I have reached a certain point in my life where I no longer have to earn a living in order to survive and continue my practice as an artist. What that means in reality I am about to discover!
I am pulling back from teaching a bit – so no more regular classes – though I will still do the occasional demonstrations and workshops, and I still have a few private students.
So…more time making art!
On 16th and 17th September, I will be exhibiting in the Barn Gallery at Westbury Arts centre, MK – along with other members of Artful Connections https://www.instagram.com/artful_connections – as part of the National Heritage Open Days https://www.westburyartscentre.org.uk/events2023
We are a group of artists who have become friends over many years, meeting regularly to share ideas, draw from life, paint outdoors, support and encourage each others’ creativity, put on exhibitions, and very importantly: drink tea and gossip!
The exhibition will be a colourful mix of figurative, abstract and landscape paintings in all kinds of media, as well as some very desirable ceramics…
I will also be opening my studio – which is the original 17th Century kitchen of the ancient house – once again over the same weekend as part of the Heritage Open Days and it’s theme of “Creativity Unwrapped” – so please come and visit!
in association with Visual Images Group, Bucks Art Weeks 2022
It’s come round to that time again – and this year I will be able to welcome you into my new studio on the ground floor in the beautiful 17th Century house at Westbury Farm. I am honoured to have taken on what was the kitchen in the 1600’s, with it’s huge inglenook fireplace.
This large, light room has a calm atmosphere and I now have the space to develop my practice, to have models and sitters and to make sculpture again.
Along with 12 fellow members of Artist Collective @ Westbury I will be in situ here to welcome visitors from 11th – 19th June. We also have guest artists The Rookwood Group showing work in the Barn. There will be refreshments (including cake!) and a chance to see and talk to artists at work. Please check the brochure or http://www.bucksartweeks.org.uk for details of individual artist’s opening times.
I am opening my own studio 11th – 19th June between the following times:
Sat 11-5pm
Sun 11-4pm
Weds/Thurs/Fri 10-5pm
I have framed and unframed work for sale in the studio as well as pieces in the exhibition around the house. If you’d like to commission a portrait or other piece, this is a great opportunity to have a good look at some of my work and to talk in person about what you have in mind.
Of course it’s also a chance to come and be nosey! I’m happy to chat about my work, and it’s fine if you’d just like to browse…
Hope to see you in the next few days!
November 6th – 14th 2021, Westbury Arts Centre, MK. www.westburyartscentre.org.uk/events
Observing colour is an intense experience for me; each variation in hue resonates so that I hear, taste and feel the subtleties. Conversely, sounds, tastes and emotions have colour.
Only fairly recently have I come to realise this is something called “synaesthesia”.
Although my art isn’t about this, this is the way I see – and because I work almost exclusively from life – it adds another layer of meaning, particularly when making portraits and allegorical pieces.
This exhibition brings together a selection of my most vibrant paintings in oils and watercolours:
If you wish to make an appointment to come and view the exhibition during the week, please use the contact page (above right) to get in touch.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Joanna
I was interviewed recently for the Westbury Arts Centre Blog https://www.westburyartscentre.org.uk/post/interview-with-an-artist-joanna-stone
– do please have a read and give us a like!
Here is a portrait of lovely Emma, made in a friend’s garden on a warm day just as Autumn was making the trees dance…
The picture was made from life in one sitting of approximately 4 hours, – then the background, dress and hair were finished off in the studio from a photograph.
This portrait is on view this weekend 12th/13th September as part of an in-house exhibition by some of the Artists Collective @ Westbury
For further information please visit https://www.westburyartscentre.org.uk/heritage-open-days
Today we would have been celebrating the beginning of our Open Studios for Bucksartweeks at Westbury Arts Centre, with “Pimms On The Lawn”…
However – you can visit https://www.westburyartscentre.org.uk/bucks-art-week and take a look!
I will be showing recent work alongside fellow artists in a mixed exhibition of paintings, prints, textiles, ceramics and wood. Please come along to browse and buy, or simply to chat to the artists and eat cake!
I am excited to announce my solo exhibition at the Eagle Gallery, Bedford, in March, entitled “JOANNA STONE: PORTRAITS”
“I’m fired by the challenges of working from life. This informs all my art.”
This exhibition features works in oils, pastels, ink and watercolours that have all been made with the person there, in front of the artist. Some are portraits that show direct connection with the sitter and include significant objects that are meaningful to them, giving vital clues to their personality. Others are characters re-imagined from fairy tales, folklore and Shakespeare. Also included are nude figure studies from life.
Work is for sale, but you are also very welcome to come along just to have a look! I also undertake commissions.
The exhibition runs from 2nd – 9th March at the Eagle Gallery, Mon-Sat, 10 –5.30pm.
Private View : 1st March, invitation only. Please get in touch if you would like to come along.
“Meet the Artist”: Sat 2nd March 10.00 – 5.30pm. I shall be there all day to talk about my work and show some of my sketchbooks etc.
Eagle Gallery, 101, Castle Road, Bedford, MK 40 3QP.
Tel: 01234 346995
“Making a portrait from life reveals much more to me than a photograph. A photograph freezes the fraction of a second and flattens perspective. When looking at eachother we are constantly moving and our eyes take in many thousands of tiny shifts of view, allowing our brains to process lots of visual information to help shape our perception of the person we’re observing.” ©Joanna Stone.
Joanna Stone 