Members of Ashtorre Artists had an exciting workshop in February led by Plymouth based artist Jill Coughman, centering on the theme of their forthcoming exhibition 'New Journey'.

Artists were invited to draw an imagined 'first journey' to a place they would like to visit, and from there take a variety of drawing and painting techniques using found and unusual objects, including toy cars dipped in paint or ink, and make a large painting, focusing on mark making and experimentation. Brushes and palette knives were definitely left to one side!

The final creative act involved taking a section of their large paintings, and produce a smaller, carefully observed image, again focusing on mark making, but using whatever colours they felt made the most successful image.

All artists produced a dynamic experimental piece, working outside their comfort zones, where the process was more important than the final artwork and are looking forward to the next workshop.