The latest edition to our Gallery Workshop lineup is Modern Calligraphy. Being a big fan of the writing style for a long time, I was very excited to see such a resurgence on Instagram and Pinterest. Calligraphy has appeared everywhere, not just in writing books, but on chalk boards, wedding stationery, even on restaurant walls!
After searching for local calligraphers, artists and illustrators able to run a class in this modern style I was coming up empty handed, and so was delighted to come across the brilliant workshops of Mellor and Rose. Trained Graphic designers, their workshops are jam packed with lettering and design ideas from Beginners Modern Calligraphy, brush pen lettering and even chalk board writing. They're a family outfit, like us, and they're based in Lancashire. The perfect team!
We've had 2 workshops in Beginners Modern Calligraphy, with 3 more and a brush lettering class booking up fast.
If you'd like us to keep you informed of our workshops when they are announced just fill in a a contact form below.
This year, The Gallery has been thrilled to host a number of workshops by Printmaker, Olivia Brotheridge. A Norfolk based artist, but originally from our small rural community, Olivia was willing to travel the long 5 hour journey to lead various workshops in lino printing and children’s block printing throughout 2017.
Olivia majored in illustration, and has since become a full time printmaker, leading workshops and demonstrations predominantly in Lino Printing.
We held 5 very full classes over the course of the year. We absolutely loved having Olivia in the Gallery and can’t wait to welcome her back for more classes in 2018.
If you missed out on classes this year, take a look at some of the incredible work students made using basic lino techniques, as well as the more advanced Reduction Printing.
Reduction printing is a tough one to get your head around at first and involves planning. It is a way of printing with two or more colours using the same piece of lino. By cutting a basic block shape and printing an edition of prints in the first colour, you then work into the same lino block again to cut away the detail you wish to remain, then print on top in a second colour.
We saw some beautiful Reduction prints in our classes, keep an eye out for the bird and an artichoke…
PORCELAIN SPOON WORKSHOP JULY 30TH @ CEDAR FARM GALLERY
This year we were lucky enough to be joined by Ceramic artist and renound crafts person, Emma Louise Wilson.
Famous for her delicate and sculptural work in Porcelain, Emma works in fine detail to create and decorate her paper thin vessels.
As avid collectors and followers of Emma’s work, we were thrilled when she agreed to deliver a special workshop at The Gallery as part of our 30th Anniversary celebrations.
MORNING
The day started early as we had a lot to make. Participants each made 3 ceramic pieces from porcelain, a spoon, brooch and wall plaque.
We began by using a mould to form the shape of the spoon, building the form up in layers carefully as to not leave any weak or thin areas. Once built up in the moulds, these were decorated with decals, lace and stamps to create detail on the spoon. Left to dry in the sun, we began working on our next pieces.
The brooch and wall plaque we built by hand. Simple clay pieces sized and cut out of rolled porcelain clay. We again built up detail with more clay and used lace patterning and stamping to form texture.
AFTERNOON
By the time we’d had lunch most of our pieces were dry enough to work onto with oxides and glazes. We used two main oxides to bring out the texture and gentle patterns created by the lace and stamping- Indigo blue or deep brown. It was a test to apply the right amount of oxide as the colour only comes out in the firing. (Most of the class were overly cautious in this, which we discovered when our pieces arrived back from the kiln.)
Oxides applied, we moved onto glazes. Less is more in this type of ceramic as the perfect white of the porcelain is feature enough. We very carefully applied small amounts of glaze in the areas we want to highlight, and carefully packed up our little pieces for their short journey back up the M6 to Emma’s kiln in The Lake District.
FIRING
It wasn’t long before our pieces were fired and posted out to the happy recipients. As mentioned earlier, in attempt to not overdo the oxide application some pieces could have had a little more, but the entire day was a learning experience and we certainly took a lot from it, and accomplished so much.
Looking forward to using these new skills and working with porcelain again soon!
On a gorgeous sunny weekend in August, we were joined by Priory Terracotta who set up camp in our courtyard.
Local potters, Steve and Steve(!) set up their portable pottery wheel to help us celebrate 30 years as a craft gallery. They threw huge terracotta pots to the amazement of our visitors. We had a wealth of things going on this weekend, so plenty of folk visiting from out of town, and we were very happy to give them a show from some of our finest Lancashire makers.
Many thanks to Steve for throwing the biggest pots he could!
You can find Priory Terracotta outdoor pots available to buy from The Potting Sheds at Cedar Farm.
cedar farm gallerycedar farmgallerycraft centrecraftceramicsmakermakersmovementpotterpottery throwingpottery wheeldemonstrationclayterracottaday outlancashire
We’ve had so may events and happenings in The Gallery this year that we thought we just had to put them down pen to paper (so to say!) else we’d miss something.
Early in the year we arranged for Wigan based artist, Anthony Barrow to give a demonstration on painting with Acrylics.
During the evening he painted two pictures, one landscape, one portrait; displaying all the different effects you can achieve with this newer painting medium.
As suppliers of art materials for almost 30 years, we’ve seen this water- based medium become more popular in recent years and has certainly surpassed the once leading Oil paint. Painters are favouring the quick drying and versitile aspects of Acrylic.
THE MEDIUM EFFECT
Anthony walked us through using various mediums, which is a fantastic plus for Acrylic painting- there are so many mediums and effects available.
You’ve got your fairly standard mediums to allow quick or slow drying, thinners, as well as a variety of more exciting textured effects, such as lava and sand texture gel, iridescent medium and glosses.
Used correctly, some mediums can help maintain the stability and vibrancy of your colours over time.
VISIT US IN THE GALLERY
To see our selection of Acrylic paint and mediums, and to find out about future demonstrations.
We kicked off the first of our 30th Celebration Gallery Workshops with a day long course with Rachael from Silverwood Emporium.
Many of you will know Rachael and her work from our Cedar Farm Makers and Farmers Market, where she sells her beautiful wares.
THE DAY
We set about transforming our shop into Workshop space and opened the doors on a sunny Monday, while the rest of Cedar Farm was resting after a busy week.. and welcomed 7 glorious ladies in for the day.
Rachael creates mixed media textiles and cards which are made from her vast collection of old linens, silk threads, memorabilia, collectible stamps and other ephemera. Her work is light hearted, fun and appreciates the patterns and design in everyday items we’d normally throw away.
This was the mantra of the day, as our ladies were encouraged to work with a variety of media to build a wall hanging unique to them. Waste nothing, and embellish everything!
I watched as throughout the day our hardworking ladies designed and created their piece, which became so unique and personal to each of them. So much personality!
Keep an eye out for future workshops in The Gallery, we have a range of art and craft classes, full day or Evening, All materials are provided and all have a break with delicious homemade cakes and refreshments.
