Hello <<First Name>>

Welcome - there’s much to share with you this month.

A new series completed, lots of places to see my work, ways to learn to draw with me and tree stories to wonder at.

Also, my favourite kind of shopping!

Naming the alders

I’m coming to the end of an intense studio phase and am happy to say I have almost finished a substantial body of new work.

Looking back through my studio journal I realised that images of alders have dominated the last six months, although the idea itself was in gestation for four years prior to that. Good things come to those who wait? Or at least to those who keep a sketchbook.

'By the source' 2026, mixed media on wood panel, 50 x 50cm

What began as rough drawings on freezing winter days progressed through materials research with ground stone and pigment, developed into compositions via repeated charcoal studies and finally emerged as intense, yet ethereal mixed media artworks.

I’ve called the series ‘Thin Places’, referring to an ancient idea that the boundary between this world and ‘other’ (whatever that might mean for you) is fragile or porous in some places. These often feature water and so, given the alder’s association with burns, pools and boggy hillsides, it seemed to fit both intellectually and emotionally. Whilst drawing in these places I found an eerie but intriguing stillness and a collapsing of time between my now and the lifespan of those landscapes, which I have carried into the work.

So what happens next? I’m still exploring some ideas with my charcoal monoprint technique and prints will be available at my next open studio. A group of the mixed media ‘Thin Places’ will be available from Kilmorack Gallery later this year and others will be in a summer solo show in Salisbury.

You can read more about my inspiration, studio processes and recent art shopping trip on my blog.

You can also see the full series of ‘Thin Places’ mixed media works on my website and if you’re in the Edinburgh area you’re very welcome to visit the studio to see them up close – just get in touch to arrange a visit.

BLOG

'Reciprocal arc' 2024, charcoal on canvas, 110 x 70cm

Exhibitions

Save the dates

I am currently preparing for a solo show this summer at Arundells, a historic house in Salisbury’s Cathedral Close.

If you’re in the south-west of England it would be great to see you at the opening on the 16^th July. The show runs till 25^th October and will include an Artist Talk and workshop - more details next month.

On show now

VAS at Kirkcudbright Galleries, Dumfries and Galloway until 10^th May
VAS at Maclaurin Gallery, Ayr until 27^th May

Coming soon

Selected for this year’s Summerhall Open Exhibition in Edinburgh 18^th April – 24^th May
Open studio weekend with the Forth Bridges Creative Trail 30^th-31^st May
Invited to show in Fidra Gallery’s Summer Exhibition in Gullane 27^th June – 30^th August
Selected for the inaugural Sidney Nolan Art Prize at The Rodd, Presteigne, Wales 11^th July – 3^rd October

EXHIBITIONS

Teaching in rooms

If you fancy trying your hand at drawing, I'd be very happy to help you get started.

While I focus on preparing for my solo show I’ve paused my Big Studio workshops, but I’m still teaching in some other inspiring locations this year.

Tickets are currently available for in-person workshops at the Hugo Burge Foundation, Haddon Hall and The Old Lock Up Gallery.

I’m also partnering with organisations including National Galleries Scotland, RSPB, Art and Nature Collective and the Ancient Tree Forum to create bespoke workshops for their groups. Let me know if you have an idea you‘d like to discuss.

You can find all my current workshops here.

WORKSHOPS

Teaching in zooms

Every time I run a workshop, some of my lovely followers tell me they wish I did an online one, so…

I’ve created Discover Charcoal Drawing online an online version of my one day Discover Charcoal Drawing workshop and thought I’d let you know first before sharing it publicly. It’s in 4 parts and starts Tuesday 28^th April – you can find all the details here.

Zoom isn’t for everyone I know, but I’ve really surprised myself at how enjoyable and effective it can be for making drawing tuition more accessible. My years of group work experience in community projects mean I’m able to create a supportive and inclusive virtual room and many people prefer this rather less intense, perhaps more private way to learn. There’s space for both I’ve discovered.

My Permission to Draw Studio has been running for three years now, with a consistently enthusiastic group of draw-ers who meet every month. It’s open to anyone who has done my Permission to Draw course and who wants some support to develop their drawing practice. Places for the Spring season are available just now.

TEACHING

Grotesque or gorgeous?

Sometimes people ask me if I name the trees which inspire me. It would make sense to, given that I feel like I know them as individuals, but I don’t like to personify them that way. It somehow ties them to the human world too closely for me.

However, there are occasions when a tree suggests its own title to me and it sticks. This oak is called the Chatsworth Grotesque in my image archive, though that seems a little unfair as I think it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

'Grotesque’ may carry connotations of ugliness but it also refers to the absurd, fanciful, extreme, distorted; something which departs from the typical. This ancient oak has all that going on – a convoluted trunk, hollowing limbs and fabulously complex burry outcrops. Looking at the surface textures and subtle tones compels me to reach for the charcoal and I will never get tired of trying to understand it.

You can watch a wee video of me making one of these drawings in this older blog post.

Finally, in a couple of weeks’ time I’ll be travelling for my next tree trip, this time for a mini residency in Derbyshire with Full Grown. We noodled around with ideas for collaboration last autumn, now we’re making it happen. I’ve honestly no idea what we’ll create together but it’s sure to involve charcoaly lines and ingenious trees. I’ll show you the results next time…

Very best wishes

Tansy

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Tansy Lee Moir
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86-90 Paul Street
London
EC2A 4NE
United Kingdom

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