These Winter Months

Finally......a chance to sit down with a coffee and reflect on these last few months. As mentioned in my November post, we took a visit up to Northumberland, visiting the newly opened St Marys Inn. Not only indulging in some of the wonderful foodie treats and ales, but getting a feel for the place as I had been asked to create some artwork to be hung throughout the Inn.

December was time to get busy and embrace the great outdoors, wrapped up and armed with my essentials; sketchbook, pilot fineliners, graphite, white spirit and my camera, I bared the elements. Moving away from birch trees and canopies, I found myself visiting those trees that time and again in the routine of day to day life have caught my attention and have been drawn to and fallen in love with. Getting lost in the twists and turns of overlapping old knarled branches,  the layers, scars and stories told in the ancient bark. Working away in the slightly warmer surroundings of my little studio I set to work on these new beautiful compositions.

Resulting in two new artworks, 'Ancient & Veteran #1' (that's right I feel there will definitely be more on the way), which is graphite and ink on parcel paper, based on a tree within the grounds of the beautiful Duncombe Park, at Helmsley. A lovely little North Yorkshire town, definitely worth a visit. The second composition, 'Old Peculiar', is a tree which has caught my eye for so long and I finally got round to studying it. Located within the grounds at Castle Howard, actually the car park, which I must admit is frequented far too often as I sneak in a coffee and something delicious from their deli on my travels. Both these pieces are created using the same method, one which I coincidently discovered by accident when kicking over a bottle of white spirit onto a graphite still life drawing, back in my sixth form days. The white spirit has this way of loosening the graphite, creating a beautiful diffused effect which softens the image, also making the graphite more workable, enabling you to move the material around the page with a cloth. Layering up the detail, I then begin to work back into the image, bringing up the detail using my beloved Pilot fineliner.

Along with these new artworks, I selected a few existing pieces I felt would work to create a collection reflecting me as an artist, but also connect to the spaces designated to me at St Marys Inn.

                                                   I have absolutely loved creating and curating artworks for St Marys Inn and cannot wait to get feed back from visitors, either those visiting the pub, or those staying in one of the two bedrooms themed with my work. Heres a few sneaky shots of the pieces in situ.

As we move forward into spring (I say that despite the fact that the view from my little studio space window has shown it has attempted to snow this afternoon),  plans are been conjured up of new artworks, based on the 'Ancient & Veteran' series I have begun  and exciting new contacts made with galleries are made. As always updates of my progress can be followed on  http://www.harrietsophiewrightssketchbook.blogspot.co.uk/ 

 https://twitter.com/harrietswright

                                                                                        

Drawings, activity and musings of late.

A little update of what's being going on in my world, as I realise there hasn't been much activity for anyone to see. This year has been a busy one as ever, with room for a little artwork in there too. February saw me sending some more of my mixed media, birch bark prints to the beautiful Jesmond Dene House. Followed by this lovely little private commission which was a delight to enjoy in Februarys cold months. I really loved working on this little piece, it became very intricate and detailed, less exploratory than my own work in my personal development but a nod to my love of architecture.

Onto the warmer thoughts of spring and a commission of some crafty wedding invitations to make for my beautiful cousin Emily, Congratulations Mr and Mrs Stark. A change from my usual work but nice to be able to apply them to something different, a nice change.

Summer saw another private commission, Sledmere Rotunda, entering David Hockneys territory for a little while. Again working with a finished visual in mind is somewhat of a change for me. But it was nice to focus on a single image. This large graphite and image allowed me to indulge a little too in my love for buildings, but also to really appreciate some of the things we have right on a door step.

As Autumn has drawn in I am really excited as I have
just been asked to do some work for St Marys Inn, Northumberland. Which we just had to go visit to get my mind in gear. Its a beautiful new Inn, I say new, but a refurbished hospital that now runs as an Inn with rooms, I must add serving wonderful food. Working on the theme of tree canopies their stunning lace like delicate and intricate network of branches and leaves. I have just completed my first piece of work and now have a head brimming full of ideas as to where development of this series will go, using stitching ink, water colours and I aim to get some more printmaking into this series of work too. Keep a look out on my twitter  https://twitter.com/HarrietsWright  and instagram http://instagram.com/harriet.sophie.wright  feeds for ongoing progress of my work.

A day of bustling activity

Definitely ready to make a mess this morning......, graphite, white spirit, the beautiful, beautiful Fabriano paper( I'm almost scared to touch it), a needle and thread and obviously a pilot 0.2. Cannot wait to get started on this new piece & series.
Exploring Betula canopies, the variations and progressions as the seasons pass, starting with November, just those few leaves clinging on with hope of low sun stretching out the sun before the bleak of December and its harsh frosts.

Also have a little bit of selecting to do, exhibiting as part of a group exhibition at a local gallery in Terrington, North Yorkshire. 'Nah Then', features a selection of North Yorkshire based artists inspired by their surroundings...must decide which peices to send through. Enough nattering, more coffee and best get pen to paper.

looking up

Its February 2013....this has definitely been too long, but I am finally sat down with a cup of coffee, my sketchbooks and a journal, determined to make some headway and organization. Studio-less...Yes, but no excuses. I'm ready to get back to work, time to get lost in my work again.

Canopies, what lies overhead, the voids between, there is still so much exploration in looking up. Pattern, texture, print. Though the trees are bare, skeletons, lighter nights call of spring and budding hope. Think I might have to wrap up warm and take a walk this morning armed with a paper, pencils and some gloves.  

Autumnal Fever, Inspiring new job and Canopies

So the wedding and all those shinnanigans the last few months, to a beautiful honeymoon in the Cairngorms national park. An array of stunning scenery, the mountains, the colours and textures, crags, heather and trees bursting with jewel drop leaves, throw in a log burner and a little dram!!!Perfection.

To a new home, currently lacking a studio and a new name....Mrs Wright...from now on always, excuse the punn. To a very exciting new job, working for @thenurseries, R.V.Rodger, visual displays, inspiring the audience and making some beautiful installations.

Despite lacking a studio, very disappointing  for a first time in a long time have been out with my boots and armed with a camera, capturing some canopies, I love autumn, possibly my favouriteseason and managed to get just  the last glimpses of the rich auburn tones the last few leaves clinging. Ideas for more devlopment on the series of conopy mixed medias. I'm thinking the watercolours, texture, some Ink and some stitching. Cannot wait to get started.

Itching to get back..

Realization that the last post on here was in 2011, not brilliant, but i have been rather busy...around 8 weeks till i marry Mr Wright (not original but true). 

Cannot wait to get back into the studio and get on with some new work, getting the website finally finished and exhibiting. Also moving studio's, not at all hectic!! 

But, definitely ready to get lost in it all......

Exhibition at the goose and the moose.

A new exhibition, previewing on the 4th of November, 6-9....mulled wine and a fire too warm your socks if you need a little enticement.
The goose and the moose is a lovely new little gallery in Malton which opened at the beginning of this month.
I have been working on quite a few new pieces ready for the exhibition.
Also there is a preview to the Pannett Winter Open this evening, I am exhibiting two pieces of work and its a lovely gallery, worth a visit, theres always the hope of fish and chips after.
www.gooseandthemoose.com