Vanessa Stone Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom
I am an artist & illustrator using papercutting, collage and drawing to make detailed hand made works that are an emotional response to the places, spaces and cultural heritage that is closest to my heart and have personal resonances to me. The process of making is at the heart of my work and I share this passion by facilitating collective art events and workshops for adults.
Cut Paper Collages: Buildings and the natural landscape have long fascinated me because of their power to make us feel connected and grounded. These silent witnesses to our lives are ever present and I choose to interact with them through the meditative processes drawing en plein air and collage making in my studio. Being totally present in the making is a powerful sensation. It makes these pieces time machines - taking me back to the exact place and feeling when I saw what I saw. I abstract and pare down, so that the essence of that place, that flower, that field is captured.
Coffee Shops & Interiors : Started in response to my need to be alone in the hours when I wasn't doing the artist in residence at the National Civil War Centre, these drawings were quiet reflections made in cafes and interiors. Intended originally only for me - I gave myself the space to simply be present and draw in an interior. I am slowly taking them out of the sketchbook space: exploring new versions made on recycled packaging surfaces so that they become a real entity and engage the viewer into interpreting the narrative of the scene captured.
Workshops/Drawing Club: A significant part of my working life is delivering enriching workshops for adults and participatory fabric banner events that engage all ages and abilities. I share my passion for the joy of papercutting and collage making during the workshops and I regularly run a Still Life Drawing Club to encourage adults to find their own creative voice through observational drawing and also a sense of connecting with other like minded people.
Artwork
Always Remember How Blue The Sky Was, Papercut, 2024
The Blue Chair, Mixed media drawing on recycled packaging, 2024
The Swans in the Blue Water, Cut Paper Collage, 2024
Projects and exhibitions
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Southwell Workhouse Bicentenary Banner20/07/2024 This was a one day participatory art event to celebrate the bicentenary of the historic Southwell Workhouse. I made a line drawing of the Workhouse and had it digitally printed up as a 3 metre banner. Using highly pigmented fabric pens, visitors of all ages were invited to fill in the line drawing with colours, patterns, animals and people.... [Read more] |
Southwell Workhouse, Southwell, Nottinghamshire | Details |
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Open Doors - Artist in Residence07/10/2023 — 31/03/2024 This was a six month commission to be the Artist in Residence at the National Civil War Centre. During the six months I made pieces that directly responded to objects I hand picked from the museum collection which related to identity, the Civil War and the cultural history of Newark on Trent. I ran many interactive creative workshops in Half... [Read more] |
National Civil War Centre, Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire | Details |