Dorset Art Weeks (DAW) is one of the largest open studio events in the country, with nearly 300 venues showing the work of almost 1000 artists. It starts this Saturday and runs for two weeks until June 8th. I'll be sharing Ruth Oak's studio which is above Poole Printmakers, who are also having an open studio for DAW.
Ruth is a painter and printmaker whose work has a strong element of drawing: "I have always been inspired by landscape, while much of my current work takes inspiration from poetry and works with words, sometimes taking the form of artist’s books. The “vessel” is a subject which frequently emerges in my work and I see it as a symbol of myself, a person making a journey, a life or a view of the world, the self in relation to God, the inner and outer world. It is a personal but also universal symbol to which I hope all can relate. I use a wide variety of painting and printmaking media and techniques"
Ruth has recently been working on a series in wood engravings to illustrate “Step in Anywhere” a book of poems by Jane Wilson. The original engravings will be on display along with the finished book during the open studio.
I will be showing prints and paintings from three main series that I have been working on over the past couple of years. The first is linocuts of Dorset views including Gold Hill, Poole Quay and the Red Arrows flying over Bournemouth pier.
My second theme is illustrative animals, from milkshake drinking monkeys to crocodiles nibbling on cucumber sandwiches. And lastly I will be showing a small selection of the portraits I have painted, many of which were the result of my membership of the inspiring international portrait artist's group JKPP.
Our open studio for Dorset Art Weeks runs 24th May – 8th June 2014, open daily (except Tuesdays) 11am – 5pm. To see details of our venue and all of the others visit the Dorset Art Weeks
site.
