Christmas Workshop

Alison Stockmarr, a local freelance artist came to hold a workshop at the Level Best Art Cafe, making christmas decorations.

We made over the course of the day; rein deer heads from twigs and papier mache, snowflakes and father christmas' and santa corks, using pine cones, corks, velvet, wool and other materials such as googly eyes.

Lastly we fashioned a tree out of a large log and used it to hang our decorations and lit the whole thing nicely. Why don't you come in and get some decoratios for your tree, they look really good.

Launch TheRobin Event

The Back Story

The group who work in the park were working in the sensory garden. On the roof of the little folly was a wooden weaved structure which Yaz the park ranger gave to us. We brought it back to recycle! Jeanette saw the shape of a robin in it. Simon, Jeanette and Jane covered it with papier mache, then gave it a coat of emulsion paint. Colin broke it down into three separate colour areas - white, red and brown. Our trainees painted the colours in, Simon, Christina, Tom and Derek all pitched in and finaly we chose where to paint the eye.

One friday morning we took it outside to photograph. Starting in the road outside we ended up out side Firstsite. The picture was for the poster for the event.

The Event

The launch The Robin event co-incided with the opening of our end of christmas show, show- casing art work made by our trainees at Level Best

Mary Pullen came over from 15 Queen Street "Creatives of Colchester" with the news that they were donating some of the proceedes from their Big Draw Event.

To say thank you we invited them to attend the launch of our auction show as special guests on the 1st of December 2011.

Joe our photographer captured the spirit of the occassion.

Level Best Art Cafe Christmas show

As the year draws to a close, we felt it high time we gave ourselves a showcase at our gallery.
So the art department have created some paintings specially for our christmas show.

These pieces are a part of our 'Launch the Robin' auction and you can bid for them in a sealed envelope.
To see all the work on offer at our flickr page visit the link below
http://www.flickr.com/photos/artcolevelbest/































Our show lasts from 25th November - 23rd December and the gallery is open from 9:00 - 4:00 monday - friday.

Where the Land Meets the Sea

My paintings are grounded in my love of colour and life long interest in people and my surroundings.

This show provides an opportunity to see her recent work.

My vivid colour sense portrays the passion I feel for my subject, whether it is landscape, coastal work or life.

My paintings verge on the abstract and have a spiritual dimension to them.

Over the years, I have become more observant and creative through filling numerous sketchbooks.

I started work teaching Art, and since further study at Colchester in the 1990’s my sole occupation has been as a working artist.

I work from a life model and paint from sketches in the studio.

I love life, I love Art and I need to do it!

Val Bonnett

River in flood

Mixed Media

£230

Music by the Gipping

Mixed Media

£230

Happisburgh, Norfolk

Mixed Media

£260

Waterfall, Ystradfellte

Mixed Media

£250

Porthleven

oil on canvas

£250

Bruny Island, Tasmania

Oil on canvas

£270

Towards Ravenscar 1

Mixed Media

£440

Towards Ravenscar 2

Mixed media

£170

Ravenscar rocks 1

Mixed Media

£530

Ravenscar rocks 2

Mixed Media

£190

April Mood

Oil

£170

Lake Summer Water

Oil

£130

Happisburgh Screen Print

£98

Vals Show lasts from 28th October - 25th November and can be viewed monday - friday 9:00 - 4:00 at

The Level Best Art Cafe,

3 Culver Street East,

Colchester

CO1 1LD.

Tel: 01206 366059

Fabrications & A Glimpse of The Gambia

Like many people, my art teacher, at school, told me that I was not good at art.
Later in my life, I decided that the art lessons were too restrictive.

Now, I make pieces of art from almost anything. I play with paint and colour and make collages.

Given freedom of expression, ANYONE can create something pleasing
to themselves ............. on many occasions, pleasing to others.

FABRICATIONS

I do not like knitting jumpers but ..........
I can be creative with wool
I do not like making clothes but ...........
I can be creative with material

For these latest pieces, I decided to use only material, wool and bits
and pieces which I have squirreled away for many years.

1

£25














2
£30









3
£50











4
£30



















5
£30















6
not for sale


















7
£50




















8
£100




















9
£30









10
£30







11
£12








12
£12

















13
not for sale



















14
£8 each
















15
Cards
£1.30 each















16
£100








17
£12















18
£18











19
Large stone to the right - £25

smaller stones - £5







A Glimpse of The Gambia

I hope you enjoy looking at the artifacts and photographs from
my last trip.
Please feel free to handle everything and to taste some things.
The wonderful picture by my Gambian artist friend, Faminteh is for sale.

I have been lucky enough to run art and craft classes for people with
mental health problems. I was able to motivate and inspire them. We
had an exhibition in the library and the visitors' book was full of praises
for the work.

In October, I will be returning to The Gambia to work, as a volunteer at
Tanka Tanka, the ONLY mental health hospital in the country. As usual
mental health does not attract funds. I will have to pay for all my own
materials. All the proceeds from the sale of these pieces will go towards
my work.

Glimpse of the Gambia;
items to be bartered for or auctioned towards the end of the show

Linda's show lasts from 30th September - 28th October and can be viewed at the usual times of monday - friday, 9:30 - 4.00 and for the first time, a private view on tuesday the 11th, from 4.00 - 8.00 in the evening.