This past week has been a revelation to me. There are so many extraordinarily talented and delightful artists among us. For the past 3 weeks artists throughout Oxfordshire have graciously opened their homes and studios for anyone to come see their creations and the space where they create. I had no idea how fascinating it would be to visit these studios, meet with the artists, and lean about how and why they create what they do.
I'm converted. Art Weeks comes to a close this weekend. Don't miss is.
It is easy to go on line and to print out a map listed all the artists in one area. http://www.artweeks.org/festival/trails
I spent a few hours visiting Wytham and Wolvercote, both delightful villages on the edge of Port Meadow (which is in full bloom with buttercups!). My first stop was Kate Day-Dawson's home studio and garden.
Kate makes spectacular mosaics that are often inspired by the beauty of her garden.
Michaela Milne, also in Wytham, does stunning mosaics & decoupage that are inspired by her time living in the Middle East.
In some cases, several artist show their work in one shared space such as a home on Rowland Close in Wolvercote. There you can see beautiful pottery, glass work, painting, and jewelry. Glass work by Phillip Dove.
Ceramics by Caroline Haurie
Steve Lunn -- Mixed Media
Beautiful oil painting by Stephanie Lacape, Ceramics by Caroline Haurie
The best part of visiting these home studios is the chance to talk with the artists and to see where they work and what inspires them. I love these two different pallets: above for painting; below for jewelry making.
From Wolvercote I followed the trail to Jericho. This is a tray on the desk of jewelry maker Becky Morgans who does stunning creations with sea glass that she finds on the beaches of Seaham, County Durham.
I could have spent hours talking with glass maker Wendy Newhofer in her lovely and light-filled studio. She was so interesting and willing to explain how she makes her beautiful class pieces.
I absolutely love her work with glass and various metals.
My favorite studio was not to lovely nor light filled. It is the basement studio of jewelry maker Tony Thomson.
He too was fascinating to talk with and was kind enough to show me how he uses a diamond saw to slice a rock.
His collection of rocks, gems, seashells, and fossils, gives the Natural History Museum serious competition. I could have spent hours there just admiring his collection of nature made beauty, as well as the magical creations he makes with these stunning objects.
This is the first year I've attending Art Weeks. I'm already looking forward to next year's open studios. It is such fun, so inspiring, and simply delightful to meet some of the artists among us.
For more information: http://www.artweeks.org/Coming this summer: www.artinaction.ork.uk
From the brochure: "Artweeks is the opportunity for a wonderful day out: expect the unexpected, be inspired, diverted and delighted – and come home with a unique artwork of your own. You’ll be able to meet artists, talk about their work, watch demonstrations and maybe have a go yourself. Or simply feast your eyes on a huge range of creative activity, from painting, photography, textiles, sculpture and ceramics, to furniture, glass, mosaics, jewellery, digital art and much more. Established in 1981, Oxfordshire Artweeks is the country’s oldest and biggest open studio event."
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