Seasons Greetings

Doesn't it drive you 'mad' sometimes, waiting for things?

Yet when I look back at the above picture, the first shoot I spotted after planting the Madder rhizomes that I received from my family the Christmas before. Taken exactly a year ago today, March 20th 2021, it fills me with achievement, excitement and satisfaction - a sign that things are progressing full of hope.

Hope in the future. Upward/forward growth, optimism and trust. 

Although the magic happens below the surface. The roots will not be harvested until this time next year and will be processed to make a Rose Madder pigment. 

An ancient pigment referenced historically dating back as far as 1500BC and a favourite glazing pigment with Artists such as Jan Vermeer, JMW Turner, John Constable, William Holman Hunt and James McNeill Whistler.

Read more in this issues 'Artists Feature' digging deeper into this aspect of my own arts practice.

Ultimately all of this reflects on the reassurance and security we get from repetition and change and I find the seasonal cycles that visually signal the return and passing of the familiar stimulus not only comfort but also sparks my creativity and artistic inspiration.

For me this is also symbolic of a year to the day that the SOOA website went 'live' and bookings started almost immediately popping up.

Below I hope to ignite your inspiration with our seasonal offerings here at SOOA. This months newsletter will give you an overview of the upcoming courses this year with some hints of more to come later in the year. 

Happy turning of the seasons and in what many consider this time of year as a beginning of a new cycle. Its certainly true Astrologically as the sun enters into Aries, The initiating fire sign of the zodiac.

Happy cyclical return!

Siân

SOOA

NEW OPPORTUNITY

Creative Gatherings

A Creative Gathering happens on the first Friday of the month,

and is a relaxed, informal, self directed creative inquiry session for all.

A loose organic prompt is set each gathering so that you can develop creatively at your own pace in your own way. 

The prompts are designed to offer a taster into the up coming courses so that you can decide if you would like to develop certain areas further. 

April 1st - Creative Gathering

'Mixed Media'

The Pod Studios will be stocked with a wide range of art media for you to

delve into like a huge individual art box.

Discover and develop your creative practice through different art mediums, including collage, stencils and printing.

Suitable for beginners to established artists alike.

A wide range of materials will be provided with a variety of surfaces to try.

Acrylics, watercolours, oil pastels, chalk pastels, charcoal, pencils, water-soluble pencils to list just a few.

Initial prompts will be suggested, but you are free to work as you wish.

Each participant will be given a bundle of home grown and processed willow charcoal to take away. Book onto a series of 3 whole day gatherings and receive a free drawing board sketchbook.

£40 for a whole day 10am - 3pm 

ONLY £20 for a half day 10am - 12.30pm

Discover a supportive and nurturing environment connecting with like minded creatives. No pressure - just come and drink tea if you like!

Resources are made available and hot drinks on tap to keep you warm and comfortable. 

You can come for a half day or a whole day, it's up to you. Limited to 6 places you need to book in advance via the website. 

2022 Upcoming Courses

April 29 &30th - Mixed Media Landscapes

 - Amanda Bee - 

Over the two days you will explore the landscape through drawing. You will learn how to simplify your sketches into mixed media landscapes which capture the essence of place.

Day 1

You will focus on drawing and colour, building up a library of images to inform your paintings.

Day 2

Amanda will guide you through the process by reviewing your drawings and distilling some of your favourite images into new compositions.

For more information on this wonderful playful yet developmental 2 day course which leads you through the rudiments of colour, composition and process with a highly skilled and extremely experienced artist and tutor please visit the website. Any questions please get in touch. 

Limited places  - places sold already - Book Soon!

May 27th - Painting with Earth

- Peter Ward -

Peter Ward - Environmental Artist returns for the 3rd time with

this popular course. 

Only 3 places left! So book now, as Pete is so busy I am not sure when he will return with this 'ground breaking' (see what I did there?!) informative and experimental day course, which includes pigment collecting, processing and painting with a huge range of Petes earth pigment collection.

Read more and book via the button above. 

As with all courses a free A4 Drawing Board Sketchbook is included in the cost along with a delicious wholesome vegetarian lunch and refreshments throughout the day. 

June TBC - Still Life - Inside on the Outside

- Louise Bennett - 

During this one day course you will connect with nature and the immediate landscape by foraging for seasonal flowers and foliage.  As a group you will create a variety of still life starting points using collected vessels, pots and jam jars, on a range of backgrounds or surfaces, much as you might create a picnic or feast:

You will make quick sketches to confirm your compositional arrangements before embarking on an oil painting.

For further information please visit the website via the button below.

You can also read an interview with Louise from the last newsletter issue, now available here

July 15th - A Journey into Colour

- Sian Blunt -

September 16th & 17th - Plein Air Oil Painting

- Andrew Barrowman - 

Over the two days you will learn and develop to paint outdoors, direct from life using oil paints as our medium, how we set up and work in challenging environments.

Artists will be encouraged to move around the location to choose a view that appeals to them where you can develop your ideas further.

Other aspects covered include compositional issues, colour choices, limited palettes and tonal values. You will leave with at least 2 completed oil paintings on board. 

SOOA

ARTIST FEATURE

Siân Blunt

'Process'ing Pigment 

'An Image reflected in a mirror, a rainbow

in the sky, and a painted scene

Make their impressions upon the mind, but in essence are other than what they seem

Look deeply at the world, and see an illusion, 

a magicians dream.'

THE SEVENTH Dalai Lama: 'Song of the immaculate Path'

I began my pigment processing journey in the autumn of 2019 and have taken my time with integrating it into my own arts practice,  developing and growing with the seasons cycles. Sometimes frustrated at the slow fruition of an actual 'product' the process has cathartically become the ultimate purpose.

When my painting practice took two unintentional developments the emergence of this new found interest in processing my own paints, satisfied and responded to both diverse tangents. 

After taking courses in Natural pigment processing with Environmental Artist Pete Ward and with Flora Arbuthnot from Plants and Colour I began dabbling with both Earth and Botanical paint and ink making during the first lockdown. 

During the second lockdown I began a daily painting practice - painting from life, from my studio window. Inspired by Andrew Barrowman's year long project. 

My view framed by a rooftop and 2 houses creates a viewfinder composition of the sea and sky. Divided by the horizon line. Ever changing by day, time, weather and light, by fraction of a second.

The two developments that occurred were firstly paintings that sold easily, which not only gave me a financial boost, but also an inspirational boost! I find the contrast in the focus of process versus product with paint making grounding and authentic. As as Artist I like to feel reminded of the essence of why I create. Inquiry led curiosity is a fuel that is vital in my creative flow.

The second development crept slowly in as my pallete altered with the dramatic shifts in the effects on the sea. Like a huge mirror the play of light and illusionary splashes of contrasting colours and hazy hues of complimentary spectrums, the more I studied the 'big blue' it reflected back with a rainbow of description  - true to what I 'saw', with time and tuning in to the subject my interests in colour have been amplified and my colour mixing and matching a source of constant immersion. 

If you would like to join me on 'A Journey into Colour' visit the website to book soon. 

I will be running a 'no previous experience necessary' colour theory course sharing my passion for pigments as well as some useful technical tips and tricks in playing with and understanding colour on July 15th.

I will also be opening my studio in Porthleven to visitors this Summer, I will update you soon on this via social media. Follow me for updates and come and say hello!

Coming soon......

Elements and Media  

-FIRE - 

- Siân Blunt- 

These series of courses explore the relationship between 'Elemental' properties and our outdoor creative practice.

The first in the series of 4 half day courses begins with 'Fire'

 Using charcoals and graphite this half day course develops understanding of the media in it’s many forms, whilst combining techniques, exercises and tasks that offers personal exploration and play supporting your developing creative practice. You will also create a bundle of Willow charcoal to take away with you.

Seasonal News 

Last year we incubated 6 eggs, with the hope we would hatch at least one. But rather wonderfully our 3 children eagerly watched 3 eggs pip, zip and then hatch. On Easter weekend, quite fittingly! All 3 eggs were hens so the cycle continues with the chicken and the egg!

In addition to these we added 2 Copper Marran Hens to the coop, they are producing a stunning dark chocolate brown egg.  They accompany a rather beautiful looking Copper Marran Cockeral with gorgeous green, copper and black tones. Captured below rather quickly with the equally beautiful crayons handmade by Flora from Plants and Colour. Do follow her and check out her amazing online courses. You may also see SOOA popping up in her newsletter sometime!

Not only are the eggs delicious and pay for the feed with a couple of sales here and there, they also feature in paint making as a egg tempera, a pigment binding agent. 

So, not only do they look like works of art, they also create the art!

Happy Easter one and all.

I hope this marks the beginning of some new creative journeys.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read.

Find out more daily at SOOA social media accounts.

Seasonal wishes and wellbeing to one and all.

Thank you so much for reading.

Oll an Gwella