News Archive, Views & Comments

Introduction to Artmap Workshops 2010

Artmap Argyll ran a short series of taster workshops in March and April, providing a unique opportunity for the local community and visitors alike to work with professional local artists who offer a rich variety of specialist approaches.

Exploring Texture in Painting

Artist Sian MacQueen is sharing her skills as a trained sculptor and established painter to encourage the use of textured materials in painting. Using traditional gesso and a variety of non-traditional materials you will have the opportunity to explore this medium and break the rules!!

Stone Carving Workshop

Melanie Chmielewska will be leading a two day stone carving workshop at the Crinan boatyard in Crinan. You will learn the basic technique of stone carving, with an introduction to stone carving tools and work directly with sandstone to create a sculpture.

Art as Journey with Derby Stewart-Amsden

In this workshop, everyone is a beginner; people from all disciplines and levels of experience are welcome, including those who have never picked up a paintbrush. The goal is free expression, with the emphasis on the creative process rather than on technique or expertise. It’s a leap beyond the predicted and expected - a venture into colour, form and image where no rules apply.

COLOUR PAINTING WORKSHOP

Artist Lesley Burr is leading a colour painting workshop based at the beautiful Crarae Gardens, focusing on simple close ups of plants and flowers in bloom in spring 2010. An experienced tutor, she is well known for her vibrant atmospheric landscapes and enjoyable approach to expressing what we see.

Introduction to the Basics of Copperplate Etching with Fraser MacIver

This basic course will give the student a grounding in plate preparation, image transfer, hardground, drypoint and finally print proofing on the “Wagon Press”. Students will take home both their prints and etched plates at the end of the two day intensive sessions.

CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION

of ARTWORK FOR SALE @ DOCHAS GALLERY

Friday 20th November to 8 January

This exhibition is in aid of the Dochas Centre.

Our Christmas Exhibition at the Dochas gallery runs from Saturday 20th November until 7 January

We would be very happy to invite interested members of the public who wish to attend the opening on Saturday 20th 7.45 p.m. - 9 p.m.

The handing in date for all full members who wish to participate is 18th November. Please note that the small hanging fee is non-returnable.
Hanging is at the discretion of the gallery hanging team so members please note that space is very restricted and smaller works would be appreciated.
There is no restriction on media. 6/7 plinths are available; 18in square and 12in square 2'6 and 3' respectively in height.

Please contact the exhibition team with any queries. We are Jane Walker, Wilma Mackenzie, Stuart Herd and Libby Anderson

The word Dochas means hope so we are hoping for a celebratory
selection of small scale work with Christmas appeal.

Argyll’s Art Event of the Year - Insights, demos, discussions.

7th - 10th August 2009
10am - 5pm

Artmap Argyll provides a unique opportunity, to visit and meet working artists and makers in their generally private studio spaces or homes - the wellspring of their inspiration... in the midst of what is one of the most idyllic, beautiful and historic coastlines in the world.

You will find an extraordinary variety of contemporary and traditional art media on display in painting, sculpture (stone, glass, wood), glass engraving, printmaking (woodcut, intaglio, silkscreen), graphic arts, woodturning, weaving, mixed media and more...

The 2009 brochure and artists directory serves as, both the official guide to this four day open studio event and also as an ongoing resource for contact details throughout the year. Feel free to browse online in advance of your visit.

Request Brochure for Event / Directory of Artists

£100 Artmap Voucher Prize Draw

In order to promote this event, now and in the future, Artmap Argyll would be grateful if you would complete this questionnaire to enter the free prize draw. Your responses will be very helpful to us in assessing the value of the event in the local area.

View Terms and conditions of the Draw and Questionnaire on line

Download Terms and conditions of the Draw

Download questionnaire

Artmap Argyll Exhibition at Kilmartin Museum

Opening of Artmap Exhibition at Kilmartin

May 2009 A Case of things to come

As part of the Spirit of the West celebration at Inverary Castle this month Louise Oppenheimer, Susan Berry and Nicola Wilkes, members of the Argyll Art Map artists collective where showing recent works in advance of this years open studios event. The event will be held on August 7th to 10th and is forming part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

Visitors received a warm welcome at the small exhibition in the arts and crafts marquee from three of Argyll’s most creative artists.

Louise Oppenheimer, one of Scotland’s leading pictorial weavers, was demonstrating the sophisticated simplicity of technique that make her finely nuanced hangings glow with a subtle warmth that make them a pleasure to look at and a joy to own.

Nicola Wilkes by contrast is a painter in oil and watercolour and her background in the decorative arts and design field is evident in her striking interiors and still life paintings.

The third artists, Susan Berry has acquired a well deserved reputation with her deft way with otters; her magical painting of these elusive creatures are rich in detailed observation and demonstrate an obvious love for the land and the pursuit of the ever changing play of light.

February 2009 Group show on the theme - Earra-Ghaidheal

@ Pentagon Centre, Washington Street, Glasgow. Twenty members contributed over 70 pieces - sculpture/paint/mixed media/installation/glass engraving/wood turning/fused & slumped 3D glass.

Friday 1st August 2008 - Courier and Advertiser - Great things to see with Art map Argyll.

Argyll is famous for its scenery and wild life, and the superb quality of its seafood. It is where Scotland began, with the ancient kingdom of Dalriada at its heart.

Artists, sculptors and craftsmen and women have all been seduced by the light and the fragility of life at the edge. Never far from the sea or a loch, peoples lives are bound up in and bounded by the elements.

This is reflected in the work of as group of talented artists who have combined to create Art Map Argyll. a trail stretching from Oban to Ghia, with an open studios weekend on August 2 and 3.

Most artist’s studios are essentially private spaces, so the invitation to visit them, to put places and faces to the names, is an opportunity not to be missed.

The distinctive red brochure gives a hint of what lies in store for the discerning traveller.

The art map guides the visitor through a landscape steeped in over two thousand years of Scotland’s history.

Artists taking part in this years first art map argyll open studios weekend celebrated the launch of the brochure with a preview of work at Tarbert’s Luckenbooth Gallery.

Acting as a taster for this weekends much anticipated event, the night was a great success and a chance for the artists to make last minute preparations before opening their studio doors to visitors from far afield.

For more information visit artmapargyll.com

Thursday 31st July 2008 - Oban Times - Argyll Artist short listed for National Drawing Award.

Ganavan artist lizzie Rose has been short listed for a national drawing award.

The Jerwood Drawing prize aims to reward talent in contemporary drawing and is open to any artist in the UK. Lizzie’s work will be included in an exhibition of 63 drawings short listed from nearly 3000 submissions, in London in September. Afterwards the exhibition will tour until April next year.

Lizzie's is part of the Art Map Project, which was launched at Luckenbooth Gallery, Tarbert. The project features artists from Oban to Ghia.

There will be an open studios weekend this Saturday and Sunday from 10.00 am to 5 PM when members of the public can visit the artists in their studios. To find out where you can visit go to Artmapargyll.com.

Summer 2008 - Gathering Pace

Argyll is without doubt one of the most inspirational places in the world, where imagination can run freely between land and sea and the traditional meets contemporary on a daily basis whatever your walk of life. It is by location at the edge and as such, a uniquely attractive place to live and work. Whilst this is the lifeblood of many artists and makers in Argyll, it can also present some particular challenges. Networks are difficult to access, exhibition and studio space can be hard to find and often a great deal of ingenuity is required in finding solutions. Sooner or later it becomes clear that perhaps a collective approach to creating opportunities may be more effective than going it alone, an approach that doesn’t diminish an artist’s own individuality but unites under a common purpose.

Thus it was that in 2007 a few like minded people discussed the possibility of an Argyll artists’ group and, like all good ideas, it quickly gathered pace. When invited to join an early development meeting with the group in Ardrishaig, my colleague Marcus Wilson and I were inspired by just how many individually talented artists had travelled through a particularly unrelenting winter storm to share their ideas with such enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. What they do is special… just follow the Map and you’ll see
why.

John Saich, HI~Arts, 2008

April 2008 - Argyll artist’s on the map.

Art map Argyll is the brain child of a collection of Argyll’s working artists who are designing a map booklet showcasing artists living in Argyll and encouraging locals and visitors to come to an open studio week end in August.

Artists already involved include Lesley Burr, Kirsty Brady, Stuart Herd, Karen Liversedge, Louise Oppenheimer, Sian MacQueen, Fraser McIver, Wilma McKenzie, Claire McNiven, Lizzie Rose and Jane walker. Any other artists wishing to be on the map are welcome to come along to the nest meeting on April 21st in The Grey Gull at Ardrishaig.