Sipping and Painting with LibbyAyres Art

This time last week I was off on a rather special outing to Manchester - to an evening of Sip and Paint with my daughter. As LibbyAyres Art, she's been holding these events every couple of months or so for about the last year but I haven't had the opportunity to go along till now.

The event was held at Grub, an independent street food venue, in an upstairs room decorated with fairy lights and candles, with food available from the vendors in the courtyard.  There was a range of options but I had pork and cabbage dumplings with noodles, and very nice they were too. And for the sipping part of the evening I had a citrusy sour ale.

Then we got down to the serious business of the evening, with my daughter explaining about her synaesthesia, and talking us through what we'd be doing that evening. The music she'd be painting along to was You're the One that I Want from Grease, which came up every third track on the playlist, and we could either copy her exactly, paint our own interpretation of the music, or create something totally different. I went for a sort of middle route.

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This (above) is my daughter's version but although I started off trying to follow her with a swirly blue background, as I progressed, and the music played over and over, I felt I wanted to make my painting a little different, with curly flicks of red. So this (below) is mine. 

One thing I loved was that there was no pressure to create a masterpiece (I've been along to have-a-go art events where there definitely was!). Everyone was free to do as they like, to sit and paint all evening or wander off for food and drinks. Libby wandered among the tables, offering encouragement or answering questions about her synaesthesia.

It was definitely a fun evening, and I feel that I understand synaesthesia a little better now. 

You can find out more about LibbyAyresArt, and her upcoming events here on her Instagram account

and Grub here 

The next Sip and Paint event is 31st March 

LibbyAyres Art Exhibition

Solsbury Hill: Peter Gabriel

I'm just back from a couple of very exciting days away in Manchester, going to see my daughter's first exhibition of her synaesthetic art at GK Gallery in Salford. 

Scenes From An Italian Restaurant: Billy Joel

 Synaesthesia presents itself in a variety of ways but for my daughter it's seeing colours and patterns when listening to music. All of the paintings here are of specific songs or instrumental pieces - from Vivaldi's Four Seasons to Billy Joel's Scenes From An Italian Restaurant.  

Raglan Road: Luke Kelly

 Obviously this isn't the first time I've seen my daughter's work - after all when living at home she painted in the garage, and I've been along to her stalls at craft markets - but it's amazing to see them up on a gallery wall. 

Close up you can see how texture plays an important part in the work, with paint piled on paint, and ridges and grooves cutting through the layers.

Solsbury Hill close up

Four Seasons:Vivaldi

The actual connection between sound and finished art work is always a mystery to me. I often find myself attracted to a piece representing music I don't like, or a song I like will have an interpretation which seems bland and unappealing; both of which seem strange. 

La Vie En Rose: Edith Piaf

If I've piqued your curiosity, the gallery is on Chapel Street in Salford (near the old hospital), and, alongside the exhibition and other crafts for sale, you'll find a small cafe serving  tea, coffee and scrumptious cakes. The exhibition runs till around 6th December, and LibbyAyres runs regular Sip & Paint events at GRUB where you can explore synaethetic art for yourself, and will have a stall at their Christmas market.

 For more images and info find LibbyAyresArt on Insta