There are so many hidden and treasured locations to explore in Northumberland. It’s a challenge to pick only a few! Layers and layers of history, shape, texture, atmosphere and narrative are abundant, and we will be gathering lots of inspiration in order to create unique interpretations of our own personal response to all that is to be discovered here.

Doorways, arched windows, crumbling walls, ancient textures and text. Silhouettes and shadows. Heraldry and statues. Decadence and decay. The marks left by those long since departed. The colours in the landscape and ancient buildings. We will be gathering personal interpretations of all these things where we will use them to spark even deeper exploration back in the studio.

I will be demonstrating various ways of working with mixed media whilst out in the landscape to gather sketches and studies that are full of texture and atmosphere. Shadowy, inky colour washes, flowing, gestural lines and wonderful mark-making and textural details.

We will then be using these explorations and studies, using mixed media techniques to create one of a kind handmade artist books that tell the story of this place in your own way. These will then inspire some larger mixed media interpretations and compositions that build history and atmosphere, lost and found structures and evocative details layer upon layer.

You will finish the workshop with a sketchbook full of inspiration, a more complete artist book of mixed media explorations, and one or more larger mixed media compositions inspired by your experiences.

There are only a couple of places remaining on this workshop so please contact Kathie Vezzani if you would like to attend! More information on Bellissima Art Escapes – https://www.bellissimaartescapes.com/trips-2020/spaceswithgillianleesmith

This workshop is nearly sold out!

It is this unique landscape of Shetland that will inspire us in the exploration of sculptural artist books.

Using mixed media and paper and card to create forms that lie flat in closed book form but can be shaped to reflect the landscape in ways that reflect the shapes of the landscape and our inspiration.

We will be working from a starting point of a basic book project but experimenting with different ways of taking this so much further into 3-dimensional form.

Creating inspiration in the form of sketches we will be exploring the landscape in mixed media – gestural studies that are a response to the time and place, environment and atmosphere in inks and watercolour.

Using these studies, we will be creating experiments to begin to explore ways of interpreting the landscape in book and page form. Techniques will include monoprint, collage, ink explorations, experimenting with paper textures, text and form. The artist book is a fascinating way of creating objects that fold flat (brilliant for an away from home workshop) but that can be made three dimensional for display.

I will have examples of the possibilities, and will share the process, and students will be encouraged to take this development further and make their own discoveries along the way.

We will finish the week with a sketchbook and pages of studies and sketches and practice book samples as well as completed several unique artist books.

There are only a very few places remaining on this workshop – if you would like to join us then please go to Bellissima Art Escapes for more information, itinerary and to register: https://www.bellissimaartescapes.com/trips-2020/shetlandgillianleesmith

This workshop is nearly sold out. Register now to secure your space!

Class Schedule – The workshop

• Day 1 – We will begin in the workshop space going through some of my sketchbooks and images, going through the possibilities for gathering information and inspiration. We will then create our own accordion sketchbook pages which will be used in an afternoon sketching at one of the local harbours using simple techniques and media to begin to build up layers of imagery.
• Day 2 – We will begin the day in the studio with demonstrations of more ideas for working in mixed media out in the landscape before venturing out for a morning of sketching at another local harbour. The day will be finished by creating a cover for our accordion sketchbook to finish it off.
• Days 3 and 4 – On our two remaining full workshop days we will be working in mixed media using our sketchbooks for inspiration. Layers of shape, line, texture, colour will be built up to create exciting imagery. Each student will be encouraged to find their own visual language to create works based on a personal response to the places we have experienced.

This workshop includes

• Watercolour paper to create our sketchbook pages
• Tape to attach pages together
• Indian ink
• PVA glue
• Scissors
• A selection of acrylic paints
• Carbon paper
• Gesso
• Water containers
• Grey board for sketchbook cover
• Brown paper if you wish to use this to cover your book.
• Paper for mixed media paintings
• Gel medium

Student Supply List:

• Weather appropriate clothing and footwear!
• Camera or phone camera
• 2 or 3 boards for mixed media paintings – these can be cradled boards or linen or cotton covered boards. Please prime before the workshop. I would suggest a maximum size of around 20 inches. Square or rectangle – it is up to you!
• Paper of your choice to cover your book covers with. Handmade paper for example. One piece of paper measuring around 20 x 28 inches or 2 sheets around 10 x 14 inches.
• 12 inch metal ruler
• A small watercolour set with attached palette. Either pans or tubes. I like Windsor and Newton or Daniel Smith.
• Water brush pens (you can find these in many art stores – a brush pen with an attached container of water)
• Graphite/lead pencils in various densities eg. 4b, 6b, 8b
• Black fine liner pens like Faber Castel Pitt pen
• Acrylic inks in burnt umber and red oxide
• Dip pen with nib
• A few oil pastels in a small range of colours (colours like greens, blues, browns, grey, yellows)
• Palette knife
• Small spray bottle for water
• Embossing tool – you can find these on Amazon or card making supplies
• A couple of 1+ inch paint brushes
• A selection of paint brushes for acrylics
• Palette papers
• A couple of cloth rags
• Backpack for your sketching supplies

We will finish the week with a sketchbook and pages of studies and sketches and practice book samples as well as completed several unique artist books.

There are a limited number of spaces in this workshop. If you would like to join us then please go to Springhill Farm’s website for more information and registration: https://www.springhill-farm.co.uk/art-holidays/Ladders-and-Lines-Harbour-life-in-mixed-media

Register now to secure your space!