The days glide by.

  Hello, I'm just popping by, thought I'd show my face so-to-speak.

A few weeks has passed since our holiday in Turkey, and I still think about it occasionally, but it is slowly disappearing into that 'holiday that happened haze', you know the one?

The truth is, things have been busy around here recently. Last week was spent juggling work, and preparing for an exhibition I'm in, that opened last Saturday.

It's in a gallery called The Gymnasium, which is owned by English Heritage, who don't have a website for the gallery, otherwise I'd give you a link.

The main part of the exhibition is the Hockney Fairytale prints, which you can see in the distance in the above picture. And then you have the Berwick Illustrators section, which occupies the brightly painted section in the above photo.

My section of the exhibition is largely concerned with showing something of the process of illustrating a book, rather than presenting beautifully framed finished pieces. There are rough drawings, snippets of pages, and work ready for the printers, with the editors notes on acetate sheets covering the finished art work. Pieces of work aren't for sale, it's purely an exhibition of work.

The curator, Matthew put all the pictures in the frames, and the displays together, and I understand it was all done on a tiny budget, so I think that what he has done is fantastic.

I understand that there have been hundreds of people viewing the exhibition in the three days since its opening, which is marvellous to hear. And just a quick observation, my photos don't really do justice to the exhibition, it looks much more impressive in real life.

What else do I have to report then?! Well, you know the dress I've been knitting? Well, that's undergone quite a transformation, quite a dramatic one. I won't show you now, because I'm going off to my knitting group, but I will show you on Friday, and I think you might find it quite interesting! Cheerio my lovelies! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Gill]

Hi Vanessa
Gosh you have been busy!
The exhibition looks good - wish I lived nearer!
Looking forward to seeing the knitted dress soon
Gill
PS any updates on the Coats/Clarke projects yet?? enjoy your knitting group!

[Sue]

Busy girl! I love your turquoise top and orange watch together- complimentary colours.

Sue x

[Jacqueline]

Congratulations on the exhibition, it's nice for you to get a bit more exposure. As for the dress, I am guessing that it is no longer a dress!

Jacqueline

[Hen]

Hi Vanessa,
The exhibition looks great, you must be very proud. You know, I never realised that the pictures you paint for the books are so big, thought they'd be just sort of A5 - no, I don't know why I thought that!
Hope you have a good weekend (wishing it a bit early as we're off away tomorrow). Sorry for the delay with your you know what, will definitely get down to finishing it and sending next week with Harry back in school.
Hen xxx

[Marion L]

Looks like a fascinating exhibition. We're usually on holiday in Northumberland at this time of year and I'm sorry not to be there this year, as we'd definitely have headed to see this. We discovered The Gymnasium art gallery last year during a walk round the walls.

[Kate Bruning]

I wish I could come... and bring the boys with me. How fantastic to see the way they all come to life. I love how you paint magic with your fairy dust sparkles. Lots and lots and lots of love, Kate xxooxxooxx.

[Isabelle (from France)]

Congratulations on the exhibition Vanessa! It sounds and looks very interesting, a bit like being allowed into rehearsals before a show.
A vendredi!
Isabelle

[Erica K]

Hmm, I'm intrigued!

The exhibit looks lovely and very interesting...I'd love to come see it.

[greenrabbitdesigns]

Congratulations on the exhibition Vanessa, it looks great!
Vivienne x

[frances]

Vanessa, it's grand to the see the photos of the exhibit and to read your words about the various parts of the exhibit.

I so hope that this show will bring your work to the attention of many folks, and that those folks will ... have to have at least one of your paintings in their very own home, soon.

It's amazing to see how you have been able to get back to your home/work situation so soon after your visit to Turkey. I surely do hope that much of that Turkey visual spell is still clinging to your inner eye.

And...of course I am curious to the the transformation of The Knitted Dress. xo

[paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com]

Congratulations! I saw a really nice coffee table type book on John Burningham recently - a sort of retrospective of his work so far - if you're interested in him. Claire x

[Janice Perkin]

the exhibition looks great - how long is it on for? - we are up at Seahouses the last week in June - can't imagine what you have done to the dress!!!

[Puppet Lady]

That turkish delight looks yummy. Hope you brought back a good supply! Congratulations on the exhibition - I'm too far away to come unfortunately, as it looks very interesting.

Janet

[Margot K of VA]

Seeing the process behind the work of an artist is so very helpful. Many years ago I saw an exhibit at the Baltimore Art Museum on the making of the Babar series. Fascinating how the illustrator build up the story and drawings, as well as instructive. This is how books are made. They don't just happen with out a lot of thought and trials. But diligence is behind the work.

[Carole]

Wow Vanessa,
I wish i lived near Berwick on Tweed cos i would be at that exhibition in a shot. I hope it proves fruitful.
Oh can`t wait to see what`s happened to your dress, cos i`ve told some friends at my knitting group.
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxxxx

[Aubrey]

Your watercolour colours again with your shirt and the delicious looking turkish delight! The exhibition looks really wonderful. You must have been thrilled to see it all up on the wall. I so would love to see it all, maybe one day!It is so interesting too to see the illustrations for your books. You have been amazingly busy, I can't berlieve how much you have achieved since getting home, and this is apart from all the daily living chore... and knitting! Love Aubrey

[Penny]

I know how much work goes into an exhibition, no wonder you've been busy. Wish I didn't live so far away! Can't wait to see the dress transformation! P x

[Katie]

Gosh, you and Hockney exhibiting together, how fantastic!! My dad had a huge 6 foot square collage he'd done, hung next to Hockney at the RSA in Edinburgh years ago and the excitement was such I think he had to go and lie down for a couple of hours!! WOOOOW!

[Jessie]

What a lovely exhibition! I love to see the process and would be so inspired by going to see this, well done!xx

[Claire]

Fascinating post - I love how you are exhibiting your process, rather than just the finished product. It feels more personal somehow. I hope it's a great success for you.

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

Wow Vanessa that is fantastic....I love your illustrations! How nice to be able to show the process you go thru to get to the end result. I wish I didn't live so far away, I would have loved to see the exhibition :-( BUT I can't wait to see your dress :-)

[Julia]

hello Vanessa

I had to pop in and say how inspiring I find you and your work. I am still waiting to illustrate my first children's book, but I'm getting some really positive feedback from publishers so I hope it won't be much longer before I can get stuck in too!
Its always wonderful to see the process and the work of other artists such as yourself, and I wanted to say well done on a lovely exhibition.

Much love
Julia x x x