Monday 6 July 2015

Taking part in the Open Air Art Challenge for #openforart #rdguk

To sit on a Sunday morning on a pedestrianised main street where all the shoppers hang out and take part in an art challenge seemed terrifying. So I signed up.


Artists taking part would have 3 hours to produce work and have a public vote to decide the winner. This was just one event in Reading's Open for Art weekend.

The atmosphere was great and I sat and did 4 sketches inspired by the people I was watching over the 3 hours whilst others drew, painted, made mobiles, used ipads, and created work from the plastic strips one finds tying printer papers together. The volunteers were friendly and lovely.

People waiting for shops to open

A fellow artist

View of the Blade

Volunteers at the event

We had to display our work for public though throughout people would watch, gather around and sometimes speak to the artists. The thought is scary but the conversations are always encouraging. 
Displays of work for voting.


The winner was announced as Hillary James who did a large painting of the surrounds and captured a real sense of the street.

Was it worth it? Yes, as the thought of doing something similar will be a little less terrifying next time.