Two Year Anniversary!

Connectons and Collaborations

The Prime Women Artists’ Group was founded two years ago by Sharon Bruster and Maggie Cochran and since then things have gone from strength to strength.

The group now boasts nearly 150 members. That’s 150 wonderfully talented women based within Cornwall; painters, sculptors, printers, felters, potters, glass and textile artists.

So much has happened within the last couple of years but what’s great is that the group’s core values have remained a common theme throughout:

• Collaboration, not competition

• Better when we share

• Learn together

• Play together

• Encourage, empower, explore

So what have we been up to? Read on to find out…

Social get togethers

On a regular basis members have been getting together socially - coffee, cake and art chat. It’s so lovely to have like minded people to meet up with and many new friendships have been forged.

Collaborations

The group held a concertina sketchbook collaboration challenge. Artists paired up to create the most amazing books.

‘These books were developed over time – often being posted back and forth between collaborators over several months, with each artist responding to their partner’s work at each stage, to build up layers and layers of marks which ultimately create a rich and exciting collaborative work of art – which bears no resemblance to the first tentative marks on blank paper!

This process is hugely creative and exploratory. It involves trust between creative partners and the ability to let go of any preconceived notion about what the ‘end product’ might look like, as well as any preciousness about ones own work. Artists have to be prepared for their partner to paint over, cover up, cut out, add to or remove something they have made. All this process, and the passage of time, adds to the richness of the final images.’

‘We have books made of paper, textiles and even MDF. Many books involve mixed processes and are made by artists with very different styles and ways of working. Everyone has said how much they are enjoying the process and how valuable it is in terms of extending their practice.’

Exhibitions

The group has held five exhibitions over different venues and members have worked together to promote, organise and hang. These exhibitions have been really successful and we’ve had some fabulous feedback from visitors as well as a number of sales. Exhibiting as a group makes it less daunting for those that haven’t done it before and the whole experience for members has been nothing but positive, building more confidence and skills in showing our art to the public.

As well as group exhibitions, some members have formed connections with each other and subsequently held their own joint/small group exhibitions.

Artists’ Residency

Following a successful exhibition at Truro High School for Girls, we were invited back for an artists’ residency. The Residency has become part of an ongoing collaboration with the school and five group members made the most of the opportunity to outreach and inspire young artists by including pupils in discussion and art making. Our members also got to work alongside each other which encouraged more collaboration, learning and sharing of ideas.

‘There was a crazy Still Life setup for girls and the artists to make drawings about, two large collaborative canvases for everyone to contribute to, some stitching, painting, drawing and tataki-zome (flower pounding), printing and glass work going on.’

At the end of the two weeks the members curated an exhibition of artist and student work in the school's art gallery.

Artists’ Residency at Truro High School for Girls

Overall, the members found the residency a wonderful experience (not to mention the fantastic school dinners!). Watch this space for future residency news!

Members who took part in the 2024 residency were Sharon Bruster, Natalie Day, Sue Spence, Roberta Hopkins and Sarah Ransley.

Sharing and Learning

The group has been actively sharing lots of useful arty hints and tips with each other and in addition there have been some organised sketch and coffee sessions as well as Zoom drawing session meet ups.

We are also blessed to have members who have been able to give advice regarding social media, building websites, artist statements and how to approach galleries.

We have a great website now for the group thanks to Artlook and many other members have since set up their own websites using this artist specific software.

Our website is primewomenartistscornwall.co.uk and is full of information regarding the group, its members and events.

Online Exhibitions

Now that the group has a website, we are able to hold online exhibitions. There is currently a new Spring edition which can be viewed here.

What’s next?

More group exhibitions are in the pipeline, including one for the Textile Artists subgroup that has evolved. Of course many of our individual members are busy exhibiting and the group is pleased to be able to help share and promote these events via our social media platform on Instagram.

So if you’re on Instagram do give us a follow to keep up with what’s going on in the group and with our members.

Hopefully we can also keep you up to date here on Substack more often with some member spotlights and general news.

A Recommendation

Just to finish off, if you like listening to podcasts, one you might like to try is An Art to It with Elaine Dye (owner of The Byre Gallery).

There’s a back catalogue of really interesting interviews with artists and gallery owners - there’s even a few episodes featuring some of our group members! Tara Leaver (Episode 3), Sharon Bruster (Episode 5), Sarah Pooley (Episode 20) and Aisleigh Anne (Episode 21).

Thanks for reading and please do subscribe to receive future posts.