Update from Amy Winstanley

Using the fresh green colours of the May landscape to create a couple more paintings before I pack up all my hard work so far to venture southwest for Spring Fling. Looking forward to my first time at Spring Fling and as a Homecomer.

You can find Amy at Studio 81 in the East region of Spring Fling 2010.

Update from Phil McMenemy - Studio 29

'Red Reflections'

'Fragment'

'Evening Stakes'

Rhiannon and I - Spring Fling photoshoot

Hello everyone, thanks for calling in on the Spring Fling blog

Well its now mid-May - how did that happen? The early part of the year seemed to rather drag its heels but the last couple of months have absolutely flown by.
Nerves and anxieties are now definitely in full-flow, though one hopes that all the year long work that we artists put in will see us in good shape for the SF weekend. My anxieties have been given a rather unexpected and troublesome boost with the recent news that the print company I use are on a fairly lengthy shut-down due to relocation! Yikes, all my planning out of the window for my printing needs. A few deep breaths and some hasty workings out mean that everything still should be OK for the big weekend. I do hope so.
I have been busy titivating one of our outdoor storerooms to convert into a small sales gallery which I hope visitors will come and view - its neither the Tate Modern nor the National Portrait Gallery buts its ours and I think 'in keeping' with the spirit of the Spring Fling Open Studios event.
This year has seen me co-opted onto the Spring Fling committee - what an eye-opener! The work of the committee and in particular Event Co-ordinator Rhiannon is mind-boggling in its volume and challenging diversity. I congratulate you all, its been good to help out in my own small way!
The event remains high on the local media agenda and I was again lucky enough to be invited to take part in a photo-shoot to highlight the Fling by the very readable DG Life Magazine, see image above.
I do hope people can take the trouble to come and visit this years event to acknowledge all the artists work, visit wonderful Dumfries and Galloway and most importantly to meet artists, view fabulous and diverse art work and have some fun!

Finally I would like to pass on my congratulations to two of our Spring Fling artists who have receieved national acknowledgements and accclaim for their brilliant, brilliant work - Adam Booth - Studio 43, Adam won the Gold award in the Wood and Metal section of the Craft & Design Magazine Selected Awards and Hannah McAndrew - Studio 21 who won Silver for her work in the Ceramics section of the same publication. Well done and congratulations to you both!!!

Regards
phil


You can find Phil McMenemy, Studio 29 at The Gallery at Laurieston, Laurieston or by visiting his website http://www.pmcphotography.co.uk/

Update from Kathleen Woods

I have been trying to tidy up my studio and just seem to be moving things from one place to another!! I have been working on the ‘Watercolour on Velum’ pieces (one of the paintings in process to follow that through, beginning, middle and end).


Also just bought all the plants for the garden and hope the heat breaks through soon. We will have teas, coffees and home baking on offer with donations going to help with the Wallace Hall Academy Haiti Fund.

You can find Kathleen at Studio 58 in the north region of this year's Spring Fling

Update from Suzanne Stuart Davies

I'm not sure how blogs work and am struggling with 'error reports' and technical troubles with the computer after two weeks away in Assynt and Wester Ross.
So – cross with the computer when I will need to use it to sort out information – statements, labels for work and such – organising for Spring Fling starts this week.
However – lots of work ready – paintings, books and some crafty cushions - and new work arising from recent trip will hopefully be started and on show.
I have been preoccupied, even more this year, with the changes taking place in rural areas and marginal lands – my work reflects these concerns – there are fewer traditional buildings being repaired, less tin huts to admire! There will be no cattle in our surrounding fields this year – the lovely pedigree Ayrshire heifers which enjoyed the high summers pastures have given way to lonely sheep.

So the painting that is on show in the Taster exhibition at Gracefield 'just a small gathering now', while celebrating the agricultural traditions of Dumfriesshire, also indicates underlying worries about the effects of globalisation on our local landscapes.
In the very North West of Scotland, a little crofting still continues and some of the stone buildings remain with their painted roofs – and sky, sea and mountains always exhilarate! So there will be work in progress which celebrates the wilder lands of Scotland.

You can find Suzanne at Muiryhill Bothy, Studio 64 in the north region in this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Urpu Sellar

Sunday morning 9th May, I still have my morning face on.

To panic or not to panic...
The time of year when artists can be observed in their natural habitat is approaching fast. It'll soon be Spring Fling. I always get worried if things run smoothly, are on time - especially if ahead of time and I wonder what I have forgotten. So far looking good... The biggest problem will be to clear enough space to fit in some people. Ash clouds allowing, Mother will be visiting us over the Spring Fling. It was my idea. "Sure, come during the Spring Fling, it's good fun!" Well, she is fit (former Olympic swimmer ('52) I'll have you know!), very good at organising, tidying, cooking, making coffee, talking to people. She gives wonderful foot massages. She thinks she's coming for a for a holiday.

You can find Urpu at Studio 17 in the West region of this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Isabell Buenz

Like probably everybody else I am busy with getting the studio ready for the Spring Fling. The work takes up a lot of mine and my partner's time but we're hoping "The Aquarium" will look great for it's first opening to the public since we've bought it a couple of years ago. Between painting and scrubbing I manage to do some of my art work as well, mostly extending my range of paper stilettos, greeting cards and calendars for next year. I am very much looking forward to the Spring Fling event and a well deserved break afterwards.

You can find Isabell at Studio 11 in the South Region in this year's Spring Fling.

Update from Kate Anderson

I have been working hard to complete one of the projects that can be seen at Studio 14 this Spring Fling. I was commissioned by Sulwath Connections to design and make two panels for the new outdoor classroom at New Abbey Primary School, an Eco-School I have worked with before. Following several 'in school' projects about the Night Sky in partnership with writer Liz Niven and a visiting planetarium from the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, I got going on the panel. One is based on lunar activities and one on nebulae and they combine mosaic with extracts of poetry by the children. www.sulwathconnections.org

I will be showing the processes I use in several commissions including a piece to be made for an exhibition at Lichfield Cathedral next year to celebrate the 400th year of the King James Bible.

I wish everybody a wonderful Spring Fling!

You can find Kate at studio number 14 in the South region in this years Spring Fling.