2019 Round Up and Onwards to 2020

Art, exhibitions, PhD, workshops

Well here it is – the blog post that is there because I haven’t yet written all my Christmas cards – who else uses displacement activities?

I’m keeping it brief but just to say it has been a busy year. The first part was taken up with the Japan Exhibition in Ironbridge which then ran from August to November and was really successful.

In between I have had a lot of illustration projects, some commissions and some lovely workshop teaching as well as pursuing development of my own painting techniques and ideas.

Apart from this I have very much enjoyed completing a two year meditation teacher training course which has in itself furthered a meditation practice which I have had for over thirty years.

Zen Garden by Clare Wassermann

So, on to 2020… In relation to the above, I am teaching a morning workshop on January 8th called “A Practical Introduction to Effective Meditation” which will be a lovely taster session to some ongoing sessions throughout the year. Several techniques for meditation will be used plus some easy movement and deep relaxation. These will be held in my beautiful studio in Wolverhampton. Details and booking here: on Eventbrite

Looking ahead to 2020 I am pleased to announce that I am undertaking a PhD starting at the beginning of the year and work is already hotting up for that. I am really excited to be joining a research environment in an art context to develop ideas related to art and meditation.

Other workshops so far planned are my popular “Clare Wassermann’s Journaling and Travel Sketchbook Workshop” – back by request on February 1st – information here and it’s again in Wolverhampton at Newhampton Arts Centre.

The Arabian Deer from Clare Wassermann’s Travel Journals


Ongoing will be Wayne Attwood’s oil painting workshops every 8 weeks or so according to his availability. He’s a busy man as he is now President of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and his painting career is burgeoning. Our next session is on January 23rd and you can find out ore here – beginners and experienced folk all welcome – he’s a great teacher.

Finally I would like to draw your attention to an exhibition. It is in Wolverhampton at the Art Gallery. It is the Centenary Year of the Wolverhampton Society of Artists and this year’s exhibition is very special.

It runs from now until February 16th and has three sections – one for work by very highly regarded alumni, which has been gathered from around the country and national collections, one is a collection of work loaned by the Courtauld Gallery in London (Courtauld was an avid collector of fine art and of course had a rayon factory here in Wolverhampton before taking it further as an internationally strong textile industry).

The third room is this year’s entry for the exhibition which is carefully selected and beautifully curated by the Art Gallery. I am very honoured to have two large pieces in this especially as it is my first time of entering. Here is novelist and Times journalist Sathnam Sanghera with my work when he was guest of honour to open the exhibition last Saturday. Do pop in. Our Art Gallery is one of the finest in the country and is internationally known for it’s collection of Pop Art.

Photo credit: David Hamilton, Express and Star December 2019
…and here is me in matching scarf and painting
a salon hang – nice way to display work here at Wolverhampton At Gallery, Society of Artists’ Show

So here’s to a very Happy Christmas to all of you and to more art and developments in 2020. Thank you to all who have supported and believed in me – you know who you are and it is very much appreciated.


Stay creative in whatever you do!

Comments and suggestions welcomed below.

Best wishes Clare Wassermann


Japanese Exhibition etc.

Art, exhibitions, sales, workshops

Notoriously bad at keeping up this blog….must try harder (usual end of term report)!

Anyway here is a bit of news about my solo exhibition at Café 86’d in Ironbridge. It opens on August 7th and as I am away then we are holding a meet the artist evening on September 6th so do come if you can.

The café is my fave place to eat in the area…fresh and healthy food. All home cooked and mostly local ingredients. Well worth a visit any day. All the work is available to purchase and depicts peaceful memories of temples and still places in Japan on my travels. I hope the feeling of calm is transmitted through these works which are multilayered, stitched and drawn or painted.

Here are just a few examples:

  • If you miss this I am open as part of Wolverhampton Open Studios on the weekend of October 12/13 2019 at my studio at Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton UK

For YOU

there are all sorts of opportunities to MAKE ART at the studio

  • Friday 2nd August – all day 10am – 4pm. Like our Sunday club but longer! More time for chat, working and supping. Bring your own lunch – this session is to be booked in advance here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/clare-wassermanns-sketchbook-and-art-making-day-tickets-64466336548  Currently 9 places left. You can pay me direct instead but place is only held on payment. Cost £10
     
  • Thursday 15th August Women’s Wellness Circle: 7 – 8.30pm not art but a lovely way of staying healthy of mind £5 – let me know if you are coming – pay on the night.
     
  • Friday 16th August –  Nature Inspired Sketchbooks (SOLD OUT)
     
  • Sunday 16th August – 2.30 – 5pm – Self Care Sunday – Yoga and Intention Setting – let me know if you want to book via Marie who runs this lovely session. £20
     
  • Sunday 8th September – Sketchbook and Art Club 11.30 – 1.30  please let me know if you are coming. £5 Bring your own work as usual.
     
  • Thursday 19th September  10.30 – 3.30 Oil Painting with Wayne Attwood – President RBSA – details and booking  here  £34 Beginners or experienced painters welcome.
     
  • Sunday 22nd September – Sketchbook and Art Club 11.30 – 1.30  please let me know if you are coming. £5. Bring your own work as usual.
     
  • Saturday 28th September – Travel Journal and Sketchbooks Workshop with Clare 10.30 – 4 £35 details and bookings here
     
  • Thursday 10th October – 10.30 – 3.30 Oil Painting with Wayne Attwood – President RBSA – details and booking here. £34 Beginners or experienced painters welcome.
     
  • Saturday and Sunday 12th & 13th October – Clare Wassermann Open Studios – Studio Sale. Paintings, Textiles, etc. plus Jeweller Mojo and The Maker sharing my studio – lots of other artists exhibiting at the NAC this weekend – and all round Wolverhampton. Xmas gift ideas?!
     
  • Saturday November 9th – Travel Journal and Sketchbooks Workshop with Clare 10.30 – 4pm £35 details and bookings here.
     
  • Sunday November 10th – Sketchbook and Art Club 11.30 – 1.30  please let me know if you are coming. £5. Bring your own work as usual.
     
  • Looking forward to inviting Helen Hallows to come and run a workshop early next year – look her up!


Lotus Sanctuary

This is a small charity in Wolverhampton providing housing and a route into a better life and work for women in the city who have suffered trauma and homelessness.

Lotus Sanctuary is a community interest company with the pure and simple intention of housing and empowering vulnerable women suffering a range of complex issues; from rough sleepers to domestic violence victims, sexually exploited women and those seeking to get free from drug and alcohol addictions.

I have really enjoyed starting fortnightly art sessions for residents recently and am pleased to be continuing in this rewarding work. Some of their pieces will feature in an exhibition called ‘Recovery’ at The Lighthouse in September. More info another time, but this is how art can heal. You can donate to them here

Why You Need To Keep Coming Back My Website!

Uncategorized

Well January has melted into March somehow and this is my first post of the year – sorry it is so late. I thought I would put down some of my thoughts and plans for the year here anyway.

img_3791

Night shot after Day 1 of a whole weekend painting retreat in the studio

My most exciting news is the move into a bigger, lighter and airier studio than I was in before. It’s in the same building, but has a beautiful Northern light – the best for artists, with no direct sunlight but fabulous light for working in, with three large Victorian windows and white walls and ceiling. More windows into the gallery provide extra light and a beautiful wood floor makes for a gorgeous atmosphere. With this space I have plans!

I want to create a mini arts centre within an Arts Centre. A place for healthy arts practices and workshops as well as a place for me to paint and illustrate the books I am commissioned for this year.

The venue is Newhampton Arts Centre, Wolverhampton.

wayne-attwood

Wayne Attwood RBSA teaching oils

If you look on the Workshops page of this site you will see more details  – keep checking because new and exciting things are being added all the time. We have a good on site cafe and are only 10 minutes walk from Wolverhampton railway station – right in the middle of the UK.

Here’s a quick summary of things happening soon:

March 2nd / April 6th / May 10th  Soundbath for Relaxation with Liz Pritchard 7-8.15

March 28th Find your Creative Mojo with Clare Wassermann – creative sketchbook addiction

Celebrate the Seasons – Creative Art and Stories with Ana Lines and Clare Wassermann
Spring – Sunday March 26th                           day worskshops
Summer – Sunday May 7th
Autumn – Sunday September 3rd
Winter – Sunday December 3rd

March 23rd Oil painting with Wayne Attwood – FULL

May 5th Mandala Yoga with Catherine Spruce 7-9pm

May 14th – Painting A Theory – Carl Jung – Art as Therapy with Hannah Boyd and Clare Wassermann 10.30 – 4

May 16th Sacred Art – Movement and painting with Clare Wassermann and Sarah Vernon

If there are any workshops you would like to see here please feel free to suggest them – let’s see if we can make them happen.

I am very pleased to be collaborating with story teller Ana Lines this year and also developing ideas with Anne Marie Lagram. – a live art event inspired by Medgel- the witch- resulting in a collaboration of challenging visual imagery, story telling and audience participation!

I am looking forward to sharing an exhibition with feltmaker and painter Kanj Nicholas and being part of an exhibition to commemorate 70 years since Partition in India and Pakistan in Wolverhampton in August organised by Komlaish Achall.

I have a few trips to Saudi Arabia this year (it’s complicated!) and I am looking forward to sketching and getting to know the country better – maybe some art to do with issues around that country will emerge.

saudi-palm

Peace Doves Saudi – hope

 

img_3952

Architecture and Palms

hoopoe-2

Hopooe and the City

 

 

New things are emerging every week so keep checking back – especially on the Workshops page.

I am also on Instagram as Clare_Wassermann_Art
Facebook – Clare Wassermann Art and Stitch
Twitter – Clare Wassermann