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[Archive: Another early blog post from our original site.] Whilst the sun continues to shine outside and as we have now moved into July, it is time for another mixed media exhibition at the gallery. This one entitled ‘Summer Breeze’. Again, we have a diverse mix here – something for everyone. Our Private Views continue to be well attended and we are getting lots of repeat visits to the gallery as people get to know what we are about and that here is a space that is constantly changing. Even in such a short time the gallery has exhibited work from 27 artists, all from Devon and most from Torbay. Torbay is considered a cultural ‘cold spot’ and it really should not be because we have an abundance of artistic and creative talent here. One of our latest exhibitors is Roz Woodhead who designs and makes stunning silver jewellery mounted with sea and dichroic glass. She will be with us throughout the summer. This week we also hosted a ‘Comedy Workshop’ as part of the ‘Riviera Fringe Festival’ and our thanks go to Richard James for running and performing at this event for us. We have reached the half way mark for our ‘Life Drawing’ classes so there is still time to come and take part. They take place on a Wednesday evening between 7pm and 9pm and the cost is £10 a session. In between customers we are busily upcycling some of the furniture that we have inherited and the room below the gallery will soon be able to offer a range of second hand books for sale. We have a few on sale already, but hope to expand on this over the next few months. In between times this lower room can be hired for workshops of all types so if you are creative yourself then please get in touch and arrange to come and take a look at what the space can offer. Exhibitions planned for later in the year will include glass, textiles and one on a tribal theme so watch this space for more news of these. #2014 #artizan #archive #exhibition

[Archive: Another early blog post from our original site.] Gosh, where has the time gone as we move into the third exhibition at the gallery which focuses on photography. I love the way that the space here changes and hope that all our visitors do too. The cafe is getting busier now and we are still getting lots of lovely compliments from people who come in, either to browse, buy or stop for a drink. Our Life Drawing classes have started and we are really pleased with how many have come along to take part in it. The music nights on a Monday are still taking a while to pick up but I am sure as more people get to hear about them our numbers will grow, as what could be nicer than to sit and listen to some music on a lovely summers evening? Today we were busy hanging all of the pieces for the exhibition which starts tomorrow and I am very grateful to Inja from Germany who has come to help me and will be with me in the gallery and cafe for about 6 weeks. This latest exhibition features four great but very different photographers: Julia Finzel, Toni Parks, Vicki Gardner and Pippa Todd. In addition we have hung onto Gesche's beautiful bowls for just a couple more weeks as they have proved so popular. We also have some pieces in the gallery and cafe by local printmaker Emima Higgins plus some beautiful hand painted pebbles by a lovely near neighbour of mine called Jan. So if you are looking for an extra special gift or just fancy treating yourself then you may just find it here. This exhibition runs until Saturday 5th July so plenty of time to come and take a look. #2014 #artizan #archive

[Archive: Another early blog post from our original site.] The Private View went really well on Saturday night with the gallery, cafe and garden buzzing. Plus we ha d some great music played by ‘SULU’, a jazz/blues duo. It was great this week to see the gallery and cafe being used for various meetings: Jenni Pentecost met with a fellow artist in the cafe, St Luke’s Residents Association had a meeting to discuss an event that they are planning and Torquay Town Centre Community Partnership also had a meeting here on Wednesday evening that was well attended. We sold some pieces at the Private View and today, Saturday, have sold quite a few more so it looks like people are getting to know that we are here. One of the artists who will be exhibiting next came in to take a look at the space and there have been a few other visits from artists during the week with another one signing up for the July exhibition. So as far as wall space goes, the gallery is pretty much fully booked now until October. We will be starting Life Drawing classes in a few weeks time so if anyone is interested please contact the gallery. Loopy Art has been out and about painting this week, she has donated some paintings to Palm105 fm who will be auctioning them off but they are here in the gallery if anyone wants to come and take a look. Met a lovely guy this week, Robert Ruddy, who popped into the cafe for a cup of tea, he is a horse dentist, never knew such a job existed, fascinating guy, on his way down to Cornwall for his honeymoon but had stopped off here as his wife had been involved in the restoration of Torre Abbey and was attending a ceremony there. In fact there have been lots of lovely people coming into the gallery this week, not only loving the gallery but saying how good the whole of Lucius Street is looking. On Monday evening 7pm-9pm we are offering ‘Tarot for a Tenner’ so why not pop along and see what the cards have to say for you. #2014 #artizan #archive

[Archive: Another early blog post from our original site.] It has been a couple of very busy weeks at Artizan with one exhibition closing and another starting. Last Monday the gallery was a hive of activity with the new artist here putting up their work and meeting each other. Lots of great networking with the more experienced artist sharing and helping the newer ones. I have been contacted by many artists either via email or by calling in to see me, and spaces for future events are filling up fast which makes me realise just how much a space like Artizan is needed in the Bay. The customers that have come through the gallery for a coffee, browse and to buy have also given me some great feedback and tips for moving the space forward. Thanks especially to Alison Hernandez who took some pictures and popped them on ‘FourSquare’ on Facebook. There is lots happening here today (Saturday), we have Michael McCloud who is sketching portraits and a language workshop in the room below the gallery, plus this evening we have a Private View for this new exhibition and will be having some live music to add to the atmosphere provided by local duo ‘Sulu’. The website is really taking shape and we have added some new features and have some great offers to help promote local artists such as a £10 life membership of the gallery which gets your bio plus two images on the site. If you click on the ‘artist’ page you can get an idea of how this would look. I have also decided to extend the hanging space into a part of the cafe so that we can offer some community space here. The latest exhibition is very different to the last, more great local talent on display, full of colour and well worth a look. See our flyer for details of artists exhibiting. #archive #2014 #artizan

[Archive: Our second ever weekly blog post back in 2014.] Week two culminated in the official opening of the gallery by Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver, but let’s just rewind first. Sunday and Monday the gallery is closed so I took the chance to make some purchases for the garden area of the gallery and get plants planted up. It is a great little space with some sun and some shade to sit in and relax over a cup of coffee. Kevin Cowell popped into see me who has a gallery just around the corner and we talked about the idea of putting together a booklet showing all of the creative spaces/galleries in the Bay. On Tuesday my dear friend Mark kindly picked up and delivered a table and chairs for me, so now the garden is ready to be used. George Davis called in with the pieces he will be exhibiting next month and we both agreed that they are going to look great. Lots of visitors on Wednesday: Gesche Bueker who is doing a piece on the gallery for her ‘Beach Hut’ magazine came in to discuss what she needed from me and to find out why I had decided to open Artizan, Liz Westcott, brought me in some of her honey products to sell in the cafe - she makes all of them herself from the pure honey produced by her very own bees in Brixham. Liz will also be at Devon County Show this year. Finally Andrea came around with some flyers for an exhibition taking place at the Spanish Barn later this month and into June. This will involve several artists and is called ‘Flying Colours’. I hope to get along and take a look. Thursday and Friday I had a steady flow of customers including an American photographer now living in Torquay – I invited her to the opening. The press photographer from the Herald came around to take some pictures to go with the article the Herald are doing on the gallery and this will hopefully appear next week. Friday evening I had invited several people along to an official opening of the gallery and I am glad to say that many of them pitched up. It was a great evening with about 30 people here, we made a couple of sales and several new contacts and it was good to know that there is much support for what we are trying to do here. #2014 #archive #artizan #events #artistpreview

[Archive: Our first ever weekly blog post back in 2014.] Nearly the end of the first week and it has been pretty busy. We started off with our private view which was well attended. Other artists have popped in during the week to have a look at the gallery - Mark and Sarah from 'A Kick Up The Arts', Jeremy Holloway, FG Davis and Gesche Bueker, and we are getting some great feedback and interest in the next exhibition with two already committed so watch this space. I also met Tim Horner and have ordered some of Iris Milward's greetings cards which are reproductions of her ceramic poetry tiles. Follow the link for more information: http://www.poetrytiles.co.uk/ Vera Stride came in yesterday and has brought me some lovely hand made ceramic heart shaped brooches which are a snip at £5 each. I also had a visit from Liz Westacott who has her own beehive in Brixham and produces a range of totally pure products from the honey that they produce. I will be stocking some of these in the cafe. The invitations have gone out for the official opening which is kindly being sponsored by 'Number One Consulting' who are based in Paignton, and takes place in just over a weeks time. Mayor Gordon Oliver will be doing the honours for me. WiFi is now up and running and all my coffee customers have said that the coffee tastes good so my training from Emily at the 'Costa Rica Coffee Company' has obviously paid off. #2014 #archive #art #artizan

[Archive: Another early blog post from our original site.] Talked today to Rick who owns Madryn Studio - Art Gallery out at Combeinteignhead. I had seen his bespoke clocks and wondered if he would agree to me displaying one in the cafe at Artizan. Delighted to say that he was happy to do so and we have agreed that I can offer these for sale either in a bespoke design or as a kit for people to create their own. Can't wait to get it up on the wall of the cafe as it is all looking a little bare at the moment. #artizan #studiovisit #2014 #archive