Calligraphy Taster at CityLit and Red 42

City Lit -so many classes

As  one gets older it becomes more and more obvious that life is finite and the number of interests and opportunities one can pursue is limited.

Practice is needed.

At the start of a 'Taster' in Calligraphy when are course leader polled us to find why we were doing the session  I was aware that this subject  ticked more than one box - I wasn't happy with my writing, I was interested in the history of the subject and I wanted to use the skill professionally.

My Starter Kit

Our Tutor for the session was Michela Antonello  (having looked at her CV I realise how lucky we were to have such a well qualified teacher!)

Michela gave us a good no-nonsense 3 hours on the topic and recommended Calligraphy Made Easy (by Gaynor Goffe) as an introductory text (and had taught her!)    - the whole thing I found rather addictive .




 The downside is that acquiring the skill does take time and patience and of course more tools and books.

Red 42

And tyng together the Red and the Photography -

A photo opportunity in the hot seat

The end of BEAT 2016 Red 43

Sunday saw the last day of the first BEAT and if the stories coming in were to be believed the project was a success   with high numbers of visitors and these visitors signalling appreciation - what was great (for me) was the chance to talk and explain - and listen.

Visitors from many backgrounds 

Having displayed and hosted a 'Pop-up' shop I was able to begin to put into action the messages I'd been getting and as well as wanting to know the stories behind what I was doing the people I encountered  clearly 'voted' for affordable mounted prints  - this means bigger volumes to get the same turnover  but with lower cost of stock  it's not an issue for me.

A starting point for conversation

It'd certainly be a mistake to not make every effort to offer the  visitors a chance to buy in a form  they wish to.



It was pleasing  to find people interested in how I'd used Noah Scalin's 'model' to get myself taking more photo's too and several people took a picture of the book for reference (and a gift idea).

Mandie gets to look at some of the work

Thanks for visitors who stopped and exchanged ideas, for those who left comments and of course those who bought.


We also (collectively, all four of us showing at OPEN Ealing) thank Mandie Wilde  (who has been so busy in Ealing) the driving force behind the Orchard Cafe for her support and patience - my see you in 2017 raised a wry smile.

Red 43

So the most worthwhile visitors (in a way) are children but they're also the most demanding and their expectations are stimulation a little short of over stimulation- one young visitor (with another transport themed Red) brought along a  toy truck.

It had spent quite a bit of time in his mouth 

More Beat and Red 44

So today sees the last day of Ealing Art Trail (BEAT) for 2016 and I hope those behind the escapade feel satisfied with what they've achieved  - to get 50 venues with well over 100 participants involved is quite something.

Orchard Café/OPEN Ealing

It's been interesting to see how people have engaged and 'got' the idea - making conversations and talking about things that impact them.




The Three biggest  biggest challenges for any operation like this are to my mind,

Getting the message out  - here BEAT has produced great guides, the right size with useful maps

Feedback forms and balloons 

Highlighting the locations - Posters and balloons heave helped with this

And

Getting feedback - Always a struggle I'm sure there'll be refinements made

Another from Gordon

At the Orchard Cafe we've been especially fortunate to have a place that some visitors already know and have four of us attracting different parties - it's helped having Gordon Cookson doing demonstrations and having a range of tactile artefacts for sale.

From where I'm sitting (and  sometimes standing) I'd say there's little doubt that there's real demand for the initiative and hopefully it'll be back in 2017 bigger and better.

Come and Get your Free Postcards at Orchard Cafe Today!

OPEN HOUSE TOO

[Don't forget OPEN House is on too - it provided a popular image for me that you can see at Orchard Cafe!]

Red 44

Well I've had two wheelers and four  wheelers this is the three wheeler spotted outside  the local Waitrose yesterday  morning.

Stable and energy efficient 

The BEAT's second weekend starts and Red 45

Orchard Cafe W13

A good start to the second BEAT weekend with friends and pupils of the various artsists showing at Orchard Café popping in to see what was doing.


Particularly impressive to see Dr Timothy Layden's students who were a credit to their school most  charming and interested in the experience.

John Kaye had returning visitors buying more of his work and I must say I was taken with this 'On the Beach' figure.

On the Beach by John Kaye

I'm enjoying talking about my exhibits especially my 365 (or 366) Project

The Noah Scalin  idea intrigued visitors

And yesterday I had a piece of luck with this  'red' project too...

Red 45

I was lucky enough to meet Beniko Sutoh yesterday when she stopped by at the Orchard Cafe to look at the works on show.

Beniko explained to me that her name means a type of Red, a vermillion (beni) Child (ko), she is named after a flower her sister's name is based on another colour (indigo) - her clothing is red too.

 紅子 (Beniko) was another visitor for the BEAT weekend