The sun came out so I went for a walk with Dandy Doggins in Bute Park again today. The trees were filled with blossom, the ground with crocus, and it felt like spring was near. I had fun with my new camera, though it's taking a while to learn where everything is; I think I need a macro lens to do more close up work .........and a decent tripod wouldn't go amiss either! I do love getting back to an SLR though and it feels really satisfying to use. Here are a few blooms to blow away the cobwebs! Despite the current economic climate, work on the new Welsh College of Music & Drama has continued throughout the winter and here is what it looks like reflected in the river: Dandy liked it, and spent a lot of time rolling in the grass with delight at it's modernist aesthetic. Then whilst we gazed at the water, we became mesmerised by............................. .............some seeds which were falling from the trees and making circular waves. And I remembered that waves are more like us than inanimate objects. Dandy agreed with me. Then we wandered on, past the tree with the bark of rusty lichen. And the lovely carved tree that someone had kindly covered in purple graffiti for us. We thought we saw a bird. But we may have been mistaken. It was a lovely day. Here is a small selection from the Book Arts Exhibition at Cardiff Central Library which is on until the 31st March. If you're in the area, come along tomorrow (12th March) for A Day of Book Arts. You can meet the artists for a day of presentations and have a go at making your own book/s. This is only a small selection of the 30 women artists exhibiting at the library. I was going to include everyone, but the lighting conditions weren't good and I haven't fully gotten the hang of my new camera yet. These are the ones that came out well enough to post!
Sorry it's been quiet around here, first with preparations for the shows, then with virus and seasonal blues.............my internet connection went down and then someone hacked my gmail account and sent raunchy spam to all my contacts. So sorry if you got links to sex aids or anything similar! I reported violations, changed my passwords and I installed a new USB internet dongle thing today, and I'm all tickety boo and back on track. The two exhibitions are installed and here are a couple of sneaky peeks of two pieces that are in the corridor at Craft in the Bay: I'm planning to go to Cardiff Central Library sometime soon to take photographs of our wonderful Book Arts Exhibition which is on from 1st to 31st March. It's my first attempt at organising and curating a show, and I'm very pleased with the result. There is a fantastic selection of work from 30 very talented women artists who were all fabulous and we all pulled together with the installation in a cool and no-fuss way. So if you're in town, do check it out and I'll be posting the photos soon.
Speaking of photos, I'd saved some money and I was going to do something sensible and buy real oak casement windows for Ty Cariad.........really I was! But then I decided that my art is more important at the moment, so I invested in a new camera and a professional large-format Epson printer with archival inks. Windows can wait! I shall be very busy taking photos and experimenting with print for a while, and hope to have some results to post here in time. The printer is so big, I had to call upon the aid of my friend Manda's lads (strapping young Joe and Arry) to give us a hand to get it in; thank you so much boys, I really don't know what we'd have done without you! Now the house is upside down because I had to empty half my studio to fit it in, so I'm re-decorating the kitchen and will be installing my sewing space in the conservatory half. Time for a bigger studio methinks! |
AuthorJulie Shackson is an artist and designer, working across various mediums and living in Wales Archives
June 2014
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