Art In Action is a festival I look forward to every year. It’s a unique opportunity to see artists from all disciplines create and demonstrate their technique, and well worth the journey to Oxfordshire. From textiles to printmaking, ceramics and wood work to glass blowing, blacksmithing, painting and sculpture, it has it all. Here are my highlights for 2011:
1. Katie Pirson‘s embroidery
Katie Pirson is a highly talented, highly trained embroiderer – she is also young and super friendly. I treated myself to her Jacobean embroidery kit (will post pictures when done!), I was super impressed with the cute packaging. She was working away on her embroidery stand. Check out her blog here.
2. Barbara Jackson‘s Prints
I discovered Barbara Jackson‘s ethereal prints at Art in Action last year and was glad to see her work again – her etchings capture the transience of figures in urban settings, such as tube and train stations. Click here for more of her work.
3. John Stroomer‘s ceramics
It was incredible to watch Aussie John Stroomer throw a pot and fire it with a blow torch. Having tried throwing and failed miserably myself in the past, I have great respect for the experts who make it look so easy! My friend El and I agreed, if we ever win the lottery, we’ll spend it all on the stunning ceramics at Art in Action.
4. Barbara Gunter-Jones‘s photograms
Having given photograms a go myself (click here) I was excited to see the work of Barbara Gunter-Jones, photograms of natural objects captured on fabric. Stunning work.
Just have to agree how wonderful Art in Action is – the blow-torch potter stopped me in my tracks too and I learned so much about the ways and techniques involved in creating
the stunning work there. Wow!