This summer, Suffolk Libraries was proud to host our first ever creative competition as part of The Blank Page Project which invited 10-18 year olds from all over Suffolk to create a piece of original artwork for the chance to win a one-to-one mentoring session with one of our professional artists.
Entrants were asked to choose from one of five themes – Beginnings, The Future, Our Earth, Identity, and My Dream – and experiment with their choice of artist mediums to create their interpretation. The winners were announced at the end of September, and you can view the winning artwork on our website.
First place winner Freya Dowling created a painted canvas around the theme of ‘identity’ and recently met with local artist and Blank Page workshop facilitator Chris James for a one-to-one tutorial. Chris guided Freya through the next steps in developing her craft and his experiences as a local artist.
Chris said:
Huge congratulations to Freya on winning the Blank Page competition. It was so much fun working with her at our 1:1 to create these winter postcard designs in Ipswich County Library. She has a brilliant sense of colour and a real flair for design. I know she'll go on to great things!
Together, during the session, Freya and Chris designed a couple of winter-themed postcards using papermaking techniques. We will be printing their designs professionally, to be handed out this winter at our Blank Page workshops as part of a book-swapping initiative that will encourage our Blank Pagers to keep using the library space beyond the workshops.
Our Blank Page winter workshops have since gone live, with delivery starting on Monday 23 December and running until Friday 3 January. All young people who attend a free creative workshop this winter will receive their very own postcard – a Freya Dowling x Chris James original.
