best laid plans

It had to happen of course, a comprehensive refresh of web site, blog and marketing materials had to have some ups and downs.  Of course, the biggest one is the disappearance of rather a lot of recent blog entries, events and other text, so I’ll be re-installing them over time – a bit of virtual time travel as things seemingly come and go. Thank goodness for back-ups.

On a positive note: this weekend I’m looking forward to Kimpton Art Fair and also the Sally Evans Event at Bradmoor Farm Shop, Haddenham.  And I’ll be bringing along a few new drawings to Bradmoor, and will also be visiting the Kimpton Preview evening Friday 29th April 2016. in the mean time – here’s a sneak peak of a new Brill print (yes, that’s the village name).:

the trouble with grey

This month I’ve been wrestling with a new printer.  It was a long journey to chose and make that investment but in restrospect, that was the easy bit.  You might imagine that establishing a new range of giclee prints from original work is slightly more complicated than: decide to do it, buy a printer, plug it in, buy some paper, and print.  But for me it is still complicated because of the colour grey.   I’m just going to outline the problem today, and dip back into the whole printer buying and set up thing as I get some resolution.

So: I do detailed line drawings in very smooth Bristol Board paper with an 005 pen. And I want to sell prints.  And Cards. And Gift Tags.  Cards and gift tags are relatively simple, they go to a printer. Prints start with a scan and then a simplified pallette of highlight colours for selected prints, starting with ‘default’ pale grey. Now that grey looks nice and pale on my screen, it’s a bit darker on my printed cards, and a drop-dead gorgeous colour on my little canon inkjet on slightly posh linen effect printer paper bought in town.

Enter an Epson 3880 with pigment inks and archival art papers which are most definitely not white but a most wonderful cream.  Between all of these new players, my prints look very different and too dark so I have a choice – fiddle with printer profiles so the grey looks like I’m used to, or work out what grey to re-colour my drawings slightly.  Neither is easy but I’ve chosen the latter.  Of course, without brightened paper, I’ll never get back to the original colours.  So here’s some of the experiments that will of course look different to you all because of your particular monitor settings.

    

In the left hand picture, top left is my original inkjet, and the rest are experiments with new paper and colours. Top right and bottom left are Epson 3880 prints from the same tif – you can see how different they look.

In the framed sets: the left hand frame is all prints from my little inkjet. Top of the right hand set is another of the same, but the lower 3 apertures are Epson plus archival paper tests.  Off now to find out what one of my customer prefers.

 

new facebook page

why not go and have a look … https://www.facebook.com/HillaryTaylorStudio29

 

other places to see

Herts Visual Arts is a county-wide organisation that supports artists living or working in Hertfordshire. There’s the annual Herts Open Studios, and members can also set up gallery pages like mine.  Artists in and around Harpenden also have a local Art Hub and we meet on 3rd Wednesdays for a drop-in chat.

You may also have seen Creative Hertfordshire – a relatively new venture that provides an information hub for the arts in Hertfordshire.  This means a huge range of possibilities, so why not go and take a look.  You can list events and also build a gallery.  Shameless plug again, here’s one I built earlier. You can also find out the image backstory by stopping the slde show/selecting an individual image.

suddenly, it’s october

but here’s a little recap on a bit of September – Open Studios at Artscape.

Sue Wookey, Teresa Newham, Pauline Ashley, Judi Menges and I all shared the gallery upstairs at Artscape for Open Studios. Thanks to the extended space and new hanging system, set up and take down were a dream. The work somehow looked better too, so thank-you Artscape, both for the space and for making the exhibition and open days so easy. Thanks also to the other artists for just being there and helping make such a varied show.  Plenty for our visitors to see.

Our Private view party was great fun, but that meant I was so busy chatting that I failed to take any photographs.  Similarly during Open Studios sessions, both Sue and Teresa managed to take the pictures of our set up and work and I didn’t. Do go and look at their blogs for the rest of our OS story.

My focus at Artscape this year included a volume of new work: World series composite cityscapes and a series of abstracted calligraphy that I’ve been having great fun with.

Open Studios is here

With the annual extreme Art on the Common far behind us, these last months have been taken up with preparations for Open Studios (and Christmas, dare I say?).  This year, as usual, I’ll be at Artscape in Harpenden, sharing with Sue Wookey, Teresa Newham, Pauline Ashley an Judith Menges.  Artscape have done us proud with the new hanging system and illuminated glass cabinet. The variety of work on display means there’s hopefully something for everyone.

This year I’ve a new range of abstract calligraphy, world series drawing, sumi drawings and acrylics on canvas.

New for this year is the Harpenden and District Art trail and at Artscape we’re pleased to be part of this trail. There are coordinated Open Studios opening days and times throughout the district, and purchase incentives for adults and children completing the trail.

This year I’m also working with Caroline Lumb at her Open Studios at Trestle Arts Base in St Albans.  With so much display space in their Cafe Gallery, Caroline (mixed media) asked if I’d like to work with here. I’m delighted to be able to showcase 8 new ‘World Series’ drawings featuring towns, cities and countries from around the world. The thing with these drawings though, is they capture views you’ll not be able to see in real life. Why not come along and take a look?.

renewal and transition

It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post, but this last year has been one renewal and transition after another, home, major milestones in school, work and with Father’s Day fast approaching, it’s time to take up the pen again.

Also this weekend 15th and 16th June 2013 we have the what has become an annual ‘Extreme Art’ event – Harpenden’s Art on the Common. Saturday coincides with Harpenden’s Discovery Day with plenty to do for the whole family. Why Extreme Art? Well, previous years have been hot enough for sunstroke, wet enough to stop visitors almost entirely and last year the winds took and broke gazebos. This year we’re only forecast cool days, wind and rain. I’ll be sharing a double pitch (18 &19) with my Open Studios colleagues Teresa Newham and Sue Wookey.  As usual this means we will have a fabulous range of art on offer (perfect for last-minute Fathers Day buying).

Does Dad have problems with computers? love classic cars? just need to be reminded of happy times together on the beach? Come and visit me and perhaps I can help with that last minute gift.

 

A computer transformed, a refreshing break at the beach, a car lovingly restored. As I sit here, with a recently transformed and re-organised office and work space, I’m wondering how I worked for the past 3 years with my desk so far from the window. It’s a delight to be in the light and be able to watch the garden grown and change between moments of focus.

olympic adventures

How many times have I tried to write something new since the last post? To be honest, I’ve lost track, but mostly I blame the emotional roller-coaster that has been the Olympics.  Having wasted hours trying to buy tickets, we were lucky enough to buy some for volleyball, with the consequent reward of a fabulous day out in the Olympic Park.  Then there was the day I took my camera to London in an attempt to capture some of the atmosphere.  Closely followed by a family day out to London again to sample the marathon and other local venues.

Where are the pictures, I hear you cry? They’re on their way, I reply.  Watch this space for just a selection of the story.

Right now in the hot weather (that I never thought we’d see this summer)  I’m in the final preparation countdown for Open Studios in September.  Open Studios also comes with a number of other side events (Harpenden Farmers market, window displays in Station Road, poster display in the library, and a TBD display in Wesleys on the high street).

This year there’s also a fantastic 2-day exhibition at Harpenden Halls, with refreshments provided by my son’s World challenge fund-raising group.  As always, the preparation is a mix of excitement about the event, and panic (have I actually got anything to put on show?).  The logical part of my brain tells me it will all be fine, with the annual panic completely unfounded.

Roll on the shows. Links and further information in subsequent posts.

a bit of nostalgia

A lot of things have happened recently, what with the Olympics, getting in touch with old school friends, my son’s fund-raising, a bit of a clear out and the start of the school holidays. Not to mention the count down to Open Studios.  I’ve had press releases coming out of my ears, topped up my card stock, taken more pictures at Classics on the Common, found some very early lino prints, and re-started a history project related to my father and water polo in the Olympic games.  Oh, and like many others, I’ve also spent far too much time unsuccessfully trying to get Olympic tickets.

first lino block print ever, blue ink, Christmas decorations

Olympic Rings St Pancras Station London 2012

classics on the common 2012

Remind me some time to tell you the stories of extreme art on the common, festival on the field and the craft fair in St Albans.  They were all a bit of an adventure, depending on how you measure adventure.  Hopefully tomorrow will be slightly less exciting as I make my annual expedition to Classics on the Common, Harpenden.

This wheel fest is now in it’s 19th year – a celebration of vintage motorisation.  It also raises sizable sums for nominated charities.  Last year one of the beneficiaries was a charity that is close to my heart. The National Deaf Childen’s Society, NDCS supports and often is a lifeline for deaf children and their families.

My first ‘real’ job was car engine controllers, I took my Morris Traveller to pieces more times than I care to remember.  I’m more than impressed by the engineering and design that went into building these classics. A pilgrimage to Harpenden Common is my treat.

Cameras ready, batteries charged (both mine and my cameras). The Common will be soft because of all the recent rain, and perhaps the day will be warm and clear, for a change.  Wonder what I’ll see and who I’ll meet tomorrow.