Friday 19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of July will see over 40 of the members of Peak District Artisans (PDA) exhibiting at the Devonshire Dome. It’s probably the flagship event of the year for the group who are a highly successful association of some of the very best professional fine artists, designer makers and contemporary artisans based in and around the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District in England.
This is my first time exhibiting at the Dome as I only joined the group in autumn of last year and I’m looking forward to it tremendously. I’m also excited that I’m going to be demonstrating. On Sunday lunchtime I will be offering a half hour demonstration on abstract creative play. I will be showing how I use intuitive play to begin a painting, seek out the areas of interest from that play and then use those ideas to inform me in taking the work forward.
As part of my exhibition I will have 8 new pieces of work with me along with my current body of work, prints and cards. These new paintings are from my recent explorations in colour and edginess and I’m excited to be giving them their first public airing. They are both a continuation of my journey in abstraction and a departure. Previous works I think have been more clearly referenced to landscape or architecture, these new pieces feel like they are pushing these ideas further. The reference needs to searched out in the piece and is much less obvious. And I will be interested in hearing what others think and how they respond to this new work.
Meanwhile with just over a week to go I have a slightly intimidating To Do list and a few paintings that need final finishing – varnish, titles, pricing. So, if you are looking for something to entertain you next weekend then Peak District Artisans would love to welcome you to the Great Dome Art Fair.