Bag a blue bowl bargain

Stoneware bowl by Anthony Abrahams

This lovely stoneware bowl, handmade by Anthony Abrahams, is one of the many items available from the Old Forge Pottery on Newland Street in Eynsham on 23 and 24 November 2013.

The Old Forge doesn't open its doors to visitors very often, but will be open as part of Artweeks in Eynsham that weekend. See who else will be open! 

Anthony took up potting as a hobby in his retirement, never having had time for creative work during his busy career as a doctor. He works in stoneware usually with a mix of glazes. All his pots are functional as well as ornamental, and, he says, "I use at least one every day!" This stoneware bowl with a blue glaze design is a bargain at only £25.

Lou's ceramic lamps

'Winter’s Warm Embrace'

Lou Cox is a new addition to the Old Forge Pottery co-operative in Eynsham. She joined the pottery in May 2013 and is exhibiting her work in Eynsham for the first time during the weekend of 23 and 24 November 2013.

Lou designs and makes ceramics, sculptures and ceramic lamps. She says: "My work is inspired by sculptural shapes within nature and the curves of the body. I work in porcelain and other types of clay which when lit up, create interesting patterns to create a warm and cosy atmosphere."

The sculptural lamp pictured on the left is called Winter’s Warm Embrace and is hand built in porcelain. Lou explains: "This sculpture had many inspirational starting points. I am interested in how birds flock together. I looked at starlings and admired the way they dance with each other at sunset. This is called a murmuration and is one of the most beautiful natural experiences. I love the way the birds glide and swoop in group formation and by uniting together the birds are safe and protected from predators. I was also partly inspired by my grandfather, who introduced me to nature and taught me about the stars and galaxies.

"I create sculptures that offer a full sensory experience. The use of light, warmth and textures can also be enjoyed by a person with visual impairment."

Winter’s Warm Embrace is unique and glows beautifully when lit up; come and see for yourself at The Old Forge Pottery. The piece is for sale for £95. For more information email LouCox.Art@live.co.uk.

Meg's fairy stories

Photographer Meg Blacker has been working on  a series of illustrative portraits inspired by literature.

She says: "I've got two themes; Fairy Stories (traditional and modern takes on these) and also Shakespeare!"

This charming photo of sleepy fairy folk in the woods seems to combine both themes in a scene reminiscent of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Meg will be showing her photos at the Crabapple show at 16 Queen's Lane, Eynsham during Artweeks.

From Joanna's Hepburn Collection

Eynsham jeweller Joanna Ripley has been very busy sourcing new stones and designing them into a range of sparkly new pieces.

Pictured is a green quartz pendant necklace on a long gold chain. It is part of her Hepburn Collection which was designed in homage to Joanna's two great style heroines: Katherine and Audrey.

See more of Joanna's beautiful Hepburn Collection online, or better still visit her at 27 Queen Street, Eynsham, OX29 4HH, during Artweeks. She'll be open on 18, 19, 25 and 26 May from 12noon until 6pm.

Colours at Crabapple

Crabapple is a collective of artists who are exhibiting together at 16 Queen's Lane, Eynsham during Artweeks 2013. At Crabapple there is something for everyone to enjoy - jewellery, paintings, pottery and photography.
Majorie Ottley has been taking a series of strikingly colourful photographs to create abstract images.

"This is one from a series of photographs using a macro lens and coloured paper. This is a new direction for me," says Majorie.  

Alice returns to Eynsham's artistic wonderland

Alice Walker is making a welcome return to exhibiting in Eynsham for Artweeks 2013. 

Alice uses all kinds of media: oils, pencils and pastels, layers of tissue, collage and metal leaf. She uses intricately hand cut stencils to repeat motifs as she explores an idea in a series of works.

To see more of Alice's work check out her website.

Photography, paintings and penguins!

Tabitha Schenk and Christopher Schenk will be showing their photographs and Mary Field her paintings at 6 Cassington Road, Eynsham, during Artweeks.

Christopher Schenk spotted this magnificent King Penguin at Bluff Cove in the Falkland Islands last year.

Christopher's daughter Tabitha is also a photographer. Here are some yellow rhododendrons Tabitha saw closer to home at Harcourt Arborteum.

She says: "By zooming in on the flowers I was able to pick up extra details of colours and shadows that may be missed when looking at the plants as a whole. "

Tabitha and Christopher are joined in their exhibition by painter Mary Field. In this painting of autumn birches near Freeland, Mary's caught the pink light of late afternoon beautifully.

Lorna at the best shop in the world

During Artweeks, Lorna Marrison will be exhibiting her paintings at Evenlode DIY, an old-fashioned hardware store on the High Street in Eynsham. Lorna has chosen the shop as not only her venue but also her inspiration. Helpful staff, lots of useful things to buy, friendly local characters and great supporters of local artists; the shop is an attraction in its own right, made even more worth a visit with the addition of Lorna's creations.

Fellow Eynsham artist Jane Tomlinson, dubbed it "probably the best shop in the world" on her recent hand-drawn map of village  - and the name has stuck.

Check out Lorna's carefully-drawn, detailed paintings and drawings. They're delightful.

Artweeks 2013 artists announced!

We'd like to announce the line up of Eynsham artists showing in Artweeks 2013, from 18 to 26 May.

'Where the red kites fly'

• Alice Walker - paintings, drawings and printmaking
• Crabapple - various media by seven artists: Marjorie Ottley, Meg Blacker, Rose Hallam, Adrian Moyes, Sue Raikes, Tamsin Taylor, Andrea McLintick
• Eric White - pastel paintings
• Graham Rice - paintings
• Graham George - WITHDRAWN FROM SHOW
• Hannah Jago - textiles  
• Jane Tomlinson - paintings
• Joanna Ripley -jewellery 
• Lorna Marrison - paintings
• Tabitha Schenk, Christopher Schenk and Mary Field - photography.

And the Eynsham Arts Group, although not part of the Artweeks festival, will simultaneously be holding their spring exhibition of paintings and other media by various artists.

We are very pleased to see painter Alice Walker exhibiting in the village again after a long break.