I do love printmaking! I used some random bits and pieces to make these prints - the end of an empty tube of glitter, a tiny piece of round lego, a larger piece of round lego, and the bottom of a plastic lego shark- yes apparently lego sharks do exist! All using indigo watercolour paint, watercolour because I like the imperfections and entirely-out-of-my-control marks and blotches. Quite like these.
I've begun to make a few scraps of work in the few snatches of time before little feet come padding in or I hear a 'Muuuum! '. I find being a full time mum doesn't combine well with being an artist, time wise anyway as in you find there isn't any to make work in! But I also find my kids are a constant source of inspiration, yes through the work they make be it drawing, painting, glueing and sticking or playdough, but also just being with them I find I have more ideas flooding in. The sunny weather which has miraculously decided to make an entrance here in the UK also helps, after so much grey (which is a colour I adore by the way but not in terms of light!) I think everyone feels refreshed and renewed, and the inspirational cogs start turning.
Images are of recent little ideas I am having at the moment using collage and mixed media, beginning with vessels: jam jars, bottles & bird feeders, then animals and birds such as hares and guinea fowl. Also a few peeks of my pinboard.
It made such a change to have a sunny day with blue sky after all the rain and grey skies. We had a day trip to Cleveleys on the northern coast of Lancashire. The light was sparkling, more so probably after the relentless grey light of winter. The sea was at high tide and rushing up the promenade steps in a foamy swathe. The power in those waves was still visible after the recent storms and I dash over as little legs were getting closer to the steps in open curiosity at the big bank of water in front of them. The damage caused by the storms is apparent in the broken tiles and holes in roofs around the front. I realise how lucky we are as a family, although there are many trees down where we live and lucky escapes by those that we know.
After the boys scootering and biking along the prom we had a fish and chip lunch, with not much negotiation needed with the boys, they were as hungry as we were! Then it was wellies on for a spot of pebble throwing into the sea, the waves rushing at their toes. We had a final walk along the prom looking at the large nautical themed sculptures which really encourages a thoughtful walk along this stretch. The huge carved wooden oar reminds me of a Maori artifact for some reason, the carvings of barnacles and seaweed are beautiful. There are nautical themed poems with accompanying illustrations engraved into stone, my favourite of which is a poem about a girl called Mary losing a golden shell. Facing the sea and the huge sky of the horizon above we are faced with a vertical rectangle of sheet metal about 15 ft high, into which the name and date of every ship to be shipwrecked of the Fylde coast since 1642 to 2008 has been cut so that the light of the sky which has witnessed such wreckage is used to read these names. At first I assumed such a list was names of those lost in the first or second world war, the kind that can be seen in many town or village centres, once I realised what it really was, it was perhaps surprisingly so, no less poignant.
Tired little legs and a few scraped knees determined ice-cream was called for, an ice-cream parlour (yes they do still exist apparently!) was of course doing a rip - roaring trade on the first sunny day in months. We then headed home tired after our blast of sea air and sparkling light.
Christmas has been and gone with all the activity, bedlam, colour and magic it brings with two little ones. I realise that I haven't posted anything on my blog since November last year, and so much has happened, especially the news that my new studio is now finished and I've moved in. It feels amazing to now have a place where I can really make work, but also a place where I feel I can sit and think or daydream too. I know how lucky I am to have such a space. After not having one I feel it all the more. I'm beginning to make work but for a while wasn't sure where to start with so many ideas in my sketchbooks. I'm taking more of a mixed media approach than I ever have before, and it's quite tricky actually to get the image down that I have in my head, the bane of all artists I suppose! I need a lot more practice and to also give myself permission to play rather than feel I have to make serious work. Whichever way I look at it though I know I'm out of practice with making anything at all, so patience is all important right now!
I couldn't resist taking this photograph of the sunlight shining onto the living room wall. Shining through leaves has made the light and shadows dappled, even more beautiful in movement, the orbs of light would shimmer and merge then become still, the effect of wind in the leaves. The smallest and least noticeable things are often the most beautiful. This I must tell myself often so that I notice the small things in life.
The cold weather is here! The north of the country (where we are) is apparently about 6 degrees cooler than the south, doesn't sound a lot but it is when outside! Beautiful sunny cold blue skies with frost on the ground and snow on the hills is our introduction to winter.
I collected these rosehips in our little park today. I was drawn to their deep scarlet coats and put them in a little duck egg blue bowl I have. I felt inspired by the contrast of the bright rosehips together with the organic shape and fresh blue of the bowl. I know this is a subject I want to draw and paint soon.
