Tag Archives: BEAT

A NEW RANGE

Posted on July 6, 2019 | Leave a comment

Well I am delighted that summer has eventually arrived and the sun is shining. I love being in the garden and eating out in the evening. I hope you are all enjoying it as well.

I am delighted to report a new range – COASTERS featuring my mosaics. 

BIRDS & FLOWERS,     THE GREEN MAN,      HOPPER THE FROG

MATT TREE,  GRAPES & IVY,   GREEK FISHING BOAT,  SHINY TREE

They are 9cms diameter. I sell them at £4 each or 4 for £15 plus postage. Perfect for your afternoon cuppa or a glass of wine in the garden.

They were made for me by the lovely people at Creative Forge. This small Northumberland merchandising company was formed by Zoe, Steven and fellow artists who were keen to promote their work with quality products. Most companies insist you buy in bulk but for individual artists like ourselves who want to try out a range, it is too restrictive. What is the solution – create your own company, which is just what they have done!  Check them out, they are really helpful, friendly and create lovely products in small (or large) quantities.

If you want to order any of my  coasters just CONTACT ME 

 

BEAT – Ealing Art Trail continues to take shape and the Committee has been working hard. As you read this 25,000 brochures are being printed. They will land on my doorstep soon and then the fun will start distributing them all with the team.  BEAT Ealing Art Trail takes place on 6-8th and 13-15th September this year. We have 200 artists in over 78 venues so this 4th BEAT is shaping up very well. Do let me know if you have an outlet for brochures – an Art of Craft Group, Book Club, Yoga/Pilates Group – anyone that may be interested in coming along and seeing the amazing talent that Ealing artists will be putting on display. BEAT provides a rare opportunity to talk to the artists about their work, technique and inspiration. There is also an opportunity to buy an original piece of artwork as well as exploring the beautiful Borough of Ealing.

Enjoy the summer  now it has arrived – maybe with a nice glass of Pimm’s  resting on a Mosaic Coaster!

 

 

 

 

 

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Review of 2018

Posted on December 2, 2018 | 2 comments

As the year is rapidly disappearing and it will soon be time to focus on the festive season, I thought it would be a good time to look back on 2018.

The year started in January with me agreeing to join the Ealing Art Trail (BEAT) Committee. I had taken part in BEAT 2017 and was so impressed with how well it had been organised that I said to Kitty I would be happy to do the odd job to help out.  Kitty said she would really like me to join the Committee and although I didn’t really want to, how can you say no to Kitty! So reluctantly I joined as the self appointed ‘Brochure Queen’ and I have to say it has been a great experience. A lovely, dedicated, focussed team of people, who got on with the job and delivered another great BEAT event in 2018. Needless to say I will be staying on the 2019 Committee.

Brand New Studio – yipppeee

Early in the year I had my studio refurbished in order to give me more work space and I have been putting it to the test. I have 2 large work areas as well as a small desk/computer area and loads of shelf space for tiles, materials and all my paperwork. The layout works perfectly and I am able to work on several pieces at the same time. This was especially useful when I received my 2 large commissions in the summer and was able to accommodate and work on both of them. As I seem to be moving towards larger work the extra workspace is proving to be essential.

BEAT Ealing Art Trail was a great success for me again this year. People say that your 2nd year is not usually as good as the first but I found this not to be the case. I had more visitors, made more sales and had more people interested in lessons.

Following on from the success of BEAT I have had a spate of giving Beginner’s Mosaic lessons to people who came to view my work, liked what they saw and wanted to have a go. I really enjoy teaching people a new skill and as I work with small groups of 3/4 people at a time, there is lots of 1-2-1 time and I am able to give everyone my full attention and encouragement. As several people have asked for an intermediate lesson I am currently working on that so I hope to  come back in the New Year with some dates.

Hilary and Pauline with the Marple Mosaic

You may remember my lovely ladies who I made the Marple Mosaic for. We have all become good friends and this year we saw them 4 times! Which proves that a mosaic is not just for Christmas but for life! On their last visit I was able to present them with their joint birthday present – a Tree of Life mosaic. They were delighted with the piece and have already decided where it will go. I am looking forward to seeing a picture of it in situ.

Hours of fun

So another great mosaic year. I seem to be moving to bigger pieces, larger commissions and I have a fancy to try some 3D mosaic art next. I am still in 2 galleries: North East Art Collective and the Tower House Gallery which have regular sales and BEAT is now a fixed event on the calendar and my main showcase. So keep reading my Blog and do sign up to my Facebook Page to get regular news – always accompanied with a mosaic picture.

 

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Posted in Commissions, Exhibitions, Galleries and Events, Mosaic Art, Mosaic Development, Mosaic Lessons, Mosaic Workshop, My Mosaic Journey, Rosanna Mosaic Artist

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EALING ART TRAIL – 2018

Posted on June 2, 2018 | Leave a comment

beat

The Borough of Ealing Art Trail (BEAT) takes place this year on the following dates:

Friday 7th, Saturday 8th, Sunday 9th and Friday 14th, Saturday 15th, Sunday 16th of September.

BEATING the drum 2017

I have been a bit more involved this year as (for my sins) I volunteered to join the BEAT Committee so we have actually been planning and arranging things since January. I was so impressed last year (my first BEAT) with the organisation of the whole event that I offered to help by doing the odd job – of course, I should have known I would not get away so lightly.  Kitty ‘encouraged me’ to join the committee so how could I say no – would I dare say no!!

We have a great Team that are all focused and gets on with the numerous tasks that need doing. The format has worked well in past years and of course, each year it is tweaked and enhanced to make an even  bigger and better art trail.  This year we have lots more artists and venues so hopefully even more visitors. You can visit the artist’s page on the website and see a list of the artists taking place along with their profiles, personal statements and photographs.

Promotional Mosaic BEAT 2017

I had a great BEAT last year with over 160 visitors over 4 days. By the 2nd weekend people were coming to see me as they had met others on the trail who recommended my venue. This year I plan to be open for all 6 days (gulp) so I hope people will re-visit me and I get some new visitors as well.  No doubt my loyal friends will also pop by and some of them even help me on the day which allows me to nip off for the odd cuppa, comfort break. I am really looking forward to it.

The venue brochure will be available from mid July so do let me know how many copies you want. Hmmm, come to think of it, brochure distribution is my job so please double that number.

 

 

 

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Review of 2017

Posted on December 16, 2017 | Leave a comment

As 2017 is drawing to a close this seems an ideal time for my annual review.

My First Mosaic

It has been a busy, challenging and enjoyable mosaic year for me. A significant highlight being I reached the 10 year anniversary of mosaic making – which all started with that small coaster made in Julia’s outdoor  studio. I will be celebrating this along with setting out my ideas for my 11th year in 2018.

So highlights for 2017 include:

A visit to Stoke on Trent to have an “Adhesive and Grout Training Day” by  BAL British Adhesvives Ltd. We also teamed this with visiting our friends Sara and Lisa in nearby Penkhull. As they are members of Doomsday Morris this tied in neatly with my Green Man mosaic making phase.

 

BEAT Ealing Art Trail was a great event for me with over 260 visitors. I loved being involved in this event and will certainly be taking part next year.

 

As well as giving a lot of one day ‘Beginners Mosaic Lessons‘, I have had several commissions – 2 of them birthday presents for ‘Mother-in-Laws’. I have also ventured into making  ‘glass-on’glass’ pieces which I have really enjoyed and would like to develop more next year. Here is a selection of favourite 2017 pieces.

 

So I think I can now put my ‘nippers’ and ‘tesserae’ down and take a well earned break and start on the Christmas activities. Thank you for your support and encouragement during the year. I will see you all again early in 2018.

Enjoy the festivities.

Rufus Reindeer

 

 

 

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Posted in Commissions, Exhibitions, Galleries and Events, Mosaic Art, Mosaic Development, Mosaic Lessons, My Mosaic Journey, Rosanna Mosaic Artist, Rosanna's Mosaics

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Mosaic Lessons

Posted on October 13, 2017 | 3 comments

I will spend this weekend giving Mosaic Lessons, mainly to people that showed an interest at the BEAT Ealing Art Trail. I run lessons on an ad-hoc, request led basis and like to have 3/4 people for the standard lesson. However, I am able to work with larger groups if someone wants a tailor made workshop.

The standard lesson is very much a beginners, basic guide to Mosaic Making.  I am not a great one for theory being very much a hands-on, practical person. So we tend to get stuck in straight away with the nuts and bolts of cutting,placing etc.

It is always quite hard to recommend what people should make as their first piece and, to be honest, I still haven’t found the magic answer to that. I generally find that people do tend to be rather over ambitious in their enthusiasm and ideas for a first piece. A friend that came for a beginners lesson bought a picture of Van Gough’s Sunflowers and asked if they would be able to make that in their first lesson – I said “I’ll be really disappointed if you can as I couldn’t and I’ve been doing this for 10 years!” Needless to say, they did make a sunflower but a very, very simplistic version.

I also like to make it clear that a mosaic is it’s own art form and the end result is not going to look like a watercolour painting or a photograph, it is it’s own interpretation. I hope the above does not sound negative but I like to give people a realistic expectation of what they should be able to achieve. The mosaic art form is quite different to what people expect.

I aim for a fun, informative day. I give out lots of information, tips and ideas. It is quite a full on day with a lot to get through.  As the lessons are based at my home studio it means I have lots of examples of my work to show as well as all the different styles, tiles and embellishments that I use. People go home at the end of the day quite tired, having learnt a new skill and clutching their prized new piece of home made art.

If you are interested in having a lesson, send me an email and I can send you an Information Sheet with more details.

I am really looking forward to welcoming my ‘students’ this weekend for a great lesson and hopefully some of them may get hooked and end up with a website and Blog of their own, just as I have!

Quote from previous attendee:  

“If you are looking for a Basic Mosaic Course for Beginners, Rosanna is your person….she will lead you, very professionally, through everything you need to know to make your first mosaic…… it is a very “full on” day, but at the end of it, you will come away with your own magical personal mosaic” – Linda Edrich

 

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Posted in Mosaic Art, Mosaic Development, Mosaic Lessons, Mosaic Workshop, Rosanna Mosaic Artist, Rosanna's Mosaics

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Quaterley Review

Posted on April 7, 2017 | 4 comments

The first quarter of 2017 has been fairly quiet on the commission front so I decided to take the opportunity to catch up on ‘admin and organising’ so I would be all set up for the busy season – which is starting already.

BEAT. I sent in my application form and have been accepted to take part in BEAT this year (Borough of Ealing Art Trail). Last year was the first but unfortunately I couldn’t take part as I was doing the Maggies Centre Cancer Walk. The art trail event is over 2 weekends in September. I will have a range of indoor and outdoor mosaics to view and for sale. I will also be happy to answer any questions people may have and I will be taking bookings from anyone who may want a beginners lesson. Watch this space for more info.

STUDIO. I decided to have a bit of a change around in my studio. It is quite a small space so I have always had to be creative in its usage. I have a bench the full width which is great when I am working on one piece, but does get a bit crowded if I have more or I have stacked up pieces ready for grouting. I have now put the bench away and have a oblong table in the room. It gives me much more space for working on and I am able to have several pieces on the go at once, with their relevant tiles, cutters etc. It means I have to squash round a bit to get the tiles down from the shelves, get my backing boards, glues etc. but so far it seems to be working.

FACEBOOK. I have had a mosaic Facebook page since my nephew set me up almost 4 years ago. Although I have a steady following, there were so many areas of FB that I found really confusing and I also wanted to use it more efficiently – time to call in the experts. I booked a couple of hours training with the very informative, knowledgeable and patient Shelley from Ealing Mums In Business.

Within 10 minutes of her arriving  Shelley identified a whole section of potential clients that I wasn’t targeting. She really helped me understand Facebook in a way that made me see how I could be using it more efficient and effectively. Since her training, I have signed up to some local groups and my ‘Likes’ have already increased significantly. I have also had a lot of interest in lessons and commissions. Do have a look at my Facebook Page, its an ‘Open Site’ so anyone can view it. Do give it a ‘Like’ if you want to see more regular pictures and info.

 I now feel set up and re-furbished, ready to go forward with a busy and exciting mosaic year.

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Posted in Commissions, Exhibitions, Galleries and Events, Mosaic Art, Mosaic Development, Mosaic Workshop, Rosanna's Mosaics

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Ealing Art Trail

Posted on September 11, 2016 | 2 comments

beatThis weekend and next sees the first Open Studios in my local area, BEAT – Borough of Ealing Art Trail. It is amazing that Ealing has never had an Open Studios art trail event before as most west London Boroughs and surrounding areas do, in fact last year I took part in the Richmond Open Studios. BEAT was bought together by a group of enthusiastic, dedicated and determined artists who felt it was about time Ealing had an event run by artists for artists in order to showcase the vast wealth of art and creativity that lives in the borough of Ealing. Have a look at the great video on their Home Page. Kitty, who I do my weekly workshop with, has been a key player and I am sure she and the rest of the team must be delighted with the outcome – 130 artists in 54 locations.

It also seems amazing that there is (at last) a local art event and I am not part of it! That is because next weekend I am doing a 10 mile night time walk in central London in order to raise money for Maggies Centres. It seemed unrealistic to have to hire a venue to show my work just for one weekend so I decided to wish my fellow artists good luck and become a visitor instead this year. So yesturday I set off with my friend Nita to see 3 local venues – 6 hours and 13 artists later we arrived home, thoroughly exhausted but exhilarated by the art we had seen and the artists we had met. If you have the chance, download  a brochure and visit Ealing to see some incredible art that is on show.

p1060275

Seascape on Slate

Talking to all the artists made me really proud to be part of the local and wider art community – although I still feel like the new girl on the block. It was really lovely to meet a group of people who had that same passion and a need to express their creativity rather than doing so purely for commercial reasons. I am very well aware that my main ‘drivers’ are certainly not monetary but a desire to continually improve my work, receive peer recognition and reach a wider audience in order for people to see the wonderful possibilities the great art form of mosaic making offers.

Nature Inspired Wall Panels

Nature Inspired Wall Panels

To that end, I was delighted to see that a new Gallery has opened in Northumberland in the village we often stay in. The Tower House Gallery, which is an octagonal shape building and originally the Harbour Masters House, has now been bought privately and turned into a stunning display area. It will be a real boon for the village and the local artists. I have been given the opportunity to take some work in for consideration on my next visit – so fingers crossed.

I have decided to make some pieces especially that I feel would work well in the space. I am looking at making more ‘glass-on-glass’ and I will also take some of my long panels shown here.

So wish me luck, wish all the Ealing artists luck for BEAT and also wish my walking boots luck for my charity walk next weekend.

p1060273

If you would like to donate to Maggies Centres please see my Just Giving Page.

 

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