I am taking part in Open Letchworth, new date to be confirmed re covid for the gallery event.
However the artists, including myself, are currently making our work available to the passing feet, cycling public, by putting a painting or two in our own front windows, so our neighbours, dog walkers, runners, cyclists who daily commute or enjoy exercise passing my front garden can enjoy looking at our art via Open the Windows event. One of my neighbours has already requested a commission after Whipsnade Baby and Donkey had been up for less than 24 hours!
Prints, originals, postcards and greeting cards are always available, in a covid secure way, more details via my front door and front porch window, I am NHS infection control trained, January 2020 and February 2021.
Or to find out more, or ask a question, explore a potential commission opportunity, please do get in touch, via by email, website, Facebook Page, Instagram.
I have recently completed on a new collection of children’s animal paintings, lion, elephant, monkey and tigers etc.
I am currently having a lot of fun, sorting out which designs work well on mugs to continue selling online and to local friends who combine collection with daily exercise and one day, hopefully on a Dunstable market stall with my arts and crafts buddies Lesley and Nettie.
I also have collections of originals, prints, cards and mugs for sale of beaches, sunsets, National Trust places, U.K. and world wide famous places.
After Easter I shall be working extending my food collection, into favourite chocolates, it’s, sweets and a Mars bar for Captain Tom’s family, north Bedfordshire as I live very near them.
Then in early summer I am looking forward to starting a brand new series based around a 3 month working holiday in the Canadian Rockies. I am very excited about exploring in various mediums creating from photos photos I took back in my early student days, now over 25 years ago!
I am also planning which of my many beach huts, seascape pieces and small pieces of ‘make do and mend’ furniture and drift wood trees, I am going to advertise for sale and the best way to deliver or collect in line with our local lockdown and trading rules.
My front garden is now ready for collection safe door step collection for existing and potential customers.
And finally my annual stock take is making good progress but needs completing by Easter.
Living near Houghton Regis Park, close to Dunstable, using acrylics, brusho, gouache and watercolours, combined with driftwood, shells, dried herbs, flowers and other things many of you weekly put into your bin every week.
I love to create bespoke one off pieces that my customers help me design to give their home, office or work place arty wow factor, that suits their charity, home or work space.
“I am not untidy, I just have creative ideas, laying around everywhere!”
Many of my pieces are brought as gifts, to self or that special occasion.....birthday, Christmas, Wedding Anniversary, thank you for doing my ......
I am inspired by the sea, countryside and wildlife. I love experimenting with bold colour and textures. I love making mixed media, 3D pieces inspired by my travels and the natural world around me.
During lockdown I have been studying an online watercolour portrait course which has really helped to take this area of my work to the next level. I am currently working on producing portraits of various members of my family as gifts.
As well as building new collections of animals and National Trust inspired art work. I am also completely a commission for a local Indian Takeaway shop, as well as a seascape for a fundraising art auction to raise funds to supply PPE to African healthcare workers.
I have exhibited with the Dunstable and District Art Club and Christ Church Dunstable Art Group in Dunstable and the surrounding area including Priory House Tea Rooms, Harper’s, Populars and Harpenden Methodist Church. In 2019 I hosted an open studio and garden fundraiser where I sold my art.
When lockdown is lifted and you can safely go inside you can see four of my paintings in a Dunstable Takeaway and the Marston Mortaine, near Bedford wildlife cafe and conference centre. As well as Letchworth Broadway gallery.
In the meantime my visual gallery is the windows at the front of my home, 5 mins walk from the Houghton Hall park run venue.
Please get in touch if you want like to find out more, or as lockdown restrictions ease arrange a studio visit.
Jo Franks
Email Jolocality@gmail.com
Tel 01582 862141
www.jolocalityart.com