April Featured Artist Louise MacIntosh-Watson

Our featured artist for April is the wonderful Louise MacIntosh-Watson who will be displaying some of her unique  Batiks,Louise is a Liverpool born artist now living in Derby. She worked in art education for 17 years before becoming a full time professional artist. Louise's work is easily identifiable by her vibrant use of colour.

Batik is a traditional Indonesian method of creating imagery on fabric by layering hot wax and colourful dyes. Louise uses this technique on paper to speed up the process. Images can be drawn using a paintbrush or a specialist tool called a tjanting.

 The hot liquid wax is scooped up into the spherical chamber and then flows out of the spout to give a fine line. The wax traps the colour underneath it and acts as a barrier to further applications of dye.

 Images are built up slowly and methodically, working from light to dark colours. 
Louise teaches workshops to beginners and is always amazed at how quickly people take to the process. The technique is intriguing and at times unpredictable, making these workshops exciting for Louise as well as the attendees.

Louise will be demonstrating her techniques here at Studio 61 Gallery with a drop in session on Saturday April 18th 2-4 

She will demo with a quick 'have a go' option for people popping in.she will be encouraging people to have a little play with the tjantings - get a feel for them and find out information about her forth coming workshops.
Below are some of the works that will be available at Studio 61 Gallery during April.

To find out more about Louise visit her website here: http://www.missmacdesigns.co.uk/ 

Introducing “Hippity Hop and Friends"

Studio 61 owner, Karina Goodman, together with her daughter Katie, has had a children’s book published. Like many of us when we are growing up our families pass down stories that they tell us at bedtime and we then pass these down to our own children but that is as far as we go. Karina has taken it further and to celebrate her mum's 80th she wrote a book with all the characters in and has created a whole series of products to accompany it making it a beautiful range that other families can collect and read to their children and grandchildren. 

“Hippity Hop and Friends was such an important part of my childhood and my own children’s childhood, that as a special gift for my mum’s 80th birthday, my daughter and I have captured her delightful stories in words and paintings,” says Karina. “Plus, and this is even more exciting news..... there will be an exclusive range of Hippity Hop and Friends ceramics, fine art prints, cards and collectables with a family of potters creating figurines of the book characters."
 

 “My mum’s stories will now be read by children all around the world as my book will be in UK libraries including London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Northern Ireland and even some going overseas, including New Zealand plus many book shops. The book will also be launched in galleries across the UK. It has been months in the making with much help from my daughter & co-author in London and Thumbnail Media, who are interested in my next book. I am working on a follow up Hippity Hop plus another children's book called The Great Peak District Train Robbery.”

The book,mugs and metal prints can be bought online with Free p&p in UK. Here's the link http://www.studio61gallery.co.uk/category/hippity-hop-book-collection