Tuesday 27 September 2011

Rosie Lomberg freelance artist!

My work is inspired by the interweaving forms and sculptural patterns of the wild plants, specifically those in my locality. The local landscape is of great significance to my work as, recorded within the walks on hills and in valleys, are the memories of every stage of my life to date.

More recent work is also concerned with the sculptural forms of the plants that inhabit our kerbsides and pavements, in an attempt to give focus on and appreciation for nature’s ability to grow beauty even against the harshest concrete backdrop. Every time I see a plant breaking through the paving slabs of a built up area it makes me smile and feel oddly reassured.

I have also ventured into painting flowers, as opposed to seed heads, but the majority of the focus is still on the leaves and the patterns of layering in colour and form, rather than a ‘pretty’ flower. The petals serve as a contrast, with their flashes of colour. The intention is never to paint the flower really; it is more an excuse to then fill the painting with all of the leaves, which really fascinate me.

The eyes are an extension of the brain and in painting to show you how they see, an artist also reveals how they think. This makes the process as much an exploration of themselves as of the subject matter, and in a way I have grown to see my works as self-portraits- Rosie Lomberg 2009

I work in Acrylic and watercolour pencil on board & use a lot of water, layering thin layers of colour over a dark base to create depth. My secret is to use MDF which absorbs the water and leaves a delicate matt layer.

I studied my foundation art at Gloscat in Gloucester and my Degree in the University of Gloucestershire.

I co-manage the By Local shop in Regent Arcade with local textile and jewellery artist Keziah Kurg. This provides an affordable outlet for Gloucestershire based artists to sell their work, meet the customers and comfortably network with other local artists.

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Eunice Makes!

This week's post is from the delightful Eunice, who recycles much of her materials, which makes her creations all the more pleasing.

Why I love ByLocal?

Well the answer is friendship and common goals. 
I first moved to Cheltenham six years ago and only knew my fiance and his family.  It was a big shock to move to a small town after living in a busy city like Edinburgh. Three years ago, I was made redundant from my teaching post after government cuts - Yes the Labour government made cuts too! -  I decided to become self-employed and sell my wares. I design and make Soft Toys (plushies), Accessories and Home Decor all from recycled leather and unloved textiles.
 www.eunicemakes.com  (Not for the first time as I have had a previous life as a dressmaker and upholsterer). 

I soon found that it was harder to be self-employed in Cheltenham, as I didn't know anybody. I didn't know where to sell, which markets to attend etc., etc.  I joined up to the ByLocal shop and soon found that everyone was very helpful and shared lots of information about Cheltenham and the surrounding area, art courses, markets... the list is endless. 
As time went on I became a supervisor and  enjoyed the ByLocal experience even more.  I get to meet lots of lovely, like-minded people who have become good friends and also quiz them about their artist techniques, marketing and promotions.

We even have a Swap Box where artists can leave unwanted resources or books for others to use.  All of us have had a good clear out and donated our "rubbish" to the swap box, there's always someone that will need it.  Any leftovers go to the nearest charity shop, so it's a win-win situation.

If it wasn't for ByLocal I wouldn't have started my new online business www.airmailrepublic.com which is an online gallery shop where artists can sell their work and post it directly to your doorstep. 
I realised that a lot of the ByLocalites did not have a web presence and I wanted to change that.  I have sold my creations on Etsy for years and thought I could set up a website where the artists could promote themselves and sell their Art.  Each week my site is growing with more and more artists wanting to join so I can only thank ByLocal for helping spread my wings in Cheltenham's creative community. 
It has helped me a great deal!

Eunice Wilson
Me    -                   www.eunicemakes.com
New gallery    -   www.airmailrepublic.com
Blog                      www.airmailrepublic.weebly.com

Friday 16 September 2011

From the beginning . . .



Here is our first contribution from one of our exhibitors, Celia Atkins, who is one VERY talented lady! She paints beautifully, in a range of styles (that's really clever) and makes jewellery too!

I  have been at Bylocal from the very beginning in July 2009. I received an email from lovely Trudi Hayden, who does the most beautiful paintings of trees, woodland and landscapes of the Tewkesbury area  (they are so realistic that we get Customers having friendly arguments about whether they are paintings or photographs). I went along to have a look at the old Young World toy shop that we were planning to use and was a bit uncertain as to how it could be transformed, as it was pretty ugly - garishprimary colours everywhere, not ideal to hang paintings on.

Anyway, Rosie and Helen were so fab and were unbelievably patient as all the potential exhibitors vied for which space they wanted, that I signed up there and then. I couldn't believe my eyes when I arrived with my stock as the whole shop had been completely transformed and looked wonderful. Rosie and Kez, who joined very soon afterwards have continued to work so hard and have made every shop look amazing, despite them looking pretty grim at the outset. Everyone pitches in and it really is a team effort. The thing I love most about ByLocal is that it is like a big family, everyone is so hardworking and supportive of each other, through all of life's up and downs.

The current shop is GORGEOUS! I love the way the double fronted windows show all te stock inside and it looks so inviting when you come up the escalators. The vibrant colours really sing and it's likethey are saying, come and see, come and see! (Mad artist writing this, obviously).

I love all the different things on sale at ByLocal. there really is something for everyone and if you are looking for gifts then there really is something for the tiniest tot to Great Aunt Ethel and it is brilliant that the makers are bringing in new things in all the time.

I hope we'll see you in the shop soon - everyone does shifts on the rota, so you can chat to the different makers and quite a few of us are happy to make things that you fancy that aren't already on sale. Whether you are selling, buying or just enjoying the visual feast of all the lovely things on display, coming  into ByLocal is a real treat!

Celia - sells Paintings sketches, Jewellery and handpainted loony cards :O)