New Etching Artwork Designs

I've just completed the artwork for some new etching. These will be photo-etched in brass & copper then used for my greetings cards. I thought it was about time I introduced some new designs to the range although the old favourites do still seem to be popular. I'm really looking forward to getting the first batch of metal versions delivered in the next few weeks.....

Rowan leaf commission

I've just completed this metalwork plaque commission this morning. This piece is to celebrate the imminent birth of baby 'Rowan' for some very good customers.

I saw-pierced the leaf in brass & then textured the surface with a punch to impress 'veins'. This was then soldered onto a copper background & took several attempts to get the right colour as it was quite a large piece of metal.

I hope they will be pleased with the results.....

METALWORK COURSE

The past few day's I've been in discussion regarding running a metalwork course in the Cotswolds later in the year. This has now been finalised & you can now go ahead a book a place. I have specified that the number of participants be redistricted to 10 so places are limited! Take a look at the website for more information......

www.cotswold-artstudio.com

http://www.cotswold-artstudio.com/sharonmcswiney.asp

Date for your diary.....

October 23rd & 24th

10am - 4.30pm

Condicote Village Hall nr Stow on the Wold

Special Fairy Decorations

I had a surplus of fairy etching from my garden stick designs....

Thought I'd make use of them for some Christmas decorations (although these could be displayed all year round?) I've added some glass beads for spots of colour. Available in copper or brass with red/mauve or blue beads.

Crafts not just for Christmas Exhibition

I'm thrilled at the catalogue for the forthcoming crafts exhibition at Worcester City Art Gallery!

You may remember from an earlier post the gallery commissioned me to design & make a piece of jewellery to reflect the theme of the exhibition....a very sad looking cat & dog!

This brooch has been photographed and used for the invite & catalogue plus the actual piece is going to be the prize in a raffle. Entry into the exhibition & gallery is free.

It's lovely to see an image of my work used to promote what should be a fab exhibition. Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to attend the opening this Friday as I'll be down in Suffolk but I'll be rushing down to the gallery on Foregate Street in Worcester next week to see the display.

www.worcestercitymuseums.org.uk

Little donkeys

More little donkeys have arrived at the Fold.......

Looking for a home this Christmas!

Christmas Angels

These are my latest Christmas creations.

Copper and brass decorative angels available in two sizes.

Small measure 10.5cm by 8cm, and large 13.5cm by 10cm.

Available from my Bransford studio or at one of the retail

events I will be showing at over the next few weeks!

Pet on a Postcard!

Sue Lim at Blue Ginger is once again inviting entries, as part of The Big Draw, for a community exhibition to be held at the gallery 14th - 25th October.

www.thebigdraw.org

We're a bit late with ours but Sue said it's OK!

Basically you can bid for the mini works of art during the exhibition & there's a special evening on 24th October 6 - 9pm at Blue Ginger, Home End Farm, Cradley WR13 5NW.

www.blue-ginger.com

All money received will be donated to Acorns Children's Hospice.

The background for my metal cat was printed using one of my etched pieces - I rather like the effect.... I might experiment further using some of the other designs.

This is Tim's entry....

& Sarah's.....

Large Commission piece

This large picture has just been collected this morning! A customer had bought some of the small block pictures a while ago & wanted a larger piece in the same colours. This one is 90cm x 55cm which heat coloured brass & copper on a deep red painted background.

I couldn't get the lighting right on these this morning so the colour is a little off but it gives you the idea!!! Obviously I can make these pictures in sizes to suit & paint the colours to co-ordinate with your interior decor.

So now I have today & tomorrow to continue making panels & pictures to deliver to The Gallery Upstairs in Henley in Arden on Monday hopefully......then off to Tetbury on Thursday to Hookshouse Pottery....and Ludlow on Friday to set up Showing Off...phew!

Metalwork Sections in production

With numerous exhibitions & events coming up fast I thought I'd better get cracking on making some metalwork panels. As these are the most labour intensive pieces I produce I thought I would make as many pieces as possible over the next few days & then start to assemble them together. As I am showing at the Malvern Autumn Show this weekend I only have today to work on production!

These are a few of the pieces I made yesterday....

Crafts not just for Christmas

I've just completed a commission for Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum. This November & December they are holding a crafts exhibition at the gallery. I was approached to design a piece to illustrate the theme with a play on the words 'pets not just for Christmas', making my cat & dog look rather sad....it's amazing what a difference the head angle, eyes & mouth can make! I hope I have answered the brief!?

The piece was saw pierced from copper & brass & soldered together - the whiskers were a little tricky! I then oxidised the piece & textured the little dog to make him look even more scruffy.

Dancing birds

Made these rather bonkers dancing birdies this afternoon.......

Love Birds

Just put these latest pictures up in the studio.....
The deep box canvas is approx 20cm x 20cm with an applied textured surface...the little birds & cats are copper & brass... just a little experiment!

Stripey Cats!

I'd run out of the 'Lucky Black Cats' at the studio so while I was making some more I had the idea to make some striped cats. By applying the flux carefully on to the brass you can control the pattern to some extent. I think these first attempts are quite nice!

Christmas Decorations have started!

Just putting the ribbons on the first batch of my metal work Christmas decorations! These are actually ordered & will be in their way to Inverness this week to the Castle Gallery. It still feels very early to be starting Christmas but to be honest I've usually made some decorations by this time. I have some ideas for new designs which I will get going on shortly.....

Tim's Metalwork Boats

These are some of the cute copper & brass boats that Tim has made....I'm about to start experimenting with mounting them onto pieces of driftwood. As he is not at the studio at the moment I'm not sure when he'll be able to make anymore? It's interesting how differently we work - I'm very much interested in flat pattern & colour whereas Tim is much more 3D!

Etching Artwork

Just found this design sheet for photo-etching artwork while attempting to have a tidy up in the studio.....

Many hours were spent drawing out the multiple images which were then translated into copper & brass etched pieces to use on panels, pictures & greetings cards.

I enjoy the drawing process & it's always really exciting to receive the first etched batch.

Think they would make lovely fabric designs?

These are some more sections from garden stick etching artwork....

Christening Plaque

Just finished a commission for a Christening this weekend......

I've made pieces before for weddings & new babies but this is the first one in this style. I need to have a couple made up in the studio so visitors get an idea of what's possible for a really personal gift.