I spent the six months since the Qube Open preparing for this solo exhibition in Oswestry at the Qube gallery. The gallery is a lovely space for artists to exhibit…
Wildflower cushions made out of fabric printed with my original wonderful wildflower designs by Prinfab. Each cushion cover has then been embroidered by hand or by sewing machine (by hand) and quilted before being sewn up. The backs of the cushion covers are formed by fabric so that the pillow sits snugly and securely without need for zips, poppers or buttons making for a much less lumpy cushion.
White 15cm x 15cm card have been edged with metal leaf matching the art piece. The art pieces have been printed out on canvas paper and mounted on the front of the cards. The insides are blank for your own message. They include an envelope.
There are a limited number of these metal leafed cards available as many sold at Qube Gallery, Oswestry.
What are acrylic paints? They are a water based media that dries permanent with a plasticky finish. They are made from pigment in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylics come in different consistencies: High viscosity or heavy body: these guys really give a textural finish, I love them. Normal, medium viscosity: great for flat painting. Low viscosity or fluid acrylics: lovely for dripping or using in an airbrush. Acrylic inks: enjoy for graphic work, permanent backgrounds, writing.
Today I want to share some of my creative process, not just the part where I actually make something but the background to it. All the ideas we get come from somewhere: the environment, plants, animals, political issues, internal landscape, hopes and dreams. For some time I have been particularly inspired by plants, especially flowers – I adore the colour and delicate form. I think I love butterflies for the same reason.
My journey to the art I now make started with walks along the portion of the Wales Coastal Path near where I live. When I was unwell I used to walk there with my mother who is very knowledgeable about plants, being a scientist by degree. She would help me identify the many little flowering plants we found there and the birds that came and went. I loved the shapes and colours and soon started photographing them as reference for sketches and paintings I then made at home.
Sometimes it really IS too expensive … but there are also other times when something’s value is higher even than its price point. Let me try to explain my thinking ….
A great example is Amazon Prime shopping. Although I know the prices are inflated I find the reduced stress of not having to navigate busy shops to maybe find what I’m looking for is often worth it. Sometimes cost might be far too high for the value you might place on an item for example, for me designer shoes cost the earth but do not have as much value as arch supports. Another example is the cost of a good holiday. If it rejuvenates you and helps you cope better with your day to day then its value is probably higher than its cost to you. Travel insurance is another good case in point.
Course Notes In the table below I provide links to products I use in my art journaling. I have found them to be good but you may want to try…