This feels like a little bit of a departure from previous works.  A little more abstract perhaps?  It’s an interesting departure, one that I think I’ll’ explore a little further with some mono-printing at sometime.

An invasion of privacy? An unwelcome presence in the sitting room? I hope not, but sometimes I still can’t help but feel for the people who open their houses for these Arts Trail events.  I am hugely thankful to Linda and Tim for letting me, and four other equally house trained artists into their beautiful home for the 10 day duration of the Ilkley Arts Trail.

It’s been fun so far, the sun came out, I drank a lot of coffee, scoffed a load of biscuits, and made some new friends, one of them canine, the rest just really pleasant people out for good days mooch.  Hopefully these good people enjoyed themselves just as much, they certainly gave off a happy vibe as they passed through venue 22.

It’s funny sitting there whilst people talk about your work, the work you’ve put untold hours into.  I’ve nowhere else to sit otherwise I would perhaps choose to be elsewhere, I’m not sure if my presence encourages conversation or is just off-putting?  I did leave the room whilst one couple whispered about the Pen-y-ghent print, when I came back they had decided to buy, so perhaps there’s my answer?

One final thought, although completely coincidental, the bottle green wall colouring on which my work is being displayed is a revelation.  I’d never have thought of such a backdrop myself, but it works so well. The colour in my prints is fairly jumping off the wall.  Fantastic!  Maybe I’ll have to get redecorating at home?

This piece started out as a study of some beautiful cloud formations I saw one evening during summer.  As for the foreground it’s a representation of Almscliffe Crag, a gritstone edge in the lower reaches of  Wharfedale.

I’ve been working on four new larger screen prints over the summer to exhibit at the Ilkley Arts Trail 2012.  Click here to learn more about this great annual event taking place between 6th-12th October.

This work will be for sale during the Ilkley Arts Trail, priced at £120 framed and £80 unframed.

Pen-y-ghent is  a real favourite fell of mine, I can’t recall how many times I’ve been up there, but every time it’s been a real adventure.  One of the more recent trips was on a beautiful sunny day, hence this print was born from the memories of the brilliant blue skies of that day.

I’ve been working on four new larger screen prints over the summer to exhibit at the Ilkley Arts Trail 2012.  Click here to learn more about this great annual event taking place between 6th-12th October.

This work will be for sale during the Ilkley Arts Trail, priced at £120 framed and £80 unframed.

Please click on the link below to be taken to my Flickr pages.  Expect to see some of the beautiful places I visited appearing in my artwork shortly.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesbywood/sets/72157631602448035/with/8015167828