August what’s on….

We have a busy month coming up in August, lots going on. So if you haven’t yet popped by to say hello and have a look

at the artwork in the gallery then now’s your chance. We are open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and at other times by appointment.

 

On the 12th August at 7.30pm we have an evening with artist Elspeth Mackenzie.

Elspeth has been exhibiting in the gallery for the past few weeks and will be with us on the

evening of the 12th. She will give a talk on her life and work as an artist, there will also be chance to view

her work and ask her questions. It’s set to be an interesting and enjoyable evening.

Tulips_ElspethJMackenzie

 

On the 13th August, Elspeth is leading a picnic and painting workshop.

Running from 10am until 4pm in privately owned Black Wood. Elspeth will share techniques and ideas

from which you can let your imagination flow. We still have a couple of places left, if you wish to book a place or would like

to know a little bit more about the day please drop us an e-mail janet@leckgallery.co.uk or give us a ring on 015242 71950

PICNIC & PAINITNG

On the 19th August from 7pm we have a private viewing of ‘Play of Light’ an exhibition by local artist Leonie Rutter.

This will be our last solo exhibition of the year but one we are very much looking forward too.

across the lake large

 

6 quick tips to help you buy your first piece of art.

 

1

 

Anyone can buy art, and it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think.

Becoming a collector does require patience and investment but hopefully these 6 quick tips will head you in the right direction.

 

across the lake large

 

 

  • Start small.

A good way to start is to start small, it’s often the case that the larger the painting the more expensive it is.

  • In the know. 

Learn about the art world, read books, search on the internet, visit galleries, talk to other collectors, visit artists in their studios, nothing beats seeing works of art close up and in person.

  • Discover.

Learn about different mediums, styles and eras.

 

 

 

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  • Budget.

Set yourself a budget, and be prepared to break it for something you really love.

  • Taste.

Know your own taste, art is an emotional experience and one of the biggest mistakes you can make is buying something that you don’t love.

  • Enjoy.

Enjoy your collection, buy pieces that you love and that make your heart flutter.

 

Shades of Summer

We are being blessed with another lovely day here in Leck, a ‘Feel Good’ day. The sun’s shining, it’s nice and warm, the birds are singing, just glorious.

We have some new work in the gallery by artist Elspeth Mackenzie, entitled ‘Shades of Summer’

Tulips_ElspethJMackenzie

Roses and Lace_ElspethJMackenzie

Elspeth’s work is joyful and lively, impressionistic yet almost abstract and portrays the joy with which it was created.

Elspeth will also be running a workshop in August. The workshop will be open to all from beginner to experienced artist looking to try a new technique. Following guidance from Elspeth participants are then free to develop their chosen theme in any way they choose.
Anenomes and Nude_ElspethJMackenzie

Pop by and take a look around the gallery, we are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10am -4pm and outside these times just give us a ring or drop us an e-mail to arrange a time.

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British flowers week

We are day four of  the week long celebration of British flowers week. To be honest I hadn’t heard of the British flowers week until this morning and I’ve just been out in the garden trying to find a truly ‘British’ flower !

 

Poppies and Daisies_ElspethJMacenzie

Purely by coincidence we have a new exhibitor coming to the gallery this weekend. Elspeth J Mackenzie

Elspeth is a Scottish artist, living and working in Leith. She studied at Portsmouth College of Art and Design and has also attended various courses at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Dundee Contemporary Arts Print Unit. She received a first class honours degree in Humanities with Art History in 2007 and a Postgraduate Diploma in Humanities (Art History) in 2010 – both awarded by the Open University .

A former contestant on Channel 4’s ‘Watercolour Challenge’. She was awarded the Harry Vaughan prize by Dundee Art Society in 2005 and won a bursary from the Society for All Artists for “inspiring and encouraging people to paint” in 2006.

Elspeth runs her own mixed media art workshops, for all ages and abilities, and she will be running a Picnic and Painting day here at the gallery, which will be a brilliant day, open to all abilities, one I’m really looking forward too.

Elspeth combines a bold and lively approach in her artwork, using a wide range of media in order to capture the essence of her subject matter. Her inspiration comes from a variety of sources, but she is particularly interested in colour and texture and her vibrant work reflects this.

 

Tulips_ElspethJMackenzie

Saturdays scoop

“Creativity takes courage” – Henri Matisse

 

It’s a glorious Saturday in the month of May, wall to wall sunshine, birds tweeting, a gentle breeze and here we are trying to write an interesting blog that everyone will want to read! Blogging is a new experiment for us, and to be honest haven’t a clue what we are doing,  but as the old saying goes nothing ventured nothing gained.

 

We will start our blogging life with a little introduction. Leck Gallery is a contemporary art gallery set in the beautiful surroundings of Leck. If you have never been to this hidden corner of the Country you
have missed out on a treat. Tucked away between the Lakes and the Dales, Leck is a farming community blessed with the most glorious views. We are just up the road from Cowan Bridge, a lovely little village which lies just a couple of miles east of Kirkby Lonsdale. Cowan bridge famed for its link with the Brontes but it is also famed for its scrumptious tea rooms which sees regular visits from Japanese visitors following a full page article in a Japanese magazine.

 

Last night saw the opening of our exhibition by Kenneth Leech. Like today the weather was also on our side, it was a lovely balmy evening, with mouthwatering canapés and tantalising glasses of prosecco to tempt our guests. It was a great evening and everyone enjoyed themselves, it was also good to welcome new and old faces into the gallery and a pleasure to have the artist himself there to tell us more about his work. Kenneth’s exhibition will be here until the 17th June, then it will be all change and we will welcome artist Elspeth Mackenzie.

 

For those of you who prefer the literary world, we have an inspiring course coming up in June looking at the works of the Brontes, or if you would prefer to try your hand at painting, in August, we will be running a picnic and painting course where we will spend the day in privately owned ‘Black Wood’ with tutor Elspeth Mackenzie. It will be a great day, we are really looking forward to it and hopefully the weather will still be as glorious. Look out for more details soon.

 

Here’s to the first of our many blogs.

Black Wood