I Am...

A reflective blog on the process of creating an exhibition

[i-am--exhibit-blog]

After much shuffling about, I have a wall! Wasn't my first choice, but I've had a little brainwave in his to make this space a little more put together (come to the exhibition to see!) Putting work up is a lot more work than I thought, and the walls in this chapel don't make it any easier. We filled the holes, however and it's up! 😊 I'm very excited for the private viewing (tomorrow @ 18:30) we've organised free food, drinks, and have set up a shop so you can buy merch from your favourite artist if your purse doesn't quite stretch to the main exhibition pieces. [[There will be a card machine available for payments]] #bathspa #exhibition #bathspauni #botanical #oil #paintings #flowers #wildflowers #chapel #artspace #fireplace #canvas #linen #art #nature #artist (at Walcot Chapel)

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Setting up the exhibition! Currently waiting on the porters to arrive with art and supplies ✌ (at Walcot Chapel)

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Second piece to sell as a little souvenir at the exhibition on Wednesday 👐 loved being able to use my little pansies that I've been growing on my window sill as a reference 😁 . . #yellow #pansies #acrylic #painting #stretched #canvas board botanical #reference #sketch #drawing #study #easel #potted #plant #art #nature #artist #IAm #forsale #sketchbook #dalerrowney #colourful #flowers

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I've also mounted them up on some recycled wood for hanging purposes. Since I stretched the linen on very thin board, it was going to be hard or impossible to hang them up elegantly . . #oil #painting #linen #stretched #canvas #recycled #material #wood #botanical #flowers #wildflowers #conceptual #selfportrait #exhibitionpiece #wip #process #technique #nature #art #artist #distressed #IAm #exhibition #bathspauni #bathspa

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Varnishing the pieces 😁 i know you aren't supposed to pour, but it's just so satisfying ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . . #varnishing #oil #painting #linen #stretched #canvas #board #nature #botanical #flowers #wildflowers #butterfly #exhibitionpiece #wip #art #artist #pretty #satisfying #colourful #

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Close up of the finished piece! All done now, phew! 😰 Still got to get it mounted and varnished, but it needs to dry first, so I get a few days to focus on other things . . #botanical #oilpainting #linen #canvas #board #flowers #wildflowers #conceptual #selfportrait #exhibitionpiece #wip #forsale #art #nature #woman #artist #thistle #violet #snowdrop #blossom

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Making a catalogue for the exhibition 👍

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Collaging. Real and printed flowers 🌺🌻🌼🌷🌸🏵🌿 . . #botanical #pressed #flowers #magazinecutouts #exhibition #sketchbook #inspiration #art #nature

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Progress... Trying very hard to let go of my necessity for meticulous detail 😅 . . #botanical #oilpainting #linen #canvas #wildflowers #flowers #triptych #exhibitionpiece #wip #nature #art #conceptual #selfportrait #womenartists #colourful #windsornewton

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Mock up in acrylic of one of the panels in the triptych in working on 😊 really like how this turned out, all pastel-y and idyllic. The ‘proper’ one is going to be in oil, and slightly distressed, so a bit rougher around the edges in places 👍 stay tuned

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Repotted my flowers to perk them up a bit 💕 good to have physical references 🌿 also a great substitute for not being allowed pets 😅

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Been stretching canvases on board, with paper on the back to balance the tension so it doesn’t warp 🌌

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Totally an excuse to buy a load of flowers?? I need material to work from, obviously. 👀

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Excellent haul from the woodworkshop scrap bins ❤ gotta be environmentally conscious art. I only work with cut-offs and repurposed wood cos I ain't about that deforestation life 🐨🌿

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Had a workshop on how to install a show and hang our pieces. Finally came to a conclusion on how I'm going to mount my precious linen: cool exposed frame by only adding the wood to the back after I've glued the lined to a thin board 👍 I'm not a fan of working on unsupported canvas, the give is frustrating after working on wood for so long, but my linen is too beautiful not to use.

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First flowers around, perfect inspiration 🌼

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Finished and framed Sweet Violet to be sold at a merch stand at the exhibition. . Watercolour on paper 18cm x 13cm inc. frame