It's come back around to that time of year again and Mats Bootcamp is here at last, along with a familiar buzz, as friends old and new come together to create art from all corners of the globe. Artists on the whole tend to be a kindly bunch and the Mats community is full of inspiration and support. It attracts the real pro's, the beginners and everything in between and I always come away feeling utterly enriched and often with a new friend or two. The days leading up to the first assignment are filled with the kind of excitement you feel as a little kid waiting for Christmas! So it is with great joy that I can share with you what I've been getting up to during this first week of the mini assignment: 'What's in My Bag'. This has been a fascinating exercise, I suppose we don't often analyse exactly what we carry around with us everyday, but the process of doing just that has strangely taught me a great deal about myself and my own personal style.
Enjoying the Little Things: Patterns
My adventure in simple patterns with CreativeBug has been continuing in the background of other work. It's so therapeutic and is a great way to try some different colour combinations and become acquainted with my beautiful set of Turner Acryl Gouache. At some point I'd like to come back to the paisley and paint it in several colour ways. But for now the month ahead is very full with various other arty projects.
It's 2018 - Happy New Year!
So, another year is upon us, which means another chance to consider what's past and embrace what's to come.
I've certainly been doing my fair share of that this past week and have a lot of plans for the coming year. To help me along, I've been working through The Design Trust's planner for creatives: Dream Plan Do. It's a truly wonderful little planner that has really got me thinking and believe me, I need something to help me make sense of my journey and organise my time (not something that comes very naturally)!
First up for me this year is Mats Bootcamp starting on the 8th January. It runs for 5 months with just one assignment each month and is something I've started to participate in annually. I can hardly wait for it to begin, it's full of inspiration and I always come away feeling enriched and with new friends. But in the meantime, I'm looking at using new skills I've learnt in the past year to revisit old work, I guess we'll see what happens!
For now, my wish is for 2018 to be full of creativity, happiness and success to you all!
Merry Christmas Folks!
As 2017 begins to draw to a close, it's a good time to reflect... preferably in front of a log fire with plenty of mulled wine!
It's not been the most creatively productive year for me, as family life has been so demanding. But, I do feel like I've channelled my energy into the right places. This December though, I've found myself happily back in the flow of painting and have spent most of my studio time concentrating on Christmas designs. I signed up with Victoria Johnson at http://www.victoriajohnsondesign.com to take her course in 'Creating Christmas' which has been thoroughly enlightening and inspirational in equal measures. She's running a second course starting on 15th January which I recommend signing up for!
So I leave you below with a series of my Christmas paintings and wish you all a very merry festive season!
EXMOOR Gin Label Design
Well, I'm not entirely sure where the last 3 months have gone and alas, I must admit I seem to have got somewhat left behind on the #100dayproject but, nevertheless I have been creating! My latest project is the design below for a local gin label here on Exmoor. The family commissioning the project have links to Ireland and the label is inspired by a certain misbehaving ancestor who was arrested for distilling Poitín a notoriously strong spirit made from potatoes and barley, basically the Irish equivalent of moonshine. The gin itself is currently in production and should be available locally sometime soon. In the meantime, I have another couple of projects to keep me busy and I really should get back to my #100dayproject ... not to worry though ... only another 95 days to go!
Mats Bootcamp 2017 and #the100dayproject
Having been tied up at home with my little people, it's been a while since my last blog post. But, at last I'm finding enough time to absorb myself in making art once more and realise how much I've missed it! Although I'm a little behind, I'm joining in with the #the100dayproject the idea is to post something everyday, for 100 days. Below are my first 5 paintings. I've chosen the theme 100 days of flora and fauna. You can follow along on my Instagram account.
I'm also taking Mats Bootcamp again this year with the wonderful Lilla Rogers. This months assignment is self reflective... more to follow on that but for now, I will wish you a very happy Easter and leave you with my mer-swan Illuminated letter 'S' for the first initial in my name.
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