It looks like work has finally started on the studio building! The contractors were busy last week and the scaffolding is being put up. Despite the freezing cold we had a great turnout at the last session and have had a couple of new artists joining us over the last few weeks.

Above is a photo of the studio and an Autumn picture of leaves by Zubin & Matt.

It has been a while since the last update and quite a lot has happened. The exhibition at St James church was a big success and we nearly sold out of merchandise. We had a lot of interest from members of the local community who were keen to find out what we did and wanted to know more about the animal centre.

 

The budgie banner is complete and at the printers, we have a batch of Christmas cards in production and the artists have also been preparing designs for a Mencap Christmas card competition. Unfortunately we found out our application for art council funding was unsuccessful, but there are some other options for funding we are looking at and we still have enough funds to continue voluntary sessions into the New Year.

October's exhibition

Next week (Saturday the 23rd October) the BLP Art Collective will be exhibiting at the West Ealing family fun day. We will be based in St James church on Leeland terrace from 9 till 4 and we will be exhibiting artwork that has been created at the sessions based in the animal centre alongside work from personal portfolios.

 

The group has been busy working on another banner - this time for the new budgerigar enclosure at the animal centre. We also have some fantastic designs for Christmas and greetings cards including the robin by Keith, children opening presents by Hope and a christmas tree sketch by Michael. Vincent has been focusing on some Halloween inspired designs including this one of bats.

Bags and banners!

Here are the artists at work, our 4 rucksack designs, and the finished banner (as modelled by Hope and Shadrock).

 

The rucksacks cost £3.60 from the MarketCraft stall at Acton Market or £3.30 from Brent Lodge Park.

 

We created the banner at cost price for the animal centre as we are using their classroom for free, but if you want to commission a banner, flyers or a display designed by the Art Collective, let us know and we will offer a very competitive price!

Community Garden banner design

Here is the design for the banner advertising the new community garden in the animal centre. The background and the figures and vegetables in the foreground were painted by artists involved in the collective. 4 designs were put together using Photoshop and this was the design that was chosen by the group.

 

The collective has also had another donation - Jeremy Khan has kindly donated a batch of canvas stretchers which the artists will hopefully use to make their own canvases. Thanks Jeremy!

Vegetable garden project

The animal centre has recently opened a new vegetable garden and the art collective were asked to design a banner to advertise it. These designs are to be used in the banner:

Marrow by Sukhi, Plants by Keith, Leek by Zubin and Matt, Beetroot by Hope, Chilli by Matt, Children playing by Hope.

Paintings and mosaics

Butterflies on the beach by Zubin & Matt, Locust by John, Peacock feather mosaic by Sukhi and Hope, Bishop's weaver by Keith, Bishop's weaver by Hope, Love birds mosaic by Sukhi and Hope

New paintings!

Recent new paintings by art collective members:

 

Budgerigar by Keith, Provost's squirrel by Matt, Red masked cornure by Lynda, Love birds by Berge, Duck by Keith, Trees by Keith, Red masked cornures by John

More Artwork!

Some more designs that could be used for merchandise.
 

A dwarf Mongoose by Gemma, Pheasant by Keith, Sacred Ibis by Hope, another Sacred Ibis by Sarah and a random selection of animals by me!

 

Matthew Coulam

 

Presentation at the South American Aviary opening

A small exhibition of artist's work and a display of info about what we have
been up to.

Matt

The art collective's new banner!

Now visitors to the animal centre will know what we are up to in the classroom!

 

Matt

More photos from the art sessions at Brent Lodge Park.

 

Our first batch of environmentally friendly canvas bags with artist's designs is at the printers and should be with us in a week!

June update

Over the last month the artists have been really busy. Above are some great paintings by Keith (the BLP logo and pheasant), Hope (the mongoose) and Sukhi (the Mara). We also finally completed the sign which will hang outside the new studio when it is renovated. We plan to use some of these designs for merchandise - canvas bags, postcards etc. and sell some of them on a stall at Acton market. We also have small exhibitions planned to coincide with the opening of the new aviaries in Brent Lodge Park on the 17th July and at the end of the Summer.

We have had confirmation that the heritage assessment on the new studio has been approved and the contractors are now finally starting work on renovating the building.

There are some pretty exciting new projects starting too. Sukhi and Sarah have started work on a totem pole, Berge has nearly completed a painting of some lovebirds and we have lots of new art materials including a fantastic donation of paper, wood and textiles from Barbara Robinson - Thanks Barbara!