Words from the Shore - Day Two Devon Open Studios with Devon Artist Charlotte Ellis

‘Super… more than a gallery it’s an experience! Lovely art in a unique setting.’

 ‘A wonderful experience walking along the beach and then seeing all this art. It has made my day!’ 

These are just two of the lovely comments written in the visitors book and they give a feel of how open studios is going. It’s so good to get the feedback and it makes the hard work worth it because without a doubt taking part in Devon Open Studios is pretty full on to say the least. Day two started with an early swim in the estuary accompanied by the kingfisher  as I went in. It’s underside blended in with the red cliff face perfectly and  its iridescent blue shimmered as it flew out over the water.

Watching the Water

A turnstone flew and landed on a rock close by me as I was getting out. It was lovely to watch it perching on the rock and remember the strokes and colour of paint I used in a recent watercolour of it. Painting or sketching a bird is yet another way I love to connect with it. 

Turnstone

The swim was quick and the waters choppy as the thunder started to rage. I was out quickly, to avoid any incoming lightening. It set me  up so well for doing the finishing touches in the house and studio. The price stickers had arrived so I was able to get everything priced up properly which was good. I sometimes like to write a little about my paintings so I was able to add those words too.

Gulls over Lymsptone- A lino print of this morning's swim spot

The rain fell hard at times during the day  and I wasn’t sure how that might affect the number of visitors who would stop by. Luckily, we were busy. We even had a couple of sets of return visitors from the day before who had enjoyed looking around so much that they wanted to come back and share the experience with other family members, which was rather lovely.  I think we had someone with us for pretty much the whole time we were open and at times lots of people at once. Our home is an old cottage, in Lympstone, which was built nearly 200 years ago so it’s low ceilings and narrow hallway mean that it doesn’t take many visitors for it to seem full. It has a good feel about it and its quirky nature breathes out the  history of those who have been before.

When we were hanging the paintings and setting the scene I wondered whether I should put away a lot of the ceramics on shelves and my found treasures but I decided not too, partly because that would make a lot more work but also because I felt it would give more of a sense of me as an artist and what inspires me. So may people commented on the pots, candlesticks pebbles etc and said how well my art sat with everything to create such a beautiful display. There were many comments about how the studio, home and talking to me made the whole art and connection with the estuary sing out. A strong sense of place and emotion connects me and my work and this is what visitors found so peaceful. I have heard this before but it is always lovely to hear it said by someone objective.  I guess that is one of the real draws of open studios in that you do get a chance to see the artist in their home environment which of course has an impact on how they work. I have a colour palette I am drawn to and from talking to visitors it is evident how this palette of blues flows through my work and gives the space its calm and restful ambience. It is this that makes our visitors stop and stand quietly as they absorb the stillness and the calm of the space.

We did have a few stand out moments, apart from the art. We lost a phone which was bit of an issue as we use it to take payments. We hunted all over and rang it to no avail. We were at the point of thinking this could be a real problem when we noticed the arrival of  two of our earlier visitors. They had returned very apologetically to say that one of them had picked it up by mistake and had no idea until they they were sat in the local café  and heard it ringing… as Bruce said to them when they handed it back this could be the start of a life of crime for them. We were so relieved to have it returned… We have made another mental note to ourselves, keep our phones on us so we don’t lose them.

A second non-art moment of note was when a huge bag of heritage black tomatoes arrived from  a visitor who was on holiday in Lympstone. They had  had a glut which they had brought on holiday with them and were very happy to barter them for a couple of pears. The whole swap started because they spotted the pear tree whilst looking at my studio in the garden. These chance conversations are so wonderful as you never know where they will lead. The tomatoes were delicious juicy gems which we shared with other friends and visitors so it became a sort of informal tomato tasting appreciation event.

Gifted tomatoes

We realised today that it really does need two of us to manage Open Studios, probably because the set up of our house and also the fact that you walk through the gallery to get into the house. Bruce had to leave about an hour before the end as he had a pantomime rehearsal, just as the sun came out and the crowds arrived! Thankfully a couple of friends were able to step in at the last minute to help. Friends are so valued. I am learning so much along the way. I have now got a day off before I get busy with running workshops and then re-opening the studio from Thursday to Sunday. It will be good to step back and reflect on the first two days and take some photos!

I was super tired by the end of the day so headed up to Woodbury Common again to rest in the van. We walked Joey and waited to see the lunar eclipse, which didn’t disappoint. Standing on the moor watching the stillness of the moon was so peaceful. We drove home just in time for me to walk to the end of the harbour wall to watch the moon reveal herself as she shed her shadow. Standing in the darkness by the water and breathing in the silence was for me the perfect end to day two of Open Studios.

Woodbury Common - lunar eclipse

Peter's Tower and the lunar eclipse

My paintings can be viewed in Seaglass Gallery, Lympstone, Devon. If you have enjoyed reading the blogs about Devon Open Studios and would like to follow my artist journey, do join my gentle art  community and sign up for my newsletter by commenting below.