And yesterday I made it to Saltaire to see the Hockney exhibition at Salts Mill. It’s called 25 Trees, though most of it is made up of portraits of family and friends. I preferred the  landscapes and trees at the Royal Academy. However, there was a very good DVD playing at Salts Mill that showed how the large landscapes were painted. Hockney does actually stand in the middle of the countryside and paint. And the 6 canvas pictures – well, those 6 canvases are set up side by side, on easels that are positioned on top of the dirt and leaves, in front of the trees and paths and plants. He paints fast because it’s cold. Hockney does go on to add colour and general Hockneyness to his work in his studio, but the actual recording of the scene is done in situ. Amazing. Oh to be driving in the Yorkshire countryside and see David Hockney filling his massive canvases by the side of the road.

Karen

So far this year, there have been 3 Sunday workshops – Stained Glass Hearts with Cynthia Else, Collaged Landscapes with Helen Hallows (Helen is currently exhibiting at the Sock Gallery in Loughborough) and Pendants and Earrings with Jessica Noonan.  To see the full range of photos, go to our Facebook page. Here’s a sample to keep you going:

And what’s coming…

Look out for our Easter Holiday Paper Making Workshops and Flower Making Workshops….  and our musical evening on the 21st of April. Details will be available soon.

Oh, and if anyone likes David Hockney, you can see an exhibition of his work at Salts Mill in Saltaire until the end of April.  It’s a wonderful place with lots to look at and some very nice food too. Not sure if it’s still the same, but we had American Root Beer the last time we went.  That alone was worth the visit.

Karen

We’re hosting a Creative Greenhouse morning on Tuesday, 24th January from 10 – 11.30 at BEANS.  Come and meet fellow artists over coffee and cake.

And we didn’t stop there.  On Sunday, it was the Stained Glass Christmas course.  There were angels, stars and Christmas trees springing up all over the place.  Cynthia (our specialist stained glass tutor) sure does know how to get production going!

For more pictures, go to our Facebook page, but here are a couple to get you started:

Our 4 family Thanksgiving Dinner is going to be a bit late this year, as someone is traveling around America as we speak (details chronicled in the BEANS restroom).  The real Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday of November.  And then, as you would expect, the holiday goes on through Friday and the weekend.  Well, you can’t just go back to work after a meal like that.  Recovery time needs to be factored in.  The BEANS version of Thanksgiving will be on Saturday, 26th November, starting at 7pm.  It is a ticket only event.

The story goes that Thanksgiving is about the Pilgrims (you know, the ones from Scrooby, England) sharing their first harvest with the Native Americans who supplied the seeds and the know-how for growing food in American soil.  The pilgrims arrived ready to plant and grow vegetables in their new homeland, but they had seeds better suited to the English climate.  Out with brussel sprouts and cabbage.  In with corn, pumpkins and sweet potatoes (or something like that).  Parades (with Santa bringing up the rear) and American football matches now help to round out the day.  We won’t be able to offer you those at BEANS, but we should be able to manage to give you that too full feeling that is a key part of the day.

If you’re interested in joining us, details are below.  You can get your tickets from BEANS.

Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday, 26th November 2011.  7pm start.

Starter

Pumpkin soup

Main

Turkey or Mushroom and Lentil Loaf (V)

Sage and Marjoram Stuffing

Roast and Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes with Apple and Brown Sugar

Orange, Walnut, Date and Cream Cheese ‘Jello’ Salad (V option available)

Vegetables

Pudding

Sweet Potato Pie served with Whipped Cream

This event is ticket only.  Price: £15 per person.  

Tickets may be purchased from BEANS coffee shop gallery. 

BEANS is not licensed to sell alcohol, but feel free to bring along a bottle of your own. 

Fruit juices, soft drinks, bottled water, coffee and tea will be available to purchase.

Then it was batik. To see even more pictures, go to our Facebook page. Batik on silk, batik on cotton, painted on dyes, scrunched and dyed, with salt, without salt. Pretty amazing stuff.

And finally, a second bread class. BEANS was approached by a small group who asked for a Monday bread making day. There was seed covered bread, fruit bread, croissants and I don’t know what all else… but in the end, it seemed to be everywhere.  I have it on good authority, that when you arrive home with a bag full of homemade bread, your family welcome you with open arms!

]]> http://www.beanscoffeeshopgallery.co.uk/wp/2011/10/recent-courses/feed/ 0 http://www.beanscoffeeshopgallery.co.uk/wp/2011/09/bread-making-course/ http://www.beanscoffeeshopgallery.co.uk/wp/2011/09/bread-making-course/#comments Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:33:00 +0000 Karen http://www.beanscoffeeshopgallery.co.uk/wp/?p=1426 The first bread making course ran on Sunday.  Maybe not what you’d consider a traditional art – but definitely an art.  The bread was beautiful and there seemed to be no limits as to what could be created with a little imagination.  For those of you who missed it, we are planning another beginners bread making course early next year, followed by an advanced bread course later in the year.

There’s just something about homemade bread.

My daughter is making her way across America and we’ll be following her trip with postcards and thick black lines on a map in the BEANS toilet (it’s got nothing to do with being jealous – it was the only available wall space).

And, many thanks to the Chesterfield College Artists who have allowed BEANS to borrow their works for our new exhibition.  They have provided some wonderful new pieces to gaze upon while you’re drinking your coffee.  Or, forget the coffee – just come and have a look around.  It all really does look pretty impressive (and I can say that cos it’s not my work).

Just a reminder – Don’t forget Wirksworth Art Trail this Saturday and Sunday (10th and 11th September).  Keep an eye out for our own Sarah Godfrey while you’re there. And next weekend, look out for Helen Hallows at Melbourne’s Art Trail.  Two events not to be missed!!

And the following weekend, 17th/18th September, is the ART and ARCHITECTURE TRAIL at the Melbourne Festival.  Trail badges are £5 for adults and free for under 16s.  Look out for Helen Hallows – our collage and stitch exhibitor as well as a tutor at BEANS and for Jeanne Roberts – BEANS’ felt making tutor and scarf exhibitor. Melbourne Festival is in much the same vein as Wirksworth – a chance to enjoy all things arty, meet the artists and buy whatever takes your fancy as well as providing  the opportunity to  have a bit of a nosey into other people’s homes and local buildings. I’ll warn you though….  if you’re anything like me, you’ll go home and feel the need to redecorate throughout. But, if you stay strong, the feeling passes after a couple of days. Honest.

PS  If you fancy making a Pendant and Earrings with Jessica Noonan on 11th September, the final booking date is the 25th of August. Jessica needs to know numbers by then so she can purchase the necessary materials.  To book, go to our courses page.

In September, BEANS will be bringing the work of some of those artists to Bolsover. Keep on eye on this blog (or join our email list – or follow our facebook page) for details of timings. You won’t want to miss it!