Another barn event

There are lots of barns in Argyll because there are lots of farms or former farms.  They make fabulous display spaces as we know.  One of last years exhibitors in Studio Barn, Lucy Malcolm, decided to turn their barn in to a Christmas Barn this year.

It is a destination Christmas emporium of unique and original handmade delightfulness.  If you want to visit an Aladin’s cave of sheer deliciousness then you need to head to Lucy’s Barn. It’s up a long track, past a castle, beside the sea and over a couple of little hills. You may see sheep or cows, buzzards might wheel keening and hunting overhead. There will be spectacular views over the sea to the Islands Jura and Isla and across to Crinan (if it isn’t raining too heavily then you won’t see anything at all!) But, when you reach the end of the track there is a farm house where Andy, Lucy and little Felix live with their Labrador, Fergus.

These photos don’t really do justice to the desirability of the contents of Lucy’s Christmas Barn, you can’t hear the Christmassy music, or smell the scented candles, I’m afraid that you’ve missed the opening nights mulled wine and Andy’s warm mini pies, however whenever you venture out along the track you will be met with a very warm welcome, and possibly a well sucked biscuit from Felix.

Do pop up for a look, you are under no obligation to buy anything, though I defy you to come away completely empty handed. Not only is there a huge array of handmade Christmas loveliness from Lucy and totally unique gift ideas from gardeners aprons to boxes of table linen, uniquely designed Fair Isle woollies, cushions and cards, there are also some vintage touches by Calico Kate, beautiful weaving by Zoe Ritchie and original artwork and prints by local husband & wife artists Rebecca Barnett and Rob Walker.

Open throughout December you can call them on 01546 510271 or email Andy@Ardifuir.co.uk for more information or to let them know you’re on the way so that they can put the kettle on!

Four New Pieces - Alexander Hamilton

'Plane Sailing', is made from a vintage Jack Plane. I had the idea a couple of years ago and cut the prow then put it by. A boysie found it while looking for bike parts and very kindly did the labouring and cleaned it up for me, all I had to do was the sail, made from handmade paper with bamboo mast rings and hemp rigging. I could get used to the idea of conceptualising and then having someone do the 'heavy lifting'

'Rounding the Boy', one of the simplest images I've done recently, I enjoyed the pun, and properly of course only the 'boy' would be red for that Turner moment. I like the geometry of this.

'Moonpath' is painted on the side drop board of an old farm cart, which I had primed with black for another picture and then put by and discovered during a clear up. Having forgotten the original concept, I painted another.

'The Island Vanishes' is painted on a textured MDF floor tile using the texture as a guide to the sea pattern. The stylised sea at the bottom of the mount is because I cut the backing board crooked and needed to disguise it or cut another.

Jura No More

At last the landscape has gone, never to be ventured upon again! 

Am quite pleased with alternative effort, a seascape with my favourite subject; a moon, too large and slightly otherworldly.  We'll see what the reaction is.  Already a new version is in my head, reverse the image and paint in an other island and moon and get a stunning reflection pic, perhaps next year!  I thought there was too much sky and sea hence painted on boarder, off-setting the picture changes the viewing dynamic, whatever that means! 

This is called 'Jura No More' because it's Jura, no more, obvious really

Tayvallich Artist - Sue Hillman

A new artist exhibiting their work in the Barn this year is Tayvallich artist Sue Hillman whose colourful cityscapes are worked in oils.

Sue also has a range of knitted hats, waistcoats and headbands for sale in the Gallery.

Talented rug maker and fabric designer - Lucy Griffiths

We are delighted to be hosting the craft work of fabric designer Lucy Griffiths this year. With the imminent arrival of her first baby, opening her studio has taken a back seat to the rather more pressing needs of organising the nursery.  From her charming horse and rider pieces to her naively embroidered hearts and cushions, all of Lucy's work is immaculately and painstakingly detailed and finished.

The Apotheosis of a Meercat

Whilst driving through our local industrial estate I chanced upon the sad sight of a squashed Meercat, screeshing to a halt I nipped out and retrieved some.
"The Apotheosis of a Meercat" was the work that sprang to mind, I only had to do it, so I did.

"The Apotheosis of a Meercat" by Alexander Hamilton

a·poth·e·o·sis

The elevation of someone to divine status; deification.

Lambs on the Hill

We have a small herd of pure bred Herdwick sheep up here on the hill which visitors to the gallery are welcome to see.  I often use their fleece in my felt pictures, for example in this picture of Hector that I made for dads birthday last October.

The greenery around his head is 'mill waste' wool batt. Wool Batt is washed but uncombed fibre.  In this instance waste wool from a tweed mill, dyed in these wonderful soft green heathery colours.  I used a wet felting method and then needle felted the details on to the dry felt afterwards.

Last year there were no lambs so it has come as rather a surprise to find some of the ewes dropping lambs all over the farm as it were!  Since Sunday three singletons and a pair of twins have arrived, and there are still four potential mums-to-be.  So I've a supply of fleece 'on the hoof' for a good few years to come!
I use the fleece 'raw' ie straight off the sheep, well once it has been shorn, but it is unwashed & uncombed.  It is full of lanolin, twigs, grass seed (and dead bugs but we won't go there!) knots and tangles and has the most fantastic sheepy smell (if you're a wannabe shepherdess like me!) The clumps of wool often help to create the shape of a piece of landscape or sky or I tease it out slightly.
We had a herd of Jacob sheep before the Herdwicks came along and I use their fleece too in pictures like this one I did recently.  Titled 'Tide's out', it uses the browns and creamy white of the natural Jacob fleece.

And in these two imagined Dalraida landscapes Jacob fleece made a great boiling, stormy sky enriched by needling red merino wool in from the reverse.

I don't have any photographs yet of this years lambs but here are a couple of the sheep.

The original Herdwick girls - Harriet, Hermione and Henrietta

Mum with the first of the Jacob lambs several years ago 

Jacobs under the beech tree

And the from the last lot of lambs two years ago, mum with her shadow Rosie. 

Rosie had to be hand reared and still comes when you call her.  She thinks she is a dog rather than a sheep, and isn't being a very maternal to her new tup lamb born this afternoon.