Hip! Hip! Hooray! It's A Hope & Elvis Day! Mixed Media Workshop Weekender: Day One:

I cannot even begin to explain how excited I was about the Mixed Media Weekender Workshop that I taught at the wonderful Hope & Elvis.

I had been planning and preparing work for this throughout lockdown and I couldn't wait to share the techniques and ideas that I'd been experimenting with.

The main difference about this workshop was that we were considering the materials and processes as the main focus of the work - this is such a freeing and experimental way to work.

Here you can see Team Hope & Elvis: the amazing Louise, who runs the studio and hosts the workshops, Ruth, who looks after us and generally spoils us rotten and Magie, who cooks the most incredible meals for us.

And a huge 'thank you' to my Mum and Jean from the village, for baking lots of delicious cakes!

I also had some of my paintings for sale (you can just about see Sam in this photo)!

Thanks so much for all your help chuck, I couldn't have managed without you!

Wendy also very kindly set up a stall of her wonderful vintage papers, fabrics and ephemera. 

Her treasures are always so beautifully curated.

Here are some of the examples that I'd produced for the workshop...

and here's the amazing vegetarian lasagne that we had for dinner!

It never ceases to amaze me when I see how different everyone's work is and I loved watching it develop...

Anyone fancy a brew?

Just look at all the beautiful layers...

The famous loo!

I was made up to see Laura wearing her jacket with one of my patches on the back, just look at how beautifully embellished it is! You are so clever chuck!

It really was the most inspirational day, filled with laughter, chat, cakes and creativity - this room was bursting with talent!

I can't wait to tell you about day two next time!

X

Studio Log Book...

At the start of lockdown last year I decided that I wanted to keep a 'studio log book' (this sounds a little bit grand I know!)

It's been so helpful to keep a note of colour mixes and the little discoveries that can be made when you paint a picture.

Im really going to try and keep this up, do you keep some kind of record of your creative work?

 

Lunar Eclipse...

There's nowt like a good old sort-out and re-shuffle to get the creative juices flowing again.

After sorting out my studio I feel much more inspired and energised.

One of the things I really enjoyed a couple of weeks ago was recording the development of this painting on my Instagram stories (it's saved as a Studio highlight if you'd like to watch the chaos!)

It always amazes me how much a painting changes after a few layers, (isn't it great that we can record these kinds of things nowadays!)

And here she is!

I hope that you enjoyed having a look at these, have a creative week chucks!

Big hugs to you X

Fresh Starts And New Beginnings...

 Maybe it's because the sun is shining (which highlights the dust beautifully!!!!!!) but I have been Spring-cleaning and de-cluttering like a good'un this weekend.

I've also varnished and painted the edges of the paintings I've made over the past few months, and finished off lots of little studio jobs that have been hanging around for quite a while.

My tiny studio has also been tidied up (even the scary untouched corners where I feared the spiders might live....fortunately they didn't take up residence!)

I'm also very excited because soon I'll be ordering some storage cupboards and a tiny desk to work on (my back's been playing up because I have to sit at my plan chest to draw and there's no room for my knees).

It feels like a fresh start, and I have lots of ideas floating around my head for new paintings and stories - I've been scribbling fragments of words and images on post-its for ages now.

I hope that you have had a lovely Bank Holiday weekend too chucks.

All the best X

Workshop Preparations...

 

I've really enjoyed preparing for my Mixed Media Workshop Weekender at the fabulous Hope & Elvis in May.

It's really helped me stay focused during Lockdown and the great thing about teaching is that it pushes you to try new techniques and media.

I've had such fun playing and experimenting, I hope that the lovely folks who are coming along will enjoy it too!

It's funny because I'm quite (annoyingly) tidy but when I'm in my little studio I'll chuck stuff around everywhere without a care in the world!

Wishing you all a creative and inspiring week chucks!

X

Having A Go...

For a long time now I have tried to work on my product photography.

I never realised just how tricky it is to photograph artwork for putting in an online shop and anything with a reflective or shiny surface is an absolute nightmare!

During the lockdown I've tried to sharpen up my very basic Photoshop skills and had a go at 'mocking up' a photo so that I could show my art prints in a frame, so that it would help to suggest how the prints could look if they were framed up.

My daughter helped me take the photo of me holding the frame and then I had a go!

I know that I have such a lot left to learn but I did have fun!

Hope you all have a fab weekend chucks X

 

Mama and Papa Bear Love!

 I had great fun making this little stop motion film.

I managed to add music to it on Instagram, but i'm afraid my skills couldn't manage it for here!

Hope you like anyway chucks!

X