Wall at Spode

Posted on September 30, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Bricks, China Halls, Colour, History, Photos, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

This is a wall in the China halls in Spode. Water has got in and damp is creeping up the wall. The fire extinguisher and bracket is long gone but the signs remain. I love the red and green contrasting colours, and it’s clear where the wall has been rebuilt or pointed and the scars of its life, like scars on a face. The dereliction is like an aging body, cracking and damaged.

I love flaking paint, brickwork and seeing the history written in the structure. I love taking photos of it and trying to paint it.

Exhibition closed

Posted on September 29, 2019September 29, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Closed, Exhibition ending, Friendly, Gallery, Life, Longport, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Waiting room galleryLeave a comment

After extending my exhibition at the Waiting room gallery it finished today. I’ve collected the paintings and one at least is going to a new home.

It was a pleasure to work with Frank Foy and Allison Dias who run the gallery. Despite unforseen problems they were very helpful and I look forward to working with them again.

The waiting room gallery is welcoming to artists, it is reasonably priced and they have good knowledge of art. Visit if you can.

Craft fair

Posted on September 29, 2019September 29, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged #market_@_48, Art, Craft fair, Eleanora street, Fun, Potbank Hotel, Spode, Staffordshire, Violin, Weather2 Comments

Well, it rained. As you can see from the photos. Even so it was good to do the craft fair at spode today. I met some lovely people who were very helpful despite the fact I was having a bad morning. I’d arrived after very little sleep and getting up later than I intended.

It was lovely to hear classical music being played by a violinist, he was really good. Sadly I didn’t get his name.

I didn’t do that well. I don’t know if I was too close to the door, or if my art was not trendy enough. I sold a few things and some people took cards with my details on. I am shattered but happy. I may not have made a fortune, but made some good friends.

Owlet

Posted on September 28, 2019September 28, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Bird, Craft fair, Life, Market@48, Owl, Owlet, Painting, Potbank cafe, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent3 Comments

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I think this is my last painting for the craft fair, I’m getting too tired. This owlet was on a calendar and I couldn’t resist painting it. I think it is so cute. X

I find painting feathers and fur difficult. You can’t paint every strand of hair, tuft of fur, or every feather but if I can get a good impression of the details, that will have to do.

Lots of pictures

Posted on September 28, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, Craft, Painting, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

Yes, these are all paintings I did over the last few days. Some are tiny, some are small and some medium sized. These are for my craft stall for tomorrow at the Hotel on Spode Site. I hope people come in and enjoy what will be on display and for sale. There are a lot of quality crafts and art which will be there.

I guess I had better get back to work and finish off what I’m doing.

Brown Betty

Posted on September 27, 2019September 27, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Bread in common, British ceramic biennial, Cherished Chimneys, Coffee morning, Longport, Macmillan, Spode, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Waiting room gallery2 Comments

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I got this Brown Betty teapot from Cherished Chimneys in Longport in Stoke-on-Trent. Its a traditional shape and colour. Apparently they keep tea warm for longer.

Cherished Chimneys have a teapot exhibition in their building (they actually mainly sell reclaimed chimneys) we had fun choosing the teapot from them.

We had been in the Waiting room gallery across the road at a Macmillan coffee morning to raise funds for their cancer care support work. A very good cause. Then we went to Bread in common, an artistic cafe that bakes bread and also cooks vegetarian food on a Fridays. Then to the British Ceramic Biennial in the afternoon. All in all a very busy day.

Then when we got home I did a few more tiny paintings, but that’s another story….

Flat back pottery

Posted on September 27, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, British ceramic biennial, China Halls, Clay, Design, Fun, Life, Pottery, Spode site, Staffordshire, Stoke, Stoke-on trentLeave a comment

The British Ceramic Biennial has some hands on workshops that are free and open to the public. Last week I made a flat back pot using a mold of a boat with Donald Trumps head in profile and a pair of boots walking in the other direction. There is also a lion with a union jack, a monkey, and other figures and plants. There are other pots shown above. Each of them has been designed by an artist, so they are possibly controversial, maybe a bit tongue in cheek.

Today I painted glaze on my pot that had been fired. I didn’t remember to take a photo of it, but I have taken photos of some of the larger pieces now they have finally been fired.

I’m glad I had a go, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Sold, autumn vase.

Posted on September 22, 2019September 22, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Art, Autumn vase, Friends, Longport, Painting, Sold, ST6 4ND, Staffordshire, Still life, Vase, Waiting room gallery4 Comments

Today was going to be the last day of my exhibition. But two things have happened. My painting ‘autumn vase’ has sold, and they have extended it till next weekend. The gallery is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to about 5pm.

Best of all I saw lots of friends there today as I was there so people could ‘meet the artist’ lots of cups of tea and chatting ensued. Many ideas and plans were discussed. My head is spinning but I had a great time. The gallery is so helpful and friendly.

Final day of solo show

Posted on September 21, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Acrylic on canvas, Animal, Art, Design, Eclectic, Green man, Landscape, Longport, Paintings, Solo show, Staffordshire, Stoke-on trent, Waiting room galleryLeave a comment

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My final solo show day at the waiting room gallery is tomorrow, 22nd September 2019. Its open from 12noon to I think 5pm.

Im hoping people that couldn’t get to the opening will come along tomorrow.

It’s near Longport Station (which is being restored) and is a great new artist led gallery. I’m hoping to sort out some prints with them so they will have artwork for sale with them after the show has ended.

So that’s The Waiting Room Gallery, Longport, ST6 4ND. Maybe see you there. x

Dust Rising 19

Posted on September 21, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, BCB, British ceramic biennial, Ceramics, Day trip, Design, Dust 19, Dust Rising, Painting, Pottery, Staffordshire, Staffordshire University, Stoke, Stoke-on trent, VisitLeave a comment

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Dust rising (or Dust 19) is a group show by artists being held at Spode alongside the British ceramic biennial which is currently on till mid October.

This is me with one of the plates that have been created out of transfer prints. (if you look over my left shoulder the green patterns on the window are where the image comes from).

It’s amazing what’s going on here. We might be a bit down in the dumps but Stoke-on-Trent is so full of creativity. There is still a full time Fine Art course at Staffordshire University which is quite unusual in the current economic climate.

Stoke-on-Trent is situated in the middle of beautiful countryside. You can’t complain if you want places to visit.

So I guess what I’m saying is come visit!

Mallaband-Brown

Tag: Staffordshire