It’s been busy these last few months with new ideas… New projects… Ceramics!!
Ceramics…. that’s my new thing. It’s been an ongoing project for the last 18 months or so. Nature inspired… using watercolour techniques playing with clay. Well that’s what it feels like. Playing with clay. Playing with paint techniques.
Todays News!!!
I’ve moved studios, I am now in larger studio, STUDIO 2
Come and say Hi, on Open Studio Day which is on each Wednesday from 1pm to 3.30pm. The address is :
Retford Arts Hub, Churchgate, Retford, DN22 3PA
Check out our Christmas Fayre which is presently running at The Retford Art Hub
Open six days a week, Monday – Saturday and half day closing on a Tuesday.
What we did instead…. Adapting, discovering new ways of doing things…
It’s been a year of years and life changing to say the least. What a difference a year makes. One year on and we’ve had to change… Thinking out of the box and trying to put together a new way of doing things. We’ve travelled very little this last year but what we have done is to take part in a few on line events, together with some ad-hock promotions. We would like to take this opportunity to thank people for their support and kindness during this time. It hasn’t been an easy year. We had two sick dogs ; Tillie has gone over to run free in the woods and Benson is struggling with a growth in his mouth. With the pandemic taking its toll meant he wasn’t able to undergo treatment. So he is now at the mercy of his own fight for life each day.
Being a Continuous Cruiser is a wonderful life, however, during this past year we have found some of it quite difficult. This is an honest report of how life throws curve balls at you. As the dogs haven’t been very well, we have been blessed with being able to fuss them, with plenty of walks and sometimes a change of scenery as we have had to move for the services. Other than that we did manage to travel to Boston and back during August and September. Now we are back on our lockdown turf and making the most of it.
So What happened… we have been busy selling on line, its been a bonus way to do things. People at home just like us… which gave us the idea behind trying to keep our peckers up. Along with Grayson Perry’s Art Club… which inspired us we decided to join in with some on line events along with creating some of our own… but Virtually. The Arts have really taken a beating during this time… as usually we would be travelling and using our travel as an inspiration for artworks. I’ve felt a bit cheated… blogging and promoting… promoting what? I asked myself. Well I suppose we all have to dream so the dream became What will we do when this is all over? Will it change our lives forever? Will we be able to keep going? These were all the questions going round and round. Fortunately we have a few different things we are involved in which has kept us afloat… Just….
We are currently on the Chesterfield canal, we have been here almost a year… which is how I came to recreate the Chesterfield Canal map. It came into print earlier this year and I am rather pleased with it. The Chesterfield Canal is a beautiful canal and one of our favourite stretches so we have been quite blessed really to have been here.
The Lockdown Hare
Opening on the 13th April The Lockdown Hare joined the Association of Animal Artists with their Spring Exhibition at the Castle Park Arts Centre in Frodsham. The exhibition runs till the 15th of May.
See link Ref: https://www.castleparkarts.co.uk/exhibitions/association-of-animal-artists-spring-exhibition-2021/
The Lockdown Hare was created during 2020 whilst in lockdown, it came about as we watched the wildlife playing as we in effect were locked down in the pandemic. It’s a play on words, a framed scenario of circumstances. Drawn using a dip pen and inks with a watercolour wash. 30 cm x 40 cms framed. The collection of drawings being shown are a representation take on all forms of wildlife in a variety of styles and mediums. I have been a member of the Association of Animal Artists for a few years, this is the first opportunity I have had to join in with their exhibition.
Spring Exhibition 2021
The past year has been a difficult one as it has been for many, with little travel it seems to have been a long year. Taking part in exhibitions gives me the opportunity to focus on new works…. a much needed therapy in these difficult times.
Lesley
What’s New is our new addition Art onto Things…. my wildlife drawings and maps have made it to feature on some new ideas. During Lockdown I had to come up with a new way for doing things; instead of planning for festivals and popups for the year I had to realise that I would have to look at doing things differently.
I found that all my avenues began to close; then I came across this one recommended by a friend for quality and ease. I began to play around with designs and I am rather chuffed with the idea.
jellygnomes @ Teepublic
What happened next? I still have my webshop for maps and cards www.jellygnomes.co.uk/webshop and now I have this little addition of Art onto Things Haberdashery which involves an array of ideas from cushions to mugs, teeshirts, tote bags, badges and childrens clothing. Artworks on tapestries and prints are also available.
jellygnomes @ Teepublic
The teeshirts are available in mens, women and childrens sizes and styles.
Something else! If you fancy having any of these with wording added for an individual gift I charge £25 for the design and then it is available on line for purchase. Its a really simple way of buying something personal. This one was requested, designed and sold on line from someone who wanted a facemask which says in essence ‘I don’t feel like talking right now!’ He chose the wording and we came up with the design.
Just for you… our personal design shop
jellygnomes @ Teepublic
Please check out our diary as I have a new work in a local exhibition, you see we well I have to keep going and finding inspiration and this is how I am working with it.
Wishing you all well and hope you see the new changes as a good one, the site Teepublic is a new venture and was highly recommended to us. Bon voyage… and happy to say we are still working and making things.
Se my webshop for Art onto Things @ https://www.teepublic.com/user/jellygnomes
“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.” Robert Burns
What happens next you might ask? Well no one knows… That’s the answer… We were planning on heading South for the summer but the delayed decisions and recent events mean we will be staying put for the interim. Which is The Chesterfield Canal, Nottinghamshire…. the good news is you can still order on-line at the present… for gift ideas see our webshop. Hoping you will support small businesses during this time of uncertainty; by thinking of those who depend on your support.
Meanwhile I will be concentrating on making new drawings and spending time revamping our living accommodation. Staying positive and making the most of some free time…
Maps and cards….
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Waterways Map
Wildlife cards…
Map cards
The Warwickshire Ring O.S. map/
The Series : see our webshop…
Take care, stay positive, keep safe, hope to see you along the way… looking to keep positive with all this chaos surrounding us all. Cheers from us..
Rob & Lesley
NB Hekla Pop-Up Art
2020 is at the beginning of the year which hopefully is going to be fabulous. I have lots of ideas floating around with new drawings of a different style alongside some new maps. Connecting with nature, the past and present making our journey memorable with our #memorymaps of which I usually add one or two more each year as we discover new waterways. 2019 saw the London Waterways Map come into print, this year we are hoping to travel down the Oxford Canal and onto the Thames during the summer, thus making our way once more through London.
The new maps will have a Steampunk twist to them, alongside some steampunk birds which have already begun to take a little shape. The journey continues to take its twist and turns just like it has done from the beginning.
We hope to see you along the way once our plans which often are quite loose plans, come into being.
We love to meet the boats we read about.
The sights and sounds of London Town, today we met the Kinder Transport
July saw the hosting of a music event, hosted by the Record Deck at Mile End, London
Artist & designer, Sarah Hamilton, was passing the closed down shop and saw the quote:
As a designer herself, she thought ‘enough is enough!’ and she decided to fight back and created the ‘Just a Card’ campaign. So to help… pass this on, as we have decided to join in and highlight the situation of many Artists, makers and creators with the slogan ‘Just a Card’
The campaign is aimed to promote small shops, creators, makers and artists. To get the campaign in front of customers so they can try and make an effort to buy just a card, just a gift, just a coffee, a small gift, a token, just a framed print or a map. If everyone did this, our high streets would thrive, be alive with activity and small business owners will do a little happy dance, as each little sale will help to keep their shop open, put food on their table, a roof over their head and buy a child that little gift for their families.
These shops are at the heart of a diverse local economy – they showcase creativity and keep many a Designer/Maker in business who champion their artists for years. They generate tourist traffic and make our towns, villages and waterways interesting places we all want to visit and enjoy. Our circumstances are, we live on a boat, we are artists and sell our artworks, touring from county to county. What a difference this would make to our artistic venues who we support along the way; by bringing artworks and stories around the waterway networks.
As an example, if we look at the number of our facebook followers (currently standing at 382), which we receive many great comments and appreciation for our products, If half of those followers (190) each month came to our shop and purchased one of our cards which start at (£2.50) it would give us a turnover of £475 each month from just buying a card. Granted that is not profit but something as small as that would not only keep us shop open, but, also keep a designer trading too from just half of our followers buying a card each month.
If we take that a step further, if half of our followers purchased a map or small framed print for £20 and a Birthday, thank you or congratulations card etc then that monthly figure would become £4,275! That would not only keep our shop open but it would put food on our table, allow us to keep a roof over our heads. Our money would then be able to go on to support other local traders which can also do the same for them. To be fair £4,275 would be a dream in reality ‘Just buy a card’ would make the difference to wondering whether you will be here next year or not. It is as simple as that.
So next time you need a card or gift or meeting a friend for a coffee then please give a thought to the small independent shops like ours, pay them a visit and keep the high street alive and that one card is all it takes to keep a local independent shop open. Keep local traders in your mind and help them to survive.
For more information on the ‘just a card’ campaign please visit their website and support the campaign and independent shops before the high street disappears.
— PATRICIA VAN DEN AKKER, THE DESIGN TRUST
Maps & Map Cards illustrated
Keep small Artists, makers and creators alive, help keep a small business afloat and support ‘Just A Card’
The Long Way Round to London from the Nottinghamshire Waterways… the continuation of our journey took a different start this year.
Nottinghamshire Waterways (Map one)
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Waterways Map (Map 2)
Starting from the Chesterfield Canal; up the River Trent our journey detoured along the River Soar this year. After our Haunts of Norbury and Braunston failing us this year – where did that leave us? It left us with a lot more more time to go a little further on our journeys. Bonus! July we made Cassiobury Park, as we joined with the RCTA Floating Market Traders; a roaring success for us; placing a few pounds in our pockets to finance more of our Journey and ArtWorks. Onwards from there… Presently we are moored at Mile End with the London Traders. Lined up this weekend sees an Extraordinaire of Events over the next couple of days, with music taking the foreground, this is very much to our likings; hosted by The Record Deck UK. Dates for your diaries 19th 20th and 21st of July at Mile End, London, UK E3 5BH
check out : Lizzy O’Connor https://lizzyoconnor.bandcamp.com/track/white-bones one of the singers I am looking forward to hearing.
Originals Framed
The beginning of this year… we have been left with… Where to go… which direction to London? Oxford or the G.U. well funding the journey decided our fate as we were invited to join some of the Southern Traders Events. New Maps… that has a ring to it… The London Waterways is now in progress… Watch this space for updates…
The Rochdale Ring (latest Edition)
More New Updates : New to the Series The Rochdale Ring… was published this year! As always little sketches and drawings added to illustrate the map to show locations and our favourite encounters embellish the map.
Lots of new things happening this year, and it is all change….
Diary Dates: 19th 20th & 20th July Mile End Park London (basically we will be in London for a few weeks to discover and investigate London by Water.
Diary Dates : 23rd & 24th August Milton Keynes, Floating Market with the RCTA Traders
Diary Dates : 13th & 14th September, Leigh Canal Festival 5th Leigh Lancashire on of our regulars; very supportive and add vibrancy to the local town. A lovely festival to catch and very supportive and encouragement for Artists, Musicians and Traders.
Venue : Mile End London E3 5BH
Beautiful World… Where are you? An exhibition of diverse and interesting topics; engaging with galleries and loose on the streets of Liverpool. Social Cleansing, reduction of rights, loss of heritage, a celebration of cultures from around the world.
Liverpool Biennale is a fantastic host to a lively and engaging exhibition; this years topic got us going… What we did next was… to engage with it. Austerity is over… Yes! Right…
Ask the man on the street, ask the locals, then ask the politicians. Is Austerity over? Ask the beggars! Is the structure change so damaging? Ask the shoppers? How many food banks and charity shops do you see up and down the country. So there you go… and we hope to highlight in our little way by exhibiting both in galleries and on the street the plight of ‘Austerity’
You can get anything you want from Gov’s Restaurant… find a food bank near you! What are we losing the right to a decent standard of living.
House of Cards : Self Assembly kit comes in two forms one with Garden and one without. Both left : one in a gallery and the other in a student led venue. Build yourself a home… get yourself on the property market. A political appeal in the 1990’s – Thatchers Vision… the name ‘House of Cards’ derives from a tv sitcom which is on a par with Bouquet of Barbed Wire… Both programmes were a political look on society and governments.
I could give more information about which galleries or public spaces but that would spoil the fun. Safe to say they are; in and outside two galleries alongside public spaces. There are ten to find around Liverpool.
