New Ceramics in closeup...

The classes and groups of ceramic students have finished...

...covid put an end to all that.

But life goes on in the studio with an exhibition of artists' work , including Alan's, due to be curated in January at Technically Brilliant Art Gallery in The Golden Square Mall in Warrington.

I've taken these shots with the macro lens on my Canon EOS 5D.

They are on three large ceramic sculptural works based on the coast that we both love in Suffolk.

Southwold, Aldeburgh and Walberswick.

Alan also exhibits at Buckenham House, High Street, Southwold .  

 

Beach Huts and Boats. Southwold.

Harbour on the Blythe River Southwold.

I probably won't have time to blog next week.

So I wish any and all who may read my stories here....

A very happy peaceful and blessed Christmas time.

It's Advent December 2021

 ....and the old driftwood tree comes out of the tool shed...is dusted down and the spiders webs cleared away before it's once again in pride of place in the big gallery window at The Potters House Penketh.

On go the twinkling lights...a job for the potter...aka Alan Snape.

...the box of beloved baubles is dragged down the stairs from under a bed in the guest room..

...year by year I scour the christmas shops for another one to add to the collection...but it has to be that little bit different from the hundreds that are the choices available now...

...and every year I buy each of the grandgirls one to start their own collection.

Aunt Helen was my partner in "crime " each Christmas at 43 St. Johns in Belfast...I would crawl into the cubbyhole under the stairs to find the box with the treasure in it....in those days mainly paper decorations.

...ooops!...why is it always the fragile ones that slip out of your hands!...still beautiful in it's shards of fine glass...

After our visit this year to the autumn Chelsea...inspired by the work in the main tent... I started collecting the autumn leaves as they fell from the gingko tree in the garden...pressing them in old art books...always heavy!...and stringing them in chains for the gallery windows.

...some japanese acer leaves found their way into the strings too...

..a choir of angels echo the message of hope

...nothing to make you ashamed...

In the window....ceramic camel £150 : ceramic angels £20 : Large penguin with gold crown £170 : small penguin with gold crown £110 : ceramic polar bear £180 : individual ceramic letters £150 : HOPE £450  Icon.."Christ Pantocrator" £150 : ceramic hare £180 : Box assemblage ceramic hand £150 : ceramic stars £20 : Globed angel £150 : small driftwood christmas trees £20 : chain of pressed leaves £10 ..and so much more inside.

More work can also be seen at Technically Brilliant Art in The Golden Square Mall, Warrington.

and

The Buckenham Gallery Southwold, Suffolk.

Today the sun is shining...although these are often called "the dark days"...but there is always hope and so that is my wish for all of us this Christmas.....

"And hope doesn't put us to shame..." Rom 5:5

Much love

Geraldine

Art challenge...Day Six...Jonah in the Boat Asleep.

Day Six of the potters art challenge.

Many of the series Alan has produced have been based on well known Bible Stories. 

This is from the story of Jonah who disobeyed instructions...and ended up inside a BIG fish!....he eventually obeyed ...though still wasn't very happy...read it for yourself!

In this piece from the series Jonah is asleep in the boat...just before they throw him off to the fish!!!! Typical of the potter's sense of humour.

Day five of the potter's art challenge....and this camel seen in the window at the Buckenham Gallery in Southwold...is ready, willing and able to paaarrrtay!!

Where do the ideas come from?...I dread to think!

I think this sweet camel is long gone...off partying somewhere classy...but others will follow where he has lead no doubt.

You can always pop into the Potters House here on Heath Road Penketh to see what the potter is conjuring up at the moment.

Looking in  and...

...he's looking out!!

Alan Snape's Art Challenge...Day two.

Day Two for the "Potters" seven day art challenge.

one of the main ceramic pieces that Alan has produced here at The Potters House Penketh has been The Landscape Pots. these have each been individually produced with both land and seascapes.

These can be seen at our shop and gallery and also the galleries that stock his work in Southwold, Snape Maltings and Whitstable.

Day One...and the work from Alan Snape...aka the potter...

This is from the early days when he was still working on canvas and wood and metal assemblages....

"Honesty"...oil on board.6x6...still on the wall in our home...I love it. Gx

Five Day Art Challenge....Alan Snape ...potter

Last day of The Five Day Art Challenge for the potter.....
I couldn't let it go by without the penguins marching over the post!!
They have travelled far and near and are still l;eaving the studio on a regular basis!!.....Thankyou Penguins!!

Five day #art #challenge...day three...pelicans!...by the potter..Alan Snape Warrington, England

A pretty pair!!

Blue-booted Camels

...these fine ladies came out of the kiln this morning and into the sun ...

...all-singing...

...all-dancing...

...blue-booted...

...what more could we ask of them!!

...a swing to the left.... 

...curtsey to the right...

...and altogether now with a good ending!!!

Thankyou Ladies!

The sleepy garden...

 

I've been taking pics of the garden and back field for the potter  as he is still in hospital

 just to let him see the way the garden is going to sleep for the winter this year.

I think it gets more beautiful every year. 

It was an unofficial local tip when we took it over more than 30 years ago.

But Alan has used the wood available to make the fences and arches around the site.

... the summer house at the far right...

...the old barrow just about holding together...

 

...the herb garden...

and

...the little sun spot at the bottom of the herb garden...

 

...autumn colours  ...

 

...autumn leaves...

 

...the gingko tree of eternity...

 ...canary creeper seeds falling for the show next year...

 ...another viewing spot for the roses...

... winter food for us and...

 
 ...winter food for the little field mice who live in the compost heap...

...a goodly crop of leaks this year means great soups...

 beautiful end of year colour.

Prom Art in July 2011

Another great day at Grange-over-Sands yesterday. I was a bit worried about the weather playing up...either too hot and nowhere to hide...or rainy and not worth putting the paintings out.
Oh dear you can't please some people!
But it was perfect. Warm breeze and clouds covering the worst of the sun's heat.....well we are talking northern here.

                                        Robert...

of the yellow sweatshirt fame!...was pleased with the turnout.
He runs the show...(and I think maybe his sweatshirt is pink now?)

A hundred and ten artists this time.

And the quality of the art gets better and better.
We had a good day business-wise and on top of that met some lovely folks and had a yummy picnic.
What more could one ask for?
That's maybe stretching it a tad! Don't ask me for a list.

Anyway these ceramic poppy heads sold out...

Penguins flew off the table...metaphorically speaking...

One lovely lady came to buy her 4th...

...what can she be doing with them?

And Kate the granddaughter, sold one of these...much to her financial delight!


But these little "babes" were not there as they are even now being packed up for the journey south to
The Snape Maltings Gallery in Suffolk tomorrow.

....and all in a row....

They should feel at home down there!