Just Passing Through on the way to the Bin

Sometimes it goes terribly wrong and gets put straight in the bin. Sometimes it sits around a while before I can allow myself to accept that it's hidious. This is one of those such times. Hidden on a shelf. For a while. Bad. Bad memories associated with when it was made. Needs to go. To the bin for you bad piece of rubbishness. Good riddance.

New beginnings

Hello

Not quite making it to the woods

 

 Didn't get to the woods. I tried. Really tried. But was thwarted. Taking too many photographs. Getting carried away on the way there. My battery died and didn't bring a spare. Stupid girl. The snow was so deep. I was wading up to my thighs. Was only fun for a while. It started getting dark and I'd barely done half a mile. Was on my own and a little afaid of falling over and getting stuck and being eaten by wolves. Or gruffaloes. Gave up and went to look for bread instead. Not in the woods though.



Narnia

Today has felt disjointed. Not right. Like living in one of those dreams in which you are certain you're awake. But then you wake up. It was wrong from the moment I actually did wake. No sounds. Then a bird attempted a tweet. I looked outside to check I was awake. That made it worse. 18 inches of snow changes everything. Literally. It's still autumn. The apple tree two gardens beyond mine has frozen red apples shining out from white. White. Everywhere. Brave orange leaves. White. Wrong. Everything has stopped. Apart from people. Walking down the middle of the main road was the only way to get anywhere. It became a path. Impassable even for sledges. Knee high. Thigh high. Everywhere was new. So beautiful. Still. I traditionally hate snow. But today was magical. Tomorrow it will be intolerable again. Narnia. I did expect Mr Tumnus to turn up at any given point. Might brave the woods tomorrow....or maybe I'll get back to normal and have a little rant about something instead....

Elements: Fire...

Light. Colour. A reminder to myself. That's what it's all about. In my head...Warmth. The best type of company. Stumbling aound with my camera. Happy. Pottering. Blurry. No tripod. Mulled wine. Thank you x

2006 The first 2 pieces I Ever Sold...

Have been looking to the past a bit recently. Lost my confidence in so many ways... looking back to remind myself that it will be ok. Had these 2 pieces accepted into an exhibition in 2006 and to my utter amazement they sold on the opening night. My first time! Circles again... Easington, East Yorkshire... I'm working on completely new works at the moment. Nowhere near ready to show the world yet. It's daunting... changing something that has been successful. But I need to keep moving forward.  Really, really need to do it...

Been to the Harley Gallery. About time too...

Cleo Mussi

The funny thing is that I have been aware of this work for a while now. Been reading about it. Various publications. I liked what I read. I lapped up the visuals. But when I finally got around to locating and visiting the gallery (bit of a stupid, mental block with regards to going to places that I don't know how to get to. Another example of being an idiot), I had no idea that this work was here. I discovered it. But still didn't twig what it was. Then the penny dropped. I utterly loved it. The fragments started me thinking about my own work. My own use of fragements and bits and bobs. I went to the Harley gallery on a grey sunday afternoon. Expecting to have a nice time. But not quite prepared for the complete turnaround in my own creative vision which has plagued me since. I have started working. The sort of working that cannot stop for things like sleeping and eating. Can't switch my brain off. But it's ok. Am maybe a bit pleased with what I'm doing. Time will tell.  

 I realy, really, really would like one of these pieces. But think they are very, very, very, very, very expensive.

Portfolio

Strata. East Yorkshire again. Heavily influenced by the Wolds. And by the sea. Particuarly Easington. Used to go there every year for my birthday. (I was born on the absolutely worst day possible. Dreadfully bleak). But I adore bleak.

Have always been fascinated with the way in which the lanscape falls into lines. Layers. Quite obsessed really. There is a painting by Paul Klee that I always loved as a teenager, which is kind of broken up into strata. Might try to find an image of it to add.....

I have a mottled heart

Do we ever really heal the things that break our hearts? I think there's usually some sort of scar left. A slightly tender bit that hurts if prodded...I have a mottled heart. Bio oil is helping. Last winter I made a huge batch of work (including some more of these hearts) to deliver to a shop in Hull. I was literally 2 minutes away from the shop when I went over a speed bump too fast. I can still hear the dull, tinkley clank that signalled the brokeness of every single piece. Shouldn't  have been so mean with the bubble wrap. Am an idiot.
Anyway...this lot made it to their destination intact... Phew

Graphics type people don't like me...

Always find packaging a bit of a headache. I adore good graphic design, but for some unfathomable reason, just cannot do it. For my own work I love white. And everything pared down to the very minimum. Some people I meet don't seem to get this. Really wish I could find the right person to help me with this...This is my limit. It's ok. But a long way from where it should be.

A little, tiny bit of detail (and a whinge)

Have taken on too much. Am a stupid girl for not being able to say 'no'. Such a tiny but troublesome word. Wanting to please everyone. All of the time. Hence now am struggling...Lots of promises to fulfil. This is detail from one of those promises. Am on a strange merry-go-round of fitting everything in. Hopefully will ease after this weekend (have STUPIDLY committed myself to a show). Am despairing of myself again. To make matters worse procrastination is threatening to set in too. Grrrrrr....

Ready!

Will be delivered and go on sale next week. At last...

Su Blackwell

www.sublackwell.co.uk

This is a stunning website. Su Blackwell's work is beautiful to me. I seem to  gaze at it. A lot.  A bit like being in love. Almost haunting. I once saw some of her book works in real life at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. I think they touch on something inside me that is almost primal. A nostalgia so real that I can't quite deal with it. Old books have always been slightly bizarre source of comfort. When times are bad books are constant...

Oh what a stupid thing to do...

I love varnish. I fully admit it. Sometimes I just can't help myself. But what on earth possessed me to varnish my long watercolour painting???? I have ruined the whole thing and now will have to cut it up to try and salvage anything at all. Am such an idiot at times. I despair of myself... am not showing a picture of this little disaster...

This is what I used it for

A hugely long canvas...

When I was a child I was desperate to be a hamster when I grew up. When I realised that this wasn't going to happen I spent years working towards being an illustrator. I now know that that will never happen, but the lure of black inky pens and runny watercolour has never left. Still get a real kick from using black pens. Even if it's just for lesson planning. Anyway... the pen I use the most was bought for me about 10 years by my dad. Have a hell of a job getting refills for it these days...

Think I secretly always wanted to be Quentin Blake...

Finished some work

Ready to go to its new home...