Julie Blaney & Simon Stephens

23 July to 3 Aug 11am to 5pm

An interactive exhibition by Julie Blaney and Simon Stephens around the theme of dreams with Free drop-in sessions & Bookable Workshops. Exhibition Celebration Day on Saturday 3 August - come and see our dream creations

 

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” Vincent Van Gogh

Everyone dreams. They could be the soothing, wonderful, outrageous daydreams that distract us from our waking reality or the strange, unconscious, nonsensical stream of thoughts we have while we sleep. Join artists Simon Stephens and Julie Blaney for this fun, interactive, imaginative & engaging exhibition looking at the theme of dreams.

As well as displaying our latest work we will be in the gallery creating art during the exhibition along with everyone who visits and celebrating this work on the last day. This will include free drop in sessions and bookable workshops including watercolours, drawing, silk painting, model making and more. We invite you all to drop in and create dreams with us!

Workshops: 

Wed 24th 2 to 4pm | Sat 27th July, 2 to 4pm Watercolour Workshops

Thurs 25 July, 2 to 4pm: Customise your own bunny light
Let your imagination run wild as you decorate your very own bunny-shaped light and create a one-of-a-kind piece for your home. Fun for all ages. £5 includes materials. For details and to book, visit Eventbrite HERE

Fri 26 July, 2 to 4pm: Paper lantern workshop 

A fun and creative paper lantern workshop where you can learn to make beautiful lanterns to lights. This hands-on event is perfect for all ages and skill levels £5 includes materials. For details and to book visit Eventbrite HERE

Thurs 1 Aug, 2 to 4pm: relaxing Silk painting workshop 

Join us for a chilled-out silk painting workshop where you can relax, unwind, and let your creativity flow freely! Learn a new skill, make new friends and enjoy a peaceful afternoon of painting on silk. £20 includes materials. For details and to book visit Eventbrite HERE

Fri 2 Aug 2 to 4pm: Magical Moving Monsters workhop 

Learn how to create your own magical moving monsters at our fun workshop, family fun £5. For details and to book visit Eventbrite HERE

 

Simon Robin Stephens is an accomplished artist based in Sutton, UK, known for his vibrant watercolor paintings. His works often capture the beauty of local landscapes, nature, and scenes from various places such as Carshalton, Cheam, Ewell, and beyond. Simon's artistic journey is characterized by a passion for bringing ordinary scenes to life with extraordinary detail and color. He regularly participates in art events, such as the Carshalton Artists Open Studios. His art is available for purchase through his website.

For more information, visit simonrobinstephensart.co.uk.

 

Julie Blaney I have always been interested in the quirky side of life and love to reflect this in my work. Taking influences from pop culture I use a wide variety of materials to create my colourful, eye catching work. I enjoy learning new techniques & experimenting to create unique works. I have always been interested in community art and have run various projects over the years. Comedy in all forms is also a big influence on me and if I can make the viewer smile with my art I feel my job is done! @julieblaney

 

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Artist in Residence 2024

Michelle Baharier

6 to 31 August 

Tuesdays to Fridays from 11am to 5pm. The work will be open to view on Saturdays 

Michelle Baharier is Sprout’s 2024 Artist in Residence. She is a critically acclaimed Fine Artist with a passion for colour and people, and her art features expressive portraits that tell stories. She is dyslexic and her artistic practice is strongly influenced by her lived experience of disability, resulting in participatory art and performative events. Michelle brings over forty years of expertise in facilitating workshops, and curating exhibitions. She is also a performance artist in spoken word, poetry, photography, phone drawings, and digital/video collages and her work can be found in private collections, the Tate Modern archive and the London Transport Museum, and her poetry is in the British Library, various magazines and blogs. She is currently commissioned to work with Equality Works and London Transport Museum, creating work that explores people with disability in the work place, which she will continue working on during her residency. 

Michelle will also be working to create a Community Portrait, inviting local families, neighbours and social groups to participate in creating a special collage by sharing their photos, images and ideas. There will also be fun interactive activities, portrait opportunities, workshops and talks. supported by portrait artist Sonia Thomas and Anna-Maria Amato who is a fine artist, curator and writer.

@bahariermichelle

Details of workshops and Eventbrite links HERE

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Week 1

Michelle Baharier will bring the portraitures that she is producing for the London Transport Museum and will be working on them during the residency. She will be creating a Community Portrait Collage in the window which everyone is invited to contribute to throughout the residency - please bring A4 photographs, drawings or paintings of local landmarks, streets and portraits, between 6th to 15^th August - they will be added to the collage in the window.

Charcoal portrait sketches for £10 by either Michelle or Anna Maria - book your 10-minute slot, limited availabity (portrait commissions available from either Artist: acrylic painting 16 x 12 inches at £530 or Oils £950).

Peep-Boards: Michelle Baharier and Anna-Maria.Amato will start preparing fun interactive photo stand-ins (also called a face-in-the-hole board, photo cut-out board and Peep-Board) which is a large board with an image printed on it - with holes cut out where people can stick their face through, creating a different identity and/or humorous effect. We can take a photo (suggested £5 donation), available as a digital copy. Images may also be added to the window display. 

Peep up as: Super-model Naomi Campbell; Sir Henry Tate who founded The Tate Art Gallery; Henry Robertson Bowers one of Scott of the Antaric's ill-fated 1913 polar party; Frida Kahlos who spent her life painting her own portraits. There will other Photo stand-in’s as the project continues. 

Fri 9 August, 2:30 to 4pm - Pen Portrait Workshop: With Sonia Thomas

This writing workshop is a safe, creative and fun space to try out different ways to write, whether you are interested in beginning creative writing, further developing your writing skills, or if you would like to write something to celebrate a friend, or loved one, or produce a self-portrait in words. Using gentle and playful prompts you will be encouraged to bring out your own voice and style, and to get your ideas and words flowing.

The session will be led by Sonia Thomas, a teacher and a practising visual artist, with over 30 years of experience in teaching literature and creative writing. The workshop is for those over the age of 16. Maximum 10 participants. £15 per person - book your place in Sprout

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Week 2: 

Michelle will continue working on the Furzedown Community Portrait collage and the Photo Stand-in/Peep-Board. Donations of £5 and above to join in and get their photo taken. 

Tuesday 13 Aug, 1:30-3pm: The Portrait Collage Workshop: with Michelle Baharier 

Create an imaginary portrait using paper collages. Think about symbolisms to show who it is you are making, you can create a portrait of any person or even an animal. Learn about shapes, colour tearing, and just having fun. Michelle can show how she doodles on her phone and combines paint with collage. This is open to any age (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult). £20 per adult and £10 per child under 18, (people on limited income £15 adult/£5 per child) led by. Pay on Eventbright HERE (includes their fee) or pay on the door but please do this in advance as very limited space 

 

Wed 14 Aug, 4:30 to 5:30pm. Women in the Frame talk by Michelle Baharier: 

A talk about women artists, looking at self portraits and portraits from history and at the role portraits played in the work of women artists across different art movements. Focusing on artists such as Sofonisba Anguissola, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Judith Leyster, who presented themselves with confidence, asserted and promoted themselves in eras when society rarely deemed that appropriate for women. 

This Talk, will lead on to informal discussions, allowing questions and answers, Michelle will facilitate the group, with their own learning and sharing of knowledge.  £12 (£10 on limited incomes) 15 people max. Pay in advance at the gallery. Includes a glass of wine or Juice and some delicious gluten free cakes - Orange and ginger and a vegan Lemon drizzle cake. Book on Eventbrite HERE (£13.70 with their fee)

Thurs 15 Aug, 5-7pm: ‘Book Stories’ Workshop: with Anna-Maria Amato

A special Workshop, which explores the connections between our inner narrative and our environment. This art workshop will be a chance to illustrate our world and explore our stories. The workshop will involve looking at artists’ work, authors’ stories, our own art and stories and considering how we find these in the ordinary-or extraordinary of our lives. 

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Week 3

Michelle will continue working on the Furzedown Community Collage and the Photo Stand-in/Peep-Board. Donations of £5 and above to join in and get their photo taken. 

Tues 20 Aug, 2-4pm: Pablo Ruiz Picasso Portraits – Join in a fun workshop looking at the work of Picasso, and create your own portrait Look at how Picasso turned the world of portraiture upside down and then have a go, using a range of materials, including collage. Make your mark with a piece of work you can take home. £20 all children must be acompined by an adult. 

 

Friday 23 Aug, 1-3pm: Cut-Out Poetry Workshop:  

In this 2 hour Workshop we’ll be using cut out words we will describe ourselves, creating fun poetry and share a reading to each other. Led by Michelle Baharier £10/£5 donation fee

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Week 4

Michelle and Anna-Maria will be working in the gallery throughout the week. The completed Furzedown Community Collage will be on display with the final Photo Stand-in/Peep-Boards. Donations of £5 to get their photo taken. 

Wednesday 28 Aug, 5-8pm: Community party celebration Celebratory end of show party event and exhibition, reviewing and enjoying all the work done and trying out the activities, with refreshments as a thank you for everyone who has taken part

 

 

 

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