and was displayed around Prudhoe and in the Civic Hall at Holmfirth respectively.

At the end of the month I spent three fantastic days at Brancepeth Castle Summer Fair exhibiting and selling original art, prints and even cards. I also sold places for my upcoming workshops at Bensham Grove in Gateshead this Autumn. The event was so well organised and all artists and makers were looked after by the family hosting the event.

I am looking forward to returning to Brancepeth for their Christmas Fair 24th-26th November to do it all again. In the mean time I will be restocking Elements Gallery in Rothbury and submitting art works to Coquetdale Art Gallery also in Rothbury.

One area I must improve in is packing away at the end of fairs and exhibitions as even though I vow to repack everything properly when I get home I never do. Not only is everything mixed together, tape sticking to things that end up tearing, and its so easy to damage mounts and even frames as the car is stuffed tight with tables, wall grids, boxes, etc and that is before the actual paintings go in ! A few hours of sorting and cataloguing inventory await me whilst hoping there is nothing to replace or repair this time.

It is all worth the effort though as events such as these bring artists and makers together to share new work, catch up and make amazing memories. I have met some wonderful people at events, all encouraging, supporting and sharing knowledge and skills with each other. These are also the times when artists are able to engage with the public and talk about the art on sale. So many people take an interest in the process of making and creating, often sharing images of their own work and their hopes of becoming artists in the future. So I will unpack, rewrap and start all over again!

June has been a busy month, apart from art fairs and trying to keep the studio tidy between each event, I was delighted to be invited to show my work at Bellwether Gallery in Northumberland. Alice has displayed the art work beautifully alongside so many wonderful artists and creatives.

You can find Bellwether behind the Boe Rigg at Charlton, Northumberland, NE48 1PE

Whilst putting together the pieces for Bellwether I realised the my work was falling into specific themes. I have begun to paint small landscapes inspired by the hedgerows, roadsides and local walks taken so far this year focusing on the amazing flora and wilderness areas we have here in the northeast. Some are the central focus of the painting whilst others are part of a landscape or seascape. This one is a grassy sea on a local walk that I painted often before yet each time I am inspired by something different.

© Pastel by Christine Cave