Studio - day 5

Today I thought I would do a 'Meet the neighbours", section. so lets start with one of the most important people at Clevedon Craft Centre, Dottie from Dot Teas ( get it?). I have to avoiding going over to often as her lemon and blueberry cake is to die for. As you can see she does cream teas and lots of yummy goodies. Her son was there today playing the piano outside which was lovely for people as they sat outside.

She also does Pottery painting for children so is great for them to keep them occupied in the holidays.

So if you do manage to get to visit, make sure you visit Dot Teas.

I had a good day today, even though it was not hugely busy, I sold my first painting. Yay!!! I was so pleased I went and forgot to give the lovely lady her receipt, opps!!

I also finished my Rooftops painting so that is now on my display easel, along with other unframed pictures and if I have the energy I will list it on folksy as well.

Poor Mr WD had to make an emergency visit this morning, to bring me milk. What I had left over from the previous day, had turned overnight, yuck. After all how can you work without a cup of tea?

After some conversations I had over the last few days with various people, I decided I needed a bigger board outside. I also noticed that people with children were reluctant to come in and if they did, they came in separately, so I wanted to put a children welcome sign out.

This called for a Blue Peter moment this morning and I put together these laminated images I printed off last night. It definitely made a difference as I had more families in today.

I am not sure how many people are following, as I can't get my analytics to work properly, but I assume from the comments on folksy and e-mails( thanks Brenda) that a few people are interested, so I will ramble on for a few more days

janice x

studio - day 4

As he promised, my son became my first personal visitor, he was quite usefully as being over 6ft he cleared all the spider webs me and Mr Wellydog couldn't reach. He helped me move my desk around and bought me a bacon and sausage butty for lunch, great to have children to look after you in your old age isn't it.

He then had a long chat to the ducks , but wont tell me what he said to them!!!

It was good to have someone to chat to, but I did no work at all this morning, so this afternoon I started a painting of roof tops, that I have wanted to start for a while.

The gentelman artists I hadn't met yet came to see me. He gave me some good advice about displaying work. He said he felt people like to have something to browse through and he had a V shaped rack ( something like this http://www.artestuff.com/index.php?cPath=25_146) that he put some of his work in, and to be honest the first thing I did when I saw it was start to browse through, so I may have to get something similar, or get Mr WD to knock something together .

He also gave me the name of a local printer who prints art card for a very reasonable price, and told me of an open exhibition in Clevedon that I could submit work to on Monday, which I may just do.

I am grateful to ArtisanLeather who said on the folksy forum that it may be a good idea to put music on suggesting "it can help people feel more relaxed and browse for much longer, if you are happily absorbed in your work, and there is some music playing. Silence is awkward, and too much talking can make people feel pressured, so to have a bit of music at a low volume can be a help"

I had thought about it early on, but I was thinking it was for me as I like music when I work, I was worried about putting it so everyone could here, as most people who know me think its strange that I like to listen to John Barrowman and musicals. So suggestions please as what you think people will like???

I had 3 small sales, its not going to pay the rent, but at least its going in the right direction.

Above is the back of my studio, it looks like its out of another century doesn't it?

Tomorrow of course will be the start of my 1st weekend. I am hoping more people will come to browse, and maybe venture through my door. x

Studio Day 3

These little chaps came to visit me today, and inspired this little aceo. They had a good old splash around the back of my window, so much so I had to close the window as water was splashing in.

I finished my rope painting yesterday, so I cut a mount and framed it today. I have found the peace and quiet with no distractions has helped me concentrate, and I was surprised I finished it as I thought it would take much longer. So even with no sales ( well I did sell another bookmark again today) It is a joy to work in. I have noticed my paper is a bit damp, at this time of year its not a problem, But I will have to put a heater in when it gets colder I think.

Sisal rope

I forgot to tell you yesterday I had a gentelman who is interested in private tuition, so I gave him my details and fingers crossed he gets in touch.

I have learnt a few things in the last 2 days from customers. Firstly I got chatting to a chap who has done some exhibitions and he said he thought I should line my work up in straight lines as he was always told it help draw the eye to the work more. Once he had gone I found myself looking at the chaotic way I had hung the paintings and felt he may have a point. So when I framed the work today to put up, I decided to line things up a bit better and see if it made a difference.

Also I had a lady who commented on how diverse my subject matter was, I looked and thought, but its mostly water,and then I realised that I just hadn't got any order or colour coherence, so when moving things I tried to put subjects together better.

My son is coming to help me out tomorrow ( don't really know what he can do except have a nosey) , so I am going to have to steal a chair from home, so he has somewhere to sit when he comes Maybe he will be my first visitor!

See you tomorrow, I think I will continue for a few more days chatting about my experiences, I hope I don't bore you

Janice x

Studio Day 2 - a guided tour

I thought I would give you a little guided tour of the Clevedon Craft Centre where my studio is.

As you come through the entrance you can see the barn ahead where my little studio leans on the end off.

Walk over the bridge and look to the right and see the stream that the first barn sits along side. Jeffery the Jewellery maker has all of that little barn with a lovely large workshop.
I have yet to walk past the stream and not see ducks, if you are lucky you will see one of the baby MoorHens, But they are very quick and I couldn't get a photo

I have no idea what the little sentry box if for, it has a little chair in it so I will wait and see if anyone sits in it. As you can see from the sign there is 12 studios

Look by the side Of Studio 1 and you will see Lovely Dotty's Tea room, Yummy homemade cakes, so I will have to avoid them as I am trying to loose weight

Then you get to the barn I am in. The first Studio is Liz the potter. The next one is empty, I would have loved that one, as its bigger and lighter, but the rent is so much higher, so maybe if things go well I could move. Next one is Pat who is a clock repairer. Above the empty studio and Pats little home, is the teaching Room, where they have workshops and lessons, I am hoping to be able to get some workshops up and running so may rent it once in a while. Then there is Studio 11, my little home.

Then you walk past the barn to the next lot of studios. ( The building on the left is part of the holiday cottages) They are in a slightly more modern building. First you have Arnold who does the most amazing leather work. Then Gail the other Artist on site, she works with another artist, but I have yet to meet him

Richard and his wife then have a bead jewellery studio. After that is Tony a furniture restorer , Around the corner is studio 4b , but I haven't been in there as as its not been open since I started, so I may meet them soon.

I thought I would show you Jeffery's very cool little van that is parked outside,

Today I had my first sale only a little book mark but any sale is good. I also had a special little visitor , when a little field mouse walked through my door. Dotty came and saved me from it as I am such a wimp. I have been told I will get toads and that terrifies me as I hate the dam things. If they had told me that before I moved in I probably wouldn't have moved there!!!!

Studio Day One

So today I opened , I had a good morning, I had to price everything up and just get myself sorted, and of course there was the compulsory cups of tea.

At one stage there was a load noise outside my window and there were these herberts splashing around outside and having a good wash, lovely to watch and inspiration for a painting I think.

There wasn't many people coming in and I started to notice that people were peeping in from outside but not venturing in. I had a little look around and realised that the other studios, had signs outside telling people they were open, so I decided I needed to make one.

Here is my quick make, I will try and get a big board and paint it up soon, as a more permanent replacement.

I managed to waste most of the morning and had a few people coming in to chat to. I made a bit of a discovery that I will watch over the next weeks, to see if I am right. I think if I chatted to much to people when they first came in, they finished the conversation and then just left without really looking at the work. Whereas if I just said hello as they entered and got on with my work, they looked for longer and I still could chat as they were leaving. They not only stayed a bit longer but also gave me comments. I had one lady tell me the work was beautiful and another who loved a particular piece, you never know she my come back for it. No sales but that's fine and hopefully it will build.

So this afternoon I was running out of time So I just painted the 2 aceos you see below. Plus another one that I need to photograph a bit better.

Pat next door who is a clock repairer and has some wonderful restored Teasmades, is nice, helpful and very welcoming. Also the potter lady was also very nice when I met her briefly.

I am loving being there and I just hope I can make it work so I can stay for a very long time to come.

Opening Hours

I've had a few people say they will pop in and see me in the new studio, Just thought I had best let you know my opening hours. It may change later on but at the moment I am thinking it will be

Mondays - Closed

Tuesdays - Closed

Wednesday- 10am - 5pm

Thursday - 10am - 5pm

Friday - 10am - 5pm

Saturday - 10am - 5pm

Sunday - 2pm - 5pm

The paintings have arrived

The paintings are up...... not an easy feat in a 17th century Barn , thank goodness the last owner ( an illustrator) left the large board up.

Every time I tried to knock a nail in the wall then loose paint, old filler and bits of stone would fall out, so I decided to use all the old screws nails and picture hooks that had been left behind, so perhaps not the layout I would have ideally liked, but I will get in and see what happens, I may move it all around next week, who knows????

Can you see my ACEO's in a frame in the window, this window is lovely and looks out on a little pond at the back with ducks in. I didn't get any duck visitors today but apparently I am likely to.
Most people don't work there on a Monday, so the centre is closed. but we still had a few visitors which was nice.

So even though I wont be working on a Tuesday normally I will have my first official opening day tomorrow..... and you know what I am looking forward to it x