It’s been a lovely warm and mainly sunny August and I’ve enjoyed being at home rather than going away. The season is just starting to turn now; I notice it getting dark earlier in the evening and a slight nip to the air. Despite this, I find the end of summer going into autumn a magical time as the natural world is putting on its biggest show. Having worked all spring and summer to turn the sun’s energy into leaves and flowers, the plants are now laden with fruit and seeds. And they really are heavy with it this year. It has been officially the warmest summer on record with consistently high temperatures and I suspect it is this that has led to the bounteous blackberries, acorns, rowan berries and sycamore seeds that I see on almost every tree.

I’d have thought that not being as busy this month may have given me more time to work on my own art but it hasn’t really worked out that way. Like last month, I’ve committed to the drawings and paintings for the 52 weeks project but little else. I’m not sure how I feel about this – about not being busier making more art. Part of me worries that this is a worrying trend and that I’m gradually going to stop. There’s that voice nagging away that ‘real artists’ are consumed with producing art all the time, at all hours with feverish energy! On the other hand I tell myself that everyone needs a break and to give myself one. I’m still not sure quite where the balance lies here but it reminds me of the quote from Pablo Picasso, “Inspiration exists but it has to find you working.” Hopefully I’ll feel more motivated in September!

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Coming up in September…

Adult Art Club at Dungworth Village Hall

Wednesday 10th or Thursday 25th September – 7-9pm

This group is very friendly and open to everyone with or without prior experience. The sessions focus mainly on drawing and watercolour painting techniques but I like to throw in other processes such as printing occasionally! Each week is a stand alone session so don’t worry if you can’t commit to each one but if you do attend regularly, you’ll really start to notice your skills improve over time.

I provide stimulus and gentle instruction so you don’t have to worry about knowing what to draw. I also provide paper, drinks and usually homemade cake! I can provide a sketchbook, graded pencils and watercolour paints or you are welcome to bring your own. Sessions are £9 each or £32 for 4 sessions booked in advance.

Botanical Printing Course at The Botanical Gardens

Monday mornings 15th Sept – 6th Oct – 9:30am-12:30pm

I love printing – there is nothing quite like pulling a print from a block and seeing it there! I’m so looking forward to this four-week course at the wonderful Sheffield Botanical Gardens. We’ll work on a range of different approaches and techniques. You’ll learn to create simple images, carve and print blocks using easy-carve lino and build up to creating two-colour multi-block or reduction prints. We’ll also have a go at some intaglio methods – a bit like etching to create finer prints and combine printing with collage to have fun with multi-media techniques. It will be lots of fun and all with the botanical gardens to provide inspiration! There are just a few places left so book now!

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Other workshops booking now:

Autumn Art Club at Dungworth Village Hall

*On Wednesday 8th Tim Crowther and Helen McNair will also be adding some musical accompaniment to the evening. Tim (guitar) and Helen (vocals) are folk musicians who will be adding musical inspiration on the theme of autumn leaves.

Book Here!

Nature Journalling at The Botanical Gardens

Monday 20th October – 9:30am – 12:30pm

In this one-off workshop, I’ll introduce you to the art/ science/ life-skill (?!) of nature journalling. We’ll explore the Botanical Gardens, taking time out to really notice the natural world. I’ll provide you with a sketchbook that you can keep and show you how to start keeping your own record of what you see around you, giving you some tips on how to draw and paint these as well as how to identify and learn more about what you are noticing.

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Other great things to do in September!

• Pick some fruit! – It’s a big year for fruit. even if you’ve not noticed it in the hedgerows, you’ll have seen the price of plums and cherries are better in the supermarket. This is the perfect time to get out and pick your own. Some farms offer the chance to do this but you don’t even need to pay. The hedgerows are still producing blackberries and the sloes are on the way, you may even find some wild apples. Look out too for a community orchard near you – these offer the chance to pick fruit free of charge. And the website ‘Falling Fruit‘ produces an interactive map where people have added trees that are available for you to pick from.
• Visit ‘Art in the Gardens’ – Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens is always a wonderful place but for the first weekend of September, it is even better as it is taken over by art and artists, local and from further afield. There are big names and craft stalls as well as the tents of submissions from local amateur artists which you can buy.
• Bake an apple cake – Each month I try a new cake for art club and this month I’ve made this Apple Walnut cake recipe from Nigella Lawson. It uses olive oil (or walnut oil if you have some). I was very nervous as I put it in the tin as the mixture was very very sticky – more like a biscuit dough but fortunately it turned out to be very yummy!!
• Draw this! – Every year my lovely neighbours share these beautiful Discovery apples with us. They have two trees which produce more fruit than they can eat and they know we all love them. They are a wonderful red colour and make the house smell delicious. Maybe drawing these will even get me out of my August fug!

Thank you so much for reading this and supporting me! If you’ve enjoyed this newsletter and want to stay in touch with upcoming workshops, ideas and tutorials, please add your email below to subscribe and why not share this with friends who you think might also fancy something creative in their lives?!