LeveL Best ArtCafe's 'Time to Stop and Share' Art Competition
has returned, with a new theme for February - May 2011,
"Dreams"
The competition is open to anyone frequenting the cafe between these months and ordering food, otherwise entry is 20p.
Entries must be completed on the premises with our selection of pencils and colouring material and should ideally relate to something personal to each artist, a dream they have had or their own interpretation of the word.
Work will be judged by a panel of trainees and staff on appeal and the winner will be notified by the end of May with a chance to win a £5 voucher for food in the cafe.
See attached poster for further details and enjoy. Colin McAllister Marketing Support Assistant
"The art department were asked by the kitchen to make chocolate boxes for the Easter Produce.Sarah and Jane originally thought of making chickens but since we are a vegetarian cafe, Adam suggested rabbits.
The Process
The body
We took one large and one small balloon, blew them up and then coated them in vaseline, adding a layer of squares of torn up newspaper all over. We then added a layer of watery PVA glue and continued until we had covered the balloons two to three times, letting each layer dry overnight.We then stuck the two balloon shapes together after popping the balloons inside, cutting the rims to fit and then neatly sticking newspaper and PVA over the joins. The Ears
With old polystyrene pizza bases stuck together as supports - we covered them with newspaper and glue to make ears, which were cut out crescent shapes drawn along the edges. These were stuck on at the neck area with strong brown waterproof tape. The Rest
White paint was painted all over them and legs were added to make them stand up. Eyes and mouths were drawn on paper then stuck on with glue.A circular hole was cut out of their backs with a Stanley knife - big enough to take an old pasta sauce pot for use as a plant holder. Later chocolates were made and packed up into the rabbits, with ingredients and price labels tagged on. Paper flowers were the finishing touch.
We then took the finshed articles across town to the natural History Musem, Castle Park, Timperley's Clock Museum and other locations to take photographs of them in a natural setting.
We have since used these photographs to make cards for Mother's Day and Easter".
Jane Ostler arts co-ordinator.
The rabbits are on sale now for £4.50 and make an excellent plant holder after the chocolates are gone. A selection of drawings by LeveL Best trainees in the art room
Seasonal Produce at the LeveL Best ArtCafe combines the talents of the kitchen and art department and ensures that all trainees and staff have some input in the creative process, from ideas to manufacturing and finally marketing and sales.
Our next Seasonal project will be for 'Fathers Day', so watch this space for June.
In the village of Llamberis North Wales, I moved to Coventry at a very young age, where I spent most of my early life. I attended Copthorn Secondary Modern School, where an Art Teacher called Mr. Lewis Noticed that this rather disruptive pupil enjoyed Art, poetry, music and pointed me in the right direction.
My favourite artists are Botticelli, Turner, Picasso, Dali and I am very interested in Calligraphy, Illumination including Illuminated Manuscripts and books.
I am not the sort of artist to paint or sketch, pastoral scenes, life or panoramic views, though I must stress I admire those artists who do. I feel that if you can see such scenes with your own eyes or indeed a camera or a good artist it is not for me to try and capture the mood or emotion, evry person / artist see the same pictures or images in different ways.
The sort of work that I do is in my minds eye and very personal. I think that art in many respects should cause discussion and critical comment; I just hope that visually my work will make some sort of impact. I use very different materials and like to experiment, plaster, clay, acrylic and pastels etc, I must be honest I do find water colour a very hard media to use and I do appreciate those who excel in its use, I do hope you enjoy my work.
John's Show lasts from 18th March- 15 April at the Level Best ArtCafe
Recycled materials like CD cases and newspapers helped in the creation of our Mother's Day Card project at Holly Trees Museum, based on a 1950's Kitchen serving jam and bread.
this is the 4th time we have shown work in the Garden Room in the past three years, following the "Chinese Figures", "60's" Portrait Heads" and the "Medieval Bowls and games". For our photo shoot we tried to make everything in the picture: the wall tiles, clock, bowls, the table top and even the washing up bottle. The resulting cards are on sale for £1.50 from the artcafe. We continue to welcome new people to our team, young and old alike, some in transition from school to workplace. We try to keep in step with the seasons so watch out for our Easter project!
The Project will be on display at Holly Trees Museum in Colchester's Castle Park until further notice, so if you happen to be passing, get a look at the real thing. Level Best ArtCafe staff and trainees.
During this project the pupils studied a range of Myths and Legends from around the world.They worked within their sketchbooks to create a series of 2D designs.The pupils went on to construct their masks using a large range of materials including mod-roc, wire etc.
Year 11 have worked so hard on their two years of GCSE Art coursework.We hope you enjoy the Year11 exhibition at the Level Best ArtCafe.
Market Field School - Learning for life
At Market Field School we believe in a community in which opportunities can flourish and foster individuality.We expect the best from ourselves and celebrate our achievements.
Market Field Schools Year 11 students show lasts from 18th February - 18th March and can be viewed monday - friday, 9am - 4pm at the Level Best ArtCafe.
I am deeply flattered to have been described as a "polymath poet, photographer, guitarist and singer-songwriter" (Leigh Folk Festival).
It is indeed true that I am passionate about the arts, which themselves correlate.
For example, poetry and song lyrics have much in common and music can suggest imagery and vice versa.
One concept I have is to create a multi-media piece whereby my photography illustrates my music. However, in the context of this exhibition, it is my photographs that must stand on their own merits!
My passion for photography originates back as far as I care to remember and subsequently I have travelled much of the world accompanied by my professional 35mm film SLR camera, which has provided me with a wonderful back catalogue of images.
I have enjoyed a career working in broadcast television, film and video (my name has appeared on TV credits more times than I could possibly count) and in so doing, I have learned to look at scenes in a particular way.
As a photographer, I cover both fine art and commercial photography (also weddings) and my photographs have been published in quality magazines, including a front cover, used by companies for marketing and hosted on professional stock sites.
Quite recently I switched to a professional digital SLR camera, itself no easy task, prompting me to publish a thirteen thousand words feature on the experience and digital photography, which may be read on my web site. Using a digital camera is actually quite challenging and in some ways more complex than shooting on film, but it also opens up new horizons of photographic opportunity and especially promotes use of computer-based processing that provides for fantastic creative control.
My photographs I am showing in this exhibition are taken digitally and I have deliberately exploited the strengths of digital rather than trying to make them look like film.
If I have a style - and I'll let you be the judge - concerning fine art photography it is for bold, high contrast, brightly coloured scenes.
I achieve this using analogue, in-camera and digital post processing techniques. All the photographs are signed, hand mounted and framed by myself and for this exhibition feature local Colchester as well as Southend-on-Sea scenes and some images that I hope may be of 'general interest'.
Most may be ordered in larger sizes too. I have an extensive web presence which I invite you to explore, with separate sites and pages for my music, photography, poetry, etc. all accessed from my index addressed at: www.ccr.euromarques.com Thank you for you interest and I very much hope you may take some pleasure from my work, or better still - some of my work home with you. Kindest Regards, Clive A Cowan e-mail: clive.cowan@photographer.org.uk
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sarah Baird: Mixed Media Artist
After Graduating from art school with a degree in Woven Textiles and awarded the coveted Courtauld International Designer if the year, Sarah went onto work at a number of London design studios.
After moving to East Anglia, she now works from her studio in a converted barn, on the home farm.
Textile design and sculpture have had a huge influence on her work and consequently she likes to use many different materials in her paitnings. Mixed media works include layering paint, ink scribbles, glue, fabrics, tissue, newsprint, and sometimes hot wax. 'Found' wood has been given a new lease of life by turning it into rustic canvases. A finishing coat of varnish, ensures everything is held in place and also gives the pieces a wonderful lustre, bringing all the layers to life.
A continued interest in different mediums and techniques spurred her on to complete courses in sculpture and printmaking. And with the eclectic background in technique and creativity, Sarah is able to pass on her knowledge through various workshops, hel in her studio.
The show runs from 26th November - 23rd December at Level Best Art Cafe, D'arcy House, Culver street east, Colchester.
