After an extended Christmas break, I decided to ease myself in gently with a little sketching. This is my depiction of the lovely Grace worked on brown parcel paper using coloured pencil and chinagraph.
Grace - colour pencil on brown paper 2010
Happy New Year
January 3, 20102010 A year to Experiment, Discover and Enjoy
In 2009, I set myself the challenge of attaining the skills and experience I feel I have missed out on by not having a formal art education. During 2010, my overall objective is to continue this exciting journey incorporating the specific goals below:
1. Take Stock
This resolution was inspired by a recent post on another artists blog: Journaling Superstitions # 13 by Roz Stendahl. In my enthusiasm to try out new media and techniques, I amassed a vast array of art materials and books during 2009. I need to conduct a full stock take and make plans to incorporate these items in my art practice. Less buying, more utilising!
2. Finish what I started
In 2009 I started a fine art print-making course by distance learning and acquired a basic knowledge of monoprinting, collography and linocuts. My goal is to complete this course during 2010, obtaining a general understanding of the other techniques in the course – woodcuts, drypoint, screenprinting and advanced relief printing.
3. Portrait Challenge
For some time I have been planning to attempt a self portrait. I think this has to be the ultimate challenge in portraiture and a great opportunity for self-discovery. Definitely something I want to tackle in the coming year!
4. A painting for each month
This year I produced a calendar for the first time using a selection of my existing body of work. These proved to be very popular, so a challenge for this year is to produce 12 new works worthy of putting into print.
5. Plein Air
Weather permitting, I’d love to spend more time sketching outdoors in the coming year. Roll on spring!
Making a Mark Awards
December 30, 2009I was delighted to see that Sally Tharp, who I nominated, won the Best Still Life on an Art blog category. You can see Sally’s own post regarding the award here. For those who missed my original post, here is a little reminder of why Sally was such a worthy winner:
Sometimes I feel like you look right through me by Sally Tharp (oil) 2009
I highly recommend taking the time to look at the full Making a Mark results. There are some fantastic works and blogs featured. You can view the full awards from the links below:
Surprise!
December 29, 2009Imagine how surprised I was to spy this fantastic sketch whilst scrolling through my Facebook updates! I’d recently been encouraging my talented friend Fiona Forrest to get back into her art and am so glad I did. I was completely taken aback by the likeness, I think she’s really caught my essence. I’m really looking forward to seeing more of Fiona’s art in 2010.
Julie Broom by Fiona Forrest (graphite) 2009
My Making a Mark Nominations
December 21, 2009The nomination process is underway for the Making A Mark Awards 2009 for blogging about art. I can’t wait to see who the winners are! In the meantime, I thought sharing my nominations would be a great way to summarise some of the blogs and artwork I have enjoyed most this year.
The FAQ and answers really useful medal:
Vivien Blackburn Paintings, Prints and Stuff
This blog has been a real treasure trove of information, ideas and inspiration for me during 2009. Vivien’s posts often preempt my questions with clear explanations of her creative processes and techniques. The student demos she shares and challenges she sets are also extremely helpful learning aids.
The really made me think gong:
Lynne Chapman An Illustrator’s Life for Me!
During this year Lynne took us on a fantastic journey as she created the artwork for ‘The bears on the stairs’. Her posts gave a wonderful insight into the trial and triumphs of an illustrator’s working life and certainly gave me plenty to think about.
Best art on a blog (place):
Sarah Wimperis Helford Regatta
Helford Regatta by Sarah Wimperis (watercolour) 2009
I don’t recall ever seeing the drama and excitement of fireworks depicted so beautifully. The painting just bursts with energy; the expert use of contrast and colour makes this work truly dazzling.
Best art on a blog (portrait):
Joy by Maria Pace-Wynters (mixed media) 2009
For me this image just sings with colour, life and happiness. In my opinion this work showcases the vibrance and liveliness of Maria’s exquisite mixed media technique.
Best art on a blog (stilllife):
Sally Tharp Sometimes I feel like you look right through me
Sometimes I feel like you look right through me by Sally Tharp (oil) 2009
For me this piece is much more than a representation of a group of objects, it conveys such a strong sense of place and mood. The composition works beautifully – the eye drifts effortlessly across the canvas before a sense of curiosity develops and the viewer tries to see through the objects. The objects themselves are brilliantly rendered.
Tree Project Roundup
December 13, 2009I’ve now posted a selection of my tree drawings and painting on my website projects page. See the collection all together here:
Tree Project
December 5, 2009I mentioned the tree study module I was undertaking in a recent post. I have just completed the course and thought I would share the final painting. Oh, and I passed the module too!
acrylic and Neocolour II 2009
You can find more of the work I submitted for the course on my website.
Cuppa?
December 5, 2009The forth issue of Trialling the Content, a bi monthly magazine published by Alloa Writers, is out now. The latest Trialling the Content is available in Alloa at the Art Gallery in Gordon McFarlane’s the Jewellers in Mill Street, and The Card Shop in Shilling Hill; across Clackmannanshire through the libraries; and in Stirling through the Toast Café. Here is my cover artwork for this issue:
Trialling the content issue 4
Everyday Poet
December 5, 2009My poem ‘Seeds’ is now available on Everyday Poets. Feel free to leave a comment to let me know what you think.
