ITS BEEN A WHILE and a long hot summer

Well it sure has been a busy summer teaching & demonstrating at woodturning clubs around the UK and even in the US, there is always production turning to be done, I even gave a talk to an art group (Art-line) in Attleborough, this was great fun and went extremely well, I cant wait o do another as the  group was very receptive to what I presented to them.

A Great But Sad Trip to the US
It was a huge privilege to demonstrate at the Utah woodturning Symposium and stay with Dale and Sharon Nish but it was with great sadness we learnt of Dales death a few days after our return from the US, this is a great loss to the world of woodturning and one I feel sure many do not fully understand as Dale did so much to bring woodturning into the wider world to share with everyone, I hope I sill have his passion for wood and Turning when I get to the age Dale was.

As some of you may be  aware I have had a break from writing for the Woodturning magazine and am beginning to get itchy feet to create some new articles, but I am also starting to think/ work seriously on my next book, as the first seems to have been so well received, and I have more ideas that I want to share with everyone.
I have some very clear ideas but I am going to keep them to myself for now, I am really looking forward to a productive time ahead over  the winter months.
 I know I have said this before and I really must try to post more frequently as I know there are many of you  following my blog.
Check back soon as I will endeavour to do so. Now I have a new computer to work on it seems to be so mush easier now it is not driven/powered by water I did think for some considerable time it was steam but it turned out to be running with slow moving water!!
Maybe next time I will post some images of what I have been doing.    

March/April update.

Febuary

Was busy with production turning and teaching and soon disappeared.

March.

3mm natural edge Holly





Rough turned Spalted Beech Vessels.



Lots of teaching this month and a fair bit of turning and a reasonable amount of production spindles from various clients, it has been a good mix to create the diversity I really enjoy. I have rough turned some spalted beech vessels. I was also fortunate enough to obtain some very fresh Holly which is always such great fun, turning it to a very thin wall thickness (around 2-3mm) leaving its natural edge and allowing it to move as it dries. It is always challenging to say the least, at times frustrating but it is always Fun and helps refine/hone ones tool control and understandings of how a tool actually performs.

Norwich Urban Sketchers.

I did manage to get out sketching and painting a bit but to be honest it has been to cold and damp for me I did get to the Norwich Urban sketchers gathering at the Castle Mall on Sun Feb 24th . This gave me an opportunity to sketch people on the move, the speed that you need to work to catch the movement is amazing and teaches much, trying to sketch figures climbing the stairs was fun and not as easy as one first imagines, but there was lots to draw it was a fun afternoon getting the chance to meet with other like minded folk to draw, chat and drink Hot Chocolate. Unfortunately I missed the gathering at the Norwich Cathedral due to prior commitments, it must have been great with all those architectural details to sketch maybe I will get there another day. I

Planning for next year 2014.
I am currently planning a trip to Scotland next year demonstrating at a number of clubs this is an area we rarely get to. This is something I am looking forward to, I would also like to include days of tuition during this trip, if you are interested in a Demo or tuition please contact me at: nickarnull@hotmail.co.uk

This is a great opportunity for the clubs in this area as I am planning on dividing the costs for mileage amongst those involved, this will make it affordable for everyone until we have a route planned it is difficult to give a final cost if you are interested in making a booking then please do not hesitate to contact me at: nickarnull@hotmail.co.uk

A trip like this takes a great deal of organisation putting together the route but also the accommodation required I often stay with club members spending time with them sharing experiences and knowledge, one thing I simply love when invited to do so is seeing other peoples workshops it’s a privilege to see were others work and it is amazing what can be learnt doing this, its unbelievable what everyone gets up to in there private spaces.

April 



As we enter April I am earnestly creating new work to take with me when I travel to the Utah symposium in May.



A small Tease.


You can see a tease of some of the pieces I am working on in the images in this blog post I will also post some work in progress images during the coming weeks on my face book page,( if you are not a follower please subscribe) this period is often frantic with long days the time is on occasions fraught with frustrations but it is always worth the effort when creating new and exciting pieces that evolve as they progress each time I make them.

It's no longer January!!

It’s always great to see the back of January with its cold short days and weather that most of us would rather be without. This January had its fair share of snow and ice when it is simply too miserable to spend too much time in the workshop, I usually dedicate this time to my second passion drawing and painting. This year I had a different plan late last year while preparing some timber for another project I had a number of off cuts that were simply too good to discard this presented me with the ideal opportunity to make my own watercolour box, using the figured Ash I had. The image shows the finished box ready for pigment to be added I must admit I am really looking forward to adding my watercolours and using this over the coming years. 

Figured Ash Watercolour box



I have also during this period made myself a Pochade box. This is an all in one design with storage and an easel for working En plien air, this project is another that I had been thinking of making for some time and I must say at present I am very pleased with the result, although I feel sure it will evolve over time and perhaps this is but the first I will make. The Box is made from pallet wood and recycled plywood the only cost has been for the fittings, all timber was entirely free using a contemporary term it is an up-cycled Pochade Box!

The box lid has an added box which holds spare and wet panels it attaches to the lid of the box which double as the easel, the base of the box has a large are to store brushes, paint and mediums on the underside it has an adaptor plate mounted this  allows it to be mounted onto a tripod,

 The lid when open creates the easel where I mount the boards to paint; everything I need is carried inside the box. This is something I have really enjoyed making as it is so different to the work I normally undertake.



My upcycled Pochade box.



My first trip out before the January snow arrived.



 

This is a group of trees close to my home that I keep returning to paint.close to Norwich airport.

My year usually starts slowly this year seems to have been be a little different I have already had a good deal of teaching and production work to do and boy was it cold in the spindle production workshop. I am currently focusing on new work as I have several exhibitions ahead of me this year and I like to present new pieces for these events. I am hoping to post some work in progress images here so check back from time to time.

New Year update

Well it has been a while since I updated my blog, life just seems to get in the way, Last year was consantly busy,  I also took part in a number of exhibitions at the later part of 2012 which was demanding but fun and rewarding, when adding to an already hectic mix of teaching, production work and writing, there was little spare time.


This year 2013 is beginning to appear as though it could be yet another busy year; I will be travelling to America and France, I will need some new work to exhibit, so I will need to spend a great deal of time developing new ideas..

I have numerous demonstrations booked here in the UK which is always great fun but also at times hard work. I must admit to enjoying the varied mix that I have with what I do and how I work.

As I feel sure you will appreciate this all requires quite a bit of planning/juggling to maintain an even balance, and it is something that never gets easier, the hardest part is fitting time off into this mix without guilt and this does require some determination and commitment to achieve, as a result I am determined to find time for my 2-D Art Drawing, Painting and sketching. This is becoming more pressing as I get older. Like anything that you wish to do well with it requires time to develop and evolve, I must admit I find the break from the workshop refreshing and at times rewarding, next Sunday I will be at the Sainsbury centre meeting up with the Norwich Urban Sketching group which only formed here in Norwich at the end of last year, this should be a fun day out meeting and chatting to other artists, we all spend far to much time working in isolation.

Something I have and will always enjoy is travelling in varied seasons, throughout the year, I am currently planning a trip to France using the Channel Tunnel this will allow me to carry whatever kit I require for the trip, unlike when using the airlines with all the frustrations and limitations.



Check back for updates during the year, I will try to post more regularly as the year is looking like it could be somewhat diverse and interesting.

Victoria's Graduation Day

Graduation at Bath Spa University.

Friday we travelled to Bath for Victoria’s Graduation this is the conclusion for her after three years full time study at Bath Spa University where she achieved a 2:1 degree. This means she now has a BA with honours for music more letters to add after her name!
Victoria has studied and loved to play music since she was about 7 years old.
Now she is home in Norfolk the real work begins finding a job and continuing to create and share her music through teaching and performance, I’m not sure if she realizes the real learning is only just beginning it will be interesting to watch and support as she continues to develop and grow, she will need to make important decisions along the way, some I am sure will be good ones, while others may well become regrets! but this is all part of the learning and growing that the University education cannot teach.
Jane and I are both extremely proud of Victoria; Jane at times during the day even had tears in her eyes as the day unfolded.
Congratulations Victoria or should I say, "Little one"

Here she shaking the hand of Mr Joe Bennett, Dean for the School of Music and Performing Arts.

A group shot with one of her tutors:

Prof James Saunders and some fellow students from her composition group.

Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios 2012

Norfolk and Norwich Open Studios is here againToday was the first day and I havelopened my workshop/studio and gallery to the public.
If you have never taken part in this event this is great opportunity to travel around the county of Norfolk looking at Artists studios their work, and where they create it.
To find out more visit the website.
www.nnfestival.org.uk/openstudios
My workshop/ Studio. Will be open
From 10:00- 17:00hrs
During the weekends of:
May 26, 27.
June 2, 3, 4, 5. and 9,10.

I look forward to seeing you during the event.

Happy February

Having had the flu and starting to feel better I felt it was time to give you all a brief update.
I had a slow start to the year the book Contemporary Woodturning. Techniques and Projects is finally finished so now I can move on from that project, it certainly took some serious commitment to complete, all I have to do now is wait for the printed copies to arrive this should be late May/June fingers crossed.
January was unusually busy and work is steadily gathering pace after a good start.
I have decided to take part in the NNOS(Norfolk and Norwich Open studios) event this year this takes place in May/June.
Hopefully I will see lots of you here in my workshop/studio, I am also taking part in several exhibitions throughout the year.

The first of which is at One Church Street Gallery Great Missenden this runs Feb 8th until March 10th 2012.
Others to follow include The (NCCS) Norfolk contemporary Craft Society exhibition in October celebrating their 40th Anniversary.
The Wizardry in Wood Exhibition in October.
Im sure there are others but cannot think of them just now.

I have the usual round of club demonstrations throughout the year as well as production turning/teaching to keep me busy when not writing further articles for GMC publications these articles have a 20 working day turnover so time has to constantly be managed carefully to fit everything into the schedule. We live by the wall planner and diary and commit to nothing before their consultation.

A question was recently asked on another blog that I follow “What is your time worth” My answer is simple: more than it used to be. As costs continue to escalate, so does the rate for my time.

After all every time my van is serviced it costs more each time, as do the parts used to maintain and make needed repairs.

Finally a rather belated Happy New Year to one and all. I hope to see some of you throughout the year.