Artist's 'Open Studios'

[magic cochin]

If any of you live in or near Cambridgeshire, over the next 4 weeks you can visit some of the artist's studios which will be open to the public. There's lots more information about the 275 artists (including textile artists, jewellers, potters, printmakers as well as painters and sculptors) taking part and maps on the web site 'Cambridge Open Studios' (http://www.camopenstudios.co.uk/).

It's completely free to visit a studio and there's absolutely no obligation to buy anything (although there will some gorgeous things for sale and lots of cards and small pictures too at most studios). Some studios are in interesting buildings - every artist works in a unique studio! So don't be shy, artists spend hours working away on their own and love to see visitors and love to answer their questions. Lots of people like to look at the map and work out a route to visit 4 or 5 and have a pub lunch on the way.

If you live in a different part of the UK there may well be a similar event for your area/county.

C :D

PS my studio is No:160, it's open on 12/13th and 19/20th July. And you can explore my garden too!

[keepersdaughter]

You're in my neck of the woods Magic. Sounds really interesting. Wish I could pay you a vist. I hope you get lots of interest.

[Pippa]

We have just had Dorset Arts Weeks and I visited quite a few open studios and it is great to see the homes and gardens of the artists, besides their paintings or textiles. This event has become a really big thing in Dorset and I always stock up on cards and postcards when visiting and saw some beautiful parts of the County. Hope Cambridgeshire is as good.

[magic cochin]

I'm pleased you enjoyed visiting studios in Dorset. Cambridge Open Studios was one of the first such events, 30th anniversary last year. I first opened my studio in 2001, and although I live in a small village I still get over 100 visitors. It's interesting who turns up on the doorstep! Last year my first visitor was a lady who shares the same name! And she's now married to someone who's son I worked with in my first job!!!! I was also visited by Cottage Smallholder, she did a really nice write up about it on her blog (http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/?p=386).

Maybe I'll meet one of the RMs this year!

C :)

[lily]

We have something similar in West Devon- a friend and I visited several studios last year. A very interesting experience altho' we didn't buy very much.

[annie fenbug]

Hallo Magic - thanks so much for your post, which has led me to discover your blog, it's fantastic! You've inspired me to have another go at mine after it all ground to a halt with endless internet connection problems on my home pc.

I think we must have met at the Reach Art Fairs, and I'm doing Open Studios again myself this year - no. 103 (I'm 'a', my mother is 'b'). We're doing the 3rd and 4th weekends so although I'm quite well ahead with the work, I'm still at the 'why oh why am I putting myself through this again' stage! And trying to find the yellow flag - I know we've got two somewhere .... Still, I'm really looking forward to it; I always get a buzz from the visitors, and one good thing about being out in the sticks, if someone's made the effort to find you, you know they must be interested. I think a lot of people don't realise that often artists and makers don't get much direct feedback if they sell through galleries and shops. It's so interesting seeing what people respond to and why. I just love it when someone really 'gets' a piece, and it's just as interesting if they have a completely different take on it.

Good luck with next weekend, hopefully I'll be able to get over to see you (and your chickens) myself. Sadly we lost our one little Silkie bantam last week - she reached a good age but it does feel a lonely garden without her at the moment, despite the pigeons' best efforts to fill it.

[magic cochin]

Hi - and yes I've just twigged who you are!

Good luck to you and your Mum, hope your open days are a great success.
If you have time to venture out of the fen and up to Suffolk border country you'll be very welcome - will get the OH to put the kettle on!

C