Preparations...

 Well, to say that it's been a strange start to the New Year is a bit of an understatement, and, like the majority of us, I have been feeling unsettled and unfocused during the past few weeks.

One thing that I do often turn to when I'm feeling like this is a sketchbook.

A small sketchbook can offer a sense of security, a place that's without pressure or judgement, and I started this little book to help me experiment in preparation for Mrs B's Mixed Media Weekender at the wonderful Hope & Elvis later on in the year.

I really enjoyed using colours that I don't usually choose and my tube of process magenta really brightened up a gloomy January day!

Sending you my best wishes chuck X

Cornwall Longings...

This is a painting I did when my daughter was only four years old.

It was painted at the time when I was starting to think that I could maybe 'do something' with my art, (although I must admit that I'm still figuring that out-but that's half the fun isn't it!)

I think that because your artwork is always evolving, like something that has a life of its own, you can never quite catch up and figure out what's going on. 

But even though it can be so frustrating sometimes it's the thing I most love about trying to live a creative life.

Anyhow, I'm waffling on, please forgive me!

I haven't actually looked at this painting for a long time, but it's the perfect time to do so because it's about the feeling I get when we return from our holidays.

Every year we visit Cornwall, it is such a special place to me.

And every time we return I feel like my heart has broken.

It's been my dream to live there, but then I wondered if it would lose its sense of magic if I lived there everyday?

I do know that I feel full of inspiration, ready for the new term.

Actually, I shouldn't take full credit for this painting - I let my daughter scribble on this one and I shall cherish it always!

I hope that you've had a wonderful summer too chucks.

X

Gelli-Plate Printing Workshop At The Steel Rooms:

I just thought I'd let you know about a gelli-plate printing workshop that I'm teaching at The Steel Rooms on May 18th.

(Hope you don't mind me mentioning it!)

I really love this method of mono-printing as it's so forgiving...

if you don't like something, you just print over it!

It's a really spontaneous and playful way of printing, and it can often spark new stories and characters...

just like this chap here.

 I photocopied him from an old photograph of a brass band.

I think he's rather handsome, and I imagined him breaking hearts across the the land as they travelled from band stand to bandstand during the summer season!

This printing method is also great for creating abstract compositions and experimenting with different colour palettes.

I'm really looking forward to chucking some paint around, and I promise to blog about our arty shenanigans too.

X

New Year Tradition...

I like to start the New Year doing something creative, and this year I felt a huge urge to get out my crayons and paints.

As usual, I didn't know what I was going to draw, but for some reason the story of Icarus came to mind and this young woman quickly emerged with a very determined expression.

I hope you enjoy my daft little story to welcome in 2019...

Icarus And The Blackbird

One Winter's morning, the sun was shining so brightly in the icy sky.

 The quiet country woman noticed that a beautiful white bird had become dazzled, and was flying too close to the sun.

She became so annoyed about the Sun's cruel trickery that she leapt up high into the air.

It was as though she had the wings of Icarus, but hers were made of courage and determination, instead of wax and vanity.

She reached and grabbed the bird, saving it from the Sun's cruel heat.

And even though the poor creature had become scorched, the woman and the blackbird became the best of friends.

Playing Around...

Last weekend I had a brilliant arty day with my friends.

We were chatting, laughing, eating nibbles and chocolate, (lots of chocolate!) and all the while I was painting here and there.

I set up my paper, (it was a pretty big piece of wall paper lining paper,) on two ironing boards, and every now and then (in-between mouth-fulls of goodies,) I'd do a bit of painting...

No plans.

No pressure.

Bliss.

And by the end of the day I had painted a whopping big abstract!

I could see traces of Cornwall (especially Marazion with its lovely windswept beach. Cornwall often seems to pop up in my abstract paintings.)

These four compositions have been arranged from the large painting using my (very basic) Photoshop skills.

I'm toying with the idea of making these into prints for my online shop?

But the most important thing about this painting for me is to remember to just 'play' every now and then, and see what happens...

Mrs Whipple...

Mrs Whipple ran a boarding house for retired circus and music hall stars.

She would listen intently to their stories as she served their breakfasts,

and would sway from side to side as they sang their songs at supper time.

Sometimes, when she swept the floor she would find an old sequin glinting on

the scullery tiles,

and Mrs Whipple would become misty-eyed and sigh longingly to herself.

This is another one of my collages that I'm possibly going to make into giclee prints, hope you like her.

Wishing you a very happy Sunday me dears.

x

Be A Good Girl...

'Straight back.

Shoulders down.

Be a good girl.'

(Something tells me that this young lady isn't going to do as she's told!)

...And I don't blame her!

I'm really enjoying preparing for my Mrs B's Paper and Collaging Weekend at Hope and Elvis on May 5th and 6th 2018.

(And if she isn't out gallivanting and causing shenanigans, this naughty lass might be coming along for the party!)

X

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The Secret Garden...

I love messing about with concertina sketchbooks.

Here's one I painted a few weeks ago, would you like a peek?

It's pretty long, so I had to photograph it in sections...

It really helped me to 'loosen up' and try out some mixed media techniques.

I think it has a 'secret garden' quality to it.

He does look a bit lost doesn't he!

The paper in Moleskine sketchbooks are such good quality, so it can handle quite a lot of layering.

I'm pretty heavy handed when I'm painting.

I think the colours are a bit tropical, I think I was looking forward to the summer hols!

And she's just a bit bonkers really!

Hope you enjoyed having a little flick through my book!

X

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Misty Morning Song...

I just thought I'd share this mixed media painting with you.

I had this blog post planned in my head, but this morning it doesn't seem fitting at all.

It feels wrong to talk about the beautiful summer's day after hearing about the London terror attack.

This is difficult to explain but is it wrong to try and remember that the world is beautiful, or is blogging about how much joy painting and nature gives to me just disrespectful?

I feel saddened to my very core, and times like these make you reassess everything.

Sending out a big hug to everyone.

X

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Happy Holidays!

Happy Easter holidays everyone!

I'm looking forward to putting me feet up, having some family time and consuming a large amount of chocolate!

This is what I'm working on at the mo, I thought it was rather fitting for this Spring-time post!

Lots of love X

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A Cornish Tea Cup...

I decided to have a bit of a re-shuffle and an edit of my tiny studio the other day.

As I was sorting my scrips and scraps box I started to play around, and five hours of faffing and fiddling later, this collage emerged!

(It just reminded me of whenever I try to sort out my big hamper that I keep on top of the wardrobe. All my diaries and photo albums are in there and as soon as I crack them open I'm there for hours!)

I think Cornwall is starting to call for me again!

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Never Discard A Fairy...

A couple of days ago I had a really bad drawing day, I mean really bad.

Everything I drew was just horrid and I became more and more frustrated.

It suddenly dawned on me what I had been saying to a student just the day before....that sometimes you have to play, creativity doesn't like being pushed around too much.

So I decide to actually practice what I preach.

And I started to snip and glue...and have fun.

And I made this slightly bonkers collage on the back of an old drawer.

I'll be taking it to my mixed media workshop at Hope and Elvis in a few weeks (eep!)

Because the drawer is quite deep it will hang on the wall, and it also means that there is a little surprise on the back...

a secret place for secrets!

Ha! Told you it was a bit bonkers!

Have a very happy Spring break everyone!

X

Oh! I nearly forgot to tell you about the discarded fairy!

Well, as I was clearing up, I found one of the figures that had been cut out of the photograph (half of his leg was out of the shot and so he had to go,) and he had landed on a tiny scrap of lace that was the perfect shape for wings!

It was as if he had landed there to tell me that I was on the right track!

So I couldn't throw him away could I, and now he lives in my journal!

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