Virtual York Open Studios 2020

I may not be able to open my doors for York Open Studios this year but I can open my virtual studio to you...

Join YOS artists for a Virtual York Open Studios. Friday 17 to Sunday 26 April 2020. Follow #YorkOpenStudios and @YorkOpenStudios on social media.

Look out for #OpenWindowsYork2020 too!

Join me for a private tour of my print studio. I’ll be sharing where I work and explaining briefly about the tools and equipment I use.

I'll be sharing my my new linocut prints. Hot off the press!

I’ll also show you how I've made a couple of the designs in more detail

Since Christmas I have been working on numerous new designs for York Open Studios 2020 and an exhibition at The Moors National Park Centre in Danby, North Yorkshire.

In light of Covid-19 these events have all been postponed until next year. I will continue to share with you each step of the process I’ve been using to create these new linocut prints.

Friday 17 April 2020

Day 1. Who I am & what I do?...

Hello, I'm Michelle Hughes. I'm a North Yorkshire landscape artist and designer. I use linocut print to create original prints, predominately of Yorkshire landscapes and the Yorkshire coast. I teach in-person linocut workshops in my York garden studio. I will be teaching workshops online soon.

A huge thank you to Paul Farquharson at BeetrootBox for creating this video.

Saturday 18 April 2020

Day 2. Why do I take part in YOS?

The thing I love the most about York Open Studios is the connection with people.

I've spent most of winter beavering away on new work. In many ways the reward for that is sharing it in person and explaining how I made it too.

There's such a community atmosphere to the event. I love meeting new people who share similar interests.

Also I love the strong sense of community amongst artists, who support each other. This year has certainly been no different! YOS is an artist led event. It's run by volunteers, we all chip in too. Without that, it just wouldn't happen.

I've spent today making a video for Tuesday's post. It's knocked me sideways. The true realisation that YOS isn't happening properly until 2021.

Have a look back at previous years events in my York Open Studios 2019 - It’s a wrap! and YOS 2018 blogs.

Sunday 19 April 2020

Day 3. Where do I get my inspiration from?

My linocut prints are all inspired by photographs I take while cycling or walking.

It's about getting completely lost and absorbed in nature. Alone or with friends.

I’m particular drawn to pathways that lead my eye through the image of the landscape. I'm looking for key shapes and lines in the landscape, that capture the characteristics of that particular place. I take hundreds of photographs to remind me and work from.