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Yesterday was my final morning at printmaking class until next term. I decided to take a summer sketchbook from 2018 for inspiration which had several sunflower sketches. This was my starting point for these monotypes. I find sunflowers the hardest flowers to tackle, I think the the large, dark centre can look threatening and unappealing. But I’m quite happy with how these have turned out. They’re intuitive and it helps that I wasn’t worried about the outcome.

I’ve now used up my stock of Japanese paper including some small handmade sheets that my dad gave me over 20 years ago which I taped together to make larger pieces. My printmaking tutor was able to give me some information on where the paper had originally come from thanks to one of the pieces having a watermark of J Green, a paper company that closed down years ago. So satisfying to finally make use of these little pieces of paper after all these years.

A few months ago I was approached by Mylo Art about the possibility of showing some pieces in a pop-up show in Knightsbridge. The show commenced last week and is running for the whole of March. Mylo represent a wonderful array of artists including my sister, Bess.

The exhibition can also be viewed online for any of us that can’t make it to London.

 

 

Here are some very quick sketches of my gorgeous whippet. She’s a wonderful shape, so elegant and slender. She’s quite tricky to draw though and I have a tendency to make her snout too long.

I’m thinking of making some drypoint prints based on my drawings this week, they could work quite well…

I’ve just returned from my annual visit to Tresco as part of an artist’s residency with Gallery Tresco. A short 20 minute flight from Lands End, in an 8 seater plane to St Marys and a bumpy boat ride from St Marys to Tresco and you’re there. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed by 2 days due to fog and high humidity, which meant we only had 4 days staying on the island. Luckily, time slows down on Tresco and it felt as if we’d had much longer. One of the joys of visiting in the winter means we have the island pretty much to ourselves, a real luxury. We stayed in the most stunning  house, with sea views and steps going down to the beach. Just gorgeous.

I concentrated on making daily sketches of the Abbey Gardens as for me they are so inspiring due to an abundance of exotic plants, flowers and trees. I’ll really enjoy creating a new collection of work based on my drawings. We were also lucky to spot some of the rare wildlife- red squirrels and golden pheasants.

Each day a different robin (I only know this because one was quite fat and extrovert and another was shyer and slimmer) came and perched next to me whilst I was sketching. One day it trilled a song whilst making eye contact with myself and my son!

I’m ensconced in the studio now, preparing new work for the May Show, starting on 14th May 2020.

 

My favourite 2019 Christmas presents are handmade bamboo dip pens, black drawing ink and a couple of quills. These are such a joy to draw with as there’s an element of surprise and slight lack of control which makes for interesting marks and effects.

Being away from my studio for a week over the holidays was quite a wrench so it was great to get back into a bit of quick drawing as soon as I returned.

Here’s one using my left hand. A beautiful flowering cactus, a present from a friend.

Two cups, using a 30 year old quill, made and used by my son’s dad whilst at art school.

 A selection of Tresco inspired sketches.

 

I’ve just completed my second term learning printmaking at Penzance School of Art. I’ve loved it so much that I’m going to continue signing up for the foreseeable future. It’s one morning a week for 2.5 hours. Very doable in between my usual work schedule.

I really enjoyed making these flat colour monoprints using card stencils. They almost look like screenprints, but not quite. Getting the colour really even is tricky but then it’s good to have imperfections in art.

I’m lucky to live around a 20 minute car journey from St Ives. Over the last couple of years I’ve purposely taken my sketch book with me when visiting and I’ve now acquired lots of information to use within my work. 

Favourite places to visit are the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Gardens, Tate, Leach Pottery and St Ives Ceramics. 

Inspiration for these monoprints have originated from my St Ives sketchbooks. And I’ve finally found my favourite paper to print on- Tosa Washi. It’s a very thin, slightly transparent but strong Japanese paper. Just gorgeous.

I’ve become quite addicted to making monoprints, it’s so quick and can be done at home without the need of a press. I just love the effect and satisfaction involved.

I’ve been designing various whippet themed creations for around 16 years since acquiring my first rescue whippet/ lurcher.

I love the whippet nature- gentle, sensitive, prone to long sleeps and keen on comfort and warmth. My whippet, Tess is now 9 and doesn’t really stir until midday and even then she’ll slope back to bed.

It’s very handy to have a muse for my whippet designs. This is the 4th year that I’ve created the Christmas card image for Just Whippets Rescue-  a great project to work on every year and I’ve had several commissions over the years immortalising clients’ favourite hounds.

Some of these paintings are available from my online shop, so do take a look…. 

I tend to veer towards a vibrant colour palette but sometimes it’s refreshing to tone it down. Plus it’s a good learning process mixing new colours and seeing what works.

I could never be bored of colour, the possibilities are endless.

Flowers are a recurring theme within my work along with still life, beach scenes and Cornwall gardens. I’ve been creating a small range of new florals, some of which will be shown at Nadia Waterfield Fine Art from 11th October and a few others will be off to Birdie Fortescue in November, a new venue for my work.

‘Autumn Narcissi’ below, was quite a pain to get right with the colours and composition. Originally I painted more flowers but it wasn’t working so I painted over them. The background was a mid pink but was jarring  with the jug, I think the pale blue works much better.

Sometimes a painting works instantly and other times it needs constant work and amendments to make it work and then it’s still not right.

I’m happy with the ones pictured and they fit into my ethos of simplicity, harmony and the use of colour to evoke positive emotions.