May Open House 2013

Exhibiting this year in the Open House with me will be....

Prints by Jo Riddell

Lamps by Sarah Lock

Illustrations by Betty Bib

Ceramics by Judith Rowe

Prints by Andy Lovell

...and of course my stone carvings!

Open the first 4 weekends in May, 11am - 6pm.

A visit from a Photographer

The photographer Alun Callender who photographs for national and international magazines visited my workshop and home last month to get images ready for my portfolio.

His photographic ability is amazing achieving great clarity to pieces that are notoriously difficult to photograph.

Much of my work being lettercarved and in shallow relief relies heavily on light to show its definition.

Alun was aware of this throughout the shoot and it was a tribute to his skill and patience that such lovely images were captured.

These Portland stone boulders above read : The most beautiful stones have been tossed by the wind and polished to brilliance by lifes strongest storms.

You roll them like the action of the waves as you read the script.

The green oak piece is one of the first wood carving that I have made for myself, I have recently ordered a 6ft column which I hope to begin carving in the next couple of weeks.

During the photo shoot we lit the candles and it was lovely to see its practical and sculptural potential.

The poppies in flower in my garden were the inspiration for this piece.

Thanks to Alun for his professional skill and I hope to work again with him on future project.

Last Weekend Of Brighton Open House

 

 Oh my goodness, where have the last few months gone!

Well, working, carving and getting ready for the 

Brighton May Festival Open House

This weekend is the last of what has been an amazing 4 weeks of showing my work in the context of my own home, garden and workshop.

My garden has become a space to show several large lettercarved pieces.

The workshop contains drawings and sketchbooks showing my design processes.

Along side my work I have five guest artists showing a variety of work including....

Judith Rowe handthrown ceramics

Myrtle Skelton Silversmith

Sharon Schofield Jeweller

Anne Hayward Wood and Lino Cuts

Gilly McCadden watercolours and prints

So don't miss the opportunity of purchasing work direct from the artists in a beautiful and creative setting.

You will find us at 72 Ashford Road, Brighton on the Fiveways Trail.

Seaford Cottage Artwave Show

Seaford Cottage is open again this weekend and is full of a selection of artworks including my sculptures and lettercarved pieces. As you can see from Viv Blakeys beautiful photograph that the location is stunning! I will be there all day saturday and intend to eat cake! Vivs cakes are a delight.

The above piece is of a cliff with the lines 'I must go down to the seas again,the lonely seas and sky'

It is in portland stone and is placed in Vivs garden with the view of the Cuckmere Valley and sea beyond.

I also have some botanical and figurative work there.

The Alphabet was well used at the Private View and after copious amounts of Prosecco being consumed I noticed the letters now read Forest Gump! Interesting what you can come up with a single alphabet!

I often get commissions to carve a whole word on a single pebble like Love, Peace and Joy, perfect gifts for weddings.

To mark the Artwave event I am offering a lettercarved pebble with the initial of your choice. To win let me know what word is important enough for you to set in stone!

Jo Sweetings Winter Open House

Hello all.. ... Its been a while and to be honest I am more at ease with carving tools in my hand than on a Blogspot! So apologies for the delay in posting this Blog but I will endeavour to do better!
I have been busy carving small plaster carvings based on winter gardens and have some new alphbet pebbles and lots of new work which I look forward to sharing with you.
This weekend I am opening my house to the public and will be showing work by a wide variety of makers.We have buttons, jewellery,oak benches,woollen blankets,embroidered and painted assemblages,flowers and plants,fairies and dolls,prints and of course some lettercarved work too!
Do come along...
72 Ashford Road Brighton BN16LJ
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th November 10-6pm
Free gift wrapping service too!
Images to follow...
When I recall how to do that!
Im building shelves and out in the workshop this afternoon fixing plinths to my work.
The garden is looking wintery and I hope we will keep a fire going over the weekend if the rain stays away! Come and warm yourselves and take a look at the workshop and teaching space.
All the best,
The Lettercarver

Hurstpierpoint Festival Lettercarving and Sculpture Demo

Here are some of the pebbles I have been carving recently. They are beautiful limestone and sandstone and although very hard too carve because they wobble terribly,produce a lovely line with great colour definition. I will be demonstrating lettercarving on Sunday 19th September at the Church in Hurstpierpoint as part of the Hurst Festival.2-4pm and there is no entrance fee.There will be a group exhibition and lots of exciting events going on.If you cant make it but would like to try Lettercarving or sculpture I offer individual tuition or small group work from my workshop in Brighton.Excellent and massively competitive rates available to all!! Hope to see you soon!

I am off to relax now as I have been carving a piece of slate all day with the words..'Walk Beside Me' as a commission.A beautiful purple heather slate from Wales and a delight to carve.When its finished Ill post it and you can let me know what you think!

The tools have been wrapped up and cleaned off for the night.....

Art Wave and Teaching

A wonderful Art based weekend spent in the beautiful garden at the Garden House surrounded by late flowering umbellifers and the sound of bees drowned out by the Lettercarving chisel tapping!I got up to the letter J on a new alphabet whilst speaking to some lovely people so a great day!

Sunday was spent at Victor Stuart Grahams Open House in Meeching Road Newhaven where I am in a group show. 2 til 5 pm Sat and Sun next weekend so do come along! Joy Fox Button work,Carol Butler embroidered nests and some surreal boxes and of course a fabulous collection of Lettercarved delights!Its the last Art Wave weekend so dont miss it!

Back to the Workshop now where a huge bowl awaits a 52 letter quote which will be carved on to the top rim......Ill let you know how it goes! Tap tap....Tap Tap.....