Spring Fling Round Up along the Colvend Coast

Memories of Spring Fling 2012

Part 1.

For those of you who were unable to do the rounds at this years Spring Fling we sent out our team of trusty local correspondents who shared their opinions with us. Here is just a taste of the 57 Spring Fling artists who opened their studios.  With the blog having a Rockcliffe and Kippford focus, these are the artists and studios easiest to access from our villages, we would love to have travelled further afield across the region but there's always next year! 


Phillipa Sinclair: Colvend Village Hall
My first visit of this years Spring Fling was to our very own Philipa Sinclair who lives in Rockcliffe. Philipa's signature colour palette was much in evidence as was the European influences on her work. Philipa's paintings, which also include many local scenes and motifs are bold and vibrant and I noticed that she had done some exciting designs on fabrics and cushions which I had not seen before. 

Philippa Sinclair's work displayed at Colvend Village Hall

Philippa, never afraid to experiment, had also achieved some wonderful effects with subtle metallic highlights in some of her work. However, the paintings which really caught my eye, and that of several other visitors, were several exquisitely simple flower studies. Confident and graphic yet conversely subtle and delicate they reminded me of Japanese flower studies and I so wished I could have taken them home with me.
Philippa's website
Philippa is currently exhibiting at Castle Douglas Library Hall until the end of the month.

Phil Mcmenemy: The Gallery, Lauriston
I was introduced to the work of, Twitter addict, Phil at the CatStrand earlier in the year and fell in love with his almost abstract botanic studies so I was keen to see a larger body of his work and hot footed it over to his delightful gallery. The gallery is a converted Galloway barn and with it's simple white walls, slate floor and exposed beams is an ideal gallery space in which to showcase Phil's stunning prints. I was like a kid in a sweet shop, there are so many evocative views and landscapes. Being reared on the Narnia Chronicles, The Little White Horse and Tolkien, Phil's woodland scenes take me straight back to the lands of myth and legend to a time when they were populated by faerie folk. I fell in love with a large black and white print of a close up of the muzzle of gorgeous Galloway cow but it was a bit large to smuggle out under my coat (and I am sure Phil can run faster than me!)

Phil Mcmenemy teamed up with local songwriter and musician Zoe Bestel for Spring Fling on Friday afternoon

The afternoon turned out to be a rare treat as my visit coincided with an unplugged set by local musical phenomenon 14 year old singer/songwriter Zoe Bestel. Zoe, who accompanies her haunting lyrics with a ukulele, sat surrounded by an entranced and very appreciative audience in the corner of Phil's studio and played a selection of her own work and a couple of inspirational cover versions. As I joined the queue to buy her latest single I was touched by her natural confidence and easy way with people. I am sure we will all be seeing and hearing a lot more from her. We are delighted to be told that Zoe's "Just Another Girl" has been short listed to win a Young Song Writers’ Competition. The competition is held annually and is run by an Anti-violence Against Women team here in our local region of Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland You can hear her song and vote here  Just Another Girl

As if the afternoon hadn't been memorable enough I can't fail to mention the awesome afternoon tea and cakes in the Lauriston Village Hall. A choice of three cakes selected from a whole A4 sheet list and either coffee or tea. This must surely be heaven! Thank you ladies.


Phil's website

John Threlfall: Rockcliffe Gallery
No Spring Fling is complete for us without a visit to see John's work. John, deservedly voted Bird Artist of the Year 2007, also lives in Rockcliffe so can often be seen out and about, particularly at the RSPB Mersehead Reserve where he gets lots of inspiration. 

John Threlfall at work at the Rockcliffe Gallery on Sunday morning

Two things struck me at John's show this year: first there was an interesting mix of media with some exiting new work using both oil pastels and acrylic paints. Two paintings in particular used this to great effect, Puffins and Eider Ducks, both of which John has had made into very accessible giclee prints. The second was the stronger use of colour. Influenced by the local landscape John's earlier work adopted a more muted palette but since his visit to a Tiger Sanctuary in India where he painted the local wildlife, his palette includes stronger bolder colours giving his work a new edge. His signature bird studies were much in evidence and sadly for me (but fantastic for John) my favourite painting of two Lapwings sold to his first visitor on the first day of Spring Fling. I did not go away empty handed though. Being unable to chose between the strong graphic image of a Tern in water colour or the detailed subtlety of two Rooks executed in pastel I solved the conundrum by buying them both!


John's website

Christine Smith: Barnbarroch Pottery, Barnbarroch
The creative talents of Christine Smith are showcased at this working pottery which once housed the local school. Christine's unique style and quirky humour produce some fascinating and distinctive pieces which seem to draw on local influences and medieval bestiaries in equal measure. The shop glows as the lights reflect the subtle pigments and glossy glazes of the pieces ranging from simple domestic ware to complex and monumental flights of fancy. On Monday afternoon the pottery car park was jam packed, a tribute to the wide appeal and enduring popularity of Christines work. The pottery is open all year round and has a shop where Christines work can be viewed and purchased.


The Barnbarroch Pottery website

Spring Fling is planned from the 25th to 27th May. Part two of Memories of Spring Fling will be posted soon.

Solway artist Ailsa Black

Being huge fans of Ailsa Black's whimsical work we invited her to write a post for the blog. Her work is characterised by wonderful skills of observation, an amazing attention to detail and a unique perspective on the world around her.  In short... we love her quirky, contemporary naïve  style which really distills life on the Solway Coast and connects with those who love the area. This is one of my own particular favorites (but then again being a Collie owner I am biased!): 

Pep talk by Ailsa Black

Ailsa lives on the Solway Coast here in Dumfries and Galloway and it is from the countryside, coast and seascapes of the area that she takes her inspiration.  

Ailsa describes her work as an expression of Scottish contemporary rural life and she focuses on the interaction of landscape, animals, birds and people that surround her.  She is interested in the use of these core influences, which merge with her imagination, to convey a light-hearted, quirky and whimsical narrative on aspects of rural life. 

Hoppity poppity by Ailsa Black

 Her works, in acrylic paint on canvas board, utilise a limited, but bold, palette of signature colours and simplify form to bring a modern decorative clarity and simplicity to the image. 

 So, over to Ailsa…

I'm very lucky to live in a tiny coastal hamlet in South West Scotland, it has a few houses, a ruined pier, a phone box and a pub.  My studio is in the converted attic and looks onto hills and fields at the back and the sea at the front.  Out the front I often can see porpoises, seals, boats and sometimes otters, but mostly I see people walking their dogs and wandering about quite unaware that they are being watched.  

Salty seadog by Ailsa Black

Out the back of the house I can watch cows and sheep.  Everywhere there are birds of all shapes and sizes.  I feature all these aspects in my work...what more inspiration would you need?

I have always loved drawing and painting and would do so at every opportunity throughout my life.  I was lucky to have a couple of great art teachers at both primary and secondary school.  When I left school I went to art school and had a great tutor there.  Also my mum is a keen painter and I remember having to sit for her while I was quite young so she could draw me, she has always been very encouraging.

I have a need to capture and express my experience of life and the things that surround me.  I try to add a touch of humour and sometimes a word or two of Scots to my painting titles.  Life is too precious not to try and have some fun!

Moonlit escapade by Ailsa Black

Currently….

Ailsa sells cards and prints to trade at over 30 outlets across the UK.  She has exhibited paintings at the Royal Glasgow Institute and the Paisley Art Institute.  She has completed many private commissions and her work is increasingly being collected across the UK and internationally.

You can see Ailsa’s work at www.ailsablack.com  or follow her at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ailsa-Black-Scottish-Artist/207049749306918

https://twitter.com/AilsaBlack

Spring Fling Fever

Very excited that next weekend is the Spring Fling and from the Tweeting going on I'd say I'm not the only one! Hannah McAndrew, Phil Macnemenny, Leeming and Patterson, Cordelia Galley and Katie Russell (to name but a few) have all been Tweeting about the big build up.


The marketing team have done a sterling job and the build up has generated a lot of interest. There certainly seems to be loads on offer.


The bumph on the Spring Fling website says:
2012 is an exciting year for Spring Fling - it's our 10th Birthday!

From 2-5 June 2012, 76 professional artists, makers and designers will throw open the doors of their studios, inviting visitors to discover where and how they create their work; many artists will host demonstrations and every artist will be selling their work. You can discover the region on theSpring Fling bus, as part of the official Spring Fling cycle ride, or with the Spring Fling Sunday morning walking tour. For evening entertainment Spring Fling presents the ever popular ceilidh and hog roast, and for the first time in 2012 we will host an exclusive wine tasting event - free for Friends. In 2012 Spring Fling will launch a web shop and a map based smartphone applicationto help tech savvy visitors navigate the studios, which after the event will become a year round art guide. 

The cheeky 2012 Spring Fling logo: Source courtesy of http://www.spring-fling.co.uk/event

We are planning a 'grand tour' catching up with some old favorites and hopefully discovering some one new. For me the real buzz is getting to talk to the artists themselves and, in a lot of cases, actually seeing where the creative spark is generated. (That and a coffee and cake!)

For all things Spring Fling go to: http://www.spring-fling.co.uk/

Good Luck to all the artists and crafts people taking part, I know a tremendous amount of work goes into the preparation. See you all soon!

We will post about our experiences next week.

Castle Douglas - named in Top 10 culinary destinations in Britain by Lonely Planet

Many thanks to Angus of Cavens Restaurant for bringing this to our attention. It's hard to believe but Castle Douglas was named in  a Top 10 of culinary destinations in Britain by Lonely Planet back in July 2010 - and we didn't even know it!


Here is a link to the announcement: Castle Douglas in Lonely Planet Culinary Top 10 What an accolade? To be one of  ten top gastronomic destinations that will get your mouth watering.


Castle Douglas is a lovely wee town and has long been a trading centre with livestock markets  still held each week at Wallets Mart. The attraction for the Lonely Planet wasn't so much in big-name chefs or award-laden restaurants but in high-quality local produce, from meat sold in independent butchers to brewers, confectioners and bakers. Featuring up there with Melton Mowbray and Padstow (home of fish Guru Rick Stein) Castle Douglas is a 'foodie heaven' and one of Britain’s designated ‘Food Towns’. 

Castle Douglas High Street

The busy high street is a treat. Unlike many of today's homogonised towns Castle Douglas is bustling with small independent retailers: from Chocolatiers, Delicatessen, a traditional sweet shop and a micro brewery to Butchers, Bakeries and newsagents as well as boutiques, cafes, galleries, jewelers, furniture makers and some gorgeous interiors and gift shops. And this is in addition to banks, chemists, supermarkets, post office, public houses etc. There is even a fresh fish stall in the car park at the top of the town.


It's a lovely place to stroll for a while. You can just window-shop and get a delicious coffee or browse beautiful Scottish jewelry, indulge in delicious handmade chocolates, taste award winning beer, select olives and sun dried tomatoes for lunch, pick up a delightful handmade cushion or a craftsman piece of furniture, buy souvenirs for friends and family or stock up on local beef and award winning pies and haggis.

Only a 15 minuite drive from Kippford or Rockcliffe it makes a pleasant day out, not just for foodies!

New events page... Spring Fling inspired!

This week I have added a new page to the blog. The link to it appears in the line of text/links above Ed Inglehart's stunning landscape shot of Kippford and Rockcliffe - above. (Thanks' Ed for making that shot Creative Commons, it's a gorgeous photo)


It is a summary of the the exciting festivals and events held across D&G throughout the year and shows just what a diverse and fascinating region this is. Before putting it together I didn't realise just how many events and festivals there were. All added incentives (if any were needed) to visit the area. 


I just love the idea that these events and festivals add to the mix so that everyone in a family or group will have something that suits them on their visit to D&G as, after all, it's unusual for a whole group to have all the same interests. You may get an avid birder on holiday with a book worm or an active young family who want to cycle and canoe with a foodie Mum or a Dad interested in the Arts. These specialist events mean that everyone will be happy. I will update it as new ones come to my attention so keep checking back.


I was prompted to add the new events page by all the excitement being generated locally by this years Spring Fling. For those who are not familiar with it the Spring Fling is an Open Studio event across the region held annually in June. (For more info go to the D&G Events page or visit: http://www.spring-fling.co.uk/. It always creates a buzz but this year is the 10th Anniversary and promises to be even more exciting.
Spring Fling encourages everyone to get behind the scenes of the studios of some incredibly talented artists and makers in the region and even, in some cases, try your hand at new skills. The idea is you pick up a map and hop from studio to studio at your own pace. There is some superb work on sale from a wide range of artists and makers from painting, wicker structures, ceramics, hats and jewelry to photography, glass, gilding, sculpture and mosaics to name but a few (but no pressure to buy) and usually some tasty refreshments. It's a great way to spend a day.... or two.

Painting by Val Macadam: www.valmacart.com

During last year's Spring Fling I visited two of my particular favorites Ailsa Black (Example of Ailsa's work and short bio) and Val Macadam (Examples of Val's work and short bio) who live just along the coast from Rockcliffe and Kippford and really capture the spirit of the area in their colourful, quirky and original work. We were made very welcome and had a chance to chat with the artists, view their works and (in Val's case) see where she worked. Val's humorous take on the famous Galloway Beltie is illustrated above and includes an example of a local Galloway cottage. She has lovely views from her studio window, no wonder she is so inspired by the region.


Ailsa was working on a new piece at Kirkbean Village Hall, you can see the touching finished work below. It was so interesting to see how she developed the painting and the media she used. I also got to chat with her 'model'. A special thanks go to the volunteers who served a selection of delicious homemade cakes.


I fell in love with a painting called 'Follow my Master' and bought a print as a gift for a friend. It reminds me of the spit at Mersehead with the shorebirds at the high water roost. Ailsa is so talented! I am looking forward to discovering some new talent this year... have an explore and find your own favorites this June.

Painting by Ailsa Black: www.ailsablack.com