Natasha Duddy Glass Workshops

Natasha Duddy has been busy in Flowerfield Arts Centre this summer, teaching lots of enthusiastic students various kiln glass techniques.  Below are just a few of the resulting pieces that came out of the kiln.

Natasha has one class left this summer, Glass Fusing on Tuesday 27th August from 10am-4pm.  Cost £45 which includes materials.
On 23rd September, Natasha will be back to teach her 8 week courses on Mondays.

Call Flowerfield to book: 028 7083 1400

Opening the kiln

Some nice slumped dishes

Nice fish piece using decals for text

Decals on white glass

Slumped glass

Louise McLean's Basket Exhibition

Flowerfield Gallery is currently showing the work of local basket maker and artist Louise McLean.  On display is a new range of work from Louise, entitled 'The Heritage Series', drawing inspiration from the surrounding coastline, green fields, gorse, heather and tumbling castle ruins she has created a stunning body of work.

Louise lifts the aesthetic quality of her work to exciting new levels by weaving with natural, found elements and by experimenting with oxides to dye the willow.  There really is an astounding array of pieces and techniques that show her personal artistic expression in every work.

The exhibition is now open and will run until 24th August.

Louise will also be giving some free demonstrations, the first was today and another on 23rd August.

There are also some workshops, spaces still available for Saturday 24th August.
Phone Flowerfield Arts Centre for more details: 028 7083 1400

Louise giving her demo today, next one is 24th August

Happily having a go!

'Coast Line'

'Swan'

'Celtic Knot'

'Stormy Sea'

'Monkey Puzzle'

More August Craft Workshops Added!

If Flowerfield wasn't looking busy enough during August Craft month, they are now offering 2 more clay workshops and basket making classes!

For more information check: www.flowerfield.org
To book call: 028 7083 1400

Basket Making
Tutor: Louise McLean
Length: 1 day
Dates: 10th August
           24th August
Time: 10am-4pm
Cost: £35

Have a go at basket making and take home your own, handmade bowl!

Louise with one of her creations.

Press Mould Clay Workshop
Tutor: Gail Mahon
Length: 2 day
Dates: 3rd and 10th August
Time: 10am-4pm each day
Cost: £60

Work with ceramic artist Gail to learn the process of mould making and creating multiple ceramic objects that are either sculptural or functional.

Gail Mahon's sculptural ceramic pieces.

'Make yourself A(t) Home: Paperclay Workshop

Tutor: Rachel Dickson

Length: 1 day

Dates: 10th August

           31st August

Time: 10am-4pm

Cost: £35

Explore the versatility of paperclay and create a 'home' that explores ideas of identity, memory and family.

Rachel Dickson's exhibition work

Busy August Craft Month Ahead!

August isn't far away and once again, along with Craft NI, we will be celebrating Craft Month.  We have put together a great selection of classes in glass, ceramics and jewellery making, with a variety of classes lengths, 1 day, 2 day and 4 day classes.

Spaces are filling up fast so give us a call to book your place! 028 7083 1400
All prices below include materials.
For more info visit Flowerfield's website.

Lampworking: Glass Beadmaking for Jewellery
Tutor: Catherine Keenan
Length: 2 days
Dates: 9-10th August
      or 23-24th August
Time: 10am-4pm each day
Cost: £90

Make your own glass beads by melting glass rods on a flame torch!

Beads made at a recent workshop

Pottery Masterclass: Throwing in Porcelain

Tutor: Adam Frew

Length: 4 days

Date: 13-16th August

    or  20-23rd August

Cost: £120

Spend 4 days working with one of Ireland's leading potters!

Adam's masterclass in 2012

Glass Casting: Lost Wax and Box Casting

Tutor: Alison Lowry

Length: 2 days

Date: 16-17th August

Time: 10am-4pm each day

Cost: £130

Learn experimental and sculptural techniques in glass casting.

Alison Lowry's critically acclaimed glass work

Glass Fusing with Personalised Decals

Tutor: Natasha Duddy

Length: 1 day

Date: 19th August

Time: 10am-4pm

Cost £45 

Try this new technique of permanently etching a personal image onto glass.

Glass Fusing for Beginner and Intermediate levels

Tutor: Natasha Duddy

Length: 1 day

Date: 27th August

Time: 10am-4pm

Cost £45 

Have a go at fusing glass!

Kiln packed for fusing

Silver Jewellery: Make a Bracelet

Tutor: Diane Lyness

Length: 2 days

Date: 30-31st August

Time: 10am-4pm each day

Cost: £70

Learn the basics of jewellery techniques to create your own one-off silver bracelet!

Diane Lyness' 'Strangford Range'

Jewellery from Recycled Plastic Bags

Tutor: Lesley Frew

Length: 1 day

Date: 31st August

Time: 10am-4pm 

Cost: £40

Create a unique, colourful piece of jewellery from recycled plastic bags.

Large Necklace by Lesley Frew

     

Film of Hot Glass at Flowerfield

From 16th - 20th April Flowerfield Arts Centre, through Creative Causeway and funded by the Garfield Weston Trust, hosted a range of hot glass activities, including workshops for University of Ulster students in glass blowing with Scott Benefield and lampworking with Catherine Keenan.  On the Saturday Scott and Catherine gave public demonstrations in glass blowing.  It was a rare opportunity to see glassblowing in Northern Ireland!

Adam Frew put together a short film of the events:

'Imagine' Exhibition

A group of final year students from North West Regional College, Limavady are currently installing their artwork into Flowerfield's main galleries.  Their exhibition marks the end of their Associate Bachelor Degree in Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Ulster.

Artists featured are: Alice McAteer, Karen Hunter, Audrey Gamble, Karen Douglas, Una Doherty, Beata Debska-Dudek, Allan Offord, Janet Hoy and Liz Marsh.

The exhibition will be officially opened by one of Northern Ireland's most celebrated artists, Ross Wilson, this Friday evening, 17th May, from 7-9pm.  

The exhibition will continue until May 31st.

Hanging work

Audrey Gamble's Equine inspired work

Janet Hoy

Liz Marsh

Karen Hunter

Karen Hunter

Allan Offord

Saturday Lampworking Class

Last saturday I taught a lovely group; 3 ladies who came all the way from Donegal and 2 gents who are regular Flowerfield users, but their first time working in hot glass!

As with all classes I have taught the initial 30 minutes is an intense grappling with the material but after that everyone was able to start experimenting with colours, pattern and shape of beads.  They were all very pleasantly surprised by the beads they were making at the end of the day. (see some examples below)

I will be teaching some 2 day courses in August, booking open now.
Dates: 9th + 10th August
           23rd + 24th August
Call Flowerfield Arts Centre to book your place 028 7083 1400

I will also be teaching more saturday classes so keep an eye on the blog for more dates.

Some of Flowerfield's regulars, Charlye and Brian

Mother and daughter, Mary and Orna

Adding purple to make a flower

Mary, Orna and Mary Antony's first beads!