Jan gets creative

Venice again!

2012-02-06T22:40:00.000Z

This felt like the hardest work. Loads of progress made but it doesn't look that way!

Onwards to next week!

Monday- Walk in the woods and continuing with Venice

2012-01-30T22:38:00.000Z

Monday has been a good day. The weather here has been crisp and the skies have been clear and blue. Mr H and I took our little dog Charlie for a walk along a different route today. The forest had a slight mist which made everything look like a water colour painting. It was a good walk despite the low temperatures - Charlie wore his jumper for the first time this winter! He got a few looks from passers by!

I think we made good progress tonight, blocking in, amending some perspectives and scrumbling in the paths - it's starting to look like something!

Can you tell what it is yet?

2012-01-24T20:18:00.001Z

Start of the 'pastel-along'. Using a ruler to work out the perspective we sketched out the drawing. Then loosely blocked in the sky and the water. Seems like not a lot was done, but believe me it took ages!

Venice completed

2012-01-16T22:56:00.002Z

At last! Feels like I've really laboured with this one - it's not a subject I would have normally chosen. It really took me out of my comfort zone with the detail and the people.

Next week is a 'paint-a-long' only in pastel not paint. The boards were prepped with acrylic ground for pastel last week. Really looking forward to it!

Back to Class!

2012-01-09T22:31:00.000Z

My little ones returned to school after the holiday and I returned to class. If you are a regular you might remember this painting-

I have finished off the trees and next week I will be starting to work the foreground. We also primed a board with acrylic ground for pastel to use after next week for a 'pastel-along' rather than a paint-along.

Finishing off and starting anew!

2012-01-06T23:09:00.000Z

As we start to adjust to the coming year I thought it best to finish off this -

A pastel sketch taken from a photo by Tracey Hollis Rowe of St Ives, Cornwall from

Artist reference photos Facebook page.

Now I have to post it over on the ARP facebook page to see what they think eeeek!

Monday Art Class starts again on the 9th so I'll be back to fill you in with that.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T16:03:00.004Z

Christmas has been a poorly time in our household so there has been little time to be creative. Here are just a few things we have made. The last one is a chocolate cabin cake decorated by my daughters - you can tell by the chocolate faces they enjoyed it very much.

I hope next year brings you all the very best of things. I am certainly looking forward to another creative year!

Monday Class - Slooooow progress...

2011-11-28T21:58:00.001Z

As the title suggests I haven't really got very far. I have to finish next week as we are doing a paint-a-long again!

Monday Art Class - a little painterly

2011-11-21T22:59:00.001Z

This evening class made great progress. Trying to define tones rather than details. Quite pleased with how much progress I made tonight. Still a way to go with it.

Martin and I have decided to take a little time each week to take in the local area and go for a walk or cycle ride. As anyone with little children knows, a walk with little ones is more of an amble! Today, we took a footpath through to Delamere Forest. Here are few photos.

This lovely chap served as a resting spot and let us know which way to go.

Not sure why this branch was wound with red wool but it certainly caught the eye!

A lovely autumn images just before the fog came in!

Whirlwind weekend and Monday art class

2011-11-07T22:56:00.001Z

The weekend had a nervous start with a trip to Castle Park Arts to take in my work. All three paintings were submitted and I should hear about any that have been rejected by tomorrow (eeeek! I hope it's not all of them!). I will let you know tomorrow.

On Sunday I went for the first time to the ICHF exhibition which featured Craft, Art Materials and Christmas Crafts. I went with the hope of getting some pastels but I felt that there wasn't much choice! There were no rembrandts and the only boxes of unison pastels left were chipped and broken. The craft stalls were plentiful and I got some bargains and the demonstrations were awesome - I only which I'd had the time to do a workshop!

Today is Monday - that means art class! Midge has challenged me to draw a quick charcoal sketch and then next week I will be working directly from the sketch! The sketch has turned out quite well - I wonder if the painting will be the same...

They are all framed - now breaaaathhe!

2011-11-03T22:42:00.001Z

My pictures have arrived in fact they were ready on Saturday! The lovely lady at Davenham Framers left a message on Saturday but our dodgy message service must have eaten them.

So here they are. Just got to attach mirror plates to the 'boat' painting and then I'm already to go. A fellow student Paula, my tutor Midge and I will be all traipsing down to Castle Park Arts Centre to submit our work.

Waiting for the framer to call...

2011-11-01T10:08:00.000Z

As usual I left it to the last minute to find a framer. As usual I am sitting here drumming my fingers worrying about whether they will be ready and trying not to think about it! Honestly, I should give myself a talking to. These pieces have been finished for months, I should have got them done and be sitting here all smug! Last week was not the easiest of weeks. My other half pulled a muscle in his back, the children were off school for half term and I was due to have an operation which was cancelled. Must remember to sort them out earlier next year!

The submission day is Saturday and then it will be another week and a half where I will be waiting to find out whether any of my work has been selected.

In the meantime, I have booked tickets for a huge event at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday. It features art materials, Christmas crafts and hobbycrafts. I am extremely excited, it should take my mind of the previous days submissions!

Edited to add - Here are a few of my Halloween offerings!

Little pastel sketch in progress

2011-10-22T16:46:00.002+01:00

Although I've been many times to St Ives, this isn't from one of my own photo's. This photo is from a wonderful facebook page Artist reference photos. There is tonnes of inspirational images on there and a monthly competition to keep you inspired.

I've prepped the board using pastel ground mixed with cerulean blue and white acylic, and then I blocked in some basic shapes and started to build in colour from there. I really love the grain in this - although it was unintentional! Don't forget you can click the image to see it bigger.

Thought I might add to this post to show each stage of the drawing. Tonights progress...

It's good to see it on the screen as it highlights areas that need work. For instance, the arches don't sit well and the boats were quickly put in but need more work and the shape of the far wall is bowed. I will have to correct all this another night!! Oh yes, see the 2 smudge marks to the left hand side of the beach - this is what happens when you say 'don't touch' to a 4 year old. Hmmm!

Time for this years Open Exhibition

2011-10-15T21:09:00.000+01:00

Remember this exhibition last year?

The time has come around again to think about what I should enter for this years Castle Park Annual Open Art Exhibition.

This year I was thinking of entering these...

Not sure whether to swap the boat painting for this one?

So, just have to make a decision and to send in the form this weekend. Then it's off to the framers with them!

Monday Art Class - Finished paint along

2011-10-03T22:44:00.000+01:00

Phew! Doing a paint along really does work you hard. The muscles work really hard to keep up with the class. It was a real eye opener, everything changes under the pressure of speed, brush strokes, paint application, it all becomes very 'raw'. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Check out Midges' blog If you would like to see the other artists paintings.

What a class!

2011-09-26T22:40:00.000+01:00

Tonight we embarked on the first paint along! 2 hrs (or 2 and a half hours as it turned out to be). We were working in acrylics from a painting by Stephen Quiller called 'New England Patterns'. It was really amazing how everyone interpreted the picture differently, brush strokes were rough and natural, colours were applied as I've never applied them before, purely by applying and tweaking. We have one more class to add finer detail but here it is. Mighty pleased with this so far!

Monday Art Class - Painting finished

2011-09-19T23:25:00.000+01:00

It felt like a lot to do today but here it is finished. Next week we will be doing a quick paint along - excited about that!

Another Monday Class

2011-09-12T22:07:00.000+01:00

Last week I forgot to photograph my project. So this is 2 weeks progress! I have to finish it next week - Midge has a group project she wants us to do which involves a large canvas and short timescale! Eeek!

Back from holiday - and Monday Art Class

2011-08-22T22:31:00.000+01:00

Back from holiday in Javea, Spain and itching to get on with something!

I have set myself a project to try a palette knife this time, so started with this -

I have prepared a board with two blocks of colour lilac for the sky and burgundy for the beach. Next week I will start to layer on the colours I have selected shown above. Hopefully with a little better technique!

A few holiday snaps. Javea is a beautiful part of the world. Just the right mix of old and new - I just hope they don't over build like some of the other Costas.

I'm speeding up...

2011-08-03T22:37:00.000+01:00

This is a quick sketch from tonight class which was moved to Wednesday because a few of us couldn't make Monday. I was invited to Helen and Georges wedding on Monday, great to catch up with friends (one of whom is a regular reader of this blog - (Hi Silvia)), a beautiful wedding all in all.

Quite pleased with the way this has turned out, I'm really starting 'free up'!

IF - Perennial

2011-07-26T20:13:00.000+01:00

I have just googled 'Perennial' (I have no gardening knowledge!) and since it is relevant and recent (you can see this little fella in progress on previous posts). Here is my entry for this weeks Illustration Friday.

Monday Art Class - quick sketch finished

2011-07-25T22:35:00.000+01:00

This quick project has taught me a lot about making marks and mixing colours. Here it is finished and I started a new drawing tonight which I will be able to show you soon.

Monday Art Class - it's finished!!!

2011-07-18T22:49:00.000+01:00

Just back from my monday art class and I have finally brought the finished item home!

That took the first half an hour then my tutor Midge (you can see Midges blog here) set a new challenge to draw faster. Fair enough this little fella took 6 weeks so I can see her point. So Midge selected a suitably intricate photo to work from and 'told' me to finish it before home time! There is nothing like a bit of pressure is there? So here it is, its rough and ready but I feel I have learned an awful lot from it.

Monday art class

2011-07-11T23:30:00.000+01:00

Very slowly I am getting close to finish. Next week maybe! Here is tonights progress...

Dandelions

2011-07-10T22:21:00.000+01:00

They may be only weeds but my son and daughters love to give them. They raise a smile from those lucky enough to receive them! Here is a quick sketch done in pastels (again)!

The return of Monday art class

2011-06-27T21:58:00.002+01:00

Its been a few weeks due to a few problems with the studio, but it felt good to get on with it.

It doesn't feel like I made much progress but it is turning out to be very 'fiddly'.

I will finish it eventually!

The problem with turning 40...

2011-06-20T23:35:00.000+01:00

Let me tell you something about being thirty. Being thirty was the time I 'felt' old. Turning thirty I was single, childless but in good health. Now, here's a word to the wise (especially those who are either side of 30), the time you need to worry about is your FORTIES! You can still have fun, and you can still lie about your age without anyone raising an eyebrow in your thirties.

Forty is different. Today I had an eye test and was informed of pending failings in short vision. 'Not quite yet, but maybe next year we will have to start to think about 2 pairs of glasses...' I was told.

About 6 months ago I visited my doctor with swollen fingers and was promptly diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The last six months there have been many painful eruptions leaving bent and swollen fingers that are starting to resemble gnarled old roots.

So, as I sit here and my body starts to 'wizen' - I might as well get some painting done whilst I can still see and hold a paintbrush!

Word to the young - wear sunscreen, go to bed early, eat more fish! You'll thank me for that advice!

Monday is becoming 'blog day'!

2011-05-23T22:59:00.000+01:00

Last week we prepped the board on which to start our project. The board was prepped using a mixture of acrylic paint and acryllic ground for pastels. This gives the board a texture, you simply use a large brush, (about the size of a 2inch decorators paint brush) and paint on left to right, then when its dry repeat but from top to bottom. Once dry it is a perfect base for pastels and holds much more colour than paper. I'm afraid that I only had my mobile to take a picture and the quality is not great. I hope to show this in progress over the next few weeks.

Monday Art Class

2011-05-16T22:04:00.001+01:00

Really getting to love Mondays! We started a new term and a new media - pastels. I had always found chalk pastels to soft and pale - preferred to use oil pastels for the vibrancy. Tonight, we were taught about pastels, primers and pastel pencils. To my surprise I absolutely love pastel pencils - they may be on my Christmas list! This is a quickish sketch to get used to the medium and I have primed a board to work on for this image terms project. After a stressful, busy day, tonight was just what I needed!

IF - Lesson

2011-05-04T23:35:00.000+01:00

Lesson 1: Do not take sweets from strangers.

Lesson 2: Do not take sweets from Uncle Charlie. He wasn't a stranger or sinister. Quite the opposite in fact, he was a lovely man with a wicked sense of humour and a glass eye... that lesson only needs learning once!

Well, I never knew there was so much to it!

2011-04-22T22:06:00.001+01:00

My teacher has opened up a world of possibilities with acrylics. I spent the last night of the course perfecting techniques using all kinds of gels and mediums to produce more effects.

It has been a whirl wind few weeks. Summer has arrived in the UK (or a glimpse at least) and life has speeded up with family. We are having an Easter break before returning back and I have to think of a project that I would like to do for the next term. I have a few ideas that I hope to sketch up before the start of the next course!

Well, things didn't go to plan but...

2011-04-05T00:01:00.000+01:00

I did manage to paint something. I have a poorly little girl and didn't manage to go to class tonight.

My mum couldn't come over on Sunday, which was Mothers Day (she was having a hospital procedure and understandably didn't want to get ill!). So her beautiful Azalea tree that was in bud has bloomed and she might miss it at this rate. Not one to waste an opportunity, I got my paints out and set up studio in my kitchen.

Still loads to do on this add detail and mute colours etc. It was fun though!

I'm back!

2011-03-21T22:37:00.000Z

I have spent an evening splodging, mixing, splatting with a brush, palette knife and various other tools making all kinds of marks. I have learnt so much about acrylics in one evening. I haven't really anything to show you -I left the most interesting 'marks' drying in the tutors studio. I can't wait to see what next week will teach me.

All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening!

Exciting news!

2011-03-18T23:40:00.000Z

Experience to be repeatedRemember this?

Well, finally the lady who runs the course has given me a start date and its MONDAY. I am giddy with excitement. I'll be sure to post up any creative efforts!

Reflect...

2011-03-06T20:22:00.000Z

I think this might be the 'kick up the bum' thing to do. There's nothing like looking at what you've achieved to spur you on....

'Life' and more Charlie

2011-02-20T14:45:00.000Z

After painting Charlie I had a dilemma - put him on a background or against a scene? I ummed and ahh'd and on the advice of my other half I plumped for a landscape. Half way through, it was obviously not working and so I decided to paint over it (thank heavens for acrylics!). Anyway - I'm still not set on this (the problem of working from the photo is the background is not aesthetic and blacked out due to the flash). So this might be reworked in the future or I might let sleeping dogs lie (pardon the pun).

On to my next dilemma - what am I? I have been looking for ways to take my art further. Sadly, Cheshire is lacking in courses unless you are a teen or a pensioner. I seem to fit a gap that is not catered for in my neck of the woods. There used evening foundation courses and now there are 'card making' or 'watercolour' classes which is great for the leisure crafter/painter but I feel somehow this would not fulfill my creative urges. All other intensive daytime courses are fulltime, expensive and offer too broad a range of skills eg Art and Design courses for instance are mainly based around Graphic Design. I have been a designer for over 20 years, this would be no use to me and I already have the higher qualification. I have instead been looking to correspondence courses and have found 2 that appeal to me, drawing and illustration. Now, here is the latter part of my dilema: what am I? (or what do I want to (try to) be). Do I explore my drawing and art to the detriment of my more imaginative escapades or do I plunge for illustration and hope that my drawing is enough to support me through this (as I am aware I need more practice!). There is a crossover from either side, like Oliver Jeffers from and illustrative point of view for instance, or even Henri Rousseau from a fine art perspective. But what course will help me become better at whatever? Answers on a postcard please...

My muse Charlie

2011-02-09T23:36:00.000Z

Seven years ago we went to have a look at the dogs in the rescue centre in Spain intending to 'look into' the possibility of getting a dog.

There were all kind of dogs there small, loud, cute, all lost or abandoned for reasons beyond me. Ten to a pen, all jumping at the door one little face poked through, didn't bark, with his ears back with a lost look in his eye, it was Charlie. We took him home and began to slowly remind him that he could be a happy dog again. We found out later that the reason the lady that left him at the rescue centre was because she was pregnant and didn't think he would be good with children - we have since had 3 (including twins) and he is so gentle with them. He still has abandonment issues and follows me around like a shadow!

I could write a book on the this little dog - he hasn't had it easy. Even bringing him back to the UK ended up with him in quarantine due to a faulty microchip reader (don't get me started on Defra!).

Charlie has never lost his 'chocolate box' type, puppy appearance. As he's so adorable, he's very easy to paint. Still have to finish the background on this but I thought it would be good to show you the work in progress.

Digital work

2011-01-22T21:56:00.003Z

I have thrown together a couple of digital illustrations that I am planning to upload to an image library. One is a version of the biscuits and the other is just something I thought would work.

IF Submission for 'Chicken'

2011-01-20T20:25:00.003Z

It was fun doing this! Heavily inspired by Isabella's Toybox by Emma Thomson which is loved by my children as well as me! Don't forget you can click the image to see a bigger version.

An experience to be repeated...

2010-12-20T23:06:00.002Z

I struggled through the snow and ice and freezing temperatures to collect my 2 exhibits at the end of the exhibition. I have learned a lot about exhibiting (I'm almost certain I have an awful lot more to learn too!).

1. Galleries favour smaller pieces.
2. Small pieces are often get over looked - I had trouble finding mine!
3. A great piece can look great in the right frame - but dreadful in the wrong frame.
4. I need to draw, paint and learn!

I am looking forward to starting the new year with a burst of enthusiasm and I have booked myself onto a course that starts in February which I am very much looking forward to!

Wishing you all a very restful, creative and Merry Christmas!

Illustration Friday - Savour

2010-11-28T23:21:00.002Z

Biscuits! (or cookies, depending on which side of the pond you come from). I entered a painting of some of these biscuits in an exhibition recently see here.

I decided to take another look at them in an illustrative style. These are aptly named 'party rings' I love the colours and the symmetry but most of all I love eating them! In the interest of my ever expanding waistline, I think it might be best if I become obsessed with a healthier subject for my next IF submission!

Drum Roll please...

2010-11-11T11:11:00.007Z

These two paintings have been selected for the Annual Cheshire Open Art exhibition!!!
It has been a very long week waiting for the letter to arrive! Not bad for a first time exhibitor. So if you happen to be in the Frodsham area drop in and have a look!

Well, I did it...

2010-11-06T15:38:00.002Z

Remember my post about submitting my art to the Annual Open Exhibition? Well, after much deliberation, I have submitted my 3 small pieces to the gallery. I am now waiting to hear whether any of them are going to be accepted!

Walking into the gallery and looking around at the other pieces I began to feel very unnerved. There was nothing that looked like mine and I'm not sure that this was a good thing! So much talent in such a small gallery - at least I have submitted small, easy to fit in pieces - perhaps this will work to my advantage.

I will hear next week whether any have been accepted and if not I will have the added humiliation of going to pick up the rejected pieces. My finger nails are bitten to the quick!

Want to see what I got for my birthday?

2010-10-20T23:35:00.006+01:00

Whilst on holiday in St Ives, Cornwall I peeked in the window of this gallery (actually going into a gallery was only tried once with 3 little ones in tow - never again!)
Seb West Gallery

So as it was my birthday the other day I hinted very heavily and this is what I got! Lucky aren't I?!
Now, where should I hang it...

Another submission?

2010-10-18T23:15:00.003+01:00

I was thinking about painting another leaf but the trouble with the autumn leaves is that when you bring them inside they seem to curl and perish very quickly. I went to the supermarket with the intention of buying fruit to paint but came back with these. I can't tell you how hard it was not to eat them before they had been painted. Torture!

Will I enter?

2010-10-15T23:20:00.005+01:00

I recently heard about a local exhibition for amateur and professional artists. So I sent off for the application form and I have produced another piece of work which I was thinking of submitting. I thought that I would do smaller items as I have it on good authority that smaller items are easier to get accepted as they are 'space fillers'! I can send 3 items I am planning on submitting the leaf in acrylics, this one and another (which is a work in progress). No guaranteeing that any will be exhibited but it is exciting (and a little nerve wrecking too!) !

IF submission for 'proverb' in acrylics...

2010-09-12T23:16:00.005+01:00

'Falling leaves return to their roots", an autumnal take on this weeks IF.

It is my first attempt at acryllic painting on box canvas. A reworking of a previous watercolour (below) in acrylics

Taking my time....

2010-08-03T21:17:00.006+01:00

Here is my latest submission to IF. This has come from much deliberation. Trying to define a style and I suppose I have just been having fun trying!

I have decided to try something a little bit more involved and creative. So, here is my latest piece its a narrative illustration based on a song. I wonder if anyone will be able to tell me the title?

I am currently messing about with acrylics and I am reworking this and some other images - cant wait to post them!

Where does the time go?

2010-03-04T22:49:00.008Z

My blog is looking really neglected! I have been up and down trying to 'arrive' at a definitive style!

First I did the boat and had a lot of splashy fun. Then I decided to look at other peoples styles and try and get a feel for how they work so the characters are my interpretations. Then I did some pencil sketches to remind me that I need to practice, practice, practice!

Fantastic offer from a fellow blogger

2010-01-29T22:40:00.005Z

'An Illustrators life for me' is a blog I have been following for a while. Lynne is a published and accomplished illustrator and is also very generous with her knowledge.

This week, Lynne has posted a fantastic offer - buy her latest book and she will sign it for you. My kids are big fans too so needless to say I have my order in already.

http://lynnechapman.blogspot.com/2010/01/headless-chickens-and-stinky-paperbacks.html

Clumsy

2010-01-28T23:33:00.003Z

Even if he was 'clumsy' I don't think many ladies would mind him falling at her feet - roses or not!

Very out of practice attempt at IF this week. Hands and feet need attention as well as technique. Well, I am posting at least!! Grateful for any constructive advice!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-19T23:27:00.003Z

I have been so busy with Christmas and sorting out my office/studio which is thankfully, almost a usable space! So my poor blog has been neglected! Hopefully I can now start to 'feed' it a little more!

My New Banner

2009-10-25T21:41:00.003Z

I thought I'd spruce the place up a bit. I really enjoyed doing my blog banner but now I can see how I'd change it! I hope it isn't addictive and I end up with a different banner every week! I did a background too but for some reason it appears incredibly small in the corner and I cant seem to make it work and I'm not sure I need it either!

Being 40

2009-10-20T15:45:00.004+01:00

If you had asked in my 20's what would be my reaction on turning 40, I probably would have screwed my face up and avoided the question.

Turning 30 was a trauma. My best friend is 1 day older than me so we have celebrated the unfolding years together since we were 17 when we met at art school. Our 30th we decided would be the weekend we would break free and hit the city - London to be precise.

Although I look back and laugh, it was a disastrous weekend. My best friend, our other friend and I set of Friday night and met with a horrendous traffic jam followed by getting lost and then finding out that there actually wasn't a car park as advertised and parking would cost the same as the hotel for the weekend. We booked a triple room in a quite decent hotel and we were put in a damp basement with twin beds and a camp bed - guess who drawn the short for the camp bed? Yep, that made sleep challenging even for me. That weekend weather was the worst for years causing major floods around London meaning that we were soaked as we tried to 'enjoy' sightseeing. Then, to top it all, we were turned away from the only decent club after my less than tactful, friend niaively called the 'event organiser' a 'bouncer' who then screamed in an effected, camp Scottish accent 'do 'I' look like a bouncer to you???' and to be fair he didn't, he was short and puny, the sort of guy who you think wow such a huge head when in fact it's in proportion to a person of his height just not his stature. Turned away, we headed back to open a bottle of bubbly and tuck in to the celebratory cake my friend had generously bought for us only to find that a plague of ants had beaten us to it and the room had to be sprayed with insecticide! It will stay with me for the rest of my days!!

In the past 10 years i have learned a lot, laughed a lot and lived more than I ever did in my 20's. There have been hard times where I have lost a much loved father and a grandfather. Good times, when I have fallen in love with a man who is the other side of me and given birth 3 children who are my world, they are beautiful and inspirational and they fill up my life. I look back on my late 20's and I couldn't have been more wrong about being in my 30's it has moulded me into the this very different person with a broader, rounder view on life.

Turning 40 was wonderful, I was spoiled and surrounded by the love that I am blessed with, a very sharp contrast to my 30th celebration! I am looking forward to my coming years my, past experience tells me that life, like a good wine, it gets better with age!

If you have read this to the end you have done very well! Please forgive my outburst of nostalgia and reflection!

The dreaded lurgy - IF Germ

2009-10-07T23:57:00.002+01:00

Well, we all have it. My girls are coughing and spluttering and my little man has joined in. I had a dream last night about having a sore throat and this morning my dream came true - why o why is it never the nice dreams that come true?? Anyway, I took a photo of the offending germ, sneezed earlier into a hanky. Atchoooooo!

Looooooong Days

2009-10-06T12:45:00.003+01:00

My gorgeous girls have a cold and one keeps waking at precisely 3am in the morning. Hence, at about midday I cannot function! Thinking back to those newborn days when the girls were awake until 4am and my chirpy little boy would wake at 6am and announce 'MORNING TIME' this should be a doddle. Still, it wont last I'm sure it will be back to normal once they get better. The powers of concentration are not so good without sleep and I am terrible for not getting to bed at a good hour and tonight is yoga so I should be whacked out by 10pm.

On top of this, my tumble dryer has packed in at exactly 2.5yrs so just out of the 2 year guarantee (how convenient I hear you say). So, it is cold wet and rainy and washing is hanging everywhere.

Now I should iron but my sketch book is temptingly close.....

Creative Block???

2009-09-19T22:53:00.003+01:00

I seem to have spent a lot of time looking at the fantastic blogs and websites. I'm not sure that this is a good thing. There are exceptional artists out there who are gifted and talented to the extreme and the more I look the more it feels like a remote dream to ever get to their standard. I have tried to draw and all I can manage is doodles. I have been working quite a lot so maybe it is something to do with my design work sapping my energy. Anyway, I think that now I have an idea of what I need to do and I think it will mean that the creative thing has to take a back seat. I have to care for my family and I am working too so I don't have any spare time to 'concentrate'. So, maybe what I need to do is doodle and draw as often as I can until things get easier.

Potty training my twin girls next week! Wish me luck.

No time - fed up

2009-09-01T22:39:00.007+01:00

That about sums it up.
My beautiful children have turned into demons! I have had two lots of guests (one is still here). We have umpteen hospital/doctors appointments. We have a wedding to go to. I have my little boy starting school for the first time (he has also just recovered from a fever)! I have had to see an osteopath about my dodgy hips. And a hundred other things including real, paid work.

So fed up with not drawing, it's making me grumpy! If anyone has any tips on finding more time (other than becoming an insomniac!), please pass them my way.

IF - Wrapped

2009-08-16T22:49:00.005+01:00

If you are from the UK you may remember the days when they wrapped fish and chips in newspaper! What a great way to re-use in my opinion. However, health and safety have long since deemed this a unhygienic way to serve food. It still gets wrapped in the same paper but it is straight from the mill without print.

The best fish and chips I have ever tasted are usually the shops that are nearest the sea and I would have to say my all time best was in a beautiful fishing town called mousehole (pronounced mou-zzle) as a child. There is a great childrens' book called the Mousehole Cat which just about sums up the magic of that little town.

If you ever go there, get your fish and chips and eat them overlooking the harbour. Perfect!

I thought this week I would try and do a quick sketch pen and wash drawing for IF. Two reasons for this; one that I want to try and sketch more this week and two I didn't want to miss the deadline again!

2009-08-15T22:22:00.002+01:00

I think 'here is another IF that I missed the deadline for' is going to be my motto!!

Still, I am producing some work, so all is good.

Impatience. This baby owl was impatient about leaving the nest.

Hollow

2009-07-21T22:35:00.003+01:00

Here is another IF attempt that I missed the deadline for! Life has been crazy.

Did I mention that is 'real life' I am a graphic designer? I am shocked at how many of us designers are frustrated illustrators! If I had only stuck to my guns and pursued my original goal of being an illustrator maybe I wouldn't be so frustrated by it all. You know how it is, you make a choice between working designer or starving artist and then life speeds up and you realise you've missed the point. I am actually a well respected designer (so say my clients)- I know my stuff and I am thorough. Mainly I do corporate so my 'arty' side never rears its head. This week I have won some design work and I have been finishing existing projects. Busy, busy, busy with no help with childcare - its like having an full time evening job.

Also, my beautiful twin daughters turned two (I still can't believe it!) , pre-school has finished for my son and my other half has been out of the country. So not a lot has been done and a deadline missed

Hollow - Here is my daughter chasing a rabbit in her bunny outfit, hollering down a hollow - she can't understand why he doesn't want to play. She loves animals we recently took her to a zoo which had lemurs on the loose, we managed to stop her before she tried to cuddle one!

IF: Drifting

2009-06-25T21:56:00.004+01:00

This last couple of weeks have been very busy. We have had a short trip away so I missed the last IF. I have had some design work and quotes to do and I have had a house full of poorly kids followed by a trip to accident and emergency yesterday when my little girl had a fall from a slide. She is quite bruised but OK. All that, but I managed to get pen to paper and produce something!

IF attempt Craving

2009-06-11T22:20:00.004+01:00

When I was young I used to want to catch a bubble and hold it. Delicate and shiny it had to be magical. Now, if I analysed this maybe the bubbles would be filled with hopes and aspirations - they've got to be worth catching and holding onto havent they?

I would like to be a bit cheeky if I may and ask some questions from the IF people who are kind enough to pop by and have the time to give me a few pointers;

My first question is about style. I find that my sketching style is much different to my finished style and I am a bit frustrated by this - should I try to force a style or let it evolve?

The second question is about training. Do you think that qualifications make a difference or have you self trained?

Grateful for any direction. Thanks in advance!
Jan

Chasing my tail....

2009-06-05T15:30:00.003+01:00

Well that's what I feel I am always doing.This week has been a disaster in terms of illustration. My other half sprained his back so my work load has increased with all of the little things he normally does like dropping my son at pre-school and walking the dog plus running him across town to the Chiropracter. I have just been chasing my tail.

This weeks IF was adapt and I did finish my take on this last night but I am not happy with it. It is rushed and clumsy. I didnt have time to submit anyway and, to be honest, I really don't think I would have if I had finished on time. I am really struggling to find the time and I am craving some drawing time every second of the day. The reality is, the kids, the house and life in general takes over. I adore my kids and they are my inspiration but I cant help feeling like Cinderella sometimes!

Anyway here it is. Not happy with my style. I want to be more innovative and create better characters. I am not happy with the medium - I think I shall go and buy some gouache for better colour. The thinking behind the drawing is; instead of chasing my tail, if I had a real one I would adapt it to help me get my jobs done quicker (like maybe a feather duster) then I would have more time to draw!

Saturday and more Sun.

2009-05-30T21:30:00.003+01:00

Had a wonderful day today. We went out on a family day trip to the countryside. The sun was out and England was basking in it. The countryside is outstandingly, overwhelmingly beautiful. The meadows were carpeted with flowers, the grass was greener than I have ever seen it and there are so many character cottages, it makes your heart ache with envy for the people that live in this heaven on earth - I'm sure they appreciate what they have.

I have tried to bring myself back to reality and concentrate on this weeks IF subject which is 'Adapt', but its not going to happen to day or tomorrow either, we are hopefully going to the beach then. Maybe I will take my sketch book though.

I am also aware that I need design something for my blog site, banners etc. That is going to take some thinking about!

IF attempt 'Cracked'

2009-05-27T23:39:00.003+01:00

Cracked.
Look mummy's up the tree,
Dawn cracked and so did she!

Here it is. My first attempt! Well, my first attempt in years anyway.
Its funny how I've uploaded and now I can see how much more work it needs but I'm going to leave it like that. There will soon be a new topic and I can do a better job, hopefully.

I've had an idea...

2009-05-26T21:25:00.003+01:00

I have sketched an idea! How exciting is that? I've been checking IF everyday and the talent is already overwhelming. Its getting harder and harder to talk myself into putting it up there.

Glad it is only a sketch as my (almost) 2yr old girl scribbled all over it today. I need eyes in the back of my head. Having twins is a serious test of agility versus awareness, you never know what they will do next!

Sunday Funday

2009-05-24T19:54:00.000+01:00

Well, it has been fun although not creative in any way (yet). The weather has been glorious and we have spent the day outside - so very rare in the UK especially on a bank holiday weekend. The kids have had a lovely day, as have I but I still have not done anything to submit to IF.

Going to try a few sketches tonight and see what I can come up with.

So far, so good(ish)

2009-05-22T11:46:00.000+01:00

Yesterday evening I was trawling the web for inspiration when I came across illustrationfriday.com. They put up a topic every week and then people submit illustrations. Wow, the illustrators are amazing and there is so much talent, I am finding it daunting and inspiring at the same time. I just have to keep reminding myself, this is about finding my style. I know I can draw but illustration is a different thing completely. I am going to just let it happen and see where it goes. I might not even be an illustrator, who knows? As long as I am fulfilling my creative urge I don't care!

Other more mundane things I have to do today is put somethings on Ebay. Oh and all the other things in the day that come with having 3 small, snotty, people running around!

Cant wait to see this weeks topic on illustration Friday! Dare I enter one of my own...

Getting Creative

2009-05-21T22:32:00.000+01:00

Well, here it is, my blog. Thought it might be a nice idea to create a blog which shows my struggle to revive the creative part of the brain. The part that is currently hidden under a million toddler related thoughts. Love them though I do with all my heart, now is the time I need to think, create and isolate those 'kiddie thoughts' and get something back from the person I was.

How easy that is going to be with a 4 year old and (almost) 2 yr old twins! Wish me luck...