May-hem!

Apologies for the hilarious pun. I try my best.

I'm a bit late with a May update, as we're over halfway through it. I'll get a move on. Phew...

Events
Next weekend, Sat 25th-Mon 27th May 2013 I'm taking part in the Saltaire Arts Trail, at their Makers Fair in Victoria Hall. It is the first time I've taken part in this 3-dayer, and I'm more than a little excited. I've taken part in the one-day events in the Autumn, but this is truly the mothership. Loads of really great contemporary arts and crafts. It runs 10am-5pm each day.

I'm also taking part in an art auction on Thurs 30th May, entitled '10x10'. It is to raise money for the Article 25 Haitian Earthquake fund. For the project, each artist chosen (100 in all) was given a grid reference on a Sheffield map, and told to interpret something within it. I got a place called Clay Wood and created a one-off edition of a new print of a tree I saw there. The event starts at 7pm at Old Sharrow Junior School, with all profits from the auction going to the charity. There is also supposed to be some musical entertainment and food/drinks, so pop down if you're in the area and get your bidding arms limbered up!

 























Commissions
I have a couple of recent commissions to show you. 

Firstly, I was recently asked to produce a linocut for the Sheffield Children's Festival 2013, to be used on their publicity. I chose to create a hot-air balloon scene, having always been fascinated by them as a child. I also sneaked a bit of Sheffield in to the picture too. See if you can recognise it!

Alsongside the festival, I have produced a very limited poster-print of the image for the Museums Sheffield shops. I have produced two versions, in slightly different colours, and each are available in Weston Park Museum and the Millennium Galleries, limited to 25 of each design.

Next I was asked to produce a linocut for a benefit music CD to raise money for Portland Works in Sheffield, entitled 'The Sound of Portland Works'. It is where Stainless Steel was invented, so historically a very important place! Recently it was saved from the bulldozer by a group there determined to save its heritage and keep it going for the dozens of craftspeople who still work there, as well as a fair few musicians too. The CD features a selection of music from groups/artists who practice/record there (including my group 'The Big Eyes Family Players').

Lastly, I have created a logo for a new independent record label based in Sheffield, called Little Owl Records. They will be releasing 7-inch singles and putting on shows in the city.

Thats all for now...(Next month, new solo exhibition and The Art Market in Holmfirth!!!)

New Meersbrook print and Open Up Sheffield 2013

Well, hello...

NEW PRINT
I've just completed a new landscape print, I'm pleased to report. It is based on a view in Meersbrook, Sheffield (my 3rd one in this area). 'Third Meersbrook print?' I hear you say..I'm not just being lazy, honest! I do love living here, but it is mainly my third one as there are so many interesting views from around here. Meersbrook is situated right at the top of one of the seven hills, so everywhere you look is a maze of roofs, trees, chimneys and more!

Anyway, this new print is a little bigger than most of my previous ones. It is a hand-pressed one, with the print roughly A4 in size, printed on A3 size paper, in sage and warm-grey. Hope you like it! It was a lot of fun to make. It is in my Folksy shop at:

http://folksy.com/items/4364623-Meersbrook-View-No-3-2-colour-linocut-print

OPEN UP SHEFFIELD 2013
I'm taking part in the Sheffield open studios event this year, and this time at my home-studio. It takes place on Sat 4th/5th May and Sat 11th/Sun 12th May, and my space will be open from 11am until 5pm. I will be setting up a mini-gallery (with framed and unframed work available) and working on some new work during this time, so come and have a look. Oh, I'll also be providing some wine (and other refreshments) and cakes!

For those of you who aren't familiar with the 'open studios' concept, it is basically when a number of artists open their workspaces to the public to come and have a look and maybe buy work. A lot of people plan a tour of art they might like, using the Open Up catalogue, which can be found in shops/galleries all over the city. All of the information is also available on the Open Up website (www.openupsheffield.co.uk). There are over 100 artists taking part in the Sheffield one this year.

More info on how to find me is at:

http://www.openupsheffield.co.uk/artists/Green_James.php

March and April happenings..

Hello there

A few things going on over the next month or so..new commissions, events and more workshops...I'm not going to mention the weather..

New Commission
I have just completed a new linocut commission for the Sheffield Children's Festival 2013. It will appear on the booklets, and on various poster-boards around the city. I have to keep this image under wraps until June when the festival starts! It was a lot of fun to do.

Events
In April I'm going to be selling my work at the following events:

Mary's Marvellous Craft & Vintage Market, St Marys, Bramall Lane, Sheffield - Saturday 6th April 2013 10am-4pm - This time it is an Art & Craft special, with the majority of stalls featuring artists and crafters from Sheffield and beyond.

Pop-up Print Shop, Cowlishaw Works, Sharrow Vale Road, Sheffield - Sunday 21st April 2013, 12-4pm - Myself and We Live Here (aka Jonathan Wilkinson) will have a one-off pop-up shop at Cowlishaw Works (behind Gilberts Pine Emporium, where I run my linocut workshops) on Sharrow Vale Market day. Follow the signs round the side of Gilberts to find us!

New Prints
'Fox In The Snow' - A3 poster-print. Influences by the Belle & Sebastian song of the same name and the urban fox that prowls round our neighbourhood! Available in my Folksy shop and at fairs.

Workshops
I have new workshops in place for May, June and July. Details and how to book are as follows:

Saturday May 18th 2013 - 'Introduction to Linocut Printing' workshop at The Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield, in conjunction with the Leonard Beaumont print exhibition that is on there. At the end of the day you'll have your very own 10x15cm one-colour linocut print! Ten places are available (£35 each), all materials are included, and you need to book through Museums Sheffield, via this link. 

Saturday June 15th 2013 - 'Introduction to Linocut Printing' workshop at Cowlishaw Works, Sheffield. At the end of the day you'll have your very own 10x15cm one-colour linocut print! Eight places are available (£35 each), and all materials are included. If you'd like to book a place then email me on jgprintworks@hotmail.com

Saturday July 6th 2013 - 'Advanced Linocut Printing (2-colour)' workshop at The Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield, in conjunction with the Leonard Beaumont print exhibition that is on there. At the end of the day you'll have your very own 10x15cm two-colour linocut print! Ten places are available (£35 each), all materials are included, and you need to book through Museums Sheffield, via this link. *Please note* All participants should have done linocut printing before, either at one of my workshops or elsewhere. 
 

'Grinders' by Leonard Beaumont

'Editions' exhibition

The kind people at 'Made North' have asked me to take part in the 'Editions' print exhibition they have organised at the West Yorkshire Print Workshop in Mirfield. It features artwork from all sorts of talented printmakers from the north of the UK, including Leaf City Press, Sarah Abbott, Nick Deakin, Butterscotch & Beesting, EMA and many more. The exhibition runs from 28th Feb to 30th March 2013. I have five prints on show, and all prints in the exhibition are available to buy.

Our Favourite Places feature

So, I'm very flattered to have been featured on a new website called 'Our Favourite Places', put together by Eleven Design to talk about things they really like in Sheffield. It is a lovely site, with all sorts of interesting topics like food, art, films, shopping and the city's geography.

As well as an interview, there are also a selection of photos of me at work, taken by the talented Nigel Barker. He made me look almost human. Well done Nigel!

And thanks again to Eleven Design. Keep your eyes peeled on this website for more interesting stuff....

http://www.ourfaveplaces.co.uk

Handmade Living mag mention..

I was very happy to find out that 'Handmade Living' magazine have chosen to feature my 'Sheffield City View' poster-print in the 'Emporium' section of their next issue (April 2013, out Feb 28th)!

Valentine Offer! - (Sorry sold out!)

***SORRY, BUT ALL HAVE NOW GONE***

So, in genuine valentine-spirited-ness (rather than an attempt to coerce people) I am giving away copies of my 'Czech Heart' linocut print with the next 10 orders of any hand-pressed linocut print in my Folksy shop. They are orange, red or blue. Add a note with an order saying 'have a heart' (or any other bad 'heart'-based pun) if you want one...