April has been lovely. Saltaire Art's Trail mentioned too. May 24/25/26

My allotment has become very important to me this Spring!  I mean, once you start, you have to look after it and if you want to keep it, you need to look as if you're working on it and actually growing stuff.  Luckily, it's been a gorgeous April and I have spent a lot of time up there.  I have been blessed with lots of apple trees and they are now coming into glorious blossom.  I have made a pond to attract and help wildlife and it's all starting to look more like mine, rather than somebody else's.  Of course, it did belong to somebody else before me and they did a fantastic job, so I kind of owe it to them to look after it.  

Sometimes I take my sketchbook up there and it's lovely to sit in the sun and draw.  It's a good way to document this time in my life too. 

Broad beans and raspberry canes.  Not sure what the currant bush is yet.  We will see.... blackcurrant or whitecurrant?

So it's not surprising that some of my new work is based around growing and the new space I find myself in.  You will be able to view this new work at the Saltaire Art's Trail, where I will be on 24/25/26th May at 5 Higher School Street, Saltaire.    More about this nearer the time, but get it in your diaries! 

Meanwhile here is a new monotype/collograph:  Greenhouse with Nettles.  It's at the framers and I might change the title yet. 

Bradford based artist webpage.

 https://www.notjusthockney.info/gwynn-anita/

I've been added to this Bradford website.  Click on the link for a potted history!

Quick update.

 

Been trying out watercolour monoprinting, Rudbekia on the right here. Thinking of doing a series of these over the next week.  I have also been using the press to make some prints inspired by the apple trees on the allotment (left).  I have a number of things on the go in the studio and will be working hard for the Saltaire Arts Trail again this year.  May 24/25th this year.  

Lots of ideas, just need to get on with them!

Updated Artist's statement (with a slightly irritated tone!)

 

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.

 

 

The Allotment

 

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.  

In December I finally had the apple trees pruned.  Fruitworks Co-op came from Leeds and I discovered that the trees were cordoned (planted at a 45 degree angle, which allows for more trees to be planted. I have Bismark, Newton Wonder, Russet, Lord Derby, Reverend Wilks, Avalon Pride, Katja and a couple of others which I am not sure about.

I always had a slight fancy about having an orchard and now it looks like I have one. Gosh…. careful what you wish for as they say. I can’t wait for the blossom to start appearing.

Now I'm looking forward to the blossom.  

NOTICING - It's very green in January!

Lots has been written about winter. About getting through the dark, short days and about ways to overcome the

, sometimes dispiriting darkness.  Words such as 'hygge' are thrown about and how to cope if you suffer from lack of sunlight.  Well I suggest - go outside! Not just go outside either - notice things.    

A couple of things have made this winter easier for me. Firstly I was given an allotment in August and secondly we have had marvellous snow!  We have had fog, inverted mists over the valleys, deep snow and crisp, icy blue skies.  After years of winters in London under grey, almost, seasonless skies, it has been great to experience a proper winter.  When you are living in a place that seems not to have seasons, it's easy to become disconnected from the land and you forget to notice the subtle changes as the year moves round and the loveliness that happens despite the concrete and pavements.   

This week, I was lucky enough to go for a walk in the Dales.  We walked along the River Wharfe, through Strid Woods. This is very damp and becomes almost a temporal rain forest.  The trees are hanging with moss, ferns and lichen.  

I walked down to Heaton Woods in the snow and found catkins.

They were doing their thing, getting ready to pollinate and become

hazelnuts next Autumn.   Fab eh?!  So lovely to see that Spring is on the way and indeed

the days are getting longer. 

Anyway... this is me, getting back into my blog. Next installment coming soon! The Allotment.  With new artwork.  

 

Lichen and Moss. Phwoar!

 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.

 

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.

They are lucious and gorgeous. They're not like plants, although they sort of are plants.  They are plants without flowers!  Anyway, I'm not a biologist or a bryologist, even, for now. I just want to share some photos... so I know where they are!

Marsh Cinquefoil.  Just lovely.  

Sundew. Tiny and venemous.

Pictures at the Exhibition and Gelli Printing workshops.

 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.  

Marsh Flowers

 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:

https://saltaireinspired.org.uk/events/saltaire-arts-trail/saltaire-arts-trail-2024/open-village-2024/

Couple of things coming up.

 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

On May 4th/5th/6th I will be at 10 Albert Terrace in Saltaire, as part of the Saltaire Art's Trail.  I shall be showing some monoprints and would love people to come and say hello.  I've been working on some new prints, mainly inspired by my walks around the Yorkshire Dales, which I am very lucky to have on my doorstep.  Well, at least not far away!!  Hopefully Spring will be in full throttle and we will have lovely sunshine on the days that we are open.  I will be showing with another artist, so lots to see.