Presence: evocation of a tree spirit…*
(Formerly called “Silent Witness” but I have changed the title due to a copyright issue.)
A new work within the Sculpture Garden at Westbury.
This ancient tree in the garden that surrounds the Jacobean farmhouse at Westbury is known as the “Westbury Butler”. It’s at least 100 years old and probably much older; completely hollow, though still growing and producing fruit.
Many insects, invertebrates, birds and small animals live on, in and under it – including one or two that are extremely rare.
To what myriad changes and events must the tree have borne witness…?
*An intervention, using unfired clay and marbles which will eventually degrade and can be easily removed. No living plant or creature has been harmed during this process!
A First: The Artist Collective @ Westbury is holding a group exhibition “Midsummer” which includes work by virtually all of us! Plus, it’s Bucks Art Weeks Open Studios too…
I will be showing new work in the exhibition (see below) and will be there in person in the Barn Gallery, on Weds 11th between 11am and 1.30pm – happy to talk about my own or the other wonderful paintings, prints, jewellery, and sculpture created by my fellow artists.
Nine of us are also opening our studios as part of Bucks Art Weeks – so if you’re curious to see what I get up to in my studio you are welcome to come and see me! I am in Studio 6, on the ground floor of old part of the main house.
I’ll be there between 11am and 1,30pm on 7th/8th and 13th/14th/15th June. Hope to see you then!
New Exhibition coming up!
Artful Connections 3: Beyond The Surface
Over two days, 28th and 29th September 2024 I will be exhibiting with five other members of Artful Connections in the Barn Gallery at Westbury Arts Centre, MK.
Open Studios Event
Here is an opportunity to come and see what I’ve been making in my studio recently – and to meet some of my fellow members of the Artist Collective @ Westbury. We are opening our studios this coming Fri 14th/Sat 15th/Sun 16th June, 11am – 4pm.
Look forward to seeing you there!
For more info visit www.bucksartweeks.co.uk
A New Start!
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!
Open Studios Event
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!
NEW! Solo exhibition:
“TRUE COLOURS”
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
Interview for Westbury Arts Centre Blog
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!
And the Sun Shone!
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.
MK Heritage Open Days at Westbury Arts Centre.
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
Bucks Art Weeks Online Gallery
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!
New exhibition with a new group!
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!
Solo exhibition next month!
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.
Recent Commission
Here is a photo of a double portrait I did for a lovely lady called Jill, who commissioned this piece as a special thirtieth birthday present for her son, in memory of his father who sadly passed away three years ago this year.
It was executed in charcoal and watercolour on 640gms hot-pressed paper, in order to achieve a subtle grainy effect and to integrate colour in the roses, as requested.
Jill was delighted with the result: “Lawrence loved the picture, it was very emotional again buts that’s down to you and how wonderful you portrayed them both, the whole family were very complimentary.”
Fast and free
First the glow
First the glow,
vermillion accents and a touch of the shadowy blues running down into ochre,
turning into green harmony
deep, warm bass notes in purple thought
a line of melody just heard
just caught
Currently on show…
This painting is currently on show and for sale at the Eagle Gallery www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk
“Rhythm and Blues ii”, watercolour and ink, £225
This work, painted on blue-tinted 140lb watercolour paper, is part of a series in which I am exploring colour (see below for my thoughts on synaesthesia).
Last day of exhibition tomorrow!
Tomorrow, Sat 17th Sept. is the last day of our two-woman exhibition “Terra Mutabilis” at the Eagle Gallery, Bedford www.eaglegalleryartists.co.uk
I will be doing another portrait demonstration in the afternoon, 2.30-4.30pm.
To see a short video of the demo from Wednesday, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qNk269Xfaw&feature=youtu.be
Demonstration portrait of Dave, 14.9.16, Eagle Gallery, Bedford.
New Exhibition this September…
I’m currently busy getting ready for our two-person show at the Eagle Gallery, Bedford next month, in which I will be displaying selected drawings and paintings that reflect my deep-rooted interest in our relationship with the Earth.
All my work involves story-telling in some way, and the colours I use express as honestly as I can the way I see who or what I’m painting. I aim to accurately depict the energy I sense.
Kind of Blue, Pencil and watercolour.
I’m acutely aware that the chemistry from which human skin has evolved, for example, is also that from which the planet is formed. Even the paint I use comes from pigments and substances mined from the earth!
Our connection with nature goes far beyond recreation or fancy, being fundamentally based on science – but the stories that have been passed down through the ages to explain this chemistry have woven themselves into our history and Psyche. I paint people, landscapes and objects in a re-imagination of some of these myths and legends in order to show their relevance to the way life on Earth is changing now…
Summer Life Drawing exhibition
I am taking part in the Life Club Annual Exhibition later this month (see below).
I’ll be showing this painting…
…and some other new works from life.
Exhibition next weekend!
I am taking part in a huge exhibition with 49 other artists over the bank holiday weekend of 30th April – 2nd May at Parkside Hall, Ampthill, Bedfordshire (see poster below).
It will be a really exciting and eclectic mix of paintings, prints, sculpture and craft, with something for everyone’s taste (hopefully!) and all for sale.
I will be in attendance at the Private View on Friday evening and all day Saturday. If you’d like an invitation to the PV please get in touch asap and I will arrange to get one to you.
Hope to see you there!
I plan to show some of my most recent loose watercolour and line figure drawings which illustrate something of my intense relationship with colour…
“Rhythm & Blues”, no.3. Watercolour and brushpen on blue tinted paper. Joanna Stone 2016.
Latest exhibition at the Eagle Gallery
All memmbers of the Eagle co-operative have been invited to submit one piece of work each on the theme of “Contrast”.
SUMMER LANDSCAPE ON LOCATION WORKSHOPS
See http://jostonearttutor.wordpress.com for information and booking!
View of Stockgrove Lake, Rushmere.
Joanna Stone 2014
“Midsummer Madness” exhibition
Detail from “Soldier”, Joanna Stone 2015, watercolour and charcoal.
Following the success of last week’s exhibition at Parkside Hall, Ampthill ( see review at http://BecomingAnArtist.wordpress.com ), it’s time to tell you about the next one at Moat Farm Gallery next weekend 6/7th June.
I will be showing some new work along with a small group of fellow artists from the Artists Network Bedfordshire.
This is a lovely small gallery space in a rural setting, – with room to park nearby (though please not in front of the house!) or on the road outside.
We’ll all be at the preview on Friday 7-9pm to greet you, with drinks and nibbles!
I shall also be there all day on Saturday.
For venue address and opening times, please see below:
Joanna Stone 