Cambridge Edition July 2019

ARTS & CULTURE

MARINA MAKES INTENSE, DECORATED PAINTINGS AND PAINTED FURNITURE, BOWLS, BOXES AND FABRICS MARINA YEDIGAROFF

I’ve been doing Cambridge Open Studios since 1985; I’mone of the most long-standing artists. In the early years, I exhibited in Cambridge itself; I was in Gwydir Street, where there was a cluster of artists, and it was quite rock ‘n’ roll in those days. I exhibit in Ely now, and it’s getting busier each year. I’ve built up quite a clientele, and send out cards to people to remind them of the dates. It’s nice to see the same visitors year after year, and they tell their friends, so it’s quite a word of mouth thing. I keep doing it because it’s a very successful way to sell my work, through commissions and selling art on the day – much more so than exhibiting in galleries. Of course it’s nice to meet people and talk about my work, but I don’t think many artists would open their homes and their studios up just to be stared at – we all want to make a living! I do try to make the place look amazing, so it is a lot of work. I mural my walls and take out the furniture, too, so it’s not just paintings: the whole ground floor of my house is part of the show. It’s quite stressful – you have to be ready all the time, as you never really know when the next visitor will turn up, or 15 at once – but I enjoy it very much. I wouldn’t keep doing it if I didn’t! yedigaroff.com COS 2019 weekends 1, 2 & 4

I have been doing Open Studios for many years – I started in about 1997, although I have missed a few. I exhibited at Wysing Arts Centre for a long time, but for the last few years I’ve done it frommy own home. People seem to like having a look at how I work, and seeing all the equipment, finding out about my process. What’s great now is that there are a lot more people doing it in Histon, where I live, so visitors can do a little tour and visit several different artists in the village, and it gives me the chance to get to know the other artists, too. I get repeat customers coming back year after year; people that I’ve built up relationships with, who don’t necessarily buy something every year, but come back to say hello and see what I’m up to. I’ve decided to stop doing ceramics, as I’ve been doing it for 25 years and I want to take a break. It’s a big decision for me, as ceramics has been my main income for a long time, but I’m going to carry on with my printmaking and go in a new direction. So this year I’ll be selling the last of my ceramics – it feels like the end of an era! clarecrouchman.com COS 2019 weekends 1 & 2 CLARE CROUCHMAN CLARE IS EXHIBITING HER HAND-PRODUCED FINE ART PRINTS INSPIRED BY RHYTHMICAL AND GEOMETRIC PATTERNS FROM NATURE

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