Summer Studio Art News

Hello there!  (first I must apologize for the lateness of this post- it is the newsletter that I sent out prior to the Black Sheep festival and maybe an incentive for some of you to sign up for my newsletter? Though I promise to try to keep better time with my posts here soon : ) Here is the sign up form, if you would like to get mail a couple times a year from me. ) I hope you are keeping cool and enjoying the sunshine. Yes- somehow all at the same time ; ) This year has brought lots of wonderful things my way and I thought I might send you a note to let you know about some of them and to invite you to a few things coming very soon. My work has been morphing more and more into the fibre art world with all my hand stitching, quilting and patch-working over the past number of years. This Saturday (July 7th), I will be showing a few new fibre art pieces at the brand new Black Sheep Festival in Elora. There will be lots to see and do- you can find all the details here. I will be set up inside the Elora Art Centre- please come say hi. A good selection of my larger format fibre art pieces are being shown at Langdon Hall right now until the end of September. I am thrilled about this opportunity to have my work in this gorgeous setting and can’t wait to hang out with the work at one of their famous barbeque series events soon. You can find out details about their events here. Recently I had the opportunity to teach monotype to a delightful group of print enthusiasts through Print London as part of a month long print series. My workshop was in the middle of the screen print and paper cutting workshops. The whole thing culminated in a paper mural of all the various work, layered and edited to create a coherent installation piece highlighting the various techniques and a mash up of all the various participants’ work. The teaching work made me nostalgic for spending more time in the studio with others. If you are interested in joining me and some other lovely print people for some open sessions of printing, please let me know. I will keep the sessions at a maximum of 5 people per day so that there is lots of press time. You are to bring your own paper and the rest is included in the $45. fee. The days for open sessions are Thursday, July 19th, Saturday, July 21st, Tuesday, July 24th, Sunday, August 12th and Saturday Aug.18th- all days are 10am-4pm and will depend on the temperature of the studio. It is often fine working in a warm studio but occasionally the heat does get quite high and we would need to postpone. Please get in touch with me to confirm your space through my email link at the bottom of  the page.  This Summer also finds Chris and I spending some time dreaming about our future studio space and making plans and sketches about how this wonderful new project will take shape. We will take lots of photos and keep you posted on the progress because there will definitely be a celebration when it is complete. If I don't see you soon, I wish you lots of lazy Summer daydreaming kind of days, hopefully somewhere with a cool breeze. best, Tammy

All images are copyright © *Tammy Ratcliff 2018 All rights reserved Our mailing address is: 123 Woolwich St. 3rd floor Guelph ON

Busy weekend

A fun weekend coming up if you like to shop local, handmade items from artists and craftspeople. Friday November 28th there is a great group of talent at the annual Helluva Good Time show at Michelle Miller's abode 137 Arthur St. and in the Trafalgar Building 123 Woolwich St. 6-9pm. On Saturday November 29th (11- 5pm) both groups will be open again and joined by Necessary Arts Centre's Holiday Pop Up Shop (10-5pm)  at 67 Wyndham St. N. in the Gummer Building. 

I will have lots of new small mono prints on show, as well as a few new etchings. If you are looking for some handmade unique gifts, this may be where you get all your holiday shopping done. Or maybe you just want to check out what is out there and sip some cider with these lovely people. Either way, I hope to see you!

If you missed me in Guelph, you can catch me in Toronto on Sunday at the Japanese Paper Place, 77 Brock Ave. 11-5pm. Lots of wonderful washi artists doing all kinds of lovely things. All works are small, $20. - $200. If I didn't get all my shopping done in Guelph, I will definitely finish it here. We will be joined by guitarist Patrick Power in the afternoon. If you haven't visited the warehouse before, you should come on Sunday. It is a pretty special place.

After a few days out of the public, I will be back out there with an art opening on Saturday December 6th at the Flesherton Art Gallery. I will be showing some of my botanical etchings alongside the paintings of Ila Kellermann. Come visit 7-9pm with the artists. Flesherton is about an hour and 20 minutes from Guelph, I think and the gallery is located at 22 Collingwood St. It has been awhile since I have shown my work there, almost 20 years since Ryan Price and I showed some of our prints. Maybe it wasn't that long ago...

Spring Workshops

Lots of busy busy starting to happen in the studio in preparation for 
a few different printmaking workshops. I have dusted, mopped, decluttered and even painted the floors! It feels fresh and ready for Spring. I will be offering an open session for independent projects on Wednesday mornings and evenings to start April 16 and run for four weeks. Also 2 monotype and chine collé workshops, both running on two Sunday afternoons. 

For the month of June, Myles Calvert will be the resident artist in my studio. For three of those weeks, Myles will be hosting some etching workshops that you may be interested in.  You should have a look at some of Myles artwork here on his website.

Please find all the details below and if you have any questions please contact Myles or myself. *(Myles at mylescalvert(at)gmail.com and myself at info(at)tammyratcliff.com)

Spring Printmaking Workshops  

in my super sunny studio

Open studio, semi-independent sessions in printmaking

An open printmaking session on Wednesdays in my downtown studio to begin on April 16th. 

These Wednesday sessions are an opportunity to work in a print studio with an etching or book press creating monotype, drypoint or relief prints. You are welcome to start new projects or bring previously etched and prepared plates for printing.

This is not a formal class but an opportunity to work on individual projects semi-independently. I will be present for support and any technical questions.  Previous printmaking experience is preferred.

You will need to bring your own paper for printing but ink, newsprint, gloves, and a monoprint plate, etc. will all be supplied.  If you are working on a specific plate you are welcome to bring this as well.

*Class size is a maximum of 5 people so there is plenty of opportunity to use the press.

evenings x 4 weeks 7-10pm, April 16, 23, 30 and May 7   

$120. +hst 

or

daytime x 4 weeks  9:30am-12:30pm, April 16, 23, 30 and May 7  

$120. +hst 

Monotype/ Monoprint workshop with chine collé

This workshop is open to the beginner as well as the more experienced artist, with a focus on water based etching inks (Akua and Charbonnel) for monotype printmaking using the etching press. We will explore the many ways in which we can create a one-of-a-kind painterly print; additive and subtractive methods of applying ink to the plate surface, the use of brayers, brushes and stencils, chine collé, texture transferring, multiple plate printing and registration.
Monotpe printmaking can be a very spontaneous and satisfying way to work and often inspires work in other mediums because of quick results and the variety of techniques used.  Lots of wonderful papers and only the best of inks will be available for inspired experimentation.

*Class size is a maximum of 5 people so there is plenty of opportunity to use the press.
All materials, refreshments and a light lunch are included. 

Sunday May 4th 10am- 4pm $110. +hst
Sunday May 18th 10am -4pm  $110. +hst
or both

2 Sundays in May 4th & 18th, 10am-4pm $180. +hst

Win some art!

Do you have a piece of artwork that I have made? Is it hanging somewhere in your home, cottage or office? It doesn't really matter where, though I am curious...
If you send a photo of the artwork in situ to me then I will enter your name in a draw to win a 12" square (unframed) print of your choice. If you have more than one work, enter one photo for each print that you have and your name will be entered that many times. You can choose to use a credit of the value of the print towards a larger work if that is what you would prefer. Please send photos to info(at)tammyratcliff.com. 
My husband, Chris Ahlers is offering the same contest to owners of his paintings and will award one winner a $300. credit towards a painting of their choice. We will both be drawing the winning names on Thursday November 28th, the day before our big studio Open House. 

This is a lovely photo of a somewhat orderly corner of our studio. The reality is we need to make a bit of space and would like for you to come and see what we have to get rid of. 
There will be many of the Trafalgar Building artists opening their studios on
Friday November 29th and Saturday November 30th from noon- 7pm and Sunday by appointment. 

Work In Progress

 Just some shots in the studio of works in progress.  Lots of taking things apart right now, rearranging pieces and then putting them back together in a new composition.  Having fun again and getting itchy to wipe some plates soon...

Barb Cohen installation

This Friday I am hosting an installation of work by Barb Cohen in my studio for FourthFridaysGuelph.ca.  
Please join us on Friday, November 23rd at 7-10pm in
my studio on the third floor of the Trafalgar Building, 123 Woolwich St. Guelph.
There is an elevator for those who prefer the freight elevator over the stairs (it isn't that
scary). Please email me to arrange and I will come down and meet you.

Barb with one of her installations, pleased it is all up.

this is a detail of her piece, the answer is blowing in the wind.

Studio open house and Printmaking Demos

Next weekend, many of the artists in The Trafalgar Building Studios will be participating in Culture Days.

Please check out the link for all the details and to find out about the many art events and activities going on September 24-26.