Coping with Lockdown

The first piece I worked on in Lock Down was Twin Oaks, inspired by the trees I walked past every day in April as the leaves opened and the canopy filled out. The Bay followed inspired by Portminster Bay in St Ives. In June I spent time finishing up small landscapes sewn in cotton batik fabrics.

In July I felt ready to try something more experimental and spent time dyeing silk fabric using thickened dyes that I applied to plate glass and then laid the silk down to take a mono print. Off  Kilter has its origins in my discovery of Clyfford Still’s work seen at the Royal Academy a couple of years ago. Turmoil is a nod to Jackson Pollock. Off Kilter is held together with tiny random hand sewn stitches that give it textured surface. I machine quilted Turmoil in a succession of different sized circles. I plan to dye more silk fabric to stitch into and hope to develop some three dimensional pieces as there seems limitless time to experiment with new possibilities.

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Latest from Breckland Artists

There have been some changes to our group of late, which is that 2 of the group have now left, both Heather Graham and Emma Wells have gone onto other commitments and the photographer Alan Porter has now come back to us.

We are now planning for next year’s exhibiting with possibly 2 exhibitions in 2021, announcements later, but it most certainly be very welcome as this year has for the group very exasperating to say the least.

Art in 'lockdown'

As this unusual period continues for us all, the Breckland Artists have been trying to use our time creatively.

Roger has produced this powerful self portrait about his personal experience of lockdown titled ‘Lockdown Blues’.

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New artwork by Helen Du Feu

This artwork is titled ‘Peace’. In Helen’s own words “It’s more about inner peace than of the landscape.” In these unsettling times we are all living in a world where we could benefit from a little peace.

Peace by Helen Du Feu

Peace by Helen Du Feu

Anteros Norwich Exhibition persponed until further notice.

Due to the COVID -19 Coronavirus, the Anteros Arts Foundation have suspended all exhibitions until further notice. We will keep you posted if anything changes and we are given the go-ahead to run our exhibition.

In the meantime we have a lot of opportunity to create exciting new artwork!

Stay safe and keep well,

Best wishes,

The Breckland Artists

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'Garden Gate' textile work update by Jill Arnold

Some of the Breckland Artists' followers may have wondered what happened to my Garden Gate Quilt! I have finally tacked down the gate itself, (see photos below), decided what to do about the finials and now have to decide whether to hand stitch the gate down or machine it.
I use a great deal of thread, mainly cotton in my work and must have several hundred reels. I am fortunate enough to have 2 vintage shop fitment cabinets and 2 vintage open cotton reel holders to store (some of) them. The rest are mainly in biscuit tins!
People often ask what sort of thread I use. I prefer pure cotton and greatly regret the demise of Sylko which I consider the best quality thread ever. However it lasts for many years and I do have many reels of it. I generally prefer matt thread to shiny, which tends to be synthetic, but I do use it from time to time. I rarely use gold or silver thread although I did use gold on a clergy stole I made.
The other pictures show a small piece of work in progress on the sewing machine
and the back of the same piece. It will be either framed or backed so no one
will ever see it!
The other photo shows fabrics I have dyed or painted being compared with some
colour sketches to see if they have come out the shades I intended.

Tack stitching in Garden Gate quilt.

Tack stitching in Garden Gate quilt.

Vintage thread storage

Vintage thread storage

Section from Garden Gate quilt.

Section from Garden Gate quilt.

Embroidery work on sewing machine

Embroidery work on sewing machine

Back of floral stitching.

Back of floral stitching.

comparing fabrics to hand painted designs.

comparing fabrics to hand painted designs.

'Reflections & Resonances' -Tue 14th July - Sat 25th July.

The Breckland Artists are happy to announce that we will be exhibiting this year at Anteros Arts Foundation in Norwich with our new exhibition ‘Reflections & Resonances’.

It is free entry to the exhibition space. Make a note in your diary and pop along for a visit!

Anteros Arts Foundation, 11 - 15 Fye Bridge Street,  Norwich NR3 1LJ

Open Daily from 9.00am - 5.00pm

‘Meet the Artists’  Private View Thursday evening Time TBC. Everyone welcome!

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Jill's Creative Space

One of the most important items in my studio, being a textile artist, is my ironing board.

Here I am ironing some fabrics I have dyed or painted for some landscape work.
Behind me is my cutting and layout table with a pile of sketchbooks in which I doodle and work out preliminary ideas. The area is supervised by a teddy bear which my husband gave me.

While continuing with work in progress I am also in the early stages of planning some
new work. I’ve done some preliminary sketches and here I am in my studio
comparing my palette with a selection of fabrics from my stash - but there are
many more to look at and many more sketches as well!

Jill Arnold in her ‘Creative Space’

Jill Arnold in her ‘Creative Space’

Jill Anold with her fabrics and sewing equipment

Jill Anold with her fabrics and sewing equipment

‘Garden Gate’ work in progress

‘Garden Gate’ work in progress

Helen's Creative Space

This image shows Helen busy creating her artwork using a pallet knife to mix a riot of colours onto her canvas.

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Work in progress by Jill Sharpe

Here is the design that I am currently working on. It will all be sewn by hand. I am calling the piece Blush.
The fabrics are all silk and sourced locally and from shops encountered by chance on my travels. The check fabrics were left overs from a friend’s project.

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Helen's Creative Space

I’m lucky to have a studio full of light and wonderful views from the window, perfect inspiration for landscape painting. I always have something in progress on the easel, music on the CD player, and previous work around me. The bust on the window sill goes back to when I worked with paper mâché, the plaster cast on the wall is one I made of my child’s feet.

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Work in progress by Jill Arnold.

Current work: Garden Gate Quilt

A view into a garden using patchwork techniques.

The garden is made from squares which took me weeks to arrange to my satisfaction. When sewn together the squares are sewn so that horizontally the seams are not aligned but have a half square drop.

I designed the gate using strips of black card. (I also went out with a tape measure and measured the actual dimensions of real garden gates.) The second photo shows the gate (for which I am using bias binding) pinned in position.


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Breckland Artists at Hingham Exhibition

Come along and see us this weekend at our local exhibition. Its free entry with lots of varied artwork on display, perfect for Xmas gifts! Open 10.00 am - 4.30 pm at Hingham’s Lincoln Social Centre NR9 4HW.

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Featured Artist Questionaie - Roger Gamble

Breckland Artists Member: Roger Gamble

Creative Medium:  I paint almost entirely in acrylics, they are excellent for fine detail and there quick-drying properties are ideal for my way of working.

Q1. What artist has influenced you the most?

The artist who has inspired me most is probably Humphrey Ocean, although both David Hockney and Peter Blake are heroes of mine.

Q2. What is it that inspires you most in Norfolk?

I am inspired by the Breckland landscape, it's rows of twisted pines and wide skies, and also by it's people, in commonplace situations.

Q3. If you had to pick a favourite past artwork of yours what would it be?

It's difficult to pinpoint just one work of mine as favourite, but if pressed it would be The Girl Downstairs, which won me a major prize and helped to kick-start my career.

Q4. What are you working on at the movement?

At the moment I am in a transitional phase, still evolving my deconstructed landscapes, but often returning to the depiction of People, going about their everyday lives, but presenting  interesting possibilities.

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Featured Artist Questionnaire - Chris Gamble

Breckland Artists Member: Chris Gamble

Creative Medium:  Acrylic painting, drawing in charcoal, paint, pen and ink. Linoprints. Various construction materials occasionally.

Q1. What artist has influenced you the most?

In youth I was influenced by Sickert. Many wonderful artists have impacted upon my work since: Jenny Saville, Willem de Koonig, Bernard Dunstan, Fred Cuming, Paula Rego, Chantal Joffe, Lucien Freud and many others. Some for their skill and insight, others for their freedom and imagination.

Q2. What is it that inspires you most in Norfolk?

 My work is seldom topographical. It relates to contemporary human life.

I have used Norwich City centre and market in my work.

The Norwich Print Fair is always inspiring as are local artists such as John Kiki and Breuer Tidman. Also Fred Ingrams and Josey Brett.

Q3. If you had to pick a favourite past artwork of yours what would it be?

I am pleased with several past paintings, “In Yer Face”, “Knee Deep”, “Whatever” “Quantum Leap” &”Chairman”.

“Cell Culture” is a construction comprising several drawings in mirrored cages. I am pleased with that.

Q4. What are you working on at the movement?

At present I'm continuing to try to produce work that is imaginative and arresting but within my compass.

Q5. Can you choose 5 words that best describes your art?

Figurative, textural, immediate, informal, accessible.

Chris Gamble at work.

Chris Gamble at work.

Knee Deep

Knee Deep

Quantum Leep

Quantum Leep

Featured Artist Questionnaire - Helen du Feu

Creative Medium:  Painting in acrylic on canvas.

Q1. What artist has influenced you the most? 

I would have to say the Impressionists, and Turner.

Q2. What is it that inspires you most in Norfolk?

The sense of shifting light.

Q3. If you had to pick a favourite past artwork of yours what would it be?

My painting ‘ Gathering  Light’ I think realised something of the inner landscape as much as the external. It’s something I always strive for.

Q4. What are you working on at the movement?

Something darker than my previous work.

Q5. Can you choose 5 words that best describes your art?

Vibrant, colourful, light filled, emotive, uplifting,

 

 

Gathering Light

Gathering Light

Helen du Feu at work in her studio

Helen du Feu at work in her studio