Christmas in July Seminar with Brenda Stewart

Williamsburg, VA was a beautiful setting for the three and a half day homecoming seminar called “Christmas in July” taught by Decorative Artist Brenda Stewart. The two pieces that we painted were Christmas Bells Box,a Winter Landscape painted on a shadow box, and a Santa Gift Wrap / Stick Stand.

Day one was a mid day class that was used for preparation of the wood piece or surfaces and for Brenda to discuss things we would be going through and applying to our painting.

The seminars were intense as the doors to the class room were open at eight in the morning for an hour of catch up. Our classes ran from 9 am to 10 pm. There were breaks for lunch and Dinner. The students were kept busy.

Typically Brenda invites her students into her hone for a cooked meal and a tour around the house. It is a beautiful place in which she displays many of her painted pieces.

Keeping in the spirit of the Colonial Williamsburg, the pineapples played a significant design element in the furniture and decoration within the dinning areas and the doors of their home. Hospitality is important to the Stewarts and the for them, the pineapple reflects this concept.

-Kim Bennett

FestivALL June 19 - 28th, 2009

Sorry that I haven’t posted lately. I have been sharing a computer with three other people. It took us just over a week to get all four of the computers connected to the internet and the wifi set up.

What I like about visiting the states is that there is one big festival after another. There has been three locally in a few weeks time. My explanation to most of my friends in the UK is it is just another reason to have a party. But, I am sure that the lovely weather has something to do with it too.


One of the first things I did in West Virginia was to visit some of the studios and shops that were participating in the June 19 – 28th FestivALL 2009 in downtown Charleston. This was a celebration showcased many local talents. You can click to view a slide show of the FestivALL 2009 that I found through the Gazette.

This festival was directed by local talent and the host of NPR’s Mountain Stage Larry Groce.



On the morning of the first day a friend and I went into Charleston and had a look around some of the studios that were preparing for the festivities and opening night. Some of the places we visit included some of the studios belonging to the Allied Artist in West Virginia.


While we were in down town Charleston we had a look at the Callen McJunkin Gallery that is now above a fabulous antique store. It was fun looking around the place and interesting to see what some of the local artist were doing.


We also stopped off at Pro-Art to say “Hi” to Jack Trail and his son Tracy who run an independent art shop. I have been going there ever since a child and art student. They are very helpful and knowledgeable when it comes to artist materials. If they don’t have it they will order what you need. I also managed to pick up a few a pieces of Ampersand to try out.

I must say that our first priority was to stop at a bakery that makes specialty breads. Everything looked and smelled delicious. I brought several breads home with me. Everyone’s favourite turned out to be the olive bread and I only got one slice! The large scones went over well and they were light as a feather.


The rest of the day was spent chatting and chilling in the studio. Great end to the day.

-Kim Bennett

Patchings Festival - 2009

I received the phone call on Friday to get ready for a journey to the Patchings Art Craft and Design Festival 2009. This was taking place near Robbin Hood country in Nottinghamshire.



The trip to Nottinghamshire was made with my art companion Ann. On the way there I had learned from Ann that the word “shire” (in Britain) means county. An area with the name followed by the word shire is a division of land. Also, “The shire in early days was governed by an ealdorman and in the later Anglo-Saxon period by royal official known as a "shire reeve" or sheriff.” From Wikipedia

When we arrived it was pouring the rain but by the afternoon it was pleasant enough to eat ice-cream at the tables. It was both of ours first time at the Patchings and we did enjoy ourselves.

With the unpredictable British weather, everything is set up inside marquees. There were hands on opportunities to play with the mediums and products. People were there demonstrating and selling their work. There were also other events or workshops running throughout the four days where individuals could attend for a token price of £2.50

The artist and crafter stalls were of quality and there were also exhibitions taking place there as well. Also we had a chance to admire a barn owl who thought he was human.

At closing time we were exhausted. Passing through Sherwood Forest on the way home, we briefly stopped near the Major Oak. According to folklore the Major Oak was used as Robin Hoods Shelter. Ok, it’s old but probably not that old! But even so, it is still a fun place to visit wearing tights.
- Kim Bennett

Related Links
The experience of Patchings was made more special by speaking with artist about their work.
These are some of the artist that could be found demonstrating at their stalls.

Martin Kinnear -Oil
Kinnear’s The Studio blog
Helen Parsley -acrylic
Linda Wain - acrylic
Mary Herbert – pastel pencils
David Curtis –watercolour and oil

Go out and See More Art

Who knows what else you will enjoy!

View outside the York Art Gallery (York Minster in the background)

Outside the café with two latté’s and a plumb and apple slice. Children chase each other around the fountain on this warm day. What a view! I wonder why the tour buses park here. A man with a walking stick and dog on it's lead sits at a table. I take a photo.

Stack of macaroons in Betty's window

Like Oliver Twist, I peep into the window at Betty's Café.Bathing in a vanilla slice tempts me. Heart shape scones with clotted cream and strawberries amaze me. Checking the queue, I enter the shop. The lady behind the counter tries to sell me a Fat Rascal. I purchase a raspberry and lemon macaroon.

Living statue (Busker) on Stonegate

At the Minster there is a puppeteer show. A bearded man in the small alley plays guitar and there are chalk drawings in the square. A pass a uniformed woman speaking with a man on stilts. I pause for a moment in Stonegate to watch a poised man dressed in purple painting a "moustache better than Dali’s."

These photos were taken on Sunday in York.

What else I got into
Went to the St Ives exhibition at the York Art Gallery
Sunbathed and made daisy-chains in the park
Walked around the York Minster
Shopped in small independent stores

In York art is everywhere.

-Kim Bennett

St Ives Artist Exhibit with Alfred Wallis

I have been reading books about Alfred Wallis on and off for a couple of years. By chance, the opportunity came to me this weekend as I was paying a little visit for a morning coffee at the York Art Gallery.

While there for a coffee, I thought to check to see what the current running exhibition was. It was a pleasant surprise, for it to become revealed to me, the artist of St Ives between 1930 and 1970 is on show in their featured gallery. The exhibition includes sculpture by Barbara Hepworth, and abstract paintings by Terry Frost, Peter Lanyon, Patrik Heron and others. The earliest works on display is by self taught painter Alfred Wallis.

Alfred Wallis was known as a “primitive” painter. In the mid 1920’s, after the death of his wife, he started painting "for company". Living in poverty he painted with household boat paint and materials at hand. Surfaces such as cardboard and wood were part of his regular supplies. Painting from memory and his knowledge of the St Ives Harbour Wallis’s sense of scale and proportion were very much his own. Due to the perspective and the line of the horizon being lost the paintings have a map-like feel or quality to them .

The selected exhibition from the Arts Council Collection will on view until the 27th of September.

Alfred Wallis works can also be seen at Tate St Ives

Further reading on Alfred Wallis:

Alfred Wallis Cornish Artist & Mariner

June 2009 issue of Artist & Illustrators Magazine features an article written by John Charles Clark called “Paint Like Alfred Wallis” In this, Clark looks at Wallis's life and his appeal and influence on 20th Century British painting.
It may also be useful to mention that the St Ives School of Painting will be running one and three day workshops this summer called In the Footsteps of Alfred Wallis.

External Links and information on Alfred Wallis

Images from the Tate Gallery Collection

-Kim Bennett