Swindon Open Studios 2014 starting this week-end

The Swindon Open Studios 2014 are starting this week-end 6th/7th of September and next week-end,13th/14th of September.

This year, I am not taking part, but I will enjoy visiting some of the studios.

Below is a short promotional video for the event:



If you cannot see the embedded video, you can watch it on YouTube.

For more information on venues in and around Swindon, visit the Swindon Open Studios website: http://swindonopenstudios.yolasite.com/

An original brush rest

I was looking for a brush rest. They have some in artists’ supply catalogues but the choice is limited to a boring white ceramic model. Not very exciting...

A brush rest prevents the wet brush from touching the table or rolling on it. This is exactly what a chopsticks holder does. And now, by looking at chopsticks holders, I had a vast choice of brush rests.

I bought the one in the photographs below at a street market in Hong Kong. 

My new temporary studio

Here it is: my new temporary studio. We moved house just before Christmas and, until I get a proper studio built in the back garden, I will use the conservatory as a temporary studio.

It's great to have a space where you can leave the work in progress on the easel. It is a little bit cold at the moment and I look forward for the day becoming longer to get more natural light.

As you can see below, my art supply, frames and framed works are stored in there for the moment. I need to hang a few pictures in the house and get the storage organised.

The view into the back garden is nice. However, my table is turned the other way, so I don't get too distracted.

I will need to do some research on building an artist studio and I will share what I can find on the blog.