Journal

I feel very fortunate that since the lockdown my days haven’t changed too dramatically especially as I’m used to working from home but now I’m having to manage the home schooling too, which can be a real fiasco. 

I’m continuing to paint every day and I’ve noticed some greys creeping into my new work. This was definitely subconscious to start with but now I’m aware of the muted tones I’m loving how it works with my palette of brighter colours. My days are really quite full despite lots of exhibitions being cancelled. I don’t have anything to work towards which is quite strange but this is a good chance to evolve and spend time in the studio. I’m making do with materials that I already have and I’m painting over and amending old canvasses and pieces of hardboard. It wasn’t ideal running out of yellow paint last week but I raided my son’s box and have made the best of using kids acrylic, quite a challenge as they are watery with minimal pigment.

Thanks to an amazing campaign set up by Matthew Burrows on Instagram I’ve made a few sales. The idea is for artists to sell pieces of work for no more than £200 and once they’ve reached £1000 of sales each artist pledges to buy another artist’s work for £200. I’ve reached one pledge and bought a couple of screenprints, a collage and an original oil painting. I have overspent.

This initiative has been a complete godsend for so many artists with work drying up, shows cancelled and galleries closed.

Follow the hashtag #artistsupportpledge on Instagram to see some gorgeous work. Anyone can buy.

Whilst we’re all experiencing lockdown I knew it was important for me to continue with new projects and view this time as a chance to experiment and see how my work evolves. And a way to retain some normality to my day. My first project was to create a collection of paintings inspired by other artists work. Due to the internet and art books scattered around my home I’ve been able to access material really easily. I’ve used some of my favourite artists- Matisse, Margaret Mellis and Milton Avery as starting points. 

Margaret Mellis ‘Dying Poppies’

Matisse ‘Goldfish and Sculpture’  Milton Avery ‘White Pitcher’

Van Gogh ‘Sunflowers’

I’m going to continue with this project as I feel that it’s a great way to study, learn, gain new inspiration and enjoyment.

 

A couple of weeks ago I set myself a project to create paintings inspired by other artists’ work, a great way to learn. I began with Van Gogh sunflowers as I find them challenging to paint although I love the look of them.

I was pleased with my effort which spurred me on to continue but this time using my sunflower monotypes as a starting point.

Working quickly and intuitively with the first 3 and I was really happy with the end results.

There’s something so refreshing  painting without too much thinking and just doing it, getting on with it.

As usual, my aim was to paint in a fresh and unpretentious way, capturing the pure essence of the subject matter.

This is the end of my sunflowers project for the moment but I’ll be revisiting it when the florists reopen.

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.