I’ve been working with feathers again and taking impressions onto a very fine Japanese paper called Maruishi, beautiful paper. The intention is to build an image in layers. I’m making use of paper stencils in the work as well, for instance, a circle, a ripple, a wrought iron gate and images of birds in flight. This is one of the cut paper stencils and I love the way the feathers leave an impression on the birds. This is the bit that gets thrown away! Here are the colours rolled out ready for inking the feathers: turquoise, dark violet and black.

I spent the day at Tate Britain today, with my daughter who is studying the Pre-Raphaelites. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood is not my favourite group of artists but it’s interesting to look closely at something that you might not otherwise have made the time for! This is ‘The Lady of Shalott’, 1888, by John William Waterhouse. Although the overall impression is one of great detail, the brushwork is actually quite loose, as you can see from these details.

Also saw an impressive new installation by Cerith Wyn Evans: ‘Forms in Space… By Light (in Time)’. It has given me some ideas for new work!

Good to have Sheila, Julia and Lesley in the studio today, making monoprints from natural objects. Here is one of Sheila's prints, first and last stage.

I went along to the opening of the new exhibition at Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold, this evening – I have five pieces in this show, which is selection of work by artists who took part in Helfa Gelf Open Studios last year. I was pleased to have an image of my work on the invitation. The title of this piece is ‘Their Edges Disintegrating into Dust’, which is a phrase taken from my mother’s writing. The image is also taken from her writing, her handwriting, a fragment of the word ‘edges’.

More beautiful birds produced today, this time by members of Flintshire‘s Criw Celf Group 3, at Deeside Leisure Centre. Wonderful work! What calm, thoughtful, creative young people.

Byd Ni… Our World

9th March – 4th April 2017

I’ve spent the day at Clwyd Theatr Cymru helping to hang the work children have produced during my Flintshire schools residency. I’m really pleased with the show and relieved the work's all up on the walls! The exhibition will open on Thursday 9th March, and is in the Education Gallery on the top floor of the theatre. The schools involved are Ewloe Green Primary (Year 3), Ysgol Trelawnyd (years 5 and 6) and Ysgol Gwynedd, Flint (Year 3). The exhibition will be opened by Councillor Peter Curtis, Chair of Flintshire County Council, and I’m looking forward to seeing the pupils there too. The children have been working on the theme of birds and migration, following visits to the RSPB reserve at Point of Ayr near Talacre in January and February. Significant numbers of some species such as the curlew, pintail, shelduck and black-tailed godwit spend the winter months on the Dee Estuary before returning to Iceland or Scandinavia in the Spring. The pupils made some stunning prints of these birds!

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“Just a big thank you from me for such a very enjoyable day on Saturday. I loved every minute!...You have thought of everything in that beautiful studio in that idyllic setting - well done! I do hope to be able to take part in another day's course some time soon.”

JAN BOWDEN

Participant in Collage relief workshop.

“We thoroughly enjoyed the workshop day with you and we’re very proud of the prints!!”

ANN CUMMINGS

Participant in Collage relief workshop.

Feedback from an adult Masterclass at the Royal Cambrian Academy:

What was the greatest strength of the workshop?

Ruth gave clear, easy to follow instructions AND a handout. The best workshop/masterclass I have attended.
Very gentle and effective guidance – with great encouragement.
Excellent tutor. Very helpful. And well organised. Really enjoyed my day. Thank you so much.
Ruth was very knowledgeable and pleasant.
Tutor’s excellent guidance.
Excellent tutor who demonstrated the skills well.

The Inside Out Art Group is an informal collective of artists who work and exhibit in the North Wales/North Shropshire Borderlands region. Eight members of the group came to visit my studio yesterday morning. I’m glad the weather was kind, as some of them had travelled quite some distance! It was great to have such an enthusiastic, inquisitive group of people here, and they kept me on my toes, asking lots of questions during the talk/demonstration. Some of them made a monoprint as well, using natural objects.

https://insideoutart.co.uk/2016/11/23/fabulous-trip-to-ruth-thomas-printmaker/