Open Studios..previews

In a weeks’ time Hebden Bridge Open Studios will begin.This is when the public get to see all those creative spaces and the beautiful work that is made in them.

I will be opening my studio along with the super talented Hannah Nunn.

To celebrate and to give a sneaky peak of what will be in my studio I am going to feature a piece of artwork each day on my blog.

So without further ado, first up are lots of handprinted cards…

I have been thinking about the colour palette of each of these cards; I wanted them to have their own identity in their ranges but still have some running thread.I have already made prints to sit along side the Kingfishers and I am particularly excited about making the hummingbirds into prints. I used metallic green ink for these-it made me very happy to see how it shined against the matt grey recycled card (it is the small things)!

Hold on to your seats for the next instalment…

 

Sketchbook…Leeds City Museum

Here are a few pages from my sketchbook for my exhibition at Leeds Craft Centre and Design Gallery . As mentioned in previous posts I sketched the animals at Leeds City Museum, just quick things but it is nice to share the process.

This one I spruced up a bit at home.

This started my hummingbird drawing marathon.

Here is the bear again!

New stationery at For Arts Sake

I have a selection of lovely hand printed notebooks and greetings cards winging there way towards For Arts Sake Gallery. This Ealing gallery opened in 1984 and houses one of the largest collections of printmaker’s works for sale.To say I am excited to have my artwork here is an understatement!

Here is a little taster of my notebooks they will be stocking…

copyright on all images Julia Ogden 2016

30 days…April

Well, April has been a busy and exciting month. I did my first ever trade show; British Craft Trade Fair in Harrogate. It was overwhelming but successful in equal measures! I am just working through my orders and will share with you my new stockists in a separate post.I am pleased as punch about them, so they deserve their own space!

top row BCTF preparations; lots of drawing, printing and painting. Oh and Cecile helping me choose my props.

second row my stand at BCTF, Billy bag and packing away after a busy few days (big black house design chair)

third row the school room at the Bronte parsonage in Haworth (I did a workshop there on the anniversary of Charlotte’s birthday), artwork from the children’s art club I run, SNOW!

 

 

 

10 things about being a self employed creative

Last October with butterflies and a bit of faith I gave up my regular job as a gallery assistant to be a fully self employed artist and workshop teacher.

These are some of the things I have learnt so far.

1. That making art and having time to do so has given me much more joy than I ever imagined.

2. That some people will be incredibly supportive and encouraging when seeing someone follow their passion.What a difference that makes!

3. That some people will be a bit negative and that actually doesn’t make much of a difference at all long term.

4. Putting energy, (even things that seem insignificant) into a business makes it grow.

5. There are a lot of lovely creative people out there.

6. I feel I am only at the tip of the iceberg regarding social media but I already know it has enabled me to sell artwork, make connections and learn lots, (not just that I need to cut down on my cat picture output on instagram).

7.That lack of confidence has held me back and now each sale or class I achieve demonstrates that I should not have let it.

8.I can work hard.

9. Thinking time is really valuable.

10.It is really true what they say about practice makes perfect.. just having more time has improved my drawing so much.

Are you about to take a leap of faith? Do it!