Luna
The Luna launch of an exhibition of mixed media moonscapes and winter landscapes. Also, cards and selection of small gifts.
Jan's Studio, Elphin, Sutherland
Homes and Gardens
Dear All,
The Highland summer is bumbling along, albeit at a slightly cooler temperature than normal for this time of year. It was only this month that the loch became comfortably ‘warm’ enough for a swim. I did swim throughout May and June, but was still wearing a double layer of woolly hat when in the water.
But I digress. My reason for writing to you is to let you know that the theme for this month’s on-line textile shop is ‘Homes and Gardens – Highland style’, a collection of stitched images of old croft houses in their typical untamed settings. We try to maintain an area of manicured garden close by the house, but any attempt to civilize beyond the immediate thresholds of house and studio meets the challenges of wild weather, wild beasts and the inexorable conquering march of nettle and dockan. Much better to let nature’s jungle have its way. This week it is the meadowsweet that is taking centre stage; instead of being its usual two feet in height it is five feet high!
Anyway, moving on … As you know, nowadays I run only a few courses in the year, as I head towards retirement and take more time to find a new direction for the next stage of my creative life. There are two courses this autumn and, due to a cancellation, a place has become available on Undercover Books, which I run with my regular collaborator Jan Breckenridge. To find out more about this exciting week of exploring book forms, have a look at the website and, if you fancy it, sign up!
Well, I’m off now to pack and freeze blackcurrants and gooseberries. What a bumper year it has been for soft fruit; we are struggling to eat all the strawberries and cherries. But what a delicious challenge!
Until the next time, enjoy your garden – wild or coiffured.
Cheers,
Jan
Open Studio 2024
Until Easter 2024, Jan's Studio in Elphin is only open to visitors by appointment.
Please email Jan or telephone 01854 666279 to arrange a time that suits you.
Open hours from Easter 2024 onwards are as follows:
Easter Weekend (Friday - Monday) 10 am until 4 pm
then
Wednesdays
10 am until 4 pm
3rd April until 25th September.
NB There may be the odd occasion that Jan cannot open the studio on a Wednesday so if you are travelling a distance to visit, please check with Jan that the studio is definitely open.
See the Open Studio page for more details.
Earthworks Move into Print
At long last the book version of the Earthworks project is complete! And as I leaf through the pages of the book, I feel the warm glow of a job well done, thanks to the solid support of Chelsea Frew (designer) and Ricky Frew (photographer).
This beautiful, high-quality art book contains over a hundred pages of images and words celebrating the intricate workings of the earth, as experienced through the eyes - and hands - of textile and mixed media artist Jan Kilpatrick. Striking photography by Ricky Frew illustrates the landscape that both inspires Jan’s work and provides the materials from which the work is made. The nature-led processes involved in the making are also recorded through photography, along with a selection of the finished textile and poetry works that emerged from this immersive project. It is a visual feast.
Earthworks, the book, is a textile-covered, hardback volume, almost A4 in size. It is limited to an edition of 500 signed copies and was launched on the 28th of May 2023. It is only available through the artist’s website. To make an advance order, please click here.
March 2023
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