July 2021

Art, exhibitions, meditation, Outdoor life, painting

I haven’t posted since April – where did the time go? Hope you are all staying well and enjoying some more freedoms than before and some lovely summer weather. I am revelling in the gardens and hedgerows at the moment – literally rolling around in grass like a puppy sometimes – I think it’s just a release from the darkness and enclosure of a strange winter.

There’s plenty of inspiration for shape, colour and pattern down there at welly level!

Much Wenlock, Shropshire – ‘The Spiritual In Nature Exhibition’

Now we can freely travel and visit places again, you may like to visit this gorgeous village in the heart of some beautiful countryside. There are antiques shops, bookshops, a yarn shop and plenty of lovely food outlets.

Excitingly I have an exhibition there for the whole of July – although please note that the venue, The Guildhall, is open Fridays to Mondays 11am – 4pm. It’s an amazing building itself – built in 1540. You can go into the courtroom and the council chamber which features the most exquisite wood carvings and furniture.

Cards and prints will also be on sale and I will be there on some of the days – this morning, next Friday afternoon and the 11th July. Other times I will drop in too. Let me know if you would like to meet.

The exhibition is my response to lockdown, featuring birds and wildlife that we could see through windows as we felt so trapped inside. But didn’t we come to appreciate it? Didn’t we notice its importance? Also I am addressing in my work, the need for new myths and tales to be told for our future generations about what we have learned about changes to environment through the actions of mankind.

The address of the Guildhall is 1 Wilmore St, Much Wenlock TF13 6HR.
There are stairs to climb to the first floor. The exhibition and entry to the building is free but please expect to wear a mask. The red blob below on the map is opposite the Guildhall.

TF13 6HR

Here are a few of the paintings in the exhibition. There are thirteen altogether.

In other news

I have achieved the desire of a lifetime which is to by myself a Campervan (not a VW trend-setter one!) to travel, read, write and spend time discovering more of our beautiful natural world. You could call it a mobile ashram and painting studio! There is loads of room for art materials and the potential for lots of silence, stillness and solitude. Expect more of this:

… anyway it’s all too exciting – I am looking for places to park up cheaply, walk and paint. I could deliver a mindfulness and art workshop near you with a group of your friends?

Wolf Town Art Club

I have decided to take a small break from our fabulous art club which has happened monthly online over the past year and we will resume in the latter part of the year. We all need to be out there at the moment, whilst we can!

Community Art Projects

I’m in the middle of two funding bids at the moment for some funding for great projects – watch this space – should know more at the beginning of August.

Meditation and Wellness Sessions

These are still online – you can find out more and book here (Gatis Community Centre) and here (Boundary Way Project).

That’s it folks!

Meanwhile get out there, smell the roses, make some marks, draw some and ENJOY THE SUMMER!

Love and best wishes

Clare Wassermann

Summer Sunshine

Art, exhibitions, Outdoor life, workshops

At last it is truly here! The British Summer. Time to throw the studio windows open and get out and about in the garden and plein air sketching.

I have just had an enjoyable time in Wales discovering the area between Cwmtydu and Cardigan. Unspoilt and rugged, the cliffs inspired some sketching and the beaches and hedgerows inspired some walking. Waterfalls on beaches and quiet roads have made this place a new favourite for me.

Japan Work

This year has mostly been taken up with a consolidation of two visits to Japan. I cannot begin to describe how this country appeals to me so much. The people, the countryside, the efficiency and ethos captivate and of course the temples are an utter sanctuary. In these tranquil places every angle seems to be a perfectly framed view.

I kept several travel sketchbooks whilst there and have been invited to make an exhibition on the theme this summer. Here is a glimpse but there are about twenty works in total. The date is to be confirmed but it will be at Cafe 86’d in Ironbridge, Shropshire for a couple of months. This is one of my very favourite eating establishments in the UK – my go to for lunch when in the vicinity.

These pieces feature many, many layers of collected papers, stitch, pencil and ink. Others are painted but layered in the same way. It has been a definite labour of total love.

Events in the Studio

As ever there are plenty of things going on in my lovely studio at Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton. Tonight there is a Women’s Circle which will also happen on July 2nd, the next New Moon. Only £5 – a chance to connect in peace. Let me know if you would like to come. Info here although the second date is wrong – it should read Tuesday 2nd July
https://www.facebook.com/events/673197123130651/

Otherwise there are more events on the Workshops page

Boundary Way

Boundary Way Allotments Project has had a new round of funding and this year some of the focus is on the role of fungi in nature. We had a superb visit from Rich Wright of Kew Gardens. He is a Mycologist and told us so many interesting facts about mushrooms and the amazing mycelium layer below the ground connecting plants and trees that we were all really inspired.

Hannah Boyd and myself had a lovely afternoon sketching fungi and making folding books from abstracted mushroom related art with a group of Bpoundary Way artists. More events are to come for the public in the Summer. One is here but I think it is sold out – watch this space for more.

Wolverhampton Society of Artists

I have recently joined this Society which is 100 years old this year. There has recently been an exhibition for new members to exhibit in. I was pleased to have sold these two pieces and look forward to spending more time with the society.

Holcome Pink Foot – oil on canvas 12″x12″

In The Womb Of The Earth – Hare – oil on canvas 20″ x 12″

There is one other available in the series:

*In The Womb Of The Earth – Foxes- oil on canvas 20″ x 12″*

and a sketch for a badgers piece is waiting!

I am sure there is a lot more to say – but it is time to go and enjoy the sunshine! See you soon.

Clare xxx

Why I have walked and sketched in the cold so much this long winter

exhibitions, Outdoor life, workshops

Welcome to Spring!

At last the weather is warming, the buds are unfurling and the blossom is about to burst. We are starting to think about going outside in our gardens and sampling some country air. For me I am excited to be out in nature walking in the woods and having a bit of a commune with some trees!!

I’ve done a lot of walking and sketching this long cold winter …. why?

My first solo exhibition

I am incredibly happy to announce that I have been asked by The Museum of Cannock Chase to produce a large amount of work for an exhibition in their lovely gallery.
I have been busy walking Hednesford Hills, Brocton Coppice and other areas of The Chase and exploring the animals, scenery and plant life, painting and sketching in the landscape. It’s been a long and cold winter and sometimes the paint froze on palette and paper. Sometimes I used my iPad to sketch in a David Hockney fashion to alleviate the problem. It has all resulted in a growing fondness for the area and a body of work that I have really enjoyed. I have worked in oil, acrylic, mixed media and textiles and have relished the focus that it has brought to my practice.

I’d love you to come

The exhibition runs from Saturday 28th April until 17th June and the museum is open from 11am until 5pm 7 days a week (last entry 4.30pm).
There is a nice little coffee shop and other exhibits to look at plus some gorgeous walks right on the doorstep. There’s plenty of parking and the gallery is accessible to all.
Here is a link to the website so you can find out more

Workshops for You

A new list of exciting creative workshops in this lovely light and spacious Victorian Studio at Newhampton Arts Centre over on my website – click HERE.

They range from oil painting, encaustic wax art, a day of pastel tuition, meditative sound baths to creative textile work and feltmaking as well as batik and an art club every month.

Some of these days are run by me and some by a lovely group of tutors who are experts in their fields.
Newhampton Arts Centrre is a hive of activity in Wolverhampton and it’s website is here – please see what else there is for you.

Please get in touch if there’s something else you’d like to see happening or if you would like to run a workshop yourself.

Do keep revisiting the website because more is always being added!

You will always be made most welcome so why not explore your creative side and try something new?

Meanwhile enjoy the warmer weather and stay well, happy and creative

One Great Easy Way To Bring Nature Into Your Work Life

Outdoor life

Creative thinking out of doors

Do you find yourself sitting in front of a screen for hours, hard to tear yourself away because of the endless trails of ‘research’ it can lead you on? Do you worry that that you spend too much time in meeting rooms and offices? Is the only opportunity you have for outdoor time at the weekend and even then there are too many jobs to get through you miss the chance?

Here’s a great idea which I guarantee will benefit your outlook, perspective and health. I experience this way as often as I can and it’s very rewarding.

Here’s an example from this week. A brainstorming session was required and idea generation was the purpose of a meeting with two other artists.

We decided to meet at Attingham Park National Trust instead of an office or studio space. The snowdrops were calling. Here we were, three practising artists with different but complementary practices who are involved at Boundary Way Project an allotment site in Wolverhampton which aims to bring arts and health to the community in a natural setting amongst other exciting activities.

As an experiment with meeting venues we met up in the lovely courtyard cafe at Attingham and obviously needed some analytical warm up discussions regarding the excellent quality of cake and coffee first. Then we got down to business.

It was very quiet at 10am and there was excellent easy to access wifi to help us to share links etc. Not many people around, even on a sunny day until 11.45 when the lunch crowd arrived but even then it’s such a huge group of rooms there’s plenty of room. We still had loads of space around us and there’s no background music thankfully.

The clincher

After the main body of the meeting we took a walk for half an hour together. THIS IS THE CLINCHER IN MY VIEW. This distinguishes the experience from meeting in a coffee shop.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

During the walk many other ideas emerged and were discussed in a more creative way. I’m sure this is to do with fresh air, moving our bodies and feeling the spaciousness and freedom. Also visual stimulation (especially for artists, but I believe for all) can provoke new thoughts of course.

Thank you to Moya Lloyd and Anne Marie Lagram for your huge creative input. We have many exciting plans.

having to investigate a lovely fallen tree

inspiration for drawing

We will definitely meet this way again – maybe at other National Trust properties where there are similar facilities and stimulation – not to mention great sticky ginger cake!

An opportunity for you to get outdoors with me

If you would like to experience an outdoor environment (with good indoor space if the weather is not so good) and try your hand at easy art making, please have a look at this event in June this year CLICK HERE and consider joining me at Boundary Way. No experience needed but you will go away refreshed, artified and with a beautiful book to take home.

For other workshop opportunities with me in my lovely Victorian studio in Wolverhampton:

Please go to the Workshops page of this site

The Crows, The Plot and The Wrekin 12″ x 12″ SOLD

Clare Wassermann Art

work in paint and stitch