weekly art blog No: 55
Experimenting
This week has been spent in a semi dark studio prepping cyanotype before heading out into the sun to expose, with my two carefully maintained Dandelion muses with their ever fragile taproots. After a collogragh workshop I have decided to create shellac plates from the two plants once the cyanotype prints for the hamging installation are created. Hopefully my 2 prints are in the small print exhibition I will try and pop in this week and see.
the sun has been welcome as it is made working with cyanotype easier I hope it contues so I can build up teh prints next week, the hand prints ahve gone through varies iterations but the paper cutouts seem to fit the practice best so far. different papers, exposure times, rinses, and additions are making for a fun distraction.
A practice related book is currently at the printers, a bit scary but will be exciting when it arrives
weekly art blog No: 54
Exciting
The Tour de Wall begins tomorrow with a day out at the Wimbleball country fayre, if you are around pop into tye Marquee and say HI !
Also this week has seen the creation of a book relating to the project, a great opportunity to let a different kind of creative juices flow with 14 pages written, well 12 as two to go lol But it is coming together from a vague idea to a hard reality and I ahve created a page to hold the planned project film. A bit rough and ready at the moment but it will be sorted out over the next few weeks. The Wall has a short break after Sunday to allow preparation for the main June exhibition when hopefully everything falls into place.
I bought some graphite stick this week... swayed by wacthing Maggie Hambling on BBC 4 but I think they need to be used in a larger scale so am tucking them away until the next life drawing.... look out Sam lol
weekly art blog No: 53
Phew
Well the weekend has been considerably quieter thank goodness, the Dandelion wall is tucked away into its Archive box until the 17th of may. The plans and experimentation will get underway this coming week .. we hope But a bit of down time is always good. The pastel work completed during the exhibition was a good reflection of my mental state but the gazebo has survived to return another day. The wind took out some of the eyelets on the frames a constant gentle sway fatiguing the metal over the week. But no harm done and easily replaced.
A reflective few days with a bit of research thrown in .. see you all next week
weekly art blog No: 52
Exhibition open
We have battled wind and rain, the liminal setting is both beautiful and demanding, full accessibility is in place with a large mobility chair pirouetting round the display with ease. The wall itself is holding its own and creating a conversation of depth and engagement.
The free time is being spent creating pastel images in a new sketch book, that are being drawn from the beauty of the rain soaked seed heads that adorned my short cycle to the exhibition site.
The Exhibition is open all week TA23 0JD the garden sanctuary then it travels to Wimbleball lake on the 17th before heading to church at the end of may, Devon beckons in August so the wall is truly travelling the south west.
weekly art blog No: 51
Barely a week before exhibition date
Well the first one anyway, if you can't get to the physical venue the content is now live on the Dandelion wall page.
The week has been busy again with rounding up last minute submissions and attending art groups and work shops.
A lovely candle painting workshop rounded off the week very pleasantly, thanks to Rue's Artistry corner and new venture on Allahmand street Bideford. Do pop along to her open day on Friday the 1st of May and paint a toadstool. Sadly I can't make it as I am opening the Dandelion wall, Beyond the seed first exhibition in Somerset.
The amount of participant entries to the wall had been overwhelming with 100 now ready for display on May the 1st with a wide range of media and skill levels all producing beautiful images of the Dandelion.
Hopefully most of the prep is done now, although a large railway screen is waiting to be covered to hold the wall as it starts its adventures after the first exhibition but it will all happen ;)
weekly art blog No: 50
Updates and experiments and 50 blog posts
A mile stone indeed of 50 blog post, social media also hit 100 posts this week so I feel i shoukd have ballons and banners, intsead After a one to one with a new tutor the Dandelion wall images have been pulled into line, A week of experimenting with different papers for Cyanotype exposure ,the brown paper was most pleasing with the muted colours bringing something new to the practice. A Dandelion found flattened on the road has been now used repeatedly to make prints, as has a beautiful plant with a very long taproot from the Northam burrows session.
With huge thanks to Rose Roberts who ran the Easter break sessions offering visitors the chance to add images to the wall of dandelions which is now tipping 75
The weather made it a quiet day over all but it was good fun and the wall will have a few more images after the week of the Easter break.
The 1st exhibiton is fast approaching and we hope to see you in the garden sanctuary on May 1st
weekly art blog No: 49
Another Exhibition site added
Another exciting week, a 6th exhibition is now in place, which makes me think i should aim for double figures now.
I also spent a pleasant hour in the garden with Goauche and waterbased ink creating indexical marks from 3 dandelipons that had been uprooted in the vegetable garden.
Playing in the spring sunshine was both therapeutic and productive.
Several workshops are being planned for June so look out for details nearer the time but we will explore Cyanotype, Gelli print and watercolour in a plein air setting creating images from nature. Don't hesitate to email greshna.artist@dandelionportraits.co.uk for more details before they go live at the first exhibition as spaces are limited.
All materials included.
£15 per person
June 3rd, 10th, 17th 2pm Kentsford farm
This week I also submitted work to the Joy exhibition at East Qauy, and my images for the small print exhibition are ready to be delivered on May 12th.
We also had some company intereseted in the invasion of their space
weekly art blog No: 48
Uprooted but tough taproots survive
This week was overshadowed by the uprooting of the planned May exhibition from its gallery setting, a post on social media suggested a problem and turned out to be correct. A few hours of turmoil followed before the Garden sanctuary grew from the broken taproot and the things settled back into a more stable rhythm of Cyanotype, with the first attempts in direct sunlight instead of using the UV lamp. A forgotten laptop has meant a Monday update again as the weekend was spent recovering from the shock of the uprooting in Devon. The project also got through the proposal stage so lots of positives to draw on.
weekly art blog No: 47
Meetings and play
A busy week with trip to Dorset to meet some peers, and a lots of play with the Cyanotype which is proving both engaging and beautiful if not always predictable, The Dadnelion wall is growning rapidly with a busy few weeks now before the closing date for submissions of April the 20th.
I have been dropping the tiny art work seeds across counties with the hope of adding even more images to this spectacular wall of art.
Don't forget the first chance to view is now the Garden Sanctuary TA23 0BD from May 1st 10 til 4 until the 7th. The date for the Grand opening of the responsive art work will be confirmed soon but it will be early July so make a note in your diaries assuming I dont drown in cyanotype before then ;)
Dont forget to pop over to the Dandelion portrait page to see new arrivals in the online gallery
weekly art blog No: 46
Exhibition prep mainly
This week has been consumed by making sure the heavy lifting of exhibition prep is taken care off, the hanging system has been tested and once happy with the plan it was then replicated to create 10 separate Velcro tapes ready to hold the Dandelion wall in its new venue. 72 seeds have also been created to disperse over the Easter break, sharing a small piece of art and hopefully encouraging some more participants submissions but if they bring a little joy all is well.
The cyanotype printing is proving addictive especially with the sun making an appearance.
Throughout all this the sustainability of my practice has remained key, with both materials and equipment being drawn for what is already to hand where ever possible, glass from the printing room has become the key to pressure on the Cyanotype materials and my big green machine was dragged out of the cupboard to apply eyelets to the hanging system, this ethos keeps my practice both honest and enjoyable, Dont forget to head over to the dnadelion portraits page to see new arrivals adn of course submit your own
weekly art blog No: 45
London and Cyanotype
The week began with Bicarb and Turmeric and ended strolling around Kensington gardens,
Experimenting with Cyanotype is fun, and I have only just begun as the long weekend in London visiting my friends final major project exhibition put pay to my own practice for a few days. Turning up at Chelsea basement flat with chemicals and stacks of paper and pots didn't seem Ideal somehow. But is was an experience of closed tube lines, black cabs, buses and sore feet lol But all good fun. But I will look forward to more play this week, I also have two tiny prints to create for the small print exhibition at the albatross studio East Quay Watchet. Last week I also added 2 more pages to the taproot journal which is growing as a physical entity, I also made some more pages from recycled cardboard. So lots to do this week .
weekly art blog No: 44
Excitement continues
No change of heading as this week has been equally exciting with submissions arriving at pace to take a look at the growing Dandelion gallery link below. and don't forget to get involved and submit your images details on the Dandelion portraits page.
In the studio Gum Arabic and clay met and the results were pleasing all very experimental at this stage but fun. I also tackled some Cyanotype printing mixing my own solution and using handmade paper from the Two rivers company nearby. A fascinating process with UV light. So all in a good week with thanks to Clare Willcocks who let the Dandelions take over her art group and of course to the art group for submitting such beautiful images, I am blessed that my vision is starting to come together don't forget to follow the Taproot journal on Facebook and Instagram.
weekly art blog No: 43
Excitement continues
meetings, and images an interesting week indeed, the project now has 4 exhibition sites for the wall of Dandelions, of course the pressure then builds to ensure the wall is actually big enough, but as this is grassroots stage the signs are looking good. Art club this week was possibly a nod to Constable as I ended up with a heavy hand and twee image but all good fun as always. A morning print session was productive and I loved using the scrap paper from the Two rivers company in Watchet, the flower papers and different weights were a great exploration. Another trip to London is now planned to visit a peers exhibition so even more excitement a foot don't forget to head over to the Dandelion portraits page to see the gallery and submit your own images for inclusion in the exhibition
weekly art blog No: 42
Exciting week
Wow, this week has been very exciting, from submitting my project proposal, to visiting Tate modern in London to see the Turner and constable exhibition. Two art clubs also attended so pretty much non stop.
The exhibition in the Tate was wondrous, so many works to study, almost one day was not enough, but it was all we had, so I spent several hours lost in the brush work of Turner, blown away by the watercolours showing clear evidence of where the artist fingers has been drawn through the paint. Constable is not so much to my liking, I find the heavy application of paint and rather over worked figures much less appealing than the more raw and honest work of Turner. Purely personal opinion of course.
Life drawing Sunday was great, as was the Wednesday art group, and oh so exciting the first Dandelion portrait has come in from the posters, the second so far so it is starting to feel very real now . All information of how to get involved are on the dandelion portraits page.
weekly art blog No: 41
Busy Busy
This week saw both a day of life drawing, a chance to decompress and play with charcoal and pencils , air dry clay was also explored and then a lovely art group on the friday with chatter and tea. posters are starting to disseminate in Devon another batch will be going out soon.
weekly art blog No: 41
Busy Busy
This week saw both a day of life drawing, a chance to decompress and play with charcoal and pencils , air dry clay was also explored and then a lovely art group on the friday with chatter and tea. posters are starting to disseminate in Devon another batch will be going out soon.
weekly art blog No: 40
A week of exploration
This week Dandelion tea was explored as a pigment, whilst waiting patiently for for my oragnic, locally grown Dandelion coffee to arrive. It turns out there was not a lot of pigment in the tera results below. But another Dandelion portrait was born a slightly looser style this time but all part of the fun of watercolor art.
The results have begun the first pages of the Taproot journal a place to both explore and inform as it builds towards exhibition
weekly art blog No: 39
An exploration in clay
Experimentation continues with some air dry the memories of wonky horses coming home from primary school lurk worryingly in the background. But the maquette appears and survives the photography, maybe the remaining caly will be pressed into service or paper. A few Dandelion sketches appeared too but the white paper has remained stubbornly bare this week with pressures of study and weather. The Dandelion portrait page is now up and running so head over and get details of getting your Dandelion artwork into exhibition.
weekly art blog No: 38
Another busy week with some experimentals art ,,,
Tis the season for experimental art .. a dandelion painting started at art club, did not go quite to plan, so an idea and a rammage found some resin dots form previous projects, now a new batch are curing and the piece will become and exploration of combining watercolor and resin. If you head to the Dandelion portraits page, you will find an opportunity to have your dandelion art work displayed in a week long exhibition so click below
weekly art blog No: 37
The year has continued as it started full on .. My Thesis was well received so the Final Major project now looms ..
The experimental practice exploring nature and the human form is now complete, and has been accepted into the People drawing people exhibition in September. A diversion from more focused practice has been the creation of some cute sheep cards, still in the production stage but available soon. Alongside playing with leftover paint on the palate ... oh yes they seem to be sheep like ;)
This alongside more Dandelions and the start of a Dandelion sketch book which allows time to explore the plants before tackling more portraits. So it is a busy and enjoyable time of exploration and growth.
weekly art blog No: 36
2026 has started off with a busy week Art groups, my own practice and a mix of rain and storm force winds
It was straight back into a full on schedule this week, 2 art groups an online peer studio session and the experimental practice moving a pace to avoid stretching into the academic year.
Sheep have popped up again, and the acquisition of some sheepy items may involve some fun spring antics as break from the more involved study.
weekly art blog No: 35
Well, the New year is upon us, nothing much to report over the festive period but back in the studio with a bang now.
The first agenda item was the commission for chinese new year, the first trail cut was a success so the project went smoothly. No spoilers though, the results will be posted after chinese new year.
The next project is only in its infancy so far but the results of the test work-through have given me hope that it will come through. The aim is possibly a People drawing people exhibition later in the year but also as another element to my Final major project bringing plants and people together in an organic image. so far all my life drawing practice has been collated and images taken to create templates for the project. One was taken through the full process today and the depth of colour in the greens and magenta was pleasing as was the difference in tone of the gold leaf. Hopefully the next few days will see images develop to create the vision of my imagination.
weekly art blog No: 34
Still a few silhouette tree decorations remaining , available through the store or Whatsapp 07900981195 .
Christmas is very nearly upon us and cards numbering over 60 painted and sent, but art is on hold now as the cooking and merriment begin.
so wishing everyone a very joyful Christmas, and a productive new year.
weekly art blog No: 33
Still a few silhouette tree decorations remaining , available through the store or Whatsapp 07900981195 .
The easel has been very busy this week, with 2 very different paintings taking shape. I have also managed 2 life drawing sessions which were productive, and one of which may lead to being part of an exhibition next autumn.
Most of the 60 hand painted christmas cards are out now, hopefully no more late night top ups will be required but you never know.
Already we have things to do in preparation for the FMP (final major project) which is exciting, but time consuming with all the Christmas prep to deal with.
Enjoy the new artworks below and look forward to another update next week.
watercolour paintings, one is a commision for a gift, the Dandelion was just extraordinary with its striped petals.
The baubles were a bit of fun, some cheap metallic paint from the works, but fun and play is an important part of my practice.
this months life drawing, two sessions this week, a mix of graphite, watercolour and charcoal, first session was a full day and it is very interesting to complete so many studies in a relatively short period.
The 2nd was a couple of hours but nice to change back to the female form.
weekly art blog No: 32
The silhouette tree decorations are finally finished , available through the store or Whatsapp 07900981195 .
The art group christmas lunch was a nice way to end the MA module, essay submitted and out of my hands now.
I have finally finished the tree Decs a few of which are still available for £4 + postage each whatsapp or from the store.
Looking forward to life drawing next week and taking a few deep breaths before the module kicks off in the new year.
The wet and windy weather is a great excuse to hide in the studio and play with paint :)
These Tree decorations are definitely proving popular but a few left from whatsapp or the store.
Art club skecthes and a watercolour sheep this weeks art practice
weekly art blog No: 31
This week has been mostly upside inside my computer finalising my essay and proofreading for peers
The essay has certainly been at the forefront of my mind, but we set up the Christmas tree in the church on Thursday morning and I managed to actually put paint on a sketch made in October. Loving my new 00000 brush and the hansa yellow light from Daniel smith, what a combination. I have a commision to create some chinese dragon silhouettes, and all being well the reindeer tree decorations, or freestanding as they do both will be on the website next week.
I got plenty of practice attaching the hanger on thursday as several peg people needed their heads drilled to hang from the tree, I wonder if my orchestra will make it home for Christmas? It would be nice to have them round our tree.
The Tree in the church, created by Watchet art Club, it certainly fitted the brief and stood out amongst teh green plastic companions all of which were decorated beautifully.
This sketch has been hanging around since October, whilst I considered the idea of painting it, but the time was right and the outcome was pleasing on wednesday
weekly art blog No: 30
The sun came out and the paint was flowing
This week has been full of glitter and detail, a larger watercolour of a Dandelion took precedence, but the annual card strings went up and a little on the early side got filled with a range of cards for friends and family. Another project with silhouette stencils is taking shape and the joys of drilling tiny pilot holes for tiny eyelets is looming large .
But first the essay for my MA is looming submission date and will be consuming much time this week although we are putting up the Watchet art club tree in the church (St Decumans) on thursday so photos will be taken of the peg people from the last few weeks in situ,
From sketch to completion, I will put the finished Dandelion on the main page this week too.
A bit early but it's never too early to get ahead when the creative energy is flowing
Life drawing, not on top form unfortunately but several are passable so all good practice
weekly art blog No: 29
And Breath that was a busy week
Phew, from 16 peg people for the Art group Christmas tree, to 3 art groups including life drawing, it has been a busy week. The hot glue gun was on fire on Monday and Tuesday as was the sewing machine, fun to be doing a more craft based activity for a few days and hopefully they will look ok on the tree. I also was pleased to find my watercolour of the fields made it into the country walking magazine earning a golden badger.
Both art groups got invaded by sheep, well nothing new there but all good fun, but some Dandelions and a sketch for a planned water colour snuck in as you will see below. All in all a fun week of art and creativity : )
from the magazine entry to a cute bear the craft and water colour from this week have been fun.
Pencils out for sketch and sheep always love this medium
Life drawing, not on top form unfortunately but several are passable so all good practice
weekly art blog No: 28
Winter arrives
More online workshops this week, and some studio time too, a visit to Rosemoor gardens on Monday to see the last of the autumn colors too.
Studio looks lovely from outside, well if i leave the light on from photographing art practice lol
Had some fun experimenting with gum Arabic on the tractor and playing with my new extremely long natural sword brush
From left
Studio in the lamp light followed by stages of Autumn drilling
Bottom row Farm weeds in autumn from sketch to finish
weekly art blog No: 27
November arrives
The draft is complete, very raw but complete, so this week has been a nice bit of breathing space. This allowed time to get on with my tiny choir boy, a contribution to the Watchet art Club tree in the St Decumans tree festival, that really was fun after several days of 8 til 8 typing and research.
No art group this week though as poor car needed it MOT, but Friday night we had immense fun, recreating the story of Lady Wyndham, rising from her grave after being buried alive in a coma, roused by the graavedigger trying to cut off her rings. She made her way back to the manor house but was not admitted til morning as the staff thought it was a ghost. The video is on youtube, link below.
Two sketches have also been undertaken, the very first beginnings of the next paintings hopefully
From left
1. peg ...
2. clothes
3. finishing touches
4. sketch 'Drilling'
5. sketch 'weeds' On locally handmade paper
video from all Hallows eve
weekly art blog No: 26
A week of slow art
This week has been research research research however I have fitted in a watercolour workshop with the artefacto online school and Wednesday art group. This is where I began the painting shown through its process below. It is unusual for me to not start and finish in one or two sittings but for some reason this painting became the antithesis to the research and a place to disappear to when a break was needed, nearly 4000 words down now leaving as 1000 for the abstract and any additions before the draft it submitted.
From left
1. pencil sketch
2. blocking in the main darks
3. adding mid tones
4. building up detail from the bottom
5. finished
From left
weekly art blog No: 25
Autumn art rush
I love this time of year, the changing colours and the crisp air, that almost snuggle down for winter feeling . Very lucky to get lots of time on the water, watching the birds getting ready to leave, and the autumn leaves swirling in the currents. Art group on Wednesday and life drawing sunday as well as a peer meeting online to discuss our essays and the regular tutorial kept me busy and motivated. A ballpoint workshop, yes I finally completed it really reignited my love of pen work although watercolour and pencil were not forgotten.
water colour
All on 300gsm paper 3 brushes
The 2nd in my autumn on the farm series.
A view of the yeo river in flood
sketch of corn husk, colours need rethinking.
Life Drawing
Sunshine and snow
Triptych of 10 minute sketches, ballpoint, charcoal and pencil 4b/ 8b
Pencil reposed pose pencil 4b/8b 20 minutes
seated pose (3rd attempt) 30 minutes pencil
Autumn berries and sheep
Sketch book fun
colour of autumn on the Tarka trail, watercolour pencils
The obligatory sheep, the habit has stuck and if in doubt draw a sheep, that 12 months of daily sheep has a lot to answer.
weekly art blog No: 24
A busy week
The wind abated this week, and some lovely autumn days followed. More chestnutting monday and today, I also picked up some softpastles and a traveling watercolor set, some pastel pencils and a storage cabinet, hence the chestnutting as I drove past the spot. I then spent Tuesday sorting out my studio, it is much more pleasant again now, these things need doing every so often. Wednesday art club was an excuse to do a few sketches but I have to admit the peace and quite of my studio is preferable really. I only caught the last half hour of Fridays art group, and a quick pastel sketch of the bowl of onions, but the MA tutorial was important so these things can't be helped. A Watercolor online workshop followed with Joe Dowden, I have ordered a couple of his books so that will be interesting as was the discovery of his Watercolour holidays quite locally to me, something for the future maybe.
weekly art blog No: 23
Another slow week
This week has been seriously windy, storm Amy has been swirling round so I have caught up with some writing and tutorials. A ballpoint sketch workshop finally took place online which was interesting but I haven't had a chance to explore the technique as yet. I did spend some time sketching Sunday afternoon, and yes I know the weekly update is a day late but these things happen. We went chestnutting this morning a lovely autumn past time, Sadly our own tree was emptied by the storm but the nuts had not fully formed, maybe next year.
weekly art blog No: 22
Flattened by virus
This week started as last week finished, decidedly under the weather, the next module has begun, and the work is mounting up already. No art group Wednesday as a sneaking suspicion i was still very infectious, but the end of the week I was able to begin work on a my planned autumn series, and the first painting has come out popping quite well . Sunday I made it to life drawing at Shine and snow, after finishing the painting in the morning so the week has ended pretty well considering all things.
weekly art blog No: 21
Busy week
This week has been full to the brim, including a visit to the wonderful Jenny Barron's art week. Fascinated by her watercolour of paper folding, and well worth a trip to Watchet to visit before the end art week on the 28th. I also fired up the Adana letterpress and updated my business cards with my web address. I also rekindled my love of dip pens sketching the Mudlarkers in Devon, before tackling an abstract course not my favorite but an interesting area to explore, more sheep at Watchet art club, and some experiments with making paper bricks, a possible future project depending on how they dry out over the next few weeks.
weekly art blog No: 20
Friday art group
Wow, finally landed back from residential and after a day free writing on tuesday , basically a brain data dump. Things are back to normal . or as normal as they ever are! Back in Devon for Friday art group with the lovely Claire Wilcox in the Panier cafe. It is a still life drawing group, a;though no one minds if you go off piste, I made the last hour of Watchet art club Wednesday to. So, caught up on the exhibition gossip, and collected my art works, will try and make it on time next week lol. Plans to set up the Adana letterpress this week but we shall see.
weekly art blog No: 19
Half way through
Wow, what a weekend that was, and a long one at that. Amazing residential at Falmouth university campus with an awesome group of students, Alumni, tutors and lecturers. 3 days of full on exploration of various artists practice, my own place in the art community and the town of Falmouth. Delighted to travel down from Devon accompanied by a fellow student I hadn't met, to be greeted by a host of peoplle, some that I had met, in person or online and some I had not. Great to find Becca Edwards running a workshop after her successful final major project 'Between the sheet's ' we have known each other for many years. And then connecting with established artist Sheena Calvert and share our love of the Adana letterpress and the joy of printing. This was during the paper artefacts conference which we were fortunate to be invited to on the Friday On the Thursday we had workshops with to of our course tutors , so lovely to meet them in person and get to know them a bit more. Two great workshops with strong links to play and representations of play and exploration in art. The final day was a trip to the farm based art centre at Kestel Barton in Cornwall and an intriguing workshop with Dr Bram Arnold and his Biliogorghic therapy work, I was brave or foolish enough to take the beautifully constructed portable lectern after Dr Bram after arriving slightly late with the group who were unsure about two hours without a public convenience first. I have shared below some of the art works I created during the process, I will add the beautiful sheet of rag paper I made with Becca once it is fully dry.
Lot of lovely swims in Falmouth and before I left I christened my new sketchbook to take with me so i wasnt faced with a blank first page. Kay Baxter kindly attended the Watchet art club exhibition and there are also photo showing my pieces in situ,
Residential, including me with the wonderful Sheena Calvert
Watchet art club Exhibition my practice
Sketch book Christening
weekly art blog No: 18
Back in the studio
Another busy week, and lots of prep for next weeks residential in Falmouth. But grabbed some studio time, the weather was not conducive to Plein aire, how strange for an english summer. A new sheet of paper from the local mill is waiting to be explored and next weekend also sees the Watchet art club exhibition, in the methodist hall Saturday and Sunday. I am away sadly but some of my practice will be on show , including my part in the collaborative towns scape.
weekly art blog No: 17
Devon Days
Lovely to meet Mary a fellow student in Appledore this week, and to visit the Appledore gallery where 5 artists including Mary show there their work. Lots of swimming and paddle boarding this week too. But a session of plein air painting was sucesful and very enjoyable so will be repeated soon.
weekly art blog No: 16
Hot! Hot! Hot!
Phew! The summer is certainly here with soaring temperatures and blue skies, one of the few times when I have been envious of the life models lack of clothing; A brilliant session at the Rosie and Red art studio, a whole day of messing about with charcoal and pastels and chatting. That followed a fun day framing and experimenting in my studio . A perfect way to unwind now the first year of MA study is completed, although of course the countdown to results for this module is now under way .... in weeks rather than days at the moment. I have also remembered how to embed a video on here below is my experimental film Resonant Flux
weekly art blog No: 15
Another busy week
This week has been yet again busy, but enjoyable, a whole day in the studio Monday was nice and might become a regular plan lol A few decent frames acquired at the Saturday car boot with plans to submit to the RNLI art show before the deadline next week afoot. My Sustainable Practice video is now on youtube https://youtu.be/cZMWPzTSW5c?si=rBpTKyomk5725eCg . Been enjoying some messy pastels recently but dipped back into my watercolour box for a play too :)
The framed plums are available whatsapp 079009891195 or contact from here for details Soft pastels on black paper
weekly art blog No: 14
Another sheep week and life drawing
This week has been yet again busy, but managed to fit in life drawing on Sunday and might get a day of art tomorrow. The next MA submission is as ready as I can make it, well for today at least I may have changed my mind between now and submission date. Life drawing was great with lovely Dixie again, it is such a pleasure to spend a couple of hours in good company and sketch. Might be useful instead of saying i must sharpen my pencils I actually get round to doing it though.
This poor sheep got the pleasure of being the first thing I sketched in my new varifocals .. better him than Dixie, but they seem to be working ok so far.
Tuesday art we were asked to draw and image of a Dove reflecting the War child project, my version is in the gallery below
weekly art blog No: 13
Exhibition prep and work for MA
This week has been busy, but not very productive. The online studio crit was interesting with the main focus on my pastel rose, some considerations on meaning that I hadn't thought of came to light so all very useful. Feedback on draft MA submission was both constructive and inspiring so it has been head down and work for a few days. The link below will take you to the most recently uploaded version of the video. https://falmouth.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=e5b3027e-6574-4f7c-ba84-b324013e427e Not much in the way of artwork other than that but we had to do a creative writing piece which is below :
What cost?
Clink of coins
Touch of card
choices very hard
my body, my wealth
loss hurts
Here, there
joints, bones
Grind and grate
Tyres, wings
Freedom bring
what cost?
Silence, peace
work, commitment
Absence, presence
Absaination
What cost?
Social, personal
buy a painting
make another
Take a child
from its mother
Nature's cruelest hand
what cost?
Soul mate, lover
Friend, mother
Artist, writer
Cleaner, cook
shattered hearts
what cost?
To be here
To be there
Hold a hand
stand and stare
To take a life from me
From yours
what cost?
In the Gallery one lonely sheep
weekly art blog No: 12
Busy week back in the studio and life Drawing
This week after a thorough studio clean, Long overdue if I am honest I spent a whole day in the studio painting which was very productive and one piece is already off to exhibition, more time was taken up framing, labeling and cleaning pictures both for sale and expedition. A short film was produced for the MA, an Auto Theoretical poem inspired by the writing of CHris Kraus and Felix of Manhatten. All before Wednesday. Thursday was spent in the studio, where I completed my sketch of Clovelly in Watercolour and went on to create a watercolour of the harbour . Lots of reading was required over the next few days, and there hads also been a task of 10 minutes free writing which has proved interesting. Sunday and back at Sunshine and Snow with the lovely Fiona and model Dixie for a few hours life drawing. So all in all a good week and lots to get on with, a studio crit looms Wednesday after art group Tuesday
weekly art blog No: 11
Plein air session run and healing fayre
The Watchet art group came on Wednesday for the planned Plein air session, the sun shone and a good time sketching and chatting was had by all. I worked in pastels , most people were sketching or watercolour . I am finding that the paint is drying so fast in the current heatwave.
After all the excitement of a few days holiday before the session it was good to be back in the studio later in the week, framing and sorting out works for the September exhibition and then finally tidying the studio , much needed and not before time. Feeling inspired I have begun sketch work on some new paintings .
Today we went to the Secret world healing fayre and met self published writer David Mitchell , he gave me a copy of his book The pen in Us All a collection of poems and writing one that struck me immediately was 'Precious'
Time is often wasted by not appreciating the moment We cannot make time But we can make time for each other
Taken from the poem Precious
The heat is certainly making it tricky to get down to work, but once My head is in the right place the paint will flow best
weekly art blog No: 10
Sketching and abstract
Lots of preparation this week for the Watchet art club Plein air session on Wednesday, plus preparation for Septembers exhibition. I also completed my piece for the collaborative mural of Watchet , my medium was water colour and a series of A4 images will be combined and displayed in the methodist church, harbour rd , Watchet An interesting abstract session, where a simple object was sketched in 5 mins then a part abstracted to create a piece with water soluble pens, which turned out not to be . Then a cacophony of sheep to film the time at art group, exploring loose sketching.
Draft submission uploaded to MA for feedback and a weekend off exploring Devon and Cornwall
weekly art blog No: 9
film making and life Drawing
This week I was offered a very rare opportunity to attend a life drawing session with an 8 month pregnant model, poses were limited but it was a very enjoyable few hours, I chose to use pencil as some of the poses were quite short.
later in the week the film for the MA module began to really come together and I am currently working on the accompanying portfolli all very time consuming.
On Monday i met up with fellow students for tea and peer to peer discussions which was great, it also saw the very wasted pink six seater bike find a new home, and possibly featuring in an MA final major project
So all in all a busy productive week
weekly art blog No: 8
Collaborative practice and sheep
This week the art club stall was unpicked and repairs after the wind got far too involved took a while, but everything is back as it should be now. It was time to press ahead with the collaborative practice painting and conceptual film for the MA module, the painting was completed yesterday and the video has started to take shape all be it not at pace. A great email conversation with a fellow student on the brief of society care systems with more peer to peer work looming was useful. Thoughts of a site specific art work have begun too, with pockets full of found items to explore but we shall see :)
Hoping to add more artwork to the store very soon, but please take a look if you are interested
weekly art blog No: 7
Art club stall and outing for the Painted Threads Dress
A quiet sort of week after the enjoyable life drawing but today saw the Watchet art club stall on the Esplanade with the Painted threads Dress back on display for the day. A lot of reading too for the MA but a few sketches and Geli prints fitted in somewhere
Hoping to add more artwork to the store very soon, but please take a look if you are interested
weekly art blog No: 6
June has arrived
This week has been more rain than sun but liquid sunshine much needed. Studio printing and gold leaf application had been interspersed with life drawing and sketching. plans for the Watchet Art club stall on the Esplanade are underway and the card stand was dug out and pressure washed in preparation. Lots of photography to as this module requires 12 to 15 minute film and the light was amazing on Sunday Morning.
There are still some Dandelion prints left, 07900981185 phone or whatsapp or click through to the store this will take you to my online shop which will grow over the next months
weekly art blog No: 5
A busy week this week
The MA roller coaster is up and running again, with Sustainable practice in focus. In the studio the daisy prints have moved on towards completion, with two gold leafed and ready to frame up. Tuesday was spent teaching image transfer with Gelli plates which was ad hoc but good prep for the planned workshops.I also had another experiment with tetra pack printing and the results are improving slowly and fitted in a some sketching. Another lino print is taking shape in between swimming and paddling, lambs are now venturing out in the day time.
The MA requires a video for this module so some time will be taken up with that over the next few weeks
There are still some Dandelion prints left, 07900981185 phone or whatsapp or click through to the store this will take you to my online shop which will grow over the next months
weekly art blog No: 4
This week was quite in many ways
This week was fairly quiet on many fronts but the online store is beginning to take shape so you can click and buy, this is a huge leap into new realm for my practice but I am pleased to have made a start.
More exploring of geli prints and playing with gold leaf, but studio time was short and a dripping tap has been on y mind lol interspersed with lots of swimming and thinking. next week I hope to start the next linocut design and spend more time in the studio. some more applications been submitted and workshop planning is still under way.
This weeks images show some of the process of the next lino print, including a fist test handprint, Also i have played with some prints from cleaning the gelli plates adding stencils and gold leaf .
There are still some Dandelion prints left, 07900981185 phone or whatsapp or click through to the store this will take you to my online shop which will grow over the next months
weekly art blog No: 3
This week was results week for module 2
This last week was very much living in the shadow of the prelim results fro module 2 collaborative practice, but a busy start to the week saw the start of some tetra pack designs for printing, Followed by a lino print workshop on Tuesday with Watchet art group, which was fun. The end of the week I finished the tetra pack design started Tuesday but printing was not a great success we had been told to cut into the surface but I would have thought for intaglio printing you would only indent the surface I have saved some tetra packs to play with at home. I also got round to painting the angel feather a lot bigger than the sketch, and completed the first pencil Daisy,will it be the last? probably not.The sun has been out and evenings have been taken up with swimming and barbeques and yes the results came in and thanks goodness I passed so onwards to module 3 sustainable practice.
There are still some Dandelion prints left, 07900981185 phone or whatsapp,
Geli printing workshops are being planned so watch this space if you are interested
weekly art blog No: 2
This week I have been geli printing , painting and attending life drawing
Another week of cardboard at Pollyfields art group, The dandelion prints are selling fast, £10 each plus postage with or without gold leaf bling. I finally got round to painting Gill's Sunflowers which I really enjoyed and lots of experimenting with the Geli plate, massive plus this morning was experimenting with Gouache a water based pigment which worked surprisingly well even giving a reasonable image transfer given it wasn't the best image. earlier in the week I managed to get a great pull of Maude wagner using acrylic, given I have a fair amount of the stuff it will have to be used up. I also completed 2 watercolours this week and a sketch on black paper, something that I am currently continuing to work with. A new life drawing class this sunday at Sunshine and snow, proved excellent and the wonderful Dixie was a brilliant subject.
There are still some Dandelion prints left, 07900981185 phone or whatsapp, The first batch are being posted out today, each of the 10 numbered prints are beautifully individual.
Geli printing workshops are being planned so watch this space if you are interested
weekly art blog No: 1
This week I have been concentrating on lino printing with some sketching thrown in.
This week I attended two art groups, at the first we were given a selection of cardboard to construct a face or sculpture, working on an idea from last week of the cardboard collage image, I found a picture of Maude Wager in a magazine and set to work. The result was interesting, with limited tools and cardboard it was good fun. Wednesday was another art group but left to our own devices, I always carry pencils and sketchbook so settled down for an hour or so sketching images from my phone. IN the studio I was slowly tackling the carving of the dandelion lino print, once complete I set out to print, the press was not feeling favorable and I was short of time to reset and get the desired result so I went for the tried and tested brayer method, one of the prints has already sold, but they are currently on the drying rack to avoid any risk of smudges during framing, I may attempt a gold leaf accent on one or too. I used water based ink and feel the prints are clear and sharp which was pleasing with the intricate design. I enjoy the carving, so a daisy design might be on the cards next, I will try to take progress photos for a future blog. you can use the contact form if you are interested in a print, they are A5 and will be framed by the end of the week.
