Elephants?

Howdy!

I've been working on a rather unusual commission this month, in the shape of an elephant; not a print of an elephant, but a great big fibreglass elephant! My job was to transform it into a piece of art, as part of the 'Herd Of Sheffield' project. In brief, fifty artists in the city have been chosen to apply a transformation, and the finished elephants are going to be displayed around Sheffield as a kind of trail from July 2016. People will be encouraged to find them all with the help of a special app. Each elephant has a sponsor (mine is the University Of Sheffield), and when the trail ends in September, the elephants will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to the Sheffield Children's Hospital.

In addition to this, lots of schools of Sheffield have been getting involved, transforming a load of smaller beasts. these will be displayed in the city, too.

As my studio isn't really big enough for a life-size elephant, my elephant was based in a Special Steels factory in Attercliffe, Sheffield, alongside a load of other artist's elephants. All sorts of great artists are involved in this, including George Law, Tom Newell, Kid Acne, Lisa Maltby, Jonathan Wilkinson, Florence Blanchard, Coralie Turpin-Thomson, Ella Osborne and many more. We were given two weeks to do our 'work' in the factory, and it was a lot of fun, but a really hard work too. I'm used to a printing studio, not a big smelly, grimy factory, but I think it did my brain some good to be out of my normal environment! I met some lovely artists that I hadn't before too, and in a way it felt like we were on some weird school project. We hung out, painted, drank gallons of tea and ate our sarnies, while the steel-workers gave us funny looks (they were all very friendly actually).

Here are a few sneaky preview shots of my elephant. As you might have guessed, I decided to have a 'donkey' theme. I'll show you the full thing when the Herd is launched in July 2016, and let you know where you can see him.

my undercover elephant!

pre-painted beast

work-in-progress donkeys 1

work-in-progress donkeys 2

work-in-progress donkeys 3

finished elephant leg!

 

Open Up Sheffield 2016

This is just a quick blog post to let you know about Open Up Sheffield 2016. 

 







It takes place on the last weekend of April and the first one of May. Loads of artist based in the city open up their studios to the public to come and see how they work and maybe buy some art too! It is a really great event and highlights the diversity of artistic talent there is in Sheffield. I'm open on:

Saturday 30th April, Sunday 1st May, Saturday 7th May and Sunday 8th May

I'll be taking part this year (as I have done in the last few years), but this time from my new(ish) studio at the bottom of my garden! I'm going to tidy it up a bit, maybe bake a cake, and do some linocutting and printing (as well as displaying a load of my prints).

I'm based in Meersbrook, S8, and you can find more details and a map at the following link:

http://openupsheffield.co.uk/open-up-artists/james-green

Look out for the balloons and sign outside my house on the days I'm open. Maybe see you soon!

March, really?

Hi there

Is it really March? Oops. Apologies for the lack of blogging for the past three months.

I have an excuse. I spent most of January working on commissions, and then February on new prints. Since Christmas I'm still feeling the effects of having 'been on TV', with quite a lot of interest in my work, which I'm very grateful for!

ELEPHANT!

I've been selected as one of the artists for the 'Herd Of Sheffield' project. What this means is that I (and several other artists) have been tasked with creating art on rather large fibre-glass elephants. The finished artworks will be displayed around Sheffield in a 'trail' later in the year. Each creature has been sponsored (mine by The University Of Sheffield), and they will be auctioned off at the end of the trail period, with all profits going to the Sheffield Children's Hospital charity. I'll keep you posted with work-in-progress pics!


NEW PRINTS
I have three new landscapes to show you, and one new creature.

Two landscapes are of Scarborough. I visited last year for the first time in ages, and was somewhat inspired. The Yorkshire coast. Need I say more? 'Scarborough No.1' is a 2-colour linocut (edition of 100), and 'Scarborough No.2' is a larger linocut/screenprint (edition of 60). I have also made a print of a view in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. I've passed this view many times on my way through the region, and thought it about time to capture it. 'Matlock Bath' is a 2-colour linocut (edition of 100).

 

Scarborough No.1

Scarborough No.2

Matlock Bath

Also, 'Young Badger' is the latest creature to make a home in my collection. It is available as an A3 poster-print.

Young Badger

 

 




















GREETING CARDS
I have now signed up with card publishers Green Pebble to produce all of my greeting cards. They supply cards to shops and galleries all over the world, and you can also buy direct from their website. All of the designs for sale are ones that I've never previously had available (inc Peloton, Pheasants, Stag and more).


EVENTS 

I'm taking part in the following events over the next month or so:
 
Manchester Print Fair
Sat 19th & Sun 20th March 2016, People History Museum, Salford

Leeds Print Festival - Print Fair
Sat 3rd April 2016, Munro House, Leeds LS9 8AG

Open Up Sheffield
Sat 30th April, Sun 1st May, Sat 7th May, Sun 8th May (location via the link)
Yes, the Sheffield open studios event returns, and this year I'm taking part in my (newish) own studio in my back garden! New works, some linocutting/printing and cake too..

End of the year speech....

Well, the gap between blog posts has grown bigger. Very sorry about that. There is a reason, though, explained below;

Before this, though I'd like to thank everyone who has supported me this year. It has been a crazy twelve months, with exciting exhibitions, commissions, events and more. It means a lot to me to hear that people appreciate my work, and I'm truly grateful that I'm able to do this for a living. So yes, a big THANKS to you all, and a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!




LANDSCAPE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2015

 As I mentioned in my last post, I have taken part in the Sky Arts 'Landscape Artist Of The Year 2015' TV series. I actually did a little better than I expected, winning my heat, and getting to the semi-final (but sadly not making the final). This was an awful lot of fun, and a great experience, and since the series has been aired, things have been very busy indeed (far more than I had expected!).

I have written an article for the Folksy blog on my experience, and you can read it here. I also decided to create an edition of the print I produced during the semi-final, a view across the Thames, of the city of London. Some copies of it are available in my Folksy shop.

 





















COUNTRY LIVING MAGAZINE FEATURE

Country Living magazine run a feature every so often about artists and their studios, and for their January 2016 issue they wanted to feature me (which was nice!). The article explores my studio set-up and my interest in landscape and wildlife as subjects for my work. The magazine is available now.

 


 

'HOW TO PAINT A PORTRAIT' BOOK
Sky Arts have published another book related to the 'Portrait Artist Of The Year' series (which I took part in, in 2013) entitled 'How To Paint A Portrait', and they have chosen twelve artists from the two series to focus on, showing readers how they create their portrait images. Now, I'm not a painter, so a little out on a limb here, but they asked me to demonstrate how I do this with lino. In the book, I chose to create a print of my eight-year-old son Henry, and they document the process along the way. It is a great book, and fascinating to see how different the approach is for the other artists. 

WORKSHOPS

I've had a lot of demand for my workshops of late, so I've arranged a new date for an 'Introduction To Linocut' one, on Sat 20th February 2016, at The Art House, Backfields, Sheffield. Places are £40 each, and all materials are provided. If you are interested in a place (there are 8 available), please email me on jgprintworks@hotmail.com 






 

TV appearance, fairs and exhibitions..

Well, my September post didn't quite happen (sorry), but I have plenty of print-related stuff to tell you about this month;

SKY ARTS LANDSCAPE ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2015

I've had to keep quiet about this until now, but I can now reveal that I have taken part in a new TV series on Sky Arts, entitled 'Landscape Artist Of The Year'! It is a national competition, where artists in each episode are given a mystery view and a limited amount of time, and are asked to create a piece of work. It is a bit like the 'Portrait Artist..' series I took part in a couple of years ago, with the same presenters (Frank Skinner and Joan Bakewell) and judges (Tai Shan Schierenberg, Kathleen Soriano and Kate Bryan). There were over 2000 entries initially, and 48 were chose for the first rounds. It was an awful lot of fun to be involved, and everyone involved was hugely supportive and friendly. I can't say much more apart from that the series starts on Tuesday 6th October (on Sky Arts) at 8pm, and I make my appearance on Tuesday 27th October....


WORKSHOPS

I have a couple of workshops coming up in December 2015 and January 2016;

Introduction to Linocut half-day mini-workshop
Sat 12th December 2015, 10am-1pm, £20 per person (8 places)
The Art House, 8 Backfields, Sheffield, S1 4HJ

I'm running a one-off mini-workshop at this new location, a fantastic gallery/workshop/studio space in the centre of Sheffield. The workshop is designed as a taster for those interested in linocut, and the aim of it is to create a small one-colour linocut, maybe with a festive theme(?). No experience needed and all materials provided.

To book, please contact The Art House.


Introduction to Linocut workshop
Sat 16th January 2016, 10am-4pm, £40 per person (8 places)
The Art House, 8 Backfields, Sheffield, S1 4HJ

This is a full day workshop for those wanting to create a one-colour linocut. No experience necessary and all materials provided. You just need to bring along an idea or image you'd like to turn into a print.

To book, please email me on jgprintworks @ hotmail.com


EVENTS

This is the time of year that loads of good events pop up. I'll be taking part in the following ones from October to December 2015:

Manchester Print Fair, Peoples History Museum, Salford, M3 3ER
Sat 17th October 2015

Crafted By Hand, Masham Town Hall, Little Market Place, Masham HG4 4DY
Sun 1st November 2015

Leeds Print Fair, Corn Exchange, Leeds
Sat 7th November 2015

Sheffield Print Fair 2015, St Mary's Church & Community Centre, Bramall Lane, Sheffield S2 4QZ
Sat 14th November 2015

The Art Market, Holmfirth Indoor Market, Huddersfield Road, HD9 3JH
Sun 22nd November 2015

The Harley Gallery Christmas Market, Mansfield Road, Welbeck, Worksop S80 3LW
Fri 27th, Sat 28th & Sun 29th November 2015

Kelham Island Victorian Christmas Market, Kelham Island Museum, Alma Street, Sheffield S3 8RY
Sat 5th & Sun 6th December 2015



EXHIBITIONS
  

I'm taking part in a woodcut exhibition called 'Cut Wood' at The Hepworth Wakefield from 23rd October 2015 until 4th February 2016. I don't normally do woodcuts, but for this exhibition I've produced an edition of my 'Long Eared Owl' one for the occasion. Other artists taking part in this include Ian Burke, Hilary Paynter, Beverley White.


I'm also taking part in an exhibition at Lyme Park in Cheshire, connected to the Sky Arts TV show, but I don't have any more info on that quite yet!

Return of the blue donkey...

Hello people

Yes, I can finally reveal 'what happened next' to the blue donkey (think 'red donkey' for those of you who managed to get one of the hand-pressed originals)! My donkeys don't really live in a traditional world, but in a mysterious other-world, where there is an occasional helping-hand. It so happens that donkeys are continually regretting adventures, and being assisted.

Does that make any sense? Anyway, the print is now on show as part of the 'No Words Required' exhibition at A Month Of Sundays gallery in Sheffield, alongside work by Sir Paul Smith, Designers Republic, Kid Acne, Jo Peel, Florence Blanchard, Jonathan Wilkinson and many more. It runs throughout August 2015.

For those not able to get to the exhibition, it is also available from my Folksy shop. There are only 25 copies in total:

'Blue Donkey Liberation' A3 2-colour screen-print

Here are some photos I took of the rest of the exhibition:

Also now available is 'The Folk Forest No.5' poster-print. The print was made to commemorate the festival of the same name, and I have created a limited (100 copies) A3 poster-print. It is now in my Folksy shop at:

'The Folk Forest No.5' A3 poster-print

EVENTS

I'm taking part in this event this weekend:

The Big Village Fete
Weston Park Museum/Weston Park, Sheffield, Sat 15th August, 10.30am-4.30pm

This is a fundraiser to help revamp the Museum. There will be craft stalls, all sorts of games and family activities, fancy dress and a treasure hunt!



WORKSHOPS




I have an 'Intro To Linocut' workshop available to book on Saturday 10th October 2015.

On the workshop you'll learn how to create your very own one-colour linocut print. No experience is necessary, and all materials are included, as well as tea, coffee and biscuits. The workshop will take place at Sheffield Print Club, which is at 15 Lenton Street, S2 4BH.

There are 8 places available, and they cost £35 each.

To book, please email me on jgprintworks@hotmail.com

Studio, bikes, creatures and no words...

Hi there

Right, I'm trying to be good and not leave it so long between blog posts... 

 






















This is a view of my studio. I've tided up a bit and it feels a bit more of a homely space to work in. Still work-in-progress, but I'm getting there!

NEW WORKS

My 'Peloton' print is now available in my Folksy shop. It is an A3 poster-print, printed on 200gsm natural paper.

At the end of the month I am also releasing a new Folk Forest print, entitled 'The Folk Forest No.5', to coincide with the 5th year of the Folk Forest music, arts and crafts festival in Sheffield. It will be a limited (100 copies) A3 poster-print, on 200gsm natural paper. It will be available initially from my stall at the Folk Forest Fair at the festival which happens on Sat 25th and Sun 26th July 2015 in Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, but if there are any left after I will put them in my Folksy shop. The event is well worth a visit! Great music, location, art & craft and food/drinks!

 























EVENTS
I am taking part in two events this month:

Sharrow Vale Market, Sharrow Vale Road, Sunday 19th July 2015, 12-4pm
It has been a while since I took part in this, but it is always fun. Gourmet burgers, nice coffee, art, Greek dancing and all sorts! 

The Folk Forest Fair, Endcliffe Park, Sheffield, Sat 25th and Sun 26th July 2015, 12-8pm
As mentioned above, as part of the festival. There is an impressive arts and crafts fair with all sorts of homewares, art, clothes, jewellery and more...


EXHIBITIONS
I'm taking part in a new exhibition at A Month Of Sundays gallery in Sheffield, entitled 'No Words Required'. The premise is that each artist was asked to create a new piece of work in a comic-strip format, with no words. I've created a new screen-print, a kind-of sequel to one of my current prints. I'm not saying any more than this for now, but further hints may appear on my facebook! The exhibition runs from 1st Aug until the 29th Aug 2015. There are some great artists included, so I'm flattered to have been asked!