Hellooooo lovely people. I have now finished editing my Redbubble shop and it is LIVE.
www.redbubble.com/people/auntietracey/shop? There are currently 25 of my photographs which are either photographs of my mixed media work, or a photograph itself. You can have any of these photographs on a wide range of items including: tshirts hoodies household posters greeting cards badges bags ...... and more If you see a photograph that you love and it isn't showing as available on a particular style of t-shirt, MESSAGE ME and I will try my best to make it happen It goes without saying if you have any queries or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me Tracey
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I am excited to announce that my Etsy shop is now up and running and currently stocked with postcards of a selection of my photographs. The postcards are A6 in size and printed on Silk paper stock. They can be purchased as singles or you can buy a pack of 6.
Why don't you go and have a little look.... there's no charge for looking !! Please do feel free to share this link with your friends .... https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TraceyHarrisArt Another year has flown by; another decade infact. It seems only yesterday we were waiting with bated breath to see what would happen when we hit the year 2000 and now we're entering 2020. This year I have been creating quietly in Tutbury, through either photography or print making. I've thoroughly enjoyed getting out and taking photographs, it really takes me out of me. For the second year also, I created a calendar of my own photographs. Next year, I shall be printing copies for sale. I started sending my photographs to my housing association landlord who produced a calendar every year for their tenants, and for about 3 years my photographs were selected to go in said calendars. When I was working as a carer in community, I remember the day I walked into a client's home and saw my photograph on the wall courtesy of my housing association. Last year and this I have printed them for gifts to friends; last year it was a4 size, this year I went to A3. As an experiment I bought vouchers from Groupon to see what the quality was like. I have also researched and received samples of professional printers and have found one whose quality and price I like. I've enjoyed taking photographs of food this year again, from jelly, to quiche crusts and avocados and icecream! The textures just grab me; there's no planning. The earlier part of the year, I entered some work into a postcard exhibition, The Art of Caring, run by The Arts Project and exhibited at St Pancras Hospital. All work submitted is accepted and printed onto postcards. I submitted three pieces. The exhibition organisers suggested I might want to enter to have the actual art works going into the next exhibition following on from the postcard one, So, I did submit them, and they were accepted. Unfortunately I couldn't get down to London to see them being exhibited. However, the organisers asked if I would like the same work to go in the next exhibition which was GENTLY EXPLOSIVE ARTS OF YARN BOMBING. I didn't need asking twice. I am thrilled to report I am going down to London on 10th January for the last day of the exhibition, where there will be a film about the making of the exhibition, and where I will get to meet other artists and the organisers. I was also was told yesterday I have sold one of my pieces of work. I also created a website for someone who helped me to get a car when I needed one back in March this year. I do love creating websites. They're very basic but I enjoy the challenge of planning and organising and publishing. It feels like an achievement and if the owner's expectations are exceeded, then that's a bonus! So, what's planned for 2020? A calendar as discussed above, and entering more work for exhibitions. My work I feel fits into the arts therapy arena, so I will be searching out more of those. I'll be continuing with the photography. And exhibitions. those fabulous things that inspire me: I need to get visiting far more exhibitions as there's nothing like seeing other artists' work to excite me. I'm still working 3 days a week to keep me afloat, but this coming year I would like to make a profit through either the selling of my work, or through the Creative Companion service I offer, which I've not really pushed or advertised. Exciting times ahead, pushing through the fear and procrastination that has robbed a lot of my time. It's time to change that. I've put a few of my favourite photographs below from this year. Enjoy. I am surprised to see that it's almost a year since my last post (mortified infact!). I was in a job that I was given "opportunities for growth" and I grew the most when I left! I am now happily settled into a new job. In that year I was privileged to join Midland Textile Forum, which is a Midlands based group of textile artists. I was part of the exhibition we had at Nicholson Institute in Leek and was thrilled this week to discover I sold my first piece of work! The theme of our exhibition for 2019 is Genetics. Next year is the centenary of genetics so I am looknig forward to researching this and deciding what angle to work from. We are currently sourcing exhibitions venues at which to hold the exhibition. I have been taking photographs all summer (and winter), featuring landscapes, birds and canines and not so many cows this year. I was fortunate to spend a few months walking a black labrador so he took me around the local fields and beyond .... some of my favourite photographs are below. Following 5 days of deliberation I today placed an order for some new art materials including fabric paints, procion dye kit, Mod Roc, Expandit (which is the same as Puff Binder which expands under heat) so i'm looking forward to getting stuck in to some new experiments. The materials are all things I've used previously, but only briefly, and I have wanted for ages to use them again so come on Postman Pat ..... Tracey So, the nights are drawing in already so my days of photographing the sunset on Hanbury Hill on the way home from work are nearly done ... for this summer anyway....
It's been a busy summer with starting a new job in May, getting into a routine so that I can now use the not so busy week at work which is every other week to progress my creative work. You may remember I started last summer work on a large canvas and it's been slowly progressing. I have now started to machine stitch the 'people' and more detail into the work. Some before and after photos below. It's been a few months since my last post and I am working on a few different projects: The Great British Buffet, Perception and an untitled project about our older generation.
The Great British Buffet is a photographic project looking at buffets. For years, I've been eating buffets on Boxing Day, birthdays, work lunches.... and I have been collating photographs of these very British feasts. Perception is a follow on from my graduate exhibition The Perpetual Child. Looking at how perception of experiences can change as we grow older and change. This large canvas piece has been on going since last summer. Another project (untitled as yet) focuses on older people. Since I was a young child I have had an affinity with the older generation. At school in the final year I visited an elderly lady and I am still visiting elderly people! only now, i'm an older lady! Whilst working in the care industry when studying for my degree, clients would talk about their lives and I would envisage an art work of what they were telling me. I created a series of pillow cases telling some of the stories and this new project is a continuation of that theme, on a larger scale. I have struck up a friendship with a lady who shares many stories about her life and two images struck me: the yellow cup and saucer and Thorpe Cloud..... I have also started to work for an event management company and yesterday was the first event: Eroica Britannia 2017 (vintage cycling festival) held in Derbyshire. It was a fantastic opportunity to get my camera out so take a peek at the photographs. As well, I am working in the care environment again so I will have plenty of 'original material' to work with. I have also made some some tweaks to my website so any feedback is welcome. If you find a link that doesn't work, please tell me. I have checked and double checked ...... come back soon for more updates.... So, the dark nights are here, but there's been some beautiful sunshine during the days recently... great light for photographs. Have captured a few great shots of Bruno, and damaged my camera in the process (it's not waterproof!).
I have been to see a residential village locally about becoming their craft volunteer starting in January which I'm excited about and looking forward to trying out some of my ideas for workshops. I have also started the process of becoming self employed..... which is a very daunting prospect. Financially, I just want to go get a 'proper' job with a regular income ... but only for financial reasons. My heart would not be in it though and I know this is the right path for me... I have to give it a go. I have for a few years had a few goals and i'm moving towards achieving those goals.... great you might think... but then I want to run for the hills.... what if I don't like my goals once I've achieved them? Worse still, what if I actually enjoy them whoooaaa ...mindblowing (chuckling to self here !!). I have added some photographs to my site. Don't forget they are for sale. I get them professionally printed, but i don't frame or mount them as this increases the cost too much and also framing is such a personal thing. Please contact me for prices and sizes via my contact page. I went to People Express again yesterday in Swadlincote which was great. The Big Welcome Cafe (http://www.people-express.org.uk/the-big-welcome-cafe-relaunch/) is open there Thursdays 3.30 to 5.30 for Swadlincote Aspergers Society. I took part in the workshop run by Jen Johnson from Kashmir Arts (http://www.kashmir-arts.co.uk/) for weaving and some people were finger knitting as well. Everything made is going to be 'yarn bombed' at Oaklands Village in a couple of weeks time. Am so excited about this, as I've never yarn bombed. I think that's all for now. Don't forget to check out my photographs. Remember as well that they can be put onto other items as well such as mugs, t-shirts, bags, phone covers.... On Saturday 22nd October I volunteered at the Longbridge Light Festival in Longbridge, Birmingham, the site of the former car factory. I was lucky enough to work alongside 3 artists under the name of Make/Shift/Space who had a 'production line' for participants to make a 'Longbridge Viewer'. With archive photographs of Longbridge and its residents, and absolutely tons of what most people would deem as 'rubbish', children built their very own viewer. Cardboard tubes, plastic tubes, corrugated card were embellished with thick red/yellow/white/black tape, together with items such as plastic caps, sticky back plastic, rubber and a lens through which to view the photographs. I was in my element as the type of items used were what I have been buying from Derby Play and Recycling Centre so I have now seen first hand (and been part of) how this stuff can be used. I enjoyed working with and interacting with the children and their respective adults; I was reminded of myself when some little ones waited patiently to be told what the project was about and what they had to do. I relate to much to those little people, which is wonderful. I am them still (just in the body of a 48 3/4 year old!) which is why I can do this stuff quite happily. It's the first time i've worked alongside artists away from Uni - Clare Hickey and Emily Warner and Gavin Rogers. They were all lovely and encouraging. Gavin gave me a packet of Snaps, a mini milky way and a kit kat and satsuma for my journey home!! He clearly knew I like my food:-) @makeshiftspace @emilykwarner @clairemhickey. @Gavin_J_R I can't believe it's been two months since my last post....
I had the opportunity to go a workshop at People Express in Swadlincote and I loved it. First workshop i've done since leaving Uni. It was a tie dye session with Kashmir Arts. It was my first time at People Express and it's a lovely, friendly, relaxing place so I shall hopefully be returning very soon to do more. I am also volunteering at the Longbridge Light Festival in Birmingham. Longbridge was famous for its car factories which are no longer there ..... instead brand new houses and a shopping development and Bournville College are there (amongst other things). The light festival is part of a 5 year art project on the site. The festival is on 22nd October starting at 6 pm and it's totally free. There are workshops, artwork and a roller disco. https://www.facebook.com/LPAP-1455782384658275/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED. Have had a further clear out of my creative space (aka my spare room). Sold a few items that I'll probably not use again and have more space and last night put the room in such a state that I can now work in there again and more importantly I want to be in there now it's clear!!. I want to get the expanding foam out again.... I did some sketches which i have already shared and they have been put onto fabric but a couple of them I want as sculptural pieces. They will be larger than the 'monster babies' (aka The Perpetual Child'). Watch this space.... The self employment direction is gathering momentum with an application for New Enterprise Allowance. If I'm successful in getting this, it will help pay for things such as subscription to a-n. This site specifically for artists has the added bonus of providing insurance for the artist i.e. me, and also has jobs advertised in creative industries. When i was at Uni, my goal and fantasy of not going to work 9 to 5 but instead, having part time jobs and creating art work is becoming real. And I don't like reality !! It means I have to budget, be responsible and turn up each day. But it's ok, scary some days, but i've looked for jobs over the last few months but my heart is just not in them. So I know this is the right to be doing. And part time work is on the horizon..... dog sitting/walking, being one of Santa's elves in a shopping centre near you(!), maybe a play worker. Whilst out cycling this week I passed a bungalow that was being done up and propped up against the wall was an old yellow door. Now, I have a thing about doors; I observe them and often photograph them but as yet done nothing with them. I so wanted to ask for that yellow door but I was on my bike... I may pop down tomorrow and see it it's still there. I have been out and about with my camera and have taken a few photographs ... they won't win awards but I love them. I have some exciting news.... this week I set up a selling page on Redbubble.com. Using a few of my favourite photographs that I have taken over the last few years, you can now purchase items such as cushion cover, framed photograph or even a t-shirt with my images of them.
If you want to have a look click on the button below . |
Author2016 graduate from University of Derby with a BA (Hons) Fine Art. Archives
October 2021
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