For the second year in a row, we were thrilled to partner with Upland to bring creative energy and wellbeing to the annual Upland Made Visual Arts & Crafts Fair! Held at Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries on Saturday 2nd November and Sunday 3rd November, this year’s event featured our madeWELL creative wellbeing workshops, supported by DG Creative Wellbeing, celebrating the powerful link between making and wellness.
In collaboration with Upland, we commissioned talented artists and makers from Upland’s membership to lead an array of creative wellbeing activities for adults as part of the 2024 madeWELL program, enriching the fair with hands-on workshops that promote relaxation and mindfulness.
Launched as a pilot in 2023, madeWELL highlights the inspiring connections between creativity and mental wellbeing. Visitors to the madeWELL space enjoyed live demonstrations and immersive workshops hosted by local artists (including Art Journal Project Graduates!), all designed to offer a welcoming haven for relaxation and creativity.
Here’s a quick run-down of some of the fantastic workshops that ran over the weekend:
Surface Pattern with Elizabeth Stephenson
With Elizabeth’s guidance, participants were encouraged to fully explore their creativity by designing a unique greeting card. They were invited to experiment with a variety of expressive patterns using lines, shapes, textures and colors that conveyed emotion and individuality. By incorporating mark-making techniques, such as bold strokes, intricate dots and sweeping curves, they created a visually engaging piece that captured their personal artistic style and imagination.
Creative Photography with Kim Ayres
In this workshop, Kim guided us through the essentials of capturing images with our phone cameras. He shared his expert knowledge on creating well-composed shots by using techniques like the rule of thirds, leading lines and framing to draw the viewer’s eye to key elements. Kim also demonstrated how to make effective use of natural and artificial light, revealing how different angles, shadows and highlights can dramatically enhance mood and depth. Beyond technical skills, he emphasised the art of storytelling in photography, encouraging us to think about how each image can convey emotion, context and a sense of narrative.
Booklet Making with Martha Schofield
Martha guided us through the process of creating a one-of-a-kind A6 booklet using reused and found paper, giving new life to materials that might otherwise go to waste. She showed us how to select and prepare various paper types, such as old magazines, paper scraps and textured materials, to add personality and visual interest to each page. Martha then demonstrated mark-making techniques, encouraging us to experiment with unique patterns, lines and textures to bring out our own artistic voices on each sheet. She also showed us hand-stitched binding methods, carefully teaching us how to sew the pages together in a secure, elegant way, resulting in a beautifully bound, handmade booklet that reflected our creativity and resourcefulness.
Visual Arts & Writing with Lesley Bradley
In this workshop, Lesley skillfully used visual art as a springboard for creative writing, encouraging participants to explore the connections between imagery and words. Through guided prompts and thoughtful questions, Lesley encouraged participants to tap into their imaginations and delve into personal memories, inviting vivid descriptions and emotional responses. By the end, everyone had a unique written piece, blending visual and literary creativity.
Clay Figures with Ruth E. Jones
In this hands-on workshop, Ruth introduced us to the art of clay modeling, guiding us through each step of creating our own unique ceramic figure. She demonstrated various techniques for shaping and refining the clay, encouraging us to experiment with different forms and textures. Once our figures took shape, Ruth showed us how to enhance them with surface decoration techniques, such as carving, stamping, and adding intricate patterns. We learned how to create depth and detail by using tools to impress textures. With Ruth’s guidance, each participant brought their figure to life, crafting a piece that reflected their personal style and creativity. By the end, we each had a one-of-a-kind ceramic figure, rich with our own decorative touches and artistic expression.
Tapestry Weaving with Gyllian Thomson
In this workshop, we delved into the art of tapestry weaving under Gyllian’s expert guidance, focusing on the creative possibilities of colour and texture through yarn. Gillian introduced us to the basics of using a scaffold loom, explaining its structure and showing us how to set up the warp threads as the foundation for our weaving. She then guided us in selecting a harmonious palette of yarns, encouraging us to think about different colours and textures. Throughout the process, Gyllian encouraged us to experiment and embrace the meditative rhythm of weaving, resulting in a small, handcrafted tapestry that beautifully reflected our individual styles and newfound skills.
Watercolour Affirmations with Roslynn Hilsley
To conclude our series of workshops, we gathered with Roslynn to create a personal and reflective ‘note to self’ postcard, designed to capture a meaningful message or reminder we wanted to keep close. Roslynn encouraged us to think about what words, themes or affirmations that felt most relevant to us, helping us explore the idea of self-expression through visual art. She guided us through accessible drawing and painting techniques that allowed everyone, regardless of skill level, to convey their thoughts artistically.
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