My paintings are delivered to the gallery!

Thank goodness I had another three weeks between the end of the school holidays and the start of my show. I thought I was all but ready back in July but I had clearly forgotten how long those extra jobs take - organising framing, painting edges, photographing, labelling, deciding on names - agghh! Have been run ragged this last week. Anyway, delivered the paintings this morning on time. Now really looking forward to the opening night on Tuesday.

Another Sneak preview!

Just a week to go till my opening night so I thought I'd give you a sneak preview of a couple more new pieces from the show. They don't even have finalised titles yet but the one above shows Crag Vale in early morning light and below is light through the mist on hills above Mytholmroyd. Its still not too late to book free tickets to the opening night just post below.

Mostly just touching up my edges and attaching hangings now, really just can't wait to get on with it - getting a little twitchy to be honest. So when the offer came of a weekend away with some friends I realised that what I really needed was a change of scene, so this weekend I headed off to the lakes. We climbed Helvelin on Saturday (was coaxed into going striding edge way - not the less wobbly knee-inducing way as planned. Felt pretty exhilarated on the top though.) Pub quiz followed in the evening followed by morning run and mooching round Ambleside on Sunday. A lovely weekend, although I have to say am now making my final preparations for the show in a rather blurry-eyed way. Hey ho!wwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwiiiii

Friends - old and new!

A Different Light - Kate Boyce Solo at The Calder Gallery

There will soon be an opportunity to see a collection of new paintings by me at The Calder Gallery in Hebden Bridge. My previous three solos there were a good success and I am really looking forward to this one and the chance at the opening night to meet those people who are interested in my work whether they be returning customers or people who are simply interested in seeing my originals 'in real life' having only previously seen my prints.

There is nothing like an impending solo show to make me knuckle down to some serious painting so I have produced over twenty new pieces for this show. The work is inspired by local yorkshire landscapes and beyond and ranges from mixed media canvas's of varying size to framed works on paper. Some of the pieces involve my collage techniques using photographic transfers and others are more abstract and purely about the paint. There are also some townscapes in my newer style of drawing on old papers ( see previous post 20/20 vision ). I find it interesting and fun to work in eclectic and varied ways at present and the exhibition reflects this. Hopefully visitors will find it interesting and fun too!

A Different Light by Kate Boyce is at The Calder Gallery from September 23rd till October 19th 2009

For an Invite to The Opening night on Sept 22nd Please leave a comment :)

Awww Cute!

The First shaky pics of our new kittens!! Fingers crossed they're ours anyway, we have a home visitor checking us out today then hopefully in a couple of days we'll be picking them up. Izzie and I found them at the RSPCA this week. It is all so exciting, for me as much for the children. I think maybe even Charlie is showing a slight interest!! We have been waiting all summer for the right time to start looking - till after our trips away to Scotland and Wales.

Talking of waiting, its been kind of a while since I posted here as well. I might even get around to mentioning my work later today - my brain has not really been very focused on such things during the school Hols, not totally a bad thing!

ARTSY GALLERY 3

Hi, Just to let you know that you can see my latest ARTSY Treasury of quality Etsy Fine Art HERE Today. If you are interested in being featured in future ARTSY Treasuries just leave a comment and I will see if anything fits into my next theme. Best Wishes, Kate :)

Eternal ( 20:20 Vision )

*

Our fundraising exhibition at the weekend was called 20:20 (Celebrating 20 years of Northlight Studios ) and this was my take on the title. Hope you like it - something a bit different for me. I really like working with old book pages - altering the text by cutting, painting over and re-arranging. Suddenly a new narrative appears. This piece uses pages from Wuthering Heights, and old wartime magazines. It seems to me that hidden stories emerge from the history and nature of the landscape and maybe it is about something that is eternally a part of the place. Finally it is about slowing down to see whats around us with a clear vision.

The original piece was auctioned off but I was asked if I would make any prints so here we are. I have just added it to my Etsy shop and will soon follow suit with my own website and folksy. :)

Open Studio Weekend and etsy shopping!

Had a great weekend of Open Studios again. It was lovely to see so many people through the doors some familliar faces and also many new. Now that Hebden Bridge has several studios with more than a few artists and craftspeople in each I think people really find it worth their while coming over. Quite a tiring weekend though, and one of my favorite ways to wind down these days is making Etsy Treasuries - The one above I made late on Saturday evening and consequently went to bed more blurry eyed than ever...but oh well. I also ended up falling for one of the items myself but its going to make a lovely birthday present.

Anyway , back to the Open Studios. I got some great feedback on my work as well as some sales so now I feel raring to go for my Solo in September. Plenty of people said they were going to come along to the opening.
Sarah Courtney took some great pics of the weekend so I should be able to borrow some to post on here tomorrow. - shes much braver than me at taking shots of people.

Hebden Bridge Open Studios & My Calder Gallery Solo Show in September.

Just to remind anyone within a stones-throw of West Yorkshire that it is the Hebden Bridge Open Studios next weekend and I will be taking part. I am based at Northlight Studios and will be open on 3rd, 4th, 5th, of July from 11am-5pm. This will be an ideal opportunity to see my work in person, so to speak and I will be there too with a selection of original paintings and a wide selection of prints. Much of my most recent work will however will be in hiding as it is set aside for my solo show at the Calder Gallery in September. ( If you would like invites for the Private view for that show on Sep 22nd please let me know and I will be happy to pass on your details to the Gallery).
If you would like more detailed info about the location of the studio please visit Northlights Website here. Or if you would like more details on the Open Studios as a whole please visit here

Kate Boyce
Northlight Art Studios
Valley Rd
Hebden Bridge
HX7 7BZ

A Fabulous Show !!

Went to my Niece Amy Kirmans Degree Show at Preston on Friday. What a professional exhibition - I was amazed at how her work has developed. Most of all congratulations to her for getting on to the Post Grad teaching course . Shes going to make such a cool Teacher and I know shes got the strength of character for it after Teaching at an American Summer Camp last year. Well done Amy !!
As for the Degree Show as a whole there was some really top quality work and quite a range of styles from drawing and painting to installation and video. Really glad I was invited.
By the way, Amy appears on the right of the photo ( Not the one in front trying to steal the show or the one on the left who wishes she was 22 and only just graduating !! )

Still in love with the sea.

Returned last week from ten days and nights on Uist ( It was meant to be only nine but clearly we didn't know enough about the unpredictability of Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries - thanks so much to Donald for allowing us the extra night! )
Uist was wonderful despite the changeable weather and the fact I had a virus for most of the holiday. The landscape was such a contrast to the steep hills and valleys here in West Yorkshire - it was fantastic to be able to see such far reaching wide open space all around us. I also loved the the character of the buildings, old and new, the people and the amount of bird life. Last but not least the beaches were amazing - beautiful white sand stretching all the way along the west coast of the island and such peace and tranquility - I had to remind myself one day that it was bank holiday Monday, as myself and the girls seemed to have the beach to ourselves. ( Charlie was off on a 50 mile bike ride that day. )

Just this weekend I started some lino-cuts inspired by the landscape and bird life. - Spent most of last week still layed up with virus - didn't rest much whilst there, hence it dragging on I guess. Anyway almost right now so back to it. Lots to work towards - Hebden Bridge Open Studios in a few weeks plus my Solo at Calder Gallery in September.

Here's a lovely reminder of the sea for all us land-lubbers! Helen from fellpainter included a piece of mine in this beautiful treasury of hers today.(Click to view) Thanks Helen.

Latest Treasury

5 Days to do!..Till we go to Uist. Can't think of much else now, though i'm trying ( not hard enough or I wouldn't be sat here) to finish off a couple of paintings before I go. My latest Etsy Treasury pays homage to the Scottish Isles - Click here to view some beautiful work.

Last year when we went to Arisaig I had decided to take a break from work..ha ha, thank goodness the girls had a box of watercolours with them. This year I'm definitely going tooled up - gear will include some battered old books that I have gessoed ready to draw and paint in. Hopefully the whole family will get creative and we'll have some lovely chilled out days. We're also taking our bikes though as it should be perfect for cycling (obviously dependant on the old weather!) The other holiday essentials? anti midge an tick devices! Going to try not to dwell too much memories of those blighters!! :)

Special Offer

I have a new special offer on prints at my Etsy Shop this month. Take a peek if you will :)

Grand Canal, Venice

Yeah!!!!!!! A wonderful Hot Pink Treasury created by curiodesigns
features my 'Grand Canal Venice' print and apparently today made it to the front page of Etsy - Click here to view. Thanks so much Rio!! :)

The Leeds Art Fair

If any of you are in the North of England next weekend you might want to pop along to the Leeds Art Fair. I shall be represented there by The Bowery Gallery from Headingley in Leeds. My work will include these two pieces - 'Ground Flora, Widdop Road' (above) and Higher Crimsworth,(below) each 40cm square and mixed media. The Art Fair is from Friday 1st to Monday 4th of May at The Light Shopping Centre, Leeds.

Young Back Door 25/04/09

Ran my First Ever couple of childrens workshops at Northlights Yesterday. I really did enjoy it and it seemed the kids did too - they came up with some great results as you can see from the examples below. They made paper puppets/dolls that were magnetised and painted their own background boards that i'd previously painted with magnetic paint. It was wonderful to see what different and surprising styles they all had. It was quite a challenging day but rewarding - I shall definately do it again. I just want to say a big thankyou to Amy for helping me out :)

Childrens Workshop

I'm running the first of three children's art workshops this Saturday at Northlight Studios, Hebden Bridge. ( The second two will be the following two Saturdays and will be led by Paula Chambers)

At present there are still places for the morning session for under 8's (accompanied by an adult) and afternoon session for 9-13's. Places are limited so book now!

please email Northlights if you are interested and want more information
info@northlightstudio.co.uk

or contact me direct

kateboyceart@hotmail.co.uk

2.73 Miles

2.73 Miles...

an exhibition of paintings by Tina Mammoser

at the Calder Gallery from 28th April until 24th May

I'm looking forward to seeing this exhibition next week. Have seen some of Tinas work before and I love it. I'm also quite in awe of her quest to cycle around the coast painting the landscape, whilst I continue to plough the same furrow along the Haworth Old road and back. Maybe one day...

Here's what the Calder Gallery says:

"We first saw Tina’s work at a show in Harrogate and we were captivated by her beautiful use of colour and the atmospheric qualities of her work. Known as the ‘Cycling Artist’, Tina is showing a selection of work from her ongoing project to cycle around the entire coast of the UK, making paintings as she goes. She is fascinated by light, space, simplicity and abstracting the landscape. Tina says that her paintings attempt to ‘capture moments, impressions, a more real memory than the detailed one we might create in our mind’ or see in a photograph. We’d love to see you at the preview of these lovely, soft paintings." Sue and Phil

20 Market Street, Hebden Bridge, HX7 6AA 01422 843832 http://www.caldergallery.co.uk/

Treasuries and Treasure Hunts

Just Discovered That my painting 'International Buffet' of Chinatown, Manchester is currently featured in an Etsy Treasury - 'No one does it like you' by 'hillarietasche' Thanks Hillarie! ( I've also just discovered (finally) how to post a hidden link here in my blog - not rocket science is it but quite a breakthrough for me. ) I have a print of this painting in my Etsy shop but the original can be seen at Artzu Gallery, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester. (Link-Mania Now!)

I had intended to be shopping in Manchester with the girls yesterday as an Easter Holiday treat but we were all so tired out from two intensive days in the Peak District. We stayed in a Youth Hostel in Edale - just for one night but managed to pack in a lovely bike ride on the Tissington Trail, (stopping halfway for a Deryshire Cream Tea, yumm!), followed by a Table Football Tournament at the Hostel. Then the second day we walked over Losehill to Castleton where we went down one of the Blue John mines. There are several but we picked the Speedwell Cavern which you travel through by boat. It was great fun and the kids loved it (though they weren't so pleased about having to find our way back to the Hostel and the car- we didn't drag them back over the hill but it still involved too much walking! Luckily we had lots of biscuits with us!)

Really looking forward to a week on Uist (The outer Hebrides) next school Break. It'll be lovely to spend Ten nights away - we are really lucky to live where we do but it can feel really busy here and its good to have a change. Finally got round to booking the Ferry last night so starting the count down now - Only six weeks to go!

Thinking of countdowns though, have just worked out I've only Twelve working weeks till the Summer Holidays and my Calder Gallery Show is in September. I also have other Commissions to finish- so some serious painting to be done after Easter. I did manage to finish two Landscapes in that last week of term. (No photos yet.) I need to be working on some new ideas now.

PIF WINNERS

A genuine HAT containing names of the fifteen contestants! And the Winners are...

Congratulations!!! to Jo Bradford, SF ( Sarah ) and Dovedale! Winners please notify me of your postage details through my shop or Email kateboyceart@hotmail.co.uk You will soon receive the archival print of your choice!

Sorry to those that didn't win. I'm sure to do something similar again. Watch this space!

New Oddgems Jewelery

Spent yesterday making jewelery at home because I had a little one at home sick (again). Was intending to be painting at the studio and eating Birthday cake with the others at lunchtime but hey ho! Anyways, got quite a few pairs of earings made and loaded some into the shop : take a peak: www.OddGems.etsy.com

OddGems is currently included in this BNR: http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=49392...so if you buy something there today you can GET AN ITEM OF YOURS INTO A TREASURY

Right, must get on with some painting girl!

PS. Oh yes, Repro Print PIF finishes today at 6pm GMT (see earlier post)

Multi-directional work!

My work's been taking me in a few different directions this week. And yes I do mean IT taking ME because I've had some sort of flu virus ever since the Craft Fair last Sunday and my head has been somewhat fuddled! I'm absolutely useless at doing nothing though so have kept busy though without direction. I kept planning to work in the studio- was desperate to work on the landscapes I had started but couldn't manage more than three or four hours all week!
I did manage however, at home to do some experimenting with painting and drawing on old book pages (see above) Its something I've been thinking about for a while - would be interested to know what you think. Have also today been working on my polymer clay jewellery- the craft fair last week made me realise I need more small stuff to sell!
I really hope I get in the studio for much of next week before the Easter holidays. Flitting about has started to send me just slightly loopy! I snagged a treasury today and gave it a crazy theme to acknowledge my plight- Take a peak at 'Blue Moon MADNESS' here:http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=48612

New Course - Paper Arts and assemblage.

New Course run by ME at Northlight Studios, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Wed 9.30am - 12.00 Start Date 22nd April 2009
10 weeks
Paper Arts and Assemblage.
Tutor: Kate Boyce
cost £85
A series of projects experimenting with collage, transfer and paint. The work also incorporates found objects, personal imagery and text.

For more info see NS Website http://www.northlightstudio.co.uk/ or phone 01422 843 519

or contact me.

The general ethos will be an informal gathering, exchanging ideas, having fun and growing creatively! All abilities welcome. Disabled access.

Mothers Day Craft Fair !!!

I'm taking part in this on Sunday. It looks to be a pretty upmarket affair with many quality makers including the likes of 'Hannah Nunn' as featured on the flyer. If you are within Striking distance of West Yorkshire come along. Its just outside Bradford near the beautiful Shipley Glen and up the road from 'Salts Mill' where you'll find works by David Hockney. Why not make a day of it!

PIF Giveaway - A chance to WIN one of my Reproduction, Archival Prints!!!

Here's a chance to WIN one of my Reproduction, Archival Prints !!! This is a PIF ( Pay it forward http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay_it_forward) I was one of three lucky winners of a print by LittleBird (http://verylittlebird.blogspot.com/) and now I am passing the competition forward !

I will send three lucky Winners one of my prints and in return all you have to do is "pay it forward", either with art works ( if you too are a maker/blogger) or alternatively you could pledge to clear your neighbour's path or help a work colleague or something like that.

All you have to do is visit my Etsy shop and leave a comment after this post here on my blog to say which print you like and if I draw you name I will happily send you that print. Three names will be drawn out of a hat on March 31st, 6pm GMT. Good Luck !!!

PS. The Picture above is of 'Rooftops at Nutclough' a new addition to the range of reproduction prints in my Etsy Shop - More being added daily. ( http://www.kateboyce.etsy.com/ )

Spring has sprung!

Ok, maybe not officially but it certainly feels spring-like here today. So posting a lovely yellow picture to celebrate. This is 'Water Flow to Old Town Mill', a mixed media on canvas that I sold a couple of years ago but it is now available as a Giclee print on archive paper - uploaded it to my Etsy shop along with a couple of others yesterday.

Well my luck seems to be holding up at the moment. Despite things slowing down and my frequent feers for the worst in the current climate, I have had a number of sales lately including 'Storm Brewing Over Oats Royd Mill' (See earlier blog) from The Calder Gallery. Then there's also been some lovely things like one of my paintings featured in Blog by Karen fields http://karenfieldsgallery.blogspot.com/

Then today - wonderfull news have won an original lino print by Scotish artist 'littlebird' http://verylittlebird.blogspot.com/ in her 'Pay It Forward competition. More details to follow. Will also soon be posting details of a course I am proposing to run at the Education room at Northlights. Watch this space.

Inspiration

Well, it was a lovely bright morning when I took the girls to school so I thought I'd go for a run when I got back before starting some work. By ten o'clock though this was the scene that greeted me! What a twist of fortune though because I didn't even realise that it was misty moody weather that I would be needing to inspire me for my next set of landscapes. Have been thinking of doing some more pieces along the lines of 'First light at Horsehold' (see a couple of posts ago). I've allways loved this piece but my work took a different turn after comleting it. So time to revisit and explore more possibilities. I'm going to work along the same lines in terms of proportion, dark and light balance and the importance of spacious painted areas. Will also explore though new landscapes, colour pallettes, and lightness. Have started to work on a few colour studies today whilst I still have pictures in my mind from my run. Didnt actually have the camera with me - above picture taken when I returned, inevitably too late. There was a moment when the cloud lifted slightly and a strip of sun on the horizon lit the middle ground. Hope I can capture it!

Must put my hours in at the studio next week. Have had a sick child again for most of this week but hopefully thats the end of it for now.

A Comical pair

Had a bit of an early start this morning. Not only was it Comic Relief Day so appropriate costumes needed for school, but also its Evies Birthday (pictured right) so lots of present giving and excitement. I cant believe shes TEN! That means ten years of motherhood for me, only three years till I have a teenager in the house etc etc and all those other thoughts that flash across your mind when you don't want them to. Thankfully shes not wanting to grow up too quickly it seems - she decided to be a rag doll for the day today and how gorgeous she looked. Izzie dressed all in red and when asked by Evie what she was declared she was in fact a Red Nose!

Storm Brewing, Oats Royd Mill

One of my most recent paintings currently on show at The Calder Gallery, Hebden Bridge . This is one of two larger scale pieces they have of mine at present ( 90 x 70 cm's ). I am happy to say that its hanging above the front desk - a spot that has proved lucky for me in the past, so fingers crossed! Had some good feedback already.

The Calder Gallery has two rooms - one of which is usually a mixed show and the other often a solo. My turn will be at the end of September. This month it is the turn of painter Eric Appleton.

We went to the preview evening on Tuesday. Unfortunately the artist himself couldn't make it but there were some lovely people there including several I knew so it was a pleasant evening. Eric's work met with a very favorable response. The piece below called 'Early start' is apparently the artists own favorite and mine too.

http://www.caldergallery.co.uk/

PS. One of my pictures has been featured in an Etsy Treasury!

Link to http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=43875

Thanks Victoria ( www.Furiousdreams.etsy.com )

Hooray! A Treasury!

At Last I managed to get a slot to create my own Treasury on Etsy. That means curating a magazine page of some of your favorite items from other sellers - what fun. See mine ' A Secret Garden' here : http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=43318 .

This is one of the twelve featured items 'Gothic Hare' a print by Valentinesattic of Cornwall valentinesattic.etsy.com

Part of the inspiration for this collection (besides the obvious wonderful Children's Classic story)comes from a childhood memory of mine. I will explain more shortly as this leads swiftly on to five random things I need to write about myself ( I was tagged by my friend Hannah Nunn http://hannahnunn.blogspot.com/.)

So, the rules of this game...

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules in your blog
3. Write five random things about yourself
4. Tag random people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person know they've been tagged

So, Here I go..

1. There used to be an old wooden door at the bottom of the garden when I was a child. It was always locked and I used to imagine a secret Garden on the other side. I later discovered it was just an alleyway but I have always loved the idea of discovering secret places. I have from time to time dreamed of discovering hidden rooms in whatever house I live in at the time. I wake up feeling disappointed but also still quite excited with a faint belief that anything is possible. The same goes for flying dreams which I'm occasionally lucky enough to have.

2. With the birth of my first daughter imminent and time between contractions lessening my husband Charlie rushed me off to hospital with no delay...except the necessary stop at a newsagents for chocolate and magazines!....I can't cope with anything without these vices!

3. I'm a bit of a twitcher and general nature lover. Last year on a boat trip from Arisaig to Muck I saw a Basking Shark! This May we're going to the Isles of Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Its apparently brilliant for wildlife, I'm so excited already!

4. I'd love to travel more. A couple of years ago I went with Charlie to Venice for just two nights. It was fantastic and I'm still feeding off it for my work. The older I get the more excited I seem to get about different places, history and culture.

5. I sometimes worry that my head is going to pop because I get ideas for my work faster than I could ever put them into practice and I spin off in too many directions. Work is so exciting...and frustrating!

I Tag:
Shelley http://oiseaux.typepad.com/
Sam http://samdolman.blogspot.com/ and
http://valentinesattic.blogspot.com/ ..........sorry folks!

Rollercoaster of a week

Just thought I'd show you the latest two prints to be added to my Etsy shop: www.kateboyce.etsy.com. Both have been popular pieces sold from my Open Studios and local Galleries.

This one First Light at Horsehold one of my early works was the first ever original that The Calder Gallery sold for me.

And this one 'Into the Valley ' is from last years collection.

I will be putting more prints in my shop soon. In the meantime if there are any paintings you know of from my website www.kateboyce.co.uk that you would like to buy a print of , just let me know.

I had great news at the weekend my first Etsy sale of two Originals to a customer from North Carolina - How exciting. Just the sort of news I needed after a week overshadowed by losing my beloved cat of seventeen years.

A final bit of news is that you can now also buy my fun Polymer Clay jewellery ( see below ) online from http://www.oddgems.etsy.com/

In Loving Memory of Harley/Harlesden/Denny/Bendo 1991-2009

Tolerant, loving, independent, playful,loyal and a good listener...all the characteristics I could wish for in a friend.

'Number Nine Rock'

At last I can show the commission I've been working on for the last few weeks. The customers picked it up yesterday and I can safely say they were really pleased. It is an assemblage of three panels -mixed media on wood. It is based on Shipley Glen a beauty spot near Bradford very popular in the past as a day trip destination for workers from the textile mills. Until a few years ago much of the old fairground still existed, now there is just a Tramway and a disused dodgems ride. It remains though a beautiful and atmospheric place

This is the piece closed -

and open -
and in detail - Its always lovely to make artwork for friends and really heartwarming to find that it makes them happy. This was a particularly enjoyable commission as it gave me the opportunity to do something I'd had in mind for a while - to make something that was very much about the history of a place and using old imagery and found objects. I'd love to do more work like this.


Talking of historical places, here's my very own time team on Tuesday exploring Vindolanda - an ancient Roman site near Hadrians wall. Its not far from Charlies mum and dads house but the first time we visited here. The girls seem to be just at the right age for it now - both mad about history and old things. What lovely enigmatic smiles.