Sunday 25 August 2013

It's All About the Grout!

In a shady corner outside Caroles' Studio (shed) there have been signs of tea drinking, butterfly watching and grouting!


This is the part we look forward to but in spite of gloves there is a certain artist who always gets plenty on herself and her clothes, hence the attractive overall!


Starting to clean away the excess grout


to gently reveal the image beneath


We thought it was nice to include parts of the surroundings to show scale and where most of the work has taken place. What photographs can't really capture is the play of light on the tiles, some of which have a lustre which changes colour as you move round.


So here are Puddle Jumping 


and Signal Box completed!

Many thanks to Andrew Rushton for the photographs and to Lucy Anderson so being such a star. 
11 panels done one to go! 


Return Shednologists!


Margot Norris nipping and tucking



Sonja Wilson deep in concentration


One of the best aspects of this project has been to see the excitement, pleasure, satisfaction and relaxation it has brought to all the participants. There have been so many interesting conversations, much shared laughter and a real sense of community both in the shed and out in the community venues we have visited. For the most part we have been lucky with the weather, even when it has been overcast or wet, people have come to take part. We really appreciate all the extra hours our Artist / Project Coordinator Carole Miles has put into the project to make it such a success! She also brews a mean cup of tea!

Friday 9 August 2013

Another Welcome Guest Shednologist!



It was lovely to be joined by long time 
Back To Books stalwart Margot Norris


who liked the look but not the taste of the cherries in the 
garden until she sampled some of Carole's cherry vodka


and came up with her own unique recipe!


Then it was down to work, helping Carole to 
take the Signal Box panel on a stage further!


Monday 5 August 2013

Bridge


This bridge is one of Carole's favourite parts of the Brampton Valley Way and one of the few remaining parts of the original railway line's architecture. 


Each year there is more rust than bridge left, the stair treads have been removed and it stands like a ghostly sculpture in the landscape.


The Northampton and Lamport Railway at Brampton Halt told us that would dearly love to move the bridge to the station and restore it's fragile rusting ironwork, 


but this may be a long way off as they have many other restoration projects underway at the station. It would be wonderful to preserve it, but then again, there is something graceful and strange about it's gradual weathering and decay.


Back in Carole's studio the Bridge mosaic panel begun at Stephenson Way continues to take shape, in spite of the thunder and heavy rain.


In the galley-like workspace, Carole has balanced one end of the panel on an open plan chest drawer and the other on the workbench in order to be able to work on the panel.


This is when the weather and the lack of space prove challenging, it is hard to check whether the colours are working and the lines describing the column are straight, even in the progress photograph, it's still quite hard to judge.


Having a limited budget, it is also a challenge to make the tiles we have and the colours we'd ideally like, stretch to cover the twelve panels. If you feel you'd like to help us overcome this practical concern you can make a donation to the project via our page on Localgiving.com. We would really appreciate your support, or you could wait until October, when there will be another Match Your Tenner campaign! 

Friday 2 August 2013

Signal Box and Puddle Jumping Continued


Friday's Shednologists were Carolyn and Alice Bantin who worked together on the Signal Box panel 


Alice also took the opportunity to do some drawing and to try some new art materials.


After a very warm morning of mosaic making


mother and daughter had a rest in the shade before heading for home


In the afternoon Carole was joined by Kate Dyer and mosaic making stalwart Lucy Anderson. Kate worked with Carole outside on the Signal Box panel whilst Lucy braved the heat of the shed, aided a small electric fan and continued work on the puddles in Puddle Jumping.