https://www.notjusthockney.info/gwynn-anita/
I've been added to this Bradford website. Click on the link for a potted history!
Musings on our connection with nature. Monotypes, drawings, collographs, collage. Wildflowers. Garden. Lovely places. Be grateful to the world.
https://www.notjusthockney.info/gwynn-anita/
I've been added to this Bradford website. Click on the link for a potted history!
My artistic practice focuses on
drawing and printmaking. I build up the
print in layers, sometimes using collagraphs and stencils.
My work is process led; I am often
pleasantly surprised with the marks I have made. I prefer it this way because I am referencing
our connection with the natural world, which, as we know is never consistent or
rigid.
I started drawing flowers a few years
back. I found a collection of pressed flowers at my old home, that my mother
had made. I made a few monoprints referencing
this collection and from there I started thinking about real, live flowers. Now
I am excited about the allotment that I have recently acquired. It’s full of
apple trees, it’s full of dappled light in the sunshine. Hopefully, it’s full of potential! I want my
art to be joyful, which is how I feel when I go there. I hope people feel the
same way when they look at my work.
At the heart of this, there is also the worry that this will not always be here, because of the lack of awareness of how we relate to the land. I wonder if people realise that if we had no worms or no bees, then we wouldn’t have food. Without plants, we wouldn’t survive.
As I say… onwards and upwards.
I had been on the Allotment waiting list since before I moved to Bradford. As soon as I had an address I joined the list. Then of course, I forgot about it. Last year, I was planting things in my friend's allotment, but mostly it was a rather disheartening experience. Rain and more rain, slugs and more slugs, obviously encouraged by the rain. Late Spring and therefore late flourishing of seedlings. At the end of this, I thought, if they offer me an allotment, I'm going to say no. Not long after I had this thought, I suddenly got an email offering me an allotment.
So last August I moved into no 21 on the Heaton Allotments. It was completely overwhelming. It hadn't been worked on for a couple of years and so the weeds were as high as me. But mostly it was the very large shed, that some nutter had already tried to burn down that was troublesome. I ummed and ahhed about how I was going to get rid of this. I imagined I would have to take it all to the dump, which would take weeks. But!! On August 25th, a friend made a huge bonfire and that was that dealt with! I can’t ever say how grateful I am for the help I got from Mandee, Dunc and Conrad during these first few weeks. Not to mention George and Brigit who then took a chainsaw to the privet hedge.
Once the willowherb was pulled up and the shed had gone, I started chopping back.. I couldsee there were apple trees but had no idea that there were about 10 different apple trees, labelled with the varieties. Mostly...some of the labels have disappeared.
It was a lovely Autumn and I spent a few days up at the Allotment, in the sunshine, with my sketchbook. I am now working on some monoprints from these drawings. I'm finding I like the work in my sketchbook much more! There's something about the light and shade I love. The sun dappled drawings reminds me of warmer days.
Well it was a bit rainy. What do you expect from a July Monday in 2024?! But the plants didn't disappoint! I took Nicola along, who loves a bit of moss. And this is moss heaven. I won't say much here, I'm merely using this as a reminder, a diary, a record of what I've been up to. I love mosses and lichen.
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Cave spiders. They were relocated. You can look inside. Couldn't see spiders but could see these egg cases. At least I think that's what they are. Very beautiful. |
Here are some of the pictures I had on the wall at 10 Albert Terrace for The Saltaire Art's Trail 2024.
It was a lovely positive experience and I had some great conversations with people who were enthusiastic about my work. It's easy to lose your self confidence when you're working alone, in the studio. But..... I think I feel more comfortable with myself after this weekend! I sold some, which is great, and covered the ever increasing cost of framing. A friend sent a picture of an artwork, already up on their kitchen wall. Great to know people are enjoying my work!
I had a few conversations with people who are interested in gelli printing workshops, and stupidly, didn't collect email addresses. So gwynnita@gmail.com is the place to tell me if you are interested.
I've been on a few great walks round Malham Tarn. It's an unusual mossy raised bog next to the, also unusual glacial lake, which is one of only eight alkaline lakes in the UK. The water doesn't sink into the ground because during the ice-age, the glacier scraped away the rock right down to the slate, which is impermeable. This has created a great habitat for lots of plants you wouldn't really see. I went early March and could see the lovely moss growing, lots of really interesting lichen around and the beginnings of new growth. I need to go again, next week probably, so I can check out the progress of these lovely flowers.
Anyhoo.... I am showing some of the drawings that I have made in response to this place at the Saltaire Arts Trail this weekend. I shall be in 10 Albert Terrace, Saltaire on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. 4/5/6 May. 10-5. They'll be LONG days so do drop in and chat and maybe have a bit of lemon drizzle cake and a cup of tea.
Last summer the Marsh cinquefoil, Bog asphodel and the Bogbean was in abundance. There are so many other plants, but you can't draw everything! This summer I might concentrate on some of the other plants that are there.
Here is a page or two from my sketchbook.
And here again is the advert on Instagram for my location:
27th April I will be at The People Powered Press in Saltaire for Heritage Print Experience Day. You can pop in and have a go at Letterpress (on the largest letterpress in the country), lino printing (with Koot) and gelli printing with me.
https://www.thepeoplepoweredpress.org/whats-on/heritage-print-experience-day
The 'submerged sunrise of wonder'. How wonderful is that?!
Just seen this article on the wonderful Marginalian.