Japanese Calligraphy

'Happiness' in my beginner style, with my name in Japanese on the left

We had a such a great time yesterday being given an introduction to Japanese calligraphy, taught by expert, Shoho: an excellent teacher, very patient and was very encouraging of our attempts! She gave us such interesting information about kanji and the Japanese culture.

It was wonderful to see an expert actually doing calligraphy, seeing how the writer moves, keeping the elbow up and held in a curve, staying in balance. How the calligraphy looks on paper is seen as a reflection of the calligrapher's mind..... we're not sure what our attempts said about us!

But we had fun, especially attempting to write our names in Kanji. And we loved the home made sushi too.

Love London

This weekend is the last chance to see Tutti Frutti, Rare Beauty, our October show on Columbia Road. We'd love to see you.  I'll be there with Vicky Forrester tomorrow on our very last day.

 What a great show it's been at the Number Ninety-Four Gallery. Thanks to Simon for hosting us so brilliantly. What a social hub it is! 

 Want to check out a few things on Columbia Road if there's time tomorrow; Beyond Fabrics  for haberdashery supplies and to call in next door to Number 94, where the legendary Angela Flanders, perfumer with cult following, has her original and exclusive perfumes. 

Next week, in between silversmithing and painting, I'll be taking a beginner's calligraphy workshop taught by Japanese Calligrapher, Shoho. And if I have time I'll be along to the V&A to see the Pearl Exhibition and Chinese Painting  - the once in a lifetime chance to see rare collections from around the world. 

So much to do!

Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition

I'm flying back for the Private View tomorrow evening at the Ulster Museum and can't wait to see the wide range of art, especially all the paintings, and to meet the artists. Some names are familiar to me from exhibitions years ago and from the BP Portrait Awards in London, and now I'll see these incredible artists all in one venue, back in Belfast. Fantastic!

.....and of course I'm really looking forward to seeing my very own Blossom Bowl on show at the RUA Exhibition!

The exhibition opens to the public on the 18th October.

Blossom Bowl 

Columbia Road sunflowers

 Thanks to lots of friends and family who called in to our show today at Number 94 Gallery on Columbia Road - and especially to Bridget and Chris for bringing us sunflowers which really brightened up a rainy day!

Art as therapy

Enjoying reading an extract 'On beauty' in http://www.elledecoration.co.uk/. It is taken from a favourite author Alain de Botton's new book 'Art as Therapy' which I'm sure to be ordering soon

. 

' we ... need beauty as an essential prop to our moods and sense of wellbeing......What we need most from beauty is hope: hope that, despite the evidence, life can be made serene, hopeful, kind and meaningful.' 

Tutti Frutti, Rare Beauty

We're open at Number Ninety-Four Gallery - call in if you're on Columbia Road any weekend this October!