Drawn to the Valley Monthly Newsletter for Artists of the Tamar Valley July 2016 this issue Drawn to the Valley Business Skills Workshops Business Skills Workshops P.1 Featured Artist P.2 & 3 Tavistock Exhibition PV & OS P.4 Members News P.5 Events Guide P.6 Drawn to the Valley kicked off its series of business skills workshops on Friday 1st July with a session on Social Media. Fifteen artists attended to hear Melissa Choroszewska s presentation on using social media for your business; which platforms, how and why. As a free source to market your art, it enables you to reach out and connect with potential customers on a global scale. With 1.65 billion active users on Facebook, Melissa advised on setting up a business page, identifying target markets; connecting through groups, initiatives to boost traffic to your site, and ongoing management of your business and personal page. Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest were also covered. Pinterest is highly visual and designed to connect people with the things they are interested and is Melissa s personal preferred and proven favourite in terms of benefit to her own sales and marketing. Whilst initially it may seem an overwhelming burden to manage social media, Melissa gave a summary of her own daily activity which amounted to only half an hour a day to keep her profiles fresh and updated. Tools to link updates across your social media platforms, and apps to schedule your postings make this a time effective and an efficient free way to market your art to a worldwide market. The next two workshops are as follows; if you would like to attend, it is free for members, please contact me if you would like to come along. The workshops are 10.30 am to 12.30 pm but arrival is any time from 9.30 am, time for a cuppa and catch up. Tamar Valley Centre, Drakewalls, Nr Gunnislake, admin@drawntothevalley.co.uk or 0780 8813492 Friday 8th July 2016: Workshop 2: Selling on Etsy (and other online sites!) This workshop will cover how to set up your etsy shop front, how to create perfect listings, and most importantly how to get your work found in search. Friday 15th July 2016: Workshop 3: All Things Websites This workshop will cover how to set up a website, what content your site needs, branding your website and how to promote your website using SEO, blogging and networking.
Featured Artist; Fi Smart Having ignored my creative side over decades, doing an arts degree late in life has been really helpful. It s given me confidence that I can still learn - even the digital side of things. It s strangely satisfying watching your drawings moving in a simple animation, something I never imagined being able to do when I started. All the reflecting and reviewing that you have to do on a course means that you start to see patterns and themes in what you produce. As a result, I find now that my work is becoming more focused and that I don t rush at things quite so madly. I ve always enjoyed the process but the research and the thinking/planning stages are now much more enjoyable and fruitful. So in the future I want to concentrate on combining printmaking, drawing and ceramics to tell stories about subjects that interest me. It feels strange to suddenly be unconfined by the structure of a course but I am really looking forward to the chance to see where it all takes me over the next few years.
Ask the Artist; Fi Smart Where is your favourite place? At the moment it s probably Roborough Down at Yelverton I love the far off horizons with the history of the war time use literally below the surface. Daily dog walking means that you notice subtle changes and start to feel more connected to the landscape. What would you take with you to a desert island? It s got to be paper and pencil for drawing and writing. What irritates you? Fewer things irritate me now than when I was younger but it s probably the way that our education system doesn t teach/encourage young people to use critical thinking skills. We so need the young to question things. Top 2 dinner party guests? I would be so in awe of Grayson Perry that I wouldn t be able to speak at all so I think it would have to be Jonathan Miller (as a teenager I remember being fascinated by the breadth of his knowledge) and perhaps a total stranger to hear their stories. What is your hidden talent? Spotting scale insects on my lemon tree. What is your favourite motto? Waste not want not. What is the best work related thing you have done recently? Probably my illustrated ceramic artillery shells showing the three stages of war, because through making them I have arrived at the type of work that I want to do more of putting entire stories onto pots and using the form to enhance the telling of a story. My next project is the way that we cope with the ageing of parents. Slightly less grim than WW1
Please do contact us if you have any news or items you wish to share. Perhaps you have an exhibition coming up or some art equipment or materials to sell. If so please do let us know. Tavistock Annual Exhibition Tavistock Town Hall 27th to 31st July 2016 The Drawn to the Valley annual Summer Exhibition in Tavistock Town Hall is a fantastic opportunity to see a wide selection of 60 members work. The private view, on Tuesday 26th July from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm, is a wonderfully vibrant occasion which offers the opportunity to meet many of the artists and to see their work displayed. With music from a talented jazz duo, and canapés courtesy of Moorland Garden Hotel it will be a celebration of the 2016 exhibition which will be opened by artist Anthea Ley For the artists themselves it is an important event that brings them together both socially and professionally. It is both exciting and daunting for them to see their work in a public show. We hope all members can attend, and please do invite your art buying friends... Open Studios 27th August to 4th September 2016 Open Studios is a rare treat a chance to visit artists in their own work space. This event is an essential part of the Tamar valley's creative calendar. Open Studios provides a chance to see and discuss much of the best established and emerging art in the region, and provides an ideal opportunity to buy original artwork directly from the artists themselves. Brochures will be available for collection from your Area Representative from 10th July. The brochure will also be online on our website www.drawntothevalley.co.uk Participants are allocated a box of 10 brochures, signage and A5 and A4 posters. If you are not participating but would like posters and brochures, please contact your area representative.
sheron@madhattersstudio.com Mob: 07795 805520 Workshops available on request: 1 day Up cycled textile and found object jewellery workshop with Sheron King 45 using old fabrics and found objects design and make using stitched cords and machine embroidery, a unique piece of jewellery to wear away! 1 day vintage style christmas decoration workshop 45 using found papers such as book paper or music script make old fashioned woven stars, angels, flowers Needle felted animals or birds with Jean Fenton -half day or evening 15 Spinning from fleece to delectable yarn with Jean Fenton Drop spindle spinning with Jean Fenton TAVI ARTS MARKETS www.taviartsmarket.com Next Date: Saturday 6th August We are delighted that Helen Round is featured in this months edition of Period Living Magazine, take a look at this wonderful five page article with lovely photos of the studio, the products and the story behind Helen. The magazine is in shops now. Helen suggests the following summer shows to look forward to: Cowslip Workshop Summer Fair 23-24th July: Over 40 exhibitors, a quilt exhibition and Jessie Chorley in the workshop with her inspiring Stitched Set Storybooks. And the wonderful cafe, of course! Charlestown Artisan Fair 30th July: A chance to meet some of Cornwall's most talented designer makers exhibiting their work - from ceramics, to textiles and jewellery. There will be a cafe, live music and children's crafts.
Upcoming Events 2016 Events Listing Artist Business Skills Workshops with Melissa Choroszewska Tamar Valley Centre, Drakewalls, Near Gunnislake, Cornwall, PL18 9FE Arrive from 9.30am for coffee and catch up for a 10.30am start, finish at 12.30pm Friday 8 th July 2016 Workshop 2: Selling on Etsy (and other online sites) Friday 15 th July 2016 Workshop 3: All Things Websites These workshops are free of charge to artist members Tavistock Exhibition Set Up Monday 25 th July to Tuesday 26 th July 2016 Private View Tuesday 26 th July 2016 6.30pm to 8.30pm Exhibition 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (to 3.00 pm Sunday) Wednesday 27 th July to Sunday 31 st July 2016 Open Studios Saturday 27 th August to Sunday 4 th September 2016 Artist Work Days, Wednesdays; 20 th July, and 19th October. Pentillie Castle & Estate St. Mellion, Saltash PL12 6QD Artists must register for inclusion, limited capacity. Artist Work Days, Thursday s; 7th July, and 11th August. The Garden House Buckland Monachorum, Yelverton, PL20 7LQ No restrictions on attendance. DRAWN TO THE VALLEY Arts Administrator: Sarah-Jane Lincoln 20 Mill Hill Cottages, Mill Hill, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 8NW Tel: 0780 8813492 Email: admin@drawntothevalley.co.uk Please share your news and latest work on our Facebook Page; www.facebook.com/drawn-to-the-valley Twitter - Drawn 2Valley