.... it all starts here .....

Today marks day one of our 

and below you will find the first quizly question.  The answer can be found somewhere on our website, blog or Facebook pages.  Be the first to get back to us with the correct answer and not only will you win one of Julieann Worrall Hood's uniquely beautiful woven wire sculptures*  but also a 10% discount on  her workshop at Les Soeurs Anglaises 2013.   Even if you don't hit the jackpot, we are offering £20 off her workshop just for entering the competition!

The talented and charming Julieann Worrall Hood and one of her signature hare scuptures

We are so delighted Julieann will be joining us to lead her first five-day workshop, SERENDIPITOUS SCULPTURES   at the end of April next year.   

Passion, energy and nature are the very essence of Julieann Worral Hood's work and teaching.  She has won numerous Arts Council Awards since gaining her BA in Fine Art at Edinburgh College of Art and runs occasional one-day workshops throughout the UK whilst continuing to work on her commissioned sculptures.  This, however, will be one of the very few events she leads allowing participants to work alongside her for several days, discovering, developing and honing the unique and sometimes serendipitous skills she uses from idea conception to the production of a finished piece.  Everyone will be taking home a sculpture they have made themselves and the skills to produce more.

Wednesday, 5th December Question: 

1. Which famous London store recently commissioned Juliann Worrall Hood to decorate their windows to celebrate their fiftieth anniversary this year?  

answer to:  katie@lessoeursanglaises.com

*please note that the prizes are not necessarily illustrated above.

... don't you just love it .....

.... when you find an artist that you love and have never heard of before.  We've just discovered 

William Brooker  1918-1983

Brooker was born in Croydon, Surrey, and attended Croydon School of Art between 1936-39. His training was interrupted by army service during World War II, but his art studies resumed in 1947 and following completion of his studies in 1949 he became a lecturer in painting at several of the top English art schools and exhibited his own work widely.He began teaching BAA during which time he shared a house with Wynter and later Frost. His students included Howard Hodgkin: ‘He was the only real teacher I ever had. . . he made one feel that painting was a very important occupation. Quite unique. No one else seemed a bit like that. He was a great teacher.' 

William Brooker enjoyed painting familiar objects from an unusual perspective and presented his audience with a seemingly transient image of an everyday scene or object, arriving at an unconventional view of the conventional. His early work was located within the broad framework of English anecdotal impressionism, continuing a tradition established by Vuillard and Bonnard, and translated to the English idiom by Sickert.

He used a light palette generally; cool greys and whites, enlivened with blue, became his favoured colours, and as his work developed they were used constantly. His interest in the juxtaposition of shape and form, and composition of tonal harmony, appear to surpass his interest in the subject matter and can be seen as a  precursor of the abstracted, minimalist, still-life painting which he later developed, and which was to occupy him for many years.

...all the fun of the fair...

For those of you who couldn't make it to the Selvedge Fair at their fab new venue in Chelsea Town Hall a couple of weekends ago, here are a few pictures of our favourite stalls!

Starting with Les Soeurs, of course

The hilarious Julie Arkell was there

 As well as the delightful Jessie Chorley with all her goodies

 Susie and Carol have had enough of answering questions!

Our beautiful mugs and soaps dishes , hand made for Les Soeurs  were a huge success.