Practitioner Focus: Katy Pugh

Katy Pugh is an artist, workshop facilitator and manager of a Gather of Cheshire in Congleton; a shop, creative space and cafe.

I am an independent artist working mainly in mosaics. For the mosaics I search for sea glass on the beach and bits of broken ceramics, aka ‘boady’, buried in river banks and gardens. I also smash vintage ceramics from charity shops and sale rooms. I combine this found treasure with my own clay tiles and feature pieces that I paint and fire by hand. Sometimes I press seeds, leaves and shells into clay to create textured tiles. I sell original pieces online, at markets and open studios. Sometimes I make prints or cards for sale.

Recently I’ve been exploring lino printing and doing more drawing and sketching. I’m working in black and white and focussing on birds and feathers. I run workshops in various mediums including lino print. Glass and enamel.

My work is influenced and inspired by nature. I grew up, and am now bringing my kids up, in the stunning Cheshire countryside - pludging for boady on the banks of the Dane and windy walks up The Cloud or The Roaches. Family holidays are spent exploring in rock pools and pebbly beaches. I am inspired by the intensity and expanse of landscapes and fascinated by the tiny details. I have endless curiosity for glimpses of tiny shards of river worn pottery, hand smoothed wooden field posts, tufts of fleece snagged on barbed wire and mossy tree stumps transformed into fairy castles. The magical threads of nature and the breath of wind in the trees find their way into my work.

My mosaics reflect nature in their colour and shape. People can’t resist touching them as well as looking at them to experience their texture and edges. The different surfaces and materials shift and come alive in the light.

My ‘can’t live without toolkit’ includes my hand sized sketchbook, iPhone camera (for those fabulous frozen leaf shots or a buzzard on a post) and a black fine liner pen to catch those moments of inspiration. And big pockets to fill with treasure. Space to make a mess with jagged bits of pottery is always a challenge but having access to a kiln has been a blessing.

The best advice I ever get is from my sister who always tells me to ‘just keep doing’. She encourages me to carve out time for my art amongst the chaos of family and work commitments. She's one of my biggest creative influences and I her arse-kicking skills are sometimes much needed!

https://www.katypugh.co.uk/
Instagram: @katypugh73
https://www.facebook.com/GatherOfCheshire/

Click on the images to read on the blog, and to see more of Katy's work.

Practitioner Focus: Diane Bruford

Tell Us About Your Work

I currently have two strands of work – paintings and drawings.

My paintings explore the sheer joy of using inherently beautiful materials - paint and gold leaf. I apply the paint loosely with a large soft brush and it finds its own place on the canvas with little help from me. The gold leaf is supplied as very fine sheets of 24 carat gold, backed with a thin sheet of transfer paper. Gold leaf is incredibly fragile, and is affected by static electricity, the slightest breeze, my breath, or the shaking of my hand. It is hard to control how it behaves and adheres to the surface of my paintings, and it forms an irregular coverage which I build up in layers, interspersed with further layers of paint. The less uniform the coverage, the more visually interesting the paintings are to me.

My drawings, by contrast, are monochrome and much more tightly controlled than my paintings. I am deeply upset by plastic waste and how it breaks into ever smaller fragments in the environment, but never completely degrades. It breaks my heart as I observe and draw small pieces of broken plastic which I have found.

What creative project are you working on?

I am passionate about sharing my skills and creativity with young people. I run art/craft workshops for my daughter’s Guides unit and have been teaching drawing to home educated children.

I spend a few days each month on Sketchbook Circle. I have been part of the Circle since it started and enjoy the social aspect of having partners to work with, and the challenge of responding to somebody else’s work.

In the sketchbook I am sharing with Gill Hall, we are exploring a garden and botanical theme in mixed media. In the sketchbook I am sharing with Marie Wilson, we are exploring a grittier, urban theme, which began with soiled-looking observational drawings of the interiors of insalubrious community buildings and church halls around East London.

What do you search for in creative inspiration?

I respond to emotions of happiness and sadness. I have a comfortable life and I appreciate how lucky I am, and that privilege allows me to be playful with materials and ideas. This happiness is expressed in my paintings. When I’m painting I’m so relaxed and unaware of time passing. I dislike unkindness and unfairness, especially social injustice. My drawings often lean towards recording people, places and objects tinged with sadness.

What tools or materials could you not live without?

I carry a sketchbook and black pen. My paintings rely on gold leaf, and other metallic leaf to a lesser extent, and acrylic paint. I’m also enjoying my new acrylic inks and Posca pens.

What’s the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

A lovely art foundation lecturer called Max said to me, ‘There are lots of things I could teach you, Diane, but your learning will be stronger if you work it out for yourself’. I was livid at the time, as he had avoided answering a question. On reflection, I think he was right to leave me to it. Unexpected outcomes occur from grappling with new ideas and techniques, and the ‘right’ answer reveals itself as part of my creative process. I don’t know how a piece of work will be resolved until the moment it has a sense of completeness. I have faith in my ability to solve my own creative problems, and I think of him when I feel stuck. I remind myself that I just need to work through it, and then I will have grown as an artist.

www.dianebruford.co.uk

Practitioner Focus: Joanna Walton

My work is inspired by places I visit, local landscapes (living in the Lakes it would be hard not to be affected by the environment) or just odd/unusual things I come across whilst out and about. I constantly take photos and enjoy using the ones with imperfections in my work. I also take photos from the car whilst travelling (as a passenger!) past the lake as I head in to Ambleside. It might be a particular light, cloud colours, or the blurred blackness of the trees  which then become a catalyst for some work. Selected photos are printed out very small on to clear film and then layered over a background of collaged papers. I have numerous heaps of paper and boxes of bits  which I have to rummage through to find the right combinations. At other times I draw quite quickly, often on a treated surface as it destroys that pristine page which I find hard to start work on.

I collect sketchbooks: I just cannot resist buying them or unearthing old photo albums or note books in charity shops. I blame the sketchbook circle. I don’t do enough drawing though - hence I have many sketchbooks waiting to be used. My work is usually on a small scale, so A6 sketchbooks are about right for me. The process of layering and building up surfaces plays an important part of my work, so sketchbook/old book pages are quickly brushed with a bit of thin, white emulsion, swabbed with a wash of brusho, then rolled over with glimpses of acrylic paint. Bits of text might be added or left revealed on the page. I have a slight addiction to champagne gold, interference blue acrylic and edges. For backgrounds I use old graph/squared papers, brown paper, old envelopes (a legacy of the early TEA days; an art CPD course where we swapped envelopes, and participated in many other collaborative exchanges), old, unwanted, yellowing till rolls of paper I was given, tapes - I use micropore tape (it’s very cheap) or masking tape, (never sellotape though), soft, dark graphite pencils, white posca pens (thanks to James Nairne) or tippex pens and the odd inktense pencil or two. These are my basic drawing kit materials.

Searching for creative inspiration is not easily explained, there are so many ways this may happen. My surroundings naturally play a huge part, places which trigger emotion, through experimenting with materials, visiting exhibitions galleries and museums for pleasure and perusal. An artist whose work I recently discovered is Ricardo Brey - I saw his exhibition in 2015 in Venice and was absorbed by his collections in boxes and zig zag books, all presented with such accuracy and so beautifully. Although not a neat and tidy worker myself, I was immediately drawn to his work. I secretly aspire to do something as carefully as he does, but don’t think I’ll ever have the patience for such accuracy and attention to detail. Two more artists I enjoy following - the photography of Juanan Requena: he puts his black and white images together in sepia stained books often with handwritten text, his diaries and hand finished books , and Elisabeth Couloigner, whose paint-stained pages of her book series ‘Carnets de travail’ has the great title ‘I’m searching. I-V’. Sadly I’ve only seen their work via a computer screen.

Best piece of creative advice I’ve ever been given? ‘To accept the unexpected and see where it takes you’. A very familiar phrase but really does form the ethos of how I work. The problem is I rarely discard anything and am in danger of being a hoarder. I even keep the card from the table top I work on - as sometimes interesting edges, marks and paint stains appear. Keri Smith writes about the importance of randomness and promotes ‘happenstance’ in her book The Wander Society, a great word for unplanned occurrences:

The beauty of happenstance. Of looking for one thing and finding something else. Of stumbling onto something when you were least expecting it......A combination of ‘happen’ and ‘circumstance’ . To come across or find by chance. Can only happen if we provide the opportunity for them to appear.

Taking/making opportunities is so important, especially when your job can absorb every minute of your day, and when there other so many other commitments with daily life.  A paid-for trip to Venice many moons ago, with teachers and an artist, set off a chain of very unexpected, positive opportunities for me. It was on that trip I met a certain Susan Coles who had also applied to take part. That CPD led to so many connections and slowly re-discover my own practice. Through my link with Susan, a brilliant course on drawing, TEA: Thinking Expression Action helped me connect with like-minded art teachers/educators and which then led to other collaborative ventures. Participating in the Sketchbook Circle was, of course, one of those.

I am currently involved with a collaborative project #beyondthewall initiated by Karen Shaw   (another TEA participant). In 2016 I worked on a postal project ‘dis:placed’ with Karen and other artists which inspired me so much I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to do something similar again. For dis:placed (http://dis-placed.com) we responded to a personal location and chose our own few words to describe it. Dis:placed pushed me to make my first 3 minute film. I’m now trying to create a few more with those blurry landscapes I keep taking. #beyondthewall.....in Karen’s own words:

Collaboration on sense of place; a blind narrative.

Artists receive an object selected from the site of disused ironworks Riverside House in Stourbridge – each object will have four descriptive words to accompany it and these have been selected for their material properties and association by the learners who are regenerating the site.

Artists will produce a response from what is received and ensure that the piece of work can be included in the post to the next artist in the group. The exchange will continue with artists posting at the end of each month to the same recipient in the chain until all six objects have been seen and responded to.

The body of work will be curated by the learners at the site once the collaborative work has been produced; it is intended that the work will be displayed in situ and at two gallery venues following its completion.

One every month, over a period of 6 months, a box will arrive. I am currently on my second box, and it’s proving difficult, but it is making me think hard about how to respond and put something meaningful together. I am due to send my work on at the end of June. I cannot reveal anymore. I’m still thinking and still searching. And I’m still hoping to discover where things will take me.

Sophie's Secret Postcard Auction- By Miranda Pennington

Sophie' Secret Postcard Auction
Sophie Maria Taylor was an artistically-gifted and popular pupil at St Richard’s Catholic College, Bexhill, so it was with great sadness that her fellow pupils heard the news of her death on 5 April last year after her brave battle with cancer at just 12 years old.  
 
I was asked by the pastoral leader of year 9 if I could coordinate a secret postcard auction to celebrate Sophie’s life and create a legacy in her name. We wanted to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, who’d treated and cared for Sophie and her family.  
 
It has taken over six months to plan and get things in place for the auction. A friend, who works for a printing company, persuaded her boss to donate 2,000 pre-printed postcards for the event. Working out how to auction the postcards on eBay meant many, many phone calls. The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity set us up as a direct seller on eBay so 100% of the proceeds go straight to the charity and we don't have to pay any fees to auction the postcards. Finally, when everything was in place, I began to ask for submissions.
 
I began by creating a pack for every tutor with the preprinted postcards, posters and a presentation about the event. We asked pupils to donate £1 for a pre-printed postcard which they could either create work for or pass on to a friend or relative, this has raised over £500 so far. I gave the English department 200 postcards, they set homework for pupils to write to celebrities and/or create their own work. I wrote to every local gallery and artists in East Sussex and sent them 5 postcards and enclosed a stamped addressed envelope. As postcards started arriving, I started to email as many galleries, groups and artists that I could think of to submit their creations to the on-line auction  - including sending 100 postcards to be sent in the Sketchbook Circle mailing.
 
It was clear that we needed to exhibit the work so I asked portfolio box if they could help and they have supplied the website for free. This took a few days to set up but has been very easy to upload work once in place. I have had to be very organised with the postcards which are numbered, photographed and published online as I have received them.
 
The response has been overwhelming. Over 550 postcards have arrived from pupils and artists from as far away as Australia. Sir Quentin Blake has submitted two drawings, Thomas Taylor, who illustrated the first Harry Potter cover, Bob and Roberta Smith,  award-winning portrait artist Laura Quinn Harris and BBC radio DJ Fearne Cotton have all submitted wonderful works of art on the back of a postcard. Loui Jover sent three original postcards and also donated an amazing A4 work to add to the auction. There has also been a phenomenal support from the talented amateur and professional artists here in East Sussex and of course the pupils work has been wonderful. You can see the full list of artists on the website.
 
I have been using social media via our twitter account (please follow us... @strichardsart) and Facebook to get the message out. Sharing the amazing work and thanking the amazing artists. I am currently putting all 550 postcards on eBay - there is no easy way to do this and it has taken for ever!!
 
Sophie's Secret Postcard Auction has been a great way to engage pupils with art, they have loved seeing their work online and there is a real feeling of excitement about the auction. It has been a fantastic project for the art department and has raised the profile in the school. We are hoping to raise lots of money for the charity and also keep Sophie's memory alive.
 
Sophie’s Secret Postcard Auction will open on eBay at 8pm on Thursday 7th June and runs until Saturday 16th June with bids starting at £1. All the artists will be listed but their identity will remain a secret until the auction ends. More information on: www.sophiespostcard.com 
 
On behalf of St Richard’s Catholic College, the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Sophie and her family, I can’t thank everyone who has helped and created work for this fantastic event enough. 
 
I am very excited about the auction and will be spending Saturday 16th June with friends and family following the sale which I hope will raise lots of money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Please can sketchbook circle members share the event and encourage people to look. Sophie’s Secret Postcard Auction is not just a chance to get your hands on an original work of art for a tiny price, but you’ll also be supporting The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity with all funds going directly to the Charity.
 
Miranda Pennington
I am a part-time Art Teacher at St Richard's Catholic College, Bexhill, UK and trained as a teacher after having my son 9 years ago. My first career was in advertising as a graphic designer and studio manager which has been incredibly helpful with this project. I am a practising artist (www.miramiramiranda.com) and have taken part in the sketchbook circle for the last 4 years. I currently run a sketchbook circle group with 15 staff at St Richards.
 
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Sophie's Secret Postcard Auction click link for all details. 

Click on the first image to view the slideshow

Practitioner Focus: Yvette Hughes

I am an artist teacher; I joined the sketchbook circle four years ago at a time when my creativity in my own practice and teaching had very much dried up. Joining the sketchbook circle, networking with NSEAD online and a series of other events re ignited my drive to create and re invigorated my teaching.
 My sketchbook work is very much involved with mixed media and layering of materials and stories. Whilst I enjoy working in sketchbooks, I have developed a bit of a thing for making my own books, zines and boxes.
 

The work changes very much dependent on the inspiration that arrives from my current sketchbook partners. I love taking the starting point of my partner and going on a journey with it, developing a conversation over the course of the year.
I currently share two sketchbooks. In my collaboration with Elizabeth Goode, we are exploring Architectural themes and in particular, inspiration has come from the design and history of my home. I have been particularly excited by some of the wallpaper designs uncovered whilst renovating the house. Pattern, stitch, print abstraction, layering and the stories a building might tell have become a focus in my pages.

With Cherrie Trelogan we have been working in a new zine each month, this a slightly more eclectic exploration of “Art and the Self”, through colour, drawing stitch, collage and text.
I do not have on particular material of choice , my art cupboard/desk is bulging with scrap paper, copper leaf, slug tape, pens, carbon paper, sewing kit, print blocks and groans (as does my husband) when I make a new material discovery . I have managed to decant a small selection of materials into a travel pack for when my sketchbook and I go on holiday.
I am most inspired when I have a story to tell in my work and am at my most creative when that story makes a connection with my sketchbook partner.

At my creative low point I read a book by Elizabeth Gilbert “Big Magic”, parts of what she wrote really struck a chord, her book:
“Discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion”
One passage in particular has become a bit of a mantra I regularly have to remind my artist/teacher self and my students:
“You have treasures hidden within you, extraordinary treasures and so do I, and so does everyone around us.
Bringing those treasures to light takes work, faith, focus, courage and hours of devotion. The clock is ticking, the world is spinning, and we simply do not have time to think so small”.

Practitioner Focus: Heulwen Lewis

Tell us about your work?

Currently I’m a full-time art teacher at a British International school in Barcelona, Spain. I’m constantly inspired by the city’s architecture, street art, galleries and the Mediterranean way of life. I studied BA (hons) Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design at Leeds College of Art and my personal work is inspired by many things such as travel, calming walks along the sea coast and I’m  especially inspired by textures and patterns found in nature and the decorative arts. I enjoy working with mixed media, combining mediums such as textiles, watercolours, printmaking- lino cut and screen-print, collage and photography. I love to layer images together and play with bright colours and different shapes and patterns in my work.

What creative project are you currently working on?

I have started designing some new mixed media botanical prints that I would like to sell at local markets and online. I also enjoy photography and would like to experiment more with creating some cyanotype prints from my photographs of the beautiful welsh landscapes, taken recently over the Easter holidays around my hometown of Swansea. I often find it difficult to focus and finish projects however and have found it difficult to balance my school work with personal work.  I’m currently enjoying playing with ideas and developing a visual dialogue with other artist teachers in the sketchbook circle, which is a great source of inspiration. It has helped me to think more about how I can use my time better to be more creative and productive and pushes me to try out new ideas.

How does your creative process work?

I always find the initial stages of a project quite daunting and some days ideas just pop into my head and other days I struggle to get inspired by anything at all. I sometimes  like to create creative constraints such as a weekend hashtag project on instagram that sometimes helps develop a sense of focus, I love instagram and am a bit addicted if I’m honest! I often find inspiration from the lessons I teach and from my students and the work that they produce. When working on my sketchbook I am quite spontaneous and don’t worry too much about making mistakes, the mistakes often lead to new ideas and unexpected outcomes.

What tools or materials could you not live without?

A sketchbook of course...I am always collecting new materials and tools and a recent purchase was  a Windsor and Newton Cotman watercolour travel set and since I bought it I don’t think I could  live withut it!. I also have some good quality coloured pencils and mix these with my fine liners and posca pens. I like collage too and enjoy mixing materials, I have a huge stash of different papers and fabrics that I’ve collected over the years!

What do you search for, for creative inspiration?

I am very lucky to be living in Barcelona, surrounded by beautiful architecture and art. I visit local galleries and museums as often as I can, to search for inspiration for my own work and the lessons that I teach.  I recently visited Casa Vicens by Gaudi, the first home that he designed in 1883, and I was especially inspired by the bright glazed ceramic tiles of floral carnations that covered the building and how he merged many different cultures from around the world into the design of the summer house. I also recently visited the William Morris arts and crafts exhibition at Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya and admired the depth of colour and detail in his designs. I enjoy exploring the rich culture of Spain and find inspiration everywhere, I really look at stuff!  I am inspired by the Moorish decorative tiles or discovering different species of Mediterranean plants and trying to grow them (unsuccessfully!) on my terrace. I also enjoy collecting old postcards and maps and browsing flea markets. I also look back home to Wales for creative inspiration, and Welsh artists such as Glenys Cour, Michelle Scragg and Katie Allen are inspiring and I love the moody landscapes of the Gower.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

I can’t think of one piece of advice but I always think it’s important to surround yourself with positive people and situations and avoid negativity

I also love this quote, Gandhi said: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Susan Coles discusses her role as World Councillor for InSEA, International Society for Education through Art.

Most people know me for my work with NSEAD and generally being a bit of an activist for our subject, but I am also part of inSEA- International Society for Education through Art. InSEA comes under the umbrella of UNESCO and is truly international, with members in 69 countries. Last summer I took up my place (as one of three representatives from Europe) on the World Council, and have been very busy since then. http://insea.org/ Meetings online can be interesting too- becasue at times the time differences don't work out in my favour so I've had to do one online meeting in my dressing gown at 2am in the morning. 

Pre-school, Zagreb, Croatia

Being a part of the national TEA Thinking Expression and Action Drawing CPD and later Sketchbook Circle, has allowed me to push my interest in collaboration out there into the world of art education. This also inspires the work I have done with InSEA this year- pulling together a Manifesto for Art and Design education (see below) was a huge job, although it might not look like that! I had to consult with and share documents with people all over the world and edit everything into one succinct document which can easily be translated, and which is already on the way to being available in many languages. I am very interested in manifestos and their role in art education and will be running a workshop on this at the 2018 InSEA European Congress in Helsinki next month.

Workshop using recycled materials, Lagos, Nigeria.

The other collaborative project has been to get art educators to send in photos of their art education 'spaces' from across the globe, to celebrate the UNESCO International Arts Week at the end of May. Ironically, the UK is one of the few countries that doesn't celebrate this, so I have am ambition to make sure that we do this nationally in 2019. Ambition is always a good thing! We are collecting all the images uploaded after May 18th, to share in a film, a slide show, a PDF, which can be downloaded. It will also be shown at the forthcoming InSEA Conferences, the European Congress in Helsinki (June), the Greek Art Teacher Symposium in July, and in other future events. The images can be found via Twitter and Instagram under hashtag moreartnotless and in a photo album on the InSEA Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/InSEAOfficial/ and the range of places, people, creative spaces is fascinating. The poster is here and so is the project outline, in different languages; http://insea.org/advocacy/intl_arts_ed_week

At the Middle East and African InSEA Congress in Cairo (April) , I was approached by a delegate who wanted to hear all about Sketchbook Circle and is keen to exhibit some of the imagery from the books at a gallery in Missouri. I have not had time to follow this up yet- but I will. Sharing and collaborating is a way to make our subject help heal a very fractured world through creativity and art education. I love what I do. 

Practitioner Focus March 2018: Georgina Bruce

Tell us about your work:

My work is inspired by a broad range of subject matter, from natural forms and organic shapes to geometric lines, structures and organized patterns. Contrasting these disparate elements and combining them to make something new, is always exciting and a challenge I enjoy.

I am a mixed media artist working primarily with lino and paper cut, drawing, photography and watercolour mediums. I enjoy experimenting with the layering of images and materials and the combinations that are possible in order to render an image. I aim to derive clarity and order from something that could be considered chaotic or mysterious, such as the growth of natural forms and plants, or the structures and systems that support our everyday existence such as maps and networks. I carefully break down ordinary, everyday forms into their fundamental and identifiable parts and reconstructed them in such a way as to question the viewer.

Nature has a pattern and order to it that is not determined by humans, although we do try to organise and make sense of this. I am fascinated by the structures and systems we use such as maps, diagrams, grids and text, that turn vast areas of information like land, space, data, behaviour and language in to something manageable and understandable; order from chaos. I also enjoy breaking down complicated structures or ideas to its basic components, starting with shape, line and colour.
 

I used to mostly work in lino printing, however drawing and pen work play an increasingly important part in my work these days. This has become more prominent as my work has changed dramatically in the last four years through being involved in sketchbook circle and responding to the work of a variety of talented artists. There has always been a graphic quality to the visual images I create and an organized and structured look and feel to them. However, very often I respond to 'happy accidents' as they happen and work with what I am given in order to forge something new and unexpected. Although a challenge at first when this occurred, I now welcome the unexpected as an opportunity for my work to develop in unusual ways; I am now far more willing to give over to entropy.

This method of working does not come naturally to me and again is a result of taking part in sketchbook circle for the last four years. Being actively involved and collaborating in a visual dialogue with other artist teachers has helped to motivate and inspire my work in new and exciting ways, which I could not have predicted before taking part. This is an important aspect of my practice and is always changing, responding and adapting to the work of others, be that artists, teachers or even students.
 

What creative project are you currently working on?

In the last two years I have made a more conscious effort to exhibit my work more regularly in local galleries and exhibitions. Usually, the themes are broad and open to a variety of work and styles. This year, however, I have been selected as one of fifty artists to create and exhibit work in response to a project called “Fifty Bees”, the aim of which is to illustrate the diversity of Britain’s bee population and their delicate ecosystems that are under serious threat. The range of work involved is diverse and collectively will aim to present an informative and stimulating conversation about these creatures. With my love of bees this opportunity aligns perfectly with my interests, whilst providing a challenge in the ways it could be approached. I think it is vital that more people are aware of just how important bees are to the ecology of the British Isles and what better way to share this message than with art?

The exhibition will take place in June this year at the Richard Jefferies Museum in Swindon.

 

How does your creative process work?

I have always found the initial stages of any project both exciting and daunting in equal measure. There is nothing scarier than a blank piece of paper, and I would sometimes find it agonising to make those initial marks and blemish the page, quite often being dissatisfied with the results; I struggled to do anything that wasn’t controlled. Then a few years ago, I received my partner’s sketchbook through the post and it changed my working practice forever. The sketchbook was an A5 concertina sketchbook, with one long single page folded in to smaller ‘pages’ that showed a continuous and developing piece of work when unfolded, rather than lots of individual pieces. No longer did I have to always start something fresh, but instead I simply carried on from where my partner had left off, quite often working back in to something from months ago. Everything was a work in progress, until you just knew it was done. I found this way of working liberating, and it has stuck with me ever since. When I began the Artist Teacher Scheme at Oxford Brookes University, the initial task to introduce us to our colleagues and lecturers was to present something that showed our inspirations and chosen method of working. I made a concertina sketchbook, which I began by punctuating the long strip with the work of artists and images I found inspiring. My self-imposed challenge was to then join these up in a seamless strip of colour, line, shape and pattern that moved from images of barnacles, skeletal structures and modern architecture to the work of Henry Moore, Derek Lerner and Ebon Heath. This sketchbook is A6 in size and is still going; I carry it with me at all times, along with my travel art kit, ready to create anytime and anywhere.

What materials could you not live without?

The list grows constantly but there are some key materials that I have with me at all times that I could not be without. Firstly my Rotring Tikky Pencil 0.35mm is my go to when starting any piece of work. I use diluted black Quink ink in a water brush pen, along with a mini travel set of Windsor and Newton Cotman watercolour paints when putting down any grounds or washes. Along with staedtler coloured pencils and fine liner pens, I use white gel pens and a large white marker pen to block out larger areas. When working on a larger scale I have started to experiment with lino printing on to clear sheets of plastic and then using sun sensitive papers to make a cyanotype print. My ‘toolkit’ adjusts to the style and scale of work I am producing, but these are definitely my go to materials.

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

I am a full time art and photography teacher, and in the past I have struggled to balance my school work, with more personal work. I find inspiration from the projects I create and the lessons I teach, and particularly the work my students produce in response. The school trips to galleries and museums, such as our annual pilgrimage to the Pitt Rivers museum in Oxford always furnish me with ideas also. More recently my own work has begun to direct the schemes of work I am producing for the classroom, with the development of more printmaking and large scale mixed media drawing and an ethos of making mistakes and responding positively to the unexpected has begun to be more common among my students. Pinterest is my initial source of inspiration (georginabruce), but I have recently begun to use instagram (gbruceart), which has been an unexpected source of inspiration in recent months. However, I find that my stronger and more substantial ideas come from simply playing with contrasting imagery in unusual ways, through collage or digital manipulation. Most recently maps and text have been of particular interest and I enjoy collecting and combining these elements to drive my ideas forward.

What is the best piece of creative advice you’ve been given?

It doesn’t need to be perfect, you need to make mistakes and get things wrong. Finding out all the ways something doesn’t work for you, gives you a better idea of exactly what it is you’re trying to do, and what is possible. I don’t know if this was advice I was given, or just something I learned over time. It was, however a lesson I needed to learn and something I am still endeavouring to do.

Practitioner Focus: Helen Scribbans

What creative project are you currently working on?

I am currently working on producing a range of Raku fired ceramic pieces readiness for Christmas craft fairs and galleries. All my work has had its first, bisque firing and I’m in the process of applying the Raku glazes. This is my least favourite part of the ceramic process, I think because I don’t see the results of the glaze until the Raku firing and also having had many glaze disasters in the past. I’m not a very confident painter and don’t feel like I am good with colour so I tend to stick to only 2 colours of glaze now; turquoise and white. I find limiting the colour palette stops me thinking too much about what colours to use! I’ll be glad when the glazing is done so I can get on with the exciting part  - the Raku firing. 

How does your creative process work?

I usually start with a shape I like and this is the most important aspect of my ceramics. This could be inspired by anything from a sculpture to a piece of clothing. I then try and adapt the shape to make a vessel out of clay. I really enjoy the construction or engineering of a piece of pottery which I think comes from my love of dressmaking. I get great satisfaction from fitting 2D pieces together to make 3D shapes. 

What tools or materials could you not live without?

Clay and my pottery tools.

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

I attend as many exhibitions, workshops and courses as I can and take inspiration from many different arts and crafts, especially 3D work. I also like looking at other people’s work to see how they have made something, then seeing if I can use that technique to fit in with my own work. I find that one art or craft informs another so as long as I am creating something, I rarely run out of ideas of what to make.

What is the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

Focus on one technique and do it well. 

Practitioner Focus: Ciara Gibson

What creative project are you currently working on?

I've recently changed my teaching contract from full time to 4 days a week to give me more space in the week for making. I've also started a series of short, weekly sessions locally for adults called 'Make Space, a chance to come together and make space in your week for making and playing. Taking on this role has encouraged me to think about how I use my time. I'm looking forward to being part of the Platform Perth festival next year and keen to do some mixed media work around mythical creatures and landscapes so I'm doing some prep for that.

How does your creative process work?

I’m not really one for planning things out. I love exploring ideas with different materials and then watching what unfolds. While I really enjoy figuring things out and playing, it can sometimes be a struggle to stay focused on the process rather than imagining what the end result will be. I am learning to be more mindful in my making.

My workspace is like an ongoing 3D sketchbook with all the various bits and pieces I'm working on scattered around and piled on top of each other.

What tools or materials could you not live without?

I’m rather obsessed with gelli plate printing and have been using the huge volume of prints I end up with to make all kinds of books and sew into landscapes.  I’m also really enjoying exploring free motion machine embroidery so I’d be lost without my sewing machine.

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

Living in Highland Perthshire I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by the most stunning landscapes.  Walking the dogs each day in all weathers gives me time to notice the changing seasons and I love thinking about the different pathways we take and the many repeated and familiar journeys we make over the year.

What is the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

Stop thinking and make! 

Practitioner Focus: Gemma Roche

What creative project are you currently working on?

Currently I am exploring the perception of conspiracy theories and observing how minds can be moulded by the media so that we accept things as fact. I am interested in the new term ‘fake news’, but I am also exploring how this has been documented in the past before this term was applied. I am exploring how society has responded to this using found images and song lyrics taken from American culture in the 1960’s and present day.

How does your creative process work?

I am inspired by artwork that encourages storytelling and documents the current world we live in. I am constantly on the lookout for images that I can use in my work. I attended an artist talk with Maurizio Anzeri at Baltic in 2011. He finds vintage photographs at car boot sales and is both saddened and inspired by the fact that these photographs have been abandoned when they may once have meant so much to someone. I love the idea of creating new personas of anonymous people and distorting the perception of the viewer by using thread, collage or text.
 

What tools or materials could you not live without?

I would be lost without typography! Stamps of various sizes, words cut out of newspapers, stickers and Letraset (which is sadly depleting). If I have a creative block I can always rely on a song lyric, a statement or quote to inspire my creative process.
 

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

I am privileged to work with a number of creative people in the north-east as part of NEATEN who work in both schools and galleries. They challenge me to alter my teaching and artistic practise depending on the projects I am involved with. For example, I am currently working on a project with Amnesty International where young people document a journey taken by refugees using poetry and photography, encouraging compassion and creativity. Artists and campaigners such as Shepard Fairey (‘I give people work to debate and dream about’) and Bob and Roberta Smith (‘Art is your human right’) exude peaceful yet powerful messages in their work which influence both my artistic and teaching practise. Using these influences in my art lessons in turn gives me creative inspiration. Seeing young people interpret art in ways I had never thought of encourages me to think differently.

What is the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

‘Don’t think about art, get it done’ Andy Warhol

Practitioner Focus: Carola Chambers

What creative project are you working on?

I appear to be in that 'pondering phase' at the moment, having finished one large canvas and mulling over ideas for the next piece of artwork.

The Sketchbook Circle has been monumental in this process and I am constantly grateful and energised by the ideas that develop from the exchanges. However, I can't imagine ever having enough time to develop them all!

I am also creating a series of 'art-in-a-box' projects, enabling primary school teachers to deliver stand-alone art lessons to their class. This should allow for all children in KS1 and KS2 in my school to access challenging and engaging art activities, regardless of the individual teacher's knowledge or expertise, as I am unable to work with all year groups in my school.

So, if any of you creative people out there have any suggestions or want to share your own personal experience of doing something similar, please get in touch.

How does your creative process work?

As mentioned, I mull over ideas and play around with materials and techniques before finished pieces begin to evolve.

Like many, time is the main issue, so I tend to work in the kitchen where I can be involved in family life, as I have 3 smallish children, and can spend snatched moments working on pieces whilst simultaneously cooking ( however, often the cooking part suffers as I get absorbed in what I'm creating art wise). But I often regard my materials as ingredients and can be dictated and inspired by them. So this location suits me: the kitchen is the hub of my creative environment. I also like to engage the senses by playing music which suits the mood of my work and if working in the evenings, wine and incense are often involved, adding to this sensory experience of making!

What materials and tools could you not live without?

Well, the Sketchbook Circle, obviously! 

Also, chunky graphite sticks, textiles and acrylic paint.  I like the tactile nature of my 'ingredients' and love combining and layering materials. During my involvement over the last 2 years in the Sketchbook Circle, I have really enjoyed exploring new techniques and processes.

I never thought I'd say this, but also technology. It really speeds up the design process, since my days in art school more than 20 years ago. Apart from playing music through it and researching lesson ideas for school, I use my I-pad to digitally play around with ideas and to record my work.

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

Everywhere!

I am very inspired by nature, colours and pattern and am lucky enough to live near fabulous forests which never fail to inspire. I am also excited by materials and textures of papers and fabrics. I must also acknowledge good old Pinterest for the ease to find visual inspiration and to access a world of amazing creators.

What is the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

It sounds corny but, "follow your heart" and "be true to yourself".

Sketchbook Circle Mail-outs

Monthly Postal Mail-outs

For the last two years Sketchbook Circle has offered a lovely, monthly, postal mail-out.  These mail-outs are intended to offer a bit of inspiration and to encourage the participants to be creative perhaps even sharing their artwork and ideas with others in the Sketchbook Circle community. Some of the mail-outs offer interesting materials to work with or unusual techniques and others are more focused on ideas.  It is always lovely to see our community sharing the things they have made in response to the mail-out (#sketchbookcircle).

We have had some fantastic, guest mail-out designers which has helped us to keep the mail-out varied and interesting.  We are always looking out for ideas!  So give us a shout if you would like to take a month over!  

The exciting news this year is that we have support from Great Art, which means that some of the mail-outs will include materials for you to try out.  However, there will still be the usual inspirations, ideas and prompts and other artist educators sharing ideas and experience.  

You don't have to be part of the circle to sign up for the mail-out!  Maybe you are keen to receive something lovely and inspiring through the post?  Maybe you could buy it for someone else as a gift?  

This year we are charging a little bit more which will allow us to develop the mail-outs further and enable us to afford slightly more for the contents of each per pack.

Take a look at the images of some of the mail-outs from the last two years but do get in touch if you have any other questions. 

Practitioner Focus: Amina Booth

What creative project are you currently working on?

In July I was getting fed up with how little effort my Year 13 students were putting into their personal investigation, I told them that as an artist this should be their dream opportunity to research and explore an issue they were interested in through art. One of them said ‘why don’t you do it then Miss?’ so I thought why not? So here I am doing a personal investigation on how colour impacts on an environment (I need a more exciting title!). I was sparked by the Favala painting project in Brazil, a project that transformed the aesthetic and the social psychology of the whole community.

How does your own practice impact on your work in the classroom?

Doing my own personal investigation has certainly kept the students on their toes, it’s prompted some interesting conversations and I think that the students like it when they can see that I’m unsure about where my project is heading. It makes them feel less anxious about not knowing what to do next with their own work and we can work through the creative blocks together.

How does your creative process work?

My creative journey usually starts with photographs, I love to travel and carry my camera where ever I go. I’m not a Photoshop expert but I do love experimenting with it, I’m a massive fan of layers so the next step in generally layering images and exploring colour combinations. I like to zoom in and crop sections so images become more abstract.

What tools or materials could you not live without?

I use my sewing machine as a drawing tool and I think because I’ve drawn with my sewing machine for so long it’s impacted on my hand drawing. I draw mostly using a continuous line I like the imperfections of a continuous line drawing I think it adds to the character of the drawing. Because of my love of layering I use acetate a lot in my work, its versatile material that I can draw onto, stich into, spray paint, print and photocopy on.

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

I never know how to answer this because I’m inspired by so many different things. Like most artists I notice beauty in ordinary objects which others may pass by; a rusty gate, a weathered wall, patterns in window reflections etc. I often go for a wander around Liverpool when I need some inspiration. Liverpool’s a city of contrasts between the old and the new and that’s one of the things I love about this colourful place. I use photography as a starting point and instead of recreating these photos back at home; I aim to capture their essence, expression and emotion, highlighting the different tones and layers.

Practitioner Focus: Dr. Emese Hall

What creative project are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on various small-scale projects, many involving textiles.  However, I’d really describe myself as an ‘ideas person’; I’m constantly designing projects in my head but not so many make it to fruition - often because my imagined projects would take unattainable time, space and resources to realise.  It was encouraging to recently notice that the sculptor Christo’s website has a section dedicated to ‘projects not realized’.   It’s never really occurred to me to use the Circle sketchbooks to document my mental projects, but maybe I should pursue this…!  These are a few of the projects that I have dreamt up: Ludmila’s Broken Tresses,  the title of which comes from BDC Pierre’s book Ludmila’s Broken English: a visual commentary  on the story of poor young Russian women who sell their beautiful, long blonde hair to be made into extensions for rich westerners;  (less deeply) Popcorn Poodle, a giant poodle made from popcorn: an homage to Jeff Koons’s Balloon Dog ; and (again connected to food – one of my favourite topics) The Grotto of Gluttony, based on Margate’s Shell Grotto, but instead of being decorated with shells, decorated with chocolates – which I think would make for a fun installation.  An extension of this would be to introduce a heat source and film the chocolate melting and the grotto’s collapse! 

How does your creative process work?

Over the summer, an artist friend in Cyprus was collecting examples of what people said made them happy - and I told her I was happiest when I’m making.  It really doesn’t matter what in particular; it’s the hands-on creative process that I relish.  As mentioned above, the creative projects I realise often tend to be small in scale, which is where I think my natural skill set lies.  I like to gather together bits and pieces and see what I can make from these that is pleasing – the same applies to much of my cooking as recipes typically annoy me!

What tools or materials could you not live without?

It’s hard to identify just one or two things.  Although I enjoy creating relatively simple artwork I like to have lots of different tools and resources to hand.  I have a dresser containing shoeboxes bursting with resources, which range from possible collage materials to paints, pens and pastels.   I also have bags and bags of fabric and ribbons etc.  Actually, I think I would find it impossible to live without fabric –not only do I love gorgeous patterns but I get excited about perfect colour combinations.  In addition to the mental projects listed above, I also have quite a collection of unrealized fabric designs that I really should get down on paper… 

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

There’s an acrostic I share with my students: ART = Always Right There.  My personal view is that everything you see about you in the environment can either be regarded as art or appreciated artistically.  This view makes life a rich experience, as even the most mundane place can hold/present appealing features.  I once saw an advert in a magazine where a wall was painted such a beautiful shade of blue I burst into tears!  I feel very lucky to have grown up in a home full of pattern and colour.  Both my parents are accomplished makers in different ways and their work inspires me.  I’m not the greatest risk-taker; therefore I would say that Picasso is a bit of hero as he was so very adventurous and massively prolific.  One of his quotes is:  I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.  That’s not me at all, but I would like it to be!

What is the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

Earlier this year I took part in a contemporary drawing workshop with my artist colleague and friend, Sara Dudman.  Sara made an excellent comment that really resonated with me, which was: ask yourself: are you your favourite artist yet?  I would say that on occasion I am one of my favourite artists but I do need to heed my own advice – again, something I tell my students: love your mistakes and learn from them.   

Practitioner Focus: Ben Meredith tells us about Running a Workshop

This year I made a decision to challenge myself and to say 'yes' to opportunities in teaching that may seem daunting. I had always assumed that delivering a session to teachers specifically would be difficult (just look around the room the next time you have internal CPD; see any grumpy faces, jaded broken educators?) I had anticipated a group that would demand I utilised all of my classroom management skills.

 
How wrong I was. On arrival I was greeted by a group of teachers from all over the UK who teach in a range of institutions. They were friendly, keen, and eager to share advice over a coffee and a very resourceful and receptive bunch. There was a sense that everyone in attendance appreciated having time to make - just because you teach art doesn't mean you have time to make any of your own. Delivering my session was so rewarding - a series of timed drawings that led to a collaborative piece based on 'portraits of feet'. It was a dream art class; every student could draw and not a mobile phone in sight.

 
I joined in all the other workshops over the weekend, so I got to play both teacher and student. The workshops were inspiring and have already played a part in my teaching sessions. That's amazing when you consider it was last week. I did not expect teachers to take up my lesson with verve and it's the greatest compliment that they have taught it in they're classrooms. The Facebook group once again proving a great place to network and share photos and insights.
 
I am hoping to take a group of students back to Bristol before Christmas as The Arnolfini is a great venue. I also hope to attend more Sketchbook Circle workshops and to deliver another workshop if they'll have me. 

 
In my opinion your employer should pay for you to attend this CPD - it's so much better than the death by PowerPoint they wheel out every year. The content of the workshops will make my life easier not harder. 
 
During the weekend I encountered zero grumpy jaded faces, just lovely creative faces belonging to people who love art and yearn for the days when they went to Art College.
 

Practitioner Focus: Penny Prileszky

Tell us about your work.

I stumbled into teaching straight after completing my BA in Fine Art in 2002, so lost touch with my own practice for a few years, while new routines and responsibilities took over. My creativity found its outlet through my pupils’ work, and I found this to be both rewarding and frustrating in equal measures.

This is my third Sketchbook Circle, and I have noticed that with each collaboration, my work is becoming more adventurous, and I am experimenting more widely with media and techniques.

Although I am currently exploring mixed media, I don’t think I have a particular style or trademark in my work. Even when I was doing my BA, I allowed things to evolve with every new stimulus, responding with whatever materials felt appropriate at the time.

I prefer to create without the restrictions of specialism, media or style, and the Circle allows me to continue working in this way, which in turn, keeps me inspired.

What creative project are you currently working on?

I like to work in series, and some of the pages I have created in the book I share with Yvette are developing into an independent project based around medieval illuminated manuscripts. I originally studied Graphic Design, back in the day, so my love for hand rendered letterforms has returned as a major influence on this body of work.

My collaboration with Suzanne is leading me back to pattern formations and textures, with a more vivid colour palette, and this has led to a series of embellished lino printed postcards, two of which were auctioned recently for NEATEN.

My ‘in progress’ project is another collaboration, this time with my eldest son, Joe. I am responding to his photographic portraits, and although the project is in its very early stages, the long-term plan is to exhibit our work together.

How does your creative process work?

I don’t have much space to work at home, so working in a sketchbook or on smaller pieces suit both the space and time I currently have available.

Working within a given timescale has been highly beneficial; I need structure and deadlines to motivate me, and this has helped me to claim time regularly to make my work.

In my collaborations, I never plan a response until I have seen the work of my sketchbook partner. This keeps the ‘flow’ authentic, and gives me the intensity of thinking/response time I need to be at my most creative. I usually spend 4-5 days just looking at the work, and thinking, before committing to an idea or thread. I then set aside a block of 2-3 days, or the equivalent in evenings, to make, present and collate the work. Quality, uninterrupted time is important, so I need to plan it in advance.

I need to immerse myself completely in whatever creative process I choose to utilise; I find it both meditative and rewarding. I am happy to not have a ‘default’, or ‘go to’ style, as this challenges me.

Having spent so many years worrying about the meaning behind my work, it is refreshing to have the freedom to create work just for the sheer joy of making. The Circle has encouraged me to experiment without fear, to explore the many influences that feed my practice, and to recognise and acknowledge recurring threads. Ideas conceived specifically for the Circle are often developed further into more resolved collections of work, but the starting point is always a sketchbook.

What tools or materials could you not live without?

A sharp scalpel, Derwent Studio coloured pencils, acrylic paints, embroidery silks, and my printer.

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

I live in a beautiful part of the country, I work with some incredibly talented colleagues and young people, and surround myself with like-minded creatives whenever I can. This makes it easy for ideas to emerge, and I always have a list of projects I’d like to get started, if time and space were not such an issue.

I seek out patterns; in nature, in the urban environment, and I am fascinated by anything that plays to my sense of nostalgia. Textiles, wallpaper and ornaments from the ‘70s appeal to my love of kitsch, and while they don’t always directly inform my work in terms of subject matter, there are often colour combinations or motifs that I will lift and reinvent.

I love typography; fairground signs, hand drawn letterforms, vintage advertisements, and these often pop up in my work. I like to work on found or manipulated surfaces, so I can often be found mooching around boot sales or charity shops, looking for interesting starting points.

My local Art College is a reliable source of inspiration, and I often pop in on my way home from school to spy on my ex-pupils!

Pinterest is also a very close friend, and we have spent many long hours together.

What is the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

I am privileged to have been taught drawing by the late Osi Rhys Osmond, during my Foundation Course, and then later during my BA. He was such an inspiring artist and tutor, with so much wisdom and advice. His mantra, however, was always ‘Draw what you see, not what you think is there’, and I often find myself repeating his words in the classroom to my own students.

Practitioner Focus: Amanda Duke

Fleeting Moments

Tell us about your work

Dropping from Arts Faculty Leadership to 0.6 p/t teaching three years ago allowed me to immerse myself into making my own work again. Joining the Sketchbook circle has been really helpful in making sure I keep going and it is keeping me connected with others across the country who are juggling their lives and their time yet are determined to make their own creativity a priority. In addition I have had a joint residency opportunity over the last year with Emma Taylor at Sussex Prairies, an RHS partner garden in West Sussex. This has culminated in an exhibition entitled ‘Fleeting Moment’ which continues until mid October this year.

I have discovered that having deadlines to work to is key. Responsibility to others helps me to keep going and makes sure I meet challenges in my own work. I have gradually become confident enough to call myself a mixed media and textile artist and believe that collaging and assembling materials whether paper or fabric based is at the core of everything I want to make. In the sketchbook circle books I can see an annual increase in my ability to loosen up and to work without fear. In my residency work I have built a body of work which includes 5 series each containing 6 works. A series of photographs recording shadow play in pressed leaves from the garden. A set of screen print collages where I have assembled pre prepared coloured papers, personal photographs, and drawing materials onto screen printed backgrounds. A series of plant dyed fabrics which have been arranged and layered before drawing and embellishing with running stitches. An installation which shows the different experimental processes I have researched and practiced and various journals which show another record of my residency journey. The residency has given me a unique and vital opportunity to make the commitment to making my own work again, explore new ways of working and engage in subject matter which has become extremely important to me.

I have responded instinctively to the prairie surroundings. Collecting and preserving plant life has been continuous and led to research into natural dye processes, recording through photographs, notes and sketches, leaf rubbings and teaching myself screen printing. I have been mixing a variety of materials onto cotton rag paper and cotton and silk fabrics. Outcomes in stitch, print based media and collage reflect a sustained interest in the changes that occur in a garden across a year. My aim has been to capture the very essence of the plants, the impressions left through the changing seasons and the warmth and light of the summer sun in an attempt to re-create a sense of the Sussex Prairie Garden.

What creative process are you currently working on?

A life time fear of dyeing fabric was cracked 3 years ago when I taught myself how to dye with indigo. With lots of practise with the Shibori dye process I became fascinated in learning more about different ways of dyeing fabric. The residency gave me the opportunity to work with nature through the garden plants. Collecting and foraging has been a real feature of the last year. Taking rubbings from leaves, hammering colour out of leaves and flowers, bundling leaves into fabric, steaming and simmering the bundles revealed some real possibilities. I have had to complete a lot of research through reading, watching You Tube videos and talking to local people with fabric dyeing experience to find out more about the process. I am becoming proficient at scouring and mordanting fabric with Allum (a preparation process to ensure that the dye is colour and light fast) and most of my work has involved Ecoprinting. (Contact printing leaves straight onto fabric through bundling, tieing, steaming or simmering in water). My next quest will be to extend my mordanting knowledge by using copper and wood ash in preparation for dyeing and also using modifiers to alter the colours after dyeing.

How does your creative process work?

I work in ranges and series all of the time and have at least 3 -4 series on the go continuously. This way of working helps me to keep an experimental approach going. Rather than invest all my attention in one ‘masterpiece’ I float from one series to another. When I return to a series I have a fresh eye, see the work differently and adapt and alter the works. I put a series away for a while and get on with another series and then put tthose few works away. I find that distancing myself from the work in between helps me to see the works objectively when I return to them later. Making all these works part of a journey, an ongoign process has helped me to build confidence in what I am doing. If one work fails it matters less and I can rip it apart and rebuild it without worrying or feeling a failure. Happy accidents occur along the way too which again helps build confidence.

What tools or materials could you not live without?

Masking tape, PVA glue, knife, paper scissors, fabric scissors, a range of black and white drawing media. Various ways of making colour such as ink, acrylic paint, pigments and selectasine for screen printing and embroidery cotton for drawing. Silk, wool and cotton fabric, plant life for making marks and colour on fabric.

Where do you search for creative inspiration?

I make intuitive responses to things that I have observed around me, first hand, and then I search for creative inspiration within the artworks themselves. Sussex Prairies residency has given me my subject matter. I am now moving into my own garden for inspiration.

What is the best piece of creative advice you have been given?

When I was 16 years old my father said to me: “ if you want to be an artist it will be your job to reveal to others what they cannot see themselves, you will have to find that angle, that viewpoint in things that no-one else has shown us yet.” This conversation has stayed with me as a lasting memory of my father who died when I was 20. He has never left my side whilst I am making things and in my attempts to reveal to others what it is I find interesting about the visual world and my attempts to communicate this to others.

When I was 18 years old my art teacher Harman Sumray shared a quote with the class from American Author and poet Carl Sandburg “ I don’t know where I am going but I know I am on my way”. This phrase was a great revelation to me at that early point in my life. The realization that whatever I do in my life and that whatever I try to create it will not be the finished article, that leading a creative life will be a continuous journey of reflection, curiosity, reflection, more experiences, reflection and more making searching for an unknown destination. I am loving this renewed immersion into my making my own work and believe that I will continue my journey. I hope to keep connected with the sketchbook circle, a great way to keep things going.

Digital Circle Practitioner Focus #2: Wendy Copeland

Tell us a bit about yourself

I went to Glasgow School of Art, got a BA Hons Embroidered & Woven Textiles. I didn't really do the fabric thing, much to their disgust and my joy, as I made latex and ceramic heads, all based on the distorted portraits of my friends and family, how I really saw them!

Then I was meant to have a job with Jim Henson, alas the recession came. Ended up being a community art tutor and doing loads of art clubs for social services and SEN adults in galleries. I completely loved working with SEN, so decided to train as a teacher, which eventually led me to working in the North East of England in a SEN school. The first couple of years of teaching, I still managed to have exhibitions around the UK, also finding time to learn Photography (darkroom) and continue to develop my love of Life Drawing.

Years later, we (now husband and I) decided to pack it all in and go travelling, much to my dad’s complete and utter horror! After an amazing time out, seeing and experiencing awesome places and meeting life time pals, we decided it was time to come back to the land of reality and work (plus it kept my dad happy!)

Sucked back into the world of teaching, my own art work was pretty non-existent, just loads of demo/samples for work - ended up being a "jack of all trades".

Eventually, and I really don't know why I didn't hear about it sooner, I discovered NEATEN and NSEAD, this opened doors up into a whole new way of working/thinking, and most importantly my work/life balance. I started to think about attempting to make my own work again and this is where I first heard about Sketchbook Circle. So last year, I decided it would be good to have a challenge and work small and push myself into the unknown world of collaboration. Unfortunately one of my partnerships completely broke down right at the beginning, but luckily the other one was successful and we managed to develop a good creative conversation.

I am now about to start my 24th year of teaching, and I can honestly say that I feel revitalised, and would now consider myself to be known as an artist teacher. That is all down to being involved with NEATEN, NSEAD and of course sketchbook circle, which has allowed me to bring experimental fun back into my own art practice.

What / who do you use as inspiration for your work?

Basically, anything that is around me may be used for inspiration. This digital circle started with photographs of my trainers and pavements, which I thought was a good excuse for breathing stops as I am doing some running challenges this year. It has further developed on into street and urban landscapes and just recently influenced by a Radiohead gig I was recently at.

I regularly carry my camera around and recently just got a Lomography fisheye (film), which has allowed me to experiment with double exposure. This has then led me back into the darkroom to experiment further with more alternative photography techniques.

How long have you been working with digital processes, and what brought you to it?

Having recently just started teaching GCSE Photography, I knew that I would need to brush up on my Photoshop skills (digital darkroom), fed up being one step ahead of my pupils. So, when the opportunity got announced to do a digital circle, I decided that I would give myself a challenge and branch out into the unknown world of digital and tackle my lack of digital/computer skills.

Do you have favourite apps/software/hardware that you use?

I've mainly been using my laptop with Adobe Photoshop for most of this circle(iPad at the side with YouTube on). I have found the "help sheets" that Georgia has sent out to be extremely useful. Completely loved experimenting with glitches, especially when you just press play and Photoshop just does everything for you, seriously really clever!

I have just got the Procreate app, under Sarah's recommendation and hopefully will find some time this summer to experiment with this.

How has the digital circle impacted on you and your work?

Like I said earlier, it has brought the experimental fun back into my own art work, at times a cheeky glint in the eye when showing and speaking with my pupils about what I am doing. They have loved being involved in some of the work, happily posing with images over their faces. I am really fortunate to be working with Sarah, as this has also helped to push me out of my comfort zone and made me attempt to be more creative and experimental.

Does a digital project change the nature of collaboration?

For this circle, I have not purely just worked with digital, I have ended up using sewing, sculpting and adding wax into some of my digital images. I have found that we (Sarah and I) have been able to creatively bounce off each other, either being influenced by our use of images, colour or shape to help to develop a natural flow of work. The only thing that is different is how you send your work, but after getting advice, I worked out that Slack was good platform to use.

Digital Circle Practitioner Focus #1: Sarah Wills Brown

Tell us a bit about yourself

I have taught art in secondary schools, in both London and Oxfordshire since 1993. For the last six years I have taught in a prep school which is certainly very different to just teaching teenagers! I have always maintained the discipline of keeping sketchbooks throughout my teaching career, combining this with a love of mono printing and drawing. Over the last two years I have begun the process of focusing more on my own artistic practice, and this September will see me starting an MA in Art Education at Oxford Brookes University. This has been my first year taking part in Sketchbook Circle.

Background:

When I did my degree in Graphic Design, it was the late 1980s and I had a real phobia around computers. What is really funny is that at the time I somehow convinced myself that I didn’t have the time to sit and learn how to use the software; to be honest it was all a bit scary.

Discipline:

I make mixed media drawings. I am interested in the flow and rhythm of line and am fascinated with the layers evident in architectural and plant structures, as well as in the landscapes around me. I love things which are broken, discarded, fading or faded, invisible to the human eye, or lying dormant, just beneath the surface. I am drawn to the textural qualities of peeling paint, rusting surfaces and decaying timbers. I explore these themes through a combination of photography, print, drawing and more recently digital techniques.

What / who do you use as inspiration for your work?

I live near Shotover Hill where my daily walks, combined with regular visits to both The Ashmolean and The Pitt Rivers in Oxford, provide plenty of visual inspiration and thought. I love the crossover between Art and Science and really admire Andy Lomas’ digital ‘Aggregation’ works, which are truly inspiring.

How long have you been working with digital processes, and what brought you to it?

I remember seeing David Hockney’s exhibition, A Bigger Picture in 2012. Walking into a room full of his stunning digital drawings was truly inspiring and this really stuck with me. I have played with digital drawing now, on and off for a couple of years. But it wasn’t until a collaboration in Oct 2015 on Twitter, between myself and artist teacher Karen Wicks, that I really began to start exploring the possibilities of working digitally so that it could feed back into my own drawing practice. It was important for me to find a way of mark-making which was similar to physical drawing, so that has meant trialling many different apps. I will also be involved in another digital collaboration with Karen on Twitter for #drawingaugust. This year like last, we will play drawing tennis on a daily basis, starting off with one image which will fly backwards and forwards between us as we manipulate, draw into and over, erase and add to, over the course of the month.

Do you have favourite apps / software / hardware that you use?

Procreate and Sketches are my ’go to’ apps. I tend to start in one and then flick backwards and forwards between the two, then into Photoshop to manipulate images further. I have been playing with the whole Adobe suite for Digital Circle, and have recently been making some brushes of my own, using Adobe Capture.

How has the digital circle impacted on you and your work?

The discipline of responding to and ensuring that I have something worthwhile to share with my partner Wendy has had a very positive impact on my own practice. Juggling this with teaching full time, certainly helps focus my creativity! As the year is progressing, I am finding that I am using my iPad alongside my sketchbook much more to record my surroundings, thoughts and ideas. I can easily take a drawing, add a photo or other texture on top, change the colourway, crop and manipulate and then draw into the layers further. It is also a great excuse to try out more apps. The flexibility, adaptability and the opportunity to try things, make mistakes and start again, reuse areas or work back into layers is really opening up a much looser approach in my work. This is now happily feeding into my mixed media pieces.

Does a digital project change the nature of collaboration?

I don’t think a digital project changes the nature of collaboration as long as you are working with someone who challenges, inspires and communicates their thought process with you. I think this is the real key to a successful collaboration. I have also found the month-long process to be a flexible one, as at times I have been able to get started almost straight away, giving me time to really think about my response, and other months due to time constraints it has needed to be a quick response, making the whole process adaptable. The digital work is only ever an email away from my partner and we have both worked hard to get our responses to each other by the very beginning of each month. For myself, posting an actual sketchbook each month would have been too much of a challenge. I am loving the virtual sketchbook Wendy and I are creating and we plan to print it when finished!