Today we would like to introduce you to a new guest exhibitor who will be joining us for our November event - ceramicist Chris Inder.

Tell us a bit about you: I'm Chris Inder and have lived in Bucks for 20 years now! I have three children, two very much grown up – my eldest daughter is 28 and my son 25, and one younger daughter who is 15.  I also have a granddaughter who is 4 and keeps everyone on their toes! I have always dabbled in making – pictures, jewellery, clothes etc. but only discovered the messy world of clay about 10 years ago.

Describe your style: My style is quite calm and understated and reflects the qualities of the material. I love the feel of porcelain at each stage of its transformation from clay to finished piece. It has a delicateness that belies its strength.

Tell us about your workspace: I have a fantastic space at Commercial Square Ceramic Workshops in High Wycombe, where I can be messy and not worry about treading clay all through the house!

What inspires you: Most specifically at the moment it is food and dining, however, recently on walks in our local woods I have seen a huge variety of fungi and am contemplating something more sculptural . . . . .

How and when did you get involved with Collective Art in Marlow: This is my first time with Collective Art in Marlow. I know Carolyn Cameron from Commercial Square and am very much looking forward to meeting and exhibiting with the rest of the group.

What is your favourite technique: My favourite is probably throwing; you really do feel the clay and can vary form and scale at the time of making. Plus if it is a complete disaster you just squash it up and start again.

Apart from pottery do you have any other creative interests: I enjoy knitting, making soft furnishings and pottering about in my garden.

Tell us about where else we can see your work: I have work on display at Obsidian Gallery in Stoke Mandeville, you can visit me at my studio in High Wycombe (please contact me first) and I exhibit at Art in Clay at Hatfield in July, plus you can check my website for other upcoming events.

For a bit of fun we also asked Chris the following:

Favourite film:  Comedy films with my 15 year old – we just laugh out loud (even in the cinema)

Pets:  A cat and 2 rabbits of our own plus we are socialising our 2nd puppy for The Hearing Dogs for The Deaf.

Favourite place to be:  Anywhere outside – garden, woods, by water . . .

Person I'd most like to invite to dinner:  Tricky one, but at the moment I would go for Nina Conti – ventriloquist – and her Gran!

Random fact about me:  I am restoring a narrow boat – a much bigger project than anticipated.



The slideshow below gives some examples of Chris' work:

Today we are catching up with fine artist Carolyn Cameron

Tell us a bit about you   Hello, my name is Carolyn and I recently graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, my work mainly involves stitching onto paper from my studio at Commercial Square in High Wycombe.

Describe your style   My work involves stitching onto paper in a contemporary style.  I am inspired by images of urban landscapes and architectural buildings. The images I create start from visits to various places around the world, where I take photos and record images in my sketch book, captivating the atmosphere and scenery. Returning to my studio, I initially sketch the scene I wish to create, before stitching it on to paper.

Tell us about your workspace?  I am very lucky I have a great studio in Commercial Square, where 19 artists are based working in a wide range of disciplines.  I have been there for about two years, starting in a studio based in Ceramics, I have worked my way up the building to my current studio at the top of this old furniture factory.  I have a great view over High Wycombe from one side of the valley to top of the Chilterns.  It is freezing in winter, boiling in the summer.  We hold opens studios twice a year, which is a great way to see artists at work.

What inspires you?: Having lived abroad as a child, including Rio de Janeiro and New York, surrounded by skyscrapers and architectural treasures, I am inspired by recording images of urban landscapes, creating cities and buildings through using watercolour and repetitive stitching

How and when did you get involved with Collective Art in Marlow?  I first took part in the May event in 2012.

What is your favourite technique? I love paper and stitching but I also have a real passion for printmaking and have an old press in my studio.  But rarely find the time to experiment. 

Apart from (your media) do you have any other creative interests?  I have just started upholstery!

Tell us about where else we can see your work?  I hold open studios at my studio in Commercial Square in High Wycombe in the summer and at Christmas.  My website details where else I will be exhibiting too.

www.carolyncameron.co.uk

For a bit of fun we also asked Carolyn the following:

Favourite film: Officer and Gentlemen!

Pets: Black Lab

Favourite place to be: I do love Brighton

Person I'd most like to invite to dinner: Any of the old masters.

Random fact about me: I am related to the late Jean Muir


The slide show below gives a sample of Carolyn's recent works - enjoy!

Our next event at the Pugin Rooms will take place on Friday November 22 (evening) - Saturday 23 November (all day) and Sunday 24 November (afternoon).

We have thirteen artists & makers taking part:
 
Carolyn Cameron - Fine Art
Chris Inder - Ceramics  new guest exhibitor
Fiona Read - Fine Art
Jacqueline Ford - Mixed media collage
Julia Hayward - Glass
Julie Rumsey - Print-maker
Lesley de Matos (Country Girl Corner) - Shabby chic fabric  creations 
Lis England - Fine Art
Melanie Gow - iArtist
Nicola Bibby (BeeBeeCrafts) - Felt-making
Oenone Randall - Copper-work and jewellery
Sarah Jane Lewis - Jewellery
Teresa Mills - Mosaic

Each artist & maker has a page under the 'About Us' tab on our website and most have a 'Meet and Greet' blog post where you can learn some interesting and surprising things and see more examples of their work!

 . . . look out for a post about our new guest Chris Inder in the run up to the event!

To give you a taste of the wide variety of gorgeous things that will be on offer tonight and over the weekend here are some photos from our December event.

p.s. the pictures were taken on the Friday evening and Sunday morning before we opened in case you are wondering where all the people are!

One more day to go until our May 2013 event and we can't wait to get into the Pugin Rooms, get set up and open the doors to visitors.  We have thirteen artist-makers taking part:
 
Carolyn Cameron - Fine Art
Fiona Read - Fine Art
Jacqueline Ford - Mixed media collage
Julia Haywood - Glass
Julie Rumsey - Print-maker
Kate Roche Liberman (Dulce Lusso Cakes) - Cakes
Lesley de Matos (Country Girl Corner) - Shabby chic fabric  creations
Lis England - Fine Art
Melanie Gow - iArtist
Nicola Bibby (BeeBeeCrafts) - Felt-making
Oenone Randall - Copper-wor and jewellery
Sarah Jane Lewis - Jewellery
Teresa Mills - Mosaic

Each artist-maker has a page under the 'About Us' tab - and most have a 'Meet and Greet' blog post from last year where you can learn some interesting and surprising things!

If you fancy making some noise and producing something lovely in copper as a result then this workshop with Oenone Randall is for you!  This workshop is suitable for children and adults.

When does this workshop run?  Two sessions will take place on Saturday 18 May: 11.00am to noon and in the afternoon from 2.00pm - 3.00pm.

What can I make in this workshop?    You can hammer words and patterns into a pre-cut copper shape to form a pretty hanging decoration - you can chose from a bird, butterfly, cup cake, house, or pear.  There are some photos at the end of this post to give you an idea and to spark your imagination!

Do I have to book?   No - just turn up.  If the table is busy when you arrive just wait until a place becomes free.  

How much does it cost:  £5 per shape.

How long will it take?  This depends on the level of decoration you want to add - putting a few words / motifs on a shape to decorate it takes 10 - 15 minutes max which gives yoou time to try one of the other three workshops that we are also running . . .

To learn more about Oenone Randall and see examples of her lovely copper work (and jewellery) take a look at her page on the 'About Us' tab and read her 'Meet and Greet' blog entry.

Teresa Mill's workshop is suitable for children and adults - come and have a play!

When does this workshop run? You can drop in and have a go at mosaic on Saturday 18 May from 10.00am to 5.30pm (we close at 6.00pm) and on Sunday 19 May from 2.00pm to 4.30pm (we close at 5.00pm). 

What you can do in this workshop? Cover a pre-cut wooden shape with 1cm mosaic tiles. You can chose from a heart, butterfly or elephant.  There will also be different options available in kit form to buy and take away if you catch the mosaic bug! 

Do I have to book?  No - just turn up. If the table is busy when you arrive just wait until a place becomes free.

Cost: £5 per shape

How long will it take? If you want to go for a random covering of mosaic tiles a shape can be completed in about half an hour - if you want to give a bit more thought to colour and placement of tiles then allow a bit more more time.  Why not try one of the other timed workshops that we have running too? 

To learn more about Teresa Mills and see some examples of her fabulous mosaic work do take a look at her page on the 'About Us' tab and read her 'Meet and Greet' blog entry.

Nicola Bibby's workshop is suitable for children and adults. 

When does the felt-making workshop run? Two sessions will take place on Saturday 18 May: 11.00am to noon and in the afternoon from 2.00pm - 3.00pm.

What you can do in this workshop? wet felting to make a 'soap pocket' - basically fusing fibres around a bar of soap that will act as a nice light exfoliator in the shower - when the soap runs out you are let with a little felt pocket that can be used for other things. These make a lovely scented gift too!

Do I have to book? No - just turn up. If the table is busy when you arrive just wait until a place becomes free.

Cost: £5 per 'soap pocket'

How long will it take? We suggest you allow 15 to 20 minutes to complete each 'pocket' - which gives you time to try one of the other three workshops that we are also running . . .

To find out more about Nicola Bibby and see some examples of her fabric and felt creations do take a look at her page on the 'About Us' tab and read her 'Meet and Greet' blog entry.

Julia Hayward's workshop is suitable for children and adults.

When does this workshop run?  Two sessions will take place on Saturday 18 May: 11.00am to noon and in the afternoon from 2.00pm - 3.00pm.

What can I make in this workshop?    You can either make a small hanging fused glass decoration (see photos at the end of this post for ideas) or a 10cm x 10cm fused glass coaster.  Please note that the glass work you produce in this workshop will need to be fused in Julia's kiln and so you will not be able to 'take your make' home with you at the end of the session.

Do I have to book?   No - just turn up.  If the table is busy when you arrive just wait until a place becomes free.  

How much does it cost?  £5 for each small hanging decoration and £10 for each coster. If you can not collect your fused works from Marlow there will be an additional charge to cover P&P.

How long will it take?  This depends on the level of decoration you want to add, but we recommend you give yourself 20 to 30 minutes for each piece - which gives you time to try one of the other three workshops that we are running . . .

How long will it take to get my glass decoration / coaster fused?  It will take 10 - 14 days to get completed work fused and posted out to you / ready to collect in Marlow.

To learn more about Julia Hayward and to see some more examples of her lovely glass work do take a look at her page on the 'About Us' tab and read her 'Meet and Greet' blog entry.

In today's 'meet and greet' we would like to introduce you to another new girl to our Collective - the talented fabric and felt artist Nicola Bibby.

Tell us a bit about you: I'm Nicola Bibby aka BeeBeeCrafts.  I used to be Head of Chemistry in a school in west London.  We moved to High Wycombe six years ago.  I have two boys, one in reception and one in year 2.  I have always made things and as the boys have got older I have gradually had more and more time to create and discover new techniques. 

Describe your style: I love playing with colour and texture

Tell us about your workspace: I used to make felt on the dining table but it got too fluffy! I have been encouraged to take over the spare bedroom to try to contain the fluff.  Now I have managed to get replace the bed with a big work table it’s a perfect studio.  My boys call it Mummy’s Felt Room.

What inspires you: The natural world, flowers, the changing seasons, butterfly wings, seeds and pods, bugs, rainbows, shells, birds

How and when did you get involved with Collective Art in Marlow: This is my first time with Collective Art in Marlow!  I met Oenone at Juniper Hill Art and Craft Show two years ago and recently she asked if I would be interested in joining and I jumped at the chance!

What is your favourite technique: I love all textiles but my favourite is making felt.  I experiment with lots of different mixed media techniques but I always seem to come back to felt.  It is so versatile, you can make it gossamer fine, like cobweb, or thick and durable enough to make slippers, or even mould it like clay into 3d shapes, and the colours available are so vibrant, and the textures you can create are so tactile….. (I could go on!!)
 
Apart from fabric art and felt making edia) do you have any other creative interests: I love gardening.  I am lucky enough to have a wonderful garden to lose myself in. 

Tell us about where else we can see your work: I have work on display at Emerald Gallery in Chalfont St Peter and I am a member of the Craft Coop in Maidenhead which has pop up shops in the town centre.  I am also showing at Art at St Dunstan’s this June for Bucks Open Studios.

Favourite film:  The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Anything with Robert Redford and Paul Newman!)

Pets:  I am trying to convince my husband that we ‘need’ a dog!

Favourite place to be:  Anywhere outside - My garden, the woods, by the seaside,

Person I'd most like to invite to dinner:  David Attenborough

Random fact about me:  I collect perfumes!  I love the huge variety of different and sometimes strange combinations of smells available and the bottles of some are little works of art.