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!
Watercolour Demonstration
I’ll be demonstrating with watercolours for the Leighton Buzzard Art Society this Thursday evening, 21st November ’24. For details see https://www.lbas.org.uk/
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
New Work on show!
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!
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!
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
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
Colour
Recently, I was asked about the way I use colour. The person asking described my colours as “intense”.
It’s true, – I see colours intensely. I can feel/taste/smell even hear their notes. Colours “sing” to me – however subtle the tint, the hue is there…
Glass jar (watercolour)
Light iii, pastel (detail)
…pale skin reflecting warm light hums vermillion against a background of orchestrated blues…
Over the garden wall (Snowdonia Series)
…lilting violet perfumes the shadows, whilst the yellows rise to a pitch of buttery sunlight
Joanna Stone 