project 3 DRAWING

Project 3 Drawing

Sue, Elizabeth and Jean

The 3rd challenge was a drawing project based on Little Moreton Hall where we had spent a very enjoyable sunny day sketching, taking photographs and absorbing the beautiful building.  I set the challenge to encourage further investigation and possibly new ways of thinking. One drawing was to be monotone, the second a change of scale and the third to was to use non typical drawing materials and avoid a paper background.  

As with all the challenges we have done, it was a delight to see the results and how we had all explored the subject in our own way.  Sometimes we need to be pushed out of our comfort zones and encouraged to challenge ourselves. 

Bridget, Shirley, Shosh and Grazyna

It was a good challenge, everyone enjoyed it and hopefully some of the ideas will be carried further.

Sue has set the next one called 'Construction' .......now what can be done with the collection of items in the plastic wallet???  Jen

The Importance of Drawing

Much of my own work immediately after C&G was based on machine embroidery which is why I was particularly keen to see Sue Rangeley's exhibition, 'Fashioned with Stitch' currently at the Silk Museum, Macclesfield.

Meet the Artist

Demonstrations by Sue Rangeley

at

'Fashioned with Stitch'

The Macclesfield Silk Museum

June 22nd 2-4pm

a special event within the Sue Rangeley exhibition

Museum entrance charge includes the exhibition

info from sue.rangeley@btinternet.com

The exhibition is beautifully curated by Sue, bringing to the attention the importance of drawing prior to any textile work.  Without necessarily aiming for the 'perfect image' drawing is a time to observe, absorb and record; a personal response.  The expressive marks made can then be interpreted with stitch.

Sue Rangeley is a very accomplished, botanical watercolourist  and the information she gathers through careful observation is translated in her sensitive textile designs and colour palette.  A simple buttercup is never 'just yellow'!  Spools of Madeira threads hint at the number of colours she must use to achieve her rich surfaces.

Drawing sessions are important to us as a group and over the summer months we have plans to visit FLETCHER MOSS Botanical Gardens in Didsbury, Manchester.  No doubt we will be mesmerised by the plants but the aim is to look beyond the obvious, enjoy the process and above all have fun!  Jen

'Fashioned with Stitch' runs until 20th July 2013

www.silkmacclesfield.org.uk

01625 613210/612045

Jerwood Drawing Prize 2011

Have you been to any of the annual exhibitions that come under the umbrella of 'Jerwood, Visual Arts'?
Sue has recently visited the Jerwood Drawing Prize 2011 exhibition at the newly opened, Coventry Lanchester Gallery and would like to share her thoughts.

'This wonderful space is showing the contemporary drawings of 60 artists, selected from over 3,500 entries.  The Jerwood Drawing Prize is the UK's largest and longest running open prize for drawing and never fails to promote the ongoing, creative interpretation of the word 'drawing'.

The work varies in scale and content and as always does not disappoint in terms of quality, imaginative interpretation and media used.  Every kind of method is in evidence from painstaking Photorealism, gestural mark making to drawing by machine.   Styles also vary from classical portraiture, geometric abstraction, detailed diagrams and even include writing.  The creative use of media is also inspiring, ranging from hand made books, collage, prints, film and embroidery.

Such a wealth of both minimal and complex drawings really did excite me.  Exquisite pencil drawn tree studies, complex cut-out grid patterns, optical illusion drawing of staples in paper, gestural abstract prints to a beautiful piece called 'Withdrawn' where the threads have been removed from a found garment and only holes remain - leaving a hint of what was.

The exhibition finished in Coventry at the end of March but the next venue is the Burton Museum and Art Gallery, Bideford, Devon.'
Visit the website http://www.jerwoodvisualarts.org/ for more information including an online catalogue.