Tall Ships

The first stamp collages I ever made featured ships and this has remained a favourite subject for me!
My website includes a ship category, showing collages currently available, as well as an archived section showing others which have been sold and now reside in many locations around the USA, Italy, UK and Singapore.  I'm always on the look out for new inspiration and the Tall Ships Festival in Gloucester Docks, provided much food for thought!

We were lucky to be able to board La Malouine,a magnificent Brig, built in Gdansk, Poland in 1972.

and also to see her sister ship Lady of Avanel which appeared in Disney's 2016 film, "Through the Looking Glass", filmed in Gloucester Docks.

The attractive Cornish Lugger, White Heather,  was also moored nearby, and we were able to walk around on deck. Built in 1926, she has recently sailed to Morocco and Brazil returning to Britain via the Caribbean. 

With her  turquoise, black and white paintwork, she is almost sure to be one I will just have to use as a subject for a picture!  Check out my website www.rachelmarkwick.co.uk in a while .. I hope to add some new ships before too long!

Open Studios Stroud - my studio in Bisley Road open on both week-ends 6-7 and 13-14 MAY

With a working studio comes a lot of mess and general untidiness and I always feel I have to sort it all out in readiness to open to the public on the Open Studios week-ends! And this is about as good as it gets!  Those in charge always say "People like to see it how it is"! but they wouldn't get through the door if I left it exactly as it usually is!  I've been busy hanging framed original stamp collages, prints and  canvas prints. Full details of access to my studio appear in the Open Studios brochure www.sva.org.uk  on page 31  and mine  is listed as venue no 21. The Lawn, 132 Bisley road, Stroud, GL5 1HL .  Please park in the main part of Bisley road as we are on a narrow lane with no additional parking places. It's short, picturesque walk along and only takes a few minutes! Black and yellow signs point the way!

Open Studios in Stroud 9th-10th May and 16th-17th May 2015

Once again I will be taking part in Stroud Open Studios week-ends in May, as one of more than 80 artists participating in this event, now in its 19th year.

I look forward to welcoming people from all over the country and often also from overseas to my own studio in Bisley Road, which is listed in the yellow Open Studios  brochure now available online at www.sitefestival.org.uk. You can also pick up a hard copy of the brochure from many outlets in Stroud including the Tourist Information office in the Subscription rooms.  The "Sub Rooms" will be hosting the Taster Exhibition where one piece of  work by each of the artists taking part will also be on show. This Taster runs from 1st May through to 16th May. Please check Stroud Subscription Rooms for Opening times as these may vary throughout the week.

My own preparations are well under way, and I have started to hang my latest pictures in my studio, where I will be showing original stamp collages, prints and will also have greetings cards on sale.  I also have a Quiz for children, which some adults also like to do!!   Hope to see you .. and will have the kettle on!

My studio is a The Lawn, 132 Bislye Road, Stroud - full directions in pen Studios Brochure. Please park in Bisley Road near Cemetery due to limited parking adjacent to studio. It's just a short walk along the unmade road which will be well sign-posted.

Smile at Gift - Afternoon Tea Living - Article in last week's Gloucester Citizen

Afternoon Tea in Japan .. my designs are used on giftware in Japan!

So pleased to show you the range of items produced by the Japanese company Afternoon Tea LIVING, who have many outlets in Japan, and launched in their shops this week! See Youtube video  Smile at Gift, which the company has made.
Last year I was commissioned to produce designs for Afternoon Tea - see my blog post of 11th July 2104.

 These designs have now been used on gift items  including mugs, bags,  boxes for chocolates and jellies, and decorative packaging for soaps, bath fizzers, spoons,  wrapping paper and the popular Japanese item, Washi tape! Even the carrier bags have my Heart design on!

The patchwork quilt stamp collage design which incorporates both stamps and envelopes,  has been used in its entirety on some items  and elements of it have been adapted for use on on two different mugs, with the colours adapted to suit. Just wishing I could be in Japan to see the displays in the shops, but hoping that I will have some samples here soon too!

Christmas Open Studio Sale on 7th December 10 - 5 - I Saw Three Ships

Another  opportunity to visit my studio before Christmas will be on Sunday 7th December from 10 - 5 and I will have a variety of Christmas cards on sale, as well as prints and original work both framed and unframed.

The title of my Christmas exhibition is I Saw Three Ships to tie in with the well known carol but it also has a very personal link.

The first stamp collages I made were the three ships featured in the poem Cargoes by John Masefield, the Quinquiremen, the Stately Spanish Galleon and the Dirty British Coaster.   I have prints available of all these three  but for sentimental reasons will never part with the originals!   Ships seem to have become a recurring theme for my stamp collage work over the years and I've produced quite a few!

Inspired by visits to the banks of the River Severn at Purton - known as the Ships' Graveyard, I made The Dispatch and the Severn Trow Norah, just two of the many ships' hulks now resting there. It's a great place to visit.  Britain's last remaining coastal steamer, the S S Robin, now restored and shortly to be opened a s museum and ehibition centre in the Royal London dock was another subject for a stamp collage, and recently I've also made my version of the S S Great Britain. Two clipper ships, the Sower (La Semeuse) and The Blue Lady have been named for the French stamps used in their sails .. there is a whole collecting area dedicated to this little definitive stamp and a book has also been written about it.

"I Saw Three Ships" is a Christmas Carol and each year I make a Christmas card to send to friends and  family. These have included an angel, a Christmas tree, a Christmas wreath, a robin and a dove of peace, and Saint Nicholas, whose own story as Saint Nicholas of Myra, a town in Turkey, included his performing several miracles, one of which featured using the wheat cargoes of three ships to save the starving people of the town.  

I saw three ships .. exhibition and Open Studio here on 1st and 2nd November

The Haywain by John Constable - another one from my miniature art collection!

I'm a member of Postcrossing.com and today received a lovely card showing The Haywain from a student in Newcastle, who had recently visited Constable's home and the place where he painted many of his famous works. I've not been there yet but have seen  this painting on many visits over the years to London's National Gallery.  Completed in 1821, it's  one of Britain's favourite pictures and probably Constable's best known.

The 1/9 stamp is part of the British Paintings set of four stamps issued in 1968.   Coincidentally it was part of the set which included the Ruins of St Mary le Port by John Piper which I featured in my previous post earlier this week!

Other stamps in the same set are: Pinkie by Thomas Lawrence, painted in 1794 and in the Huntington Library collection, which I have used in at least one of my stamp collages as part of a crowd scene - see if you can find her near the Leaning Tower of Pisa ..and also Queen Elizabeth I by an unknown continental artist - National Portrait Gallery,London 

Brazil World cup 2014

With the World Cup in full swing, flags of all the participating nations, and this year in particular the flag of Brazil,  are much in evidence!  Here's one I made earlier.The original  stamp collage was sold a couple of years ago, but canvas prints and giclee prints can always be made in a variety of sizes.  All the stamps are from Brazil, and show events, places and personalities from the country's history.

I've many more stamp collage flags, all of which are made from stamps of the country concerned,  which can be seen on the flags page of my website. Originals, prints, and cards are available for most of the ones shown, and prints can be made to order. Please contact me if you would like to know prices.
I'm always happy to consider commissions for flags of other nations and am currently working on the flag of Barbados!

Cotswold Essence (Summer edition) features my stamp collage work

I was delighted to be be invited to feature in Issue 39 of Cotswold Essence,  which came out at the end of May, for the June/July/August issue. It's a great free magazine which can be found in and around Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. I've only recently become aware of this interesting and informative magazine through friends who recommended it and then just by chance Sue Smith, the editor, got in touch with me.
I've reproduced the article which appears on pages 66 and 67, and you can't find a hard copy of the magazine, you can  also read the magazine online  at www.cotswoldsessence.co.uk and click on the link for the latest issue with the pretty cover, by Gemma Dawks, a local photographer also featured in this month's issue.  So much to read in this lovely colourful magazine!

My first stamp album

Making stamp collages and exhibiting has brought me into contact with a lot of people who were childhood stamp collectors but gave up the hobby.  Most find it fascinating that I'm using stamps to create pictures and I have had some lovely appreciative comments about the way the stamps are being used to good effect.  Some people have kept their old stamp albums in the hope that their families will take up the hobby but this doesn't always happen I'm afraid.  One or two friends have given me their albums and I occasionally receive a packet in the post from someone who has read about my work and is kind enough to send me stamps they want me to have and make good use of. I was recently presented with this lovely little album, which is  the very same as the one I had as a child, a little blue album with a ship on the front, very much like the Blue Peter emblem!

It contains stamps mainly from the  1960s and many are the same as the ones I had myself.  My collection outgrew the little blue album's 6750 spaces, and I later began to specialise in a few countries and themes, but was so pleased to see this one again!     

Taunton Stamp Shop also sells my cards!

Just one of the card designs now stocked by Taunton Stamp Shop.

I'm often in Taunton now as one of our daughters is at college there.  I found there is also a stamp shop in the town!   Taunton Stamp Shop,( 66 Bridge Street, Taunton TA1 1UD)  is a lovely old shop which has been run by the same family for more than 35 years.  It has a wide range of philatelic material, including a vast amount of stamps as well as accessories for stamp collectors, postcards, cigarette cards, coins  and model vehicles. They now also have some of my stamp collage greetings cards in stock, so if you're in Taunton call in and have a look around!  It's easy to find, just slightly out of the town centre and a short walk over the bridge, near the Antiques centre, which is also worth a visit.  

Stamp Collage Exhibition at Pegasus Art Shop

The Private view of my exhibition, Stamping Ground,  was well attended and original work, limited edition prints and greetings cards sold well.  Pictures still on show at the exhibition  until 20th November and some pictures  still available to buy from Pegasus Art Shop, which  is open from Monday to Saturday 9 - 5 and the address is: Pegasus Art Shop, Griffin Mill, London Road, Thrupp Gloucestershire GL5 2AZ.  

 Most of the pictures are available as cards and prints (some limited editions)  as well but  direct from me via this website/email as it's not practical for Pegasus to deal with card or unframed print  sales for my work from their shop premises.
The Colosseum shown on the poster will shortly be going to a new home, and  three ships also went sailing by!  I've also been commissioned to make a picture for a wedding present which I will enjoy doing!   It's great to meet new people at events such as this and to talk about my work and the background to how it all started.

Can you tell what it is yet?

Add caption

I've been invited to take part in an exhibition next month at The Old Passage Inn at Arlingham, a delightful fish restaurant on the banks of the River Severn.  It's a joint exhibition which will feature artwork of various kinds including photography, water colours, oils and acrylics, drawings, 3D pieces collage and more.  These are the main ingredients of my piece, which is almost completed.  It's a stamp collage and all the above stamps are included in the picture.  Stamp collages are such fun to do!   In the words of Rolf Harris, "Can you tell what it is yet"? Probably not, but you could have a guess : the clue is in the location!   Watch this space to see the finished article shortly.

 

Exhibition of Stamp Collages at Pegasus Arts

Trawler - The Marianne

There have been no blogs for a while due to problems with internet connections etc, but I've been busy making collages and this is one which has recently been completed.  It's a trawler and I've named her The Marianne, due to the use of the French stamps I've incorporated in her sails!  The collage has been mainly made of stamps, but there are also some envelope backs in the sea!

Setting out my stall .. at the Glamorous Garden Party

I was invited to have a stall at a recent fundraising event for Breakthrough Breast Cancer http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/  in the beautiful garden of Laurence and Jackie Llewelyn Bowen.  The weather was kind to us and guests turned out in vast numbers  to support the charity, with other stalls sellling jewellery, soaps, kitchen wares etc and of course a raffle with great prizes.  On my stall are stamp collage cards, prints and framed originals - card stocks happily depleted by the end of the evening! My daughter Heidi helped on  the stall and we both enjoyed looking around the wonderful garden and  sampling the delicious canapes! 

Olympic torch coming to Stroud on 23rd May

Stroud is certainly looking extremely festive with Olympic banners all all over the town, great shop window displays and  Union Jacks and bunting for the Diamond Jubilee too!  What a year!  And Stroud Site Festival 2012 continues until the end of May with the second of the Open Studios week-ends tomorrow and Sunday as well, so the distinctive yellow and black Site 12 or Open Studio signs add to the colour!    My Union Jacks featuring the Queen's portraits on stamps is proving popular among studio visitors and Canvas prints, cards and larger prints are available. I also have other versions of the flag as a stamp collage with the word LOVE in the centre, which makes a great gift!   As well as our own wonderful flag, I've created flags of many of the other nations from their own stamps and many of these are on display here in my studio at the moment, along with pictures of ships, gardens, birds and more abstract stamp collages.

See http://www.sitefestival.org.uk/ for details of all the studios open this week-end - some artists' studios  may also be open at other times if you phone them for information.  See Page 20 venue 35 for my own studio information.

2012 London Olympics - National Flags in Stamps!

I was set a challenge last year and that was to create stamp collage flags of all the nations taking part in the 2012 London olympics. Of course, I should have started an awful lot earlier as here we are in March 2012 with just under 5 months to go and I've completed flags for about 25 countries. Rather a lot to do ...

It's been fun, but much more difficult for some flags than others, due to a number of factors.

Red, white and blue flags are relatively easy to make dependent on their design of course. Our lovely Union flag, or Union Jack as it is popularly known, is one of the more complex designs and very distinctive and we've issued plenty of stamps which are predominantly blue or red, as have France, and the Netherlands. Availability of stamps is a big factor - shown above are the flags of the Beijing Olympics highest Gold medal winners - third came Russia, but I've yet to make their flag due to a shortage of stamps!

The flags of 22 different nations currently appear on the Flags page of my website and I've recently completed flags of Spain and the Netherlands so will shortly add those. At the moment I'm working on the flag of Greece, which is blue and white. Greece was the country where the Olympics began and the challenge is to complete this one by the end of this month - and I can award myself a treat, if not a Gold Medal!

Rainbow Trust and Stamp Collages

20% of sale price of these pictures on show in Waterstones / Costa in Cheltenham will be donated to Rainbow Trust helping families of children suffering from Leukemia.

These three prints are beautifully framed in gold coloured wood frames with the verse for each ship printed within the mount.

All depict the ships of John Masefield's poem, Cargoes : The Quinquireme of Nineveh (above).


The Stately Spanish Galleon
(centre right)








Dirty British Coaster
(left)












Canvas prints of three of my flag collages including the latest Diamond Jubilee Union Jack Stamp collage are also in the exhibition and for sale.


Call in to Waterstones, and enjoy the exhibition along with your coffee!

Exhibition on until early/ mid April or contact me for more details.