I made this little file folder for a friend who produces beautiful bird art. Some of these tiny feathers, collected over a number of years, have finally found their way into one of my projects.
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| Wallpaper lining, painted and printed with acrylics (approx. 4.5" x 4") ..... |
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| .... with four internal pockets |
My original idea was to use a tree shape collaged from strips of painted paper, embellished with free motion stitching. However, my free motion sewing definitely needs a a bit more practice and after completing half a dozen cards I decided to try a lino cut design instead. The intention was to use three small Christmas tree images in a horizontal format on a long, thin landscape shaped card.
After printing my design in white on black paper it was all change again! The final solution was to separate the small images and layer them with metallic and pearlescent painted papers.
The lino prints have been coloured with acrylic inks, gel pens, coloured pencil and metallic inks, layered with painted papers, machine stitched together and glued onto A6 cards.
I haven't posted anything recently as it has been Christmas card production time. I started off with a collage idea, but then thought a lino print would be better - another re-think and the lino print was cut up and added to a smaller collage. All will be revealed nearer the day!
Meanwhile, the latest issue of the Urban Sketchers e-zine has just been sent out.
Earlier this month I attended a day workshop at the Ardington School of Crafts with tutor, painter/printmaker Karen Carter.
A Book of Trees was the suggested theme and I went prepared with some of my lino and foam stamp prints plus some pre-painted collage papers. Just as well because this was a very fast-paced day - with instructions on folding the concertina book, various techniques with the gel plate using embossed wallpaper and plant material, making printing plates, simple transfer techniques, collage, etc. Karen had also brought plenty of supplies for students to use. My effort was rather disjointed and nowhere near finished at the end of the day, but back at home I made the covers, added some text and background details to bring it to completion.
I had to deliver some paintings to Avebury this morning and decided to take the opportunity for a quick walk around the Manor gardens and the historic stone circle before driving home. It was very frosty and bright early in the day, but overcast by the time I arrived at my destination. However, despite recent heavy rain, it was not too wet underfoot.
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| There were plenty of volunteer gardeners tidying the faded flower borders and clearing the fallen leaves |
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| The village post box had a nice crochet hat to keep it warm for the winter months |
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| The "lawn-mowers" were out in force in the Stone Circle |
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| Both 3" square in watercolour Moleskine Watercolour, coloured pens and a touch of gouache |
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| Both 3" square - watercolour, pen plus a touch of gouache |
Some of this series are based on past studies of plants, while others and purely imaginary.
Back in March I mentioned that I was contributing a small embroidered square for a lockdown quilt project. A couple of weeks ago, six of the panels made so far were being exhibited during Cheltenham Open Studios so I, and a couple of friends, took the opportunity to go and see it.
It really was an excellent exhibit in a beautiful church setting, we could have spent hours discovering all the different images and imagining the stories behind them.
I have included pictures of 3 of the panels and you can find more information about this continuing project and my contribution here and here.
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| Photos courtesy PK |
Eventually, I have finished recording the remaining flip-through of my eco-dyed book. (Part 1 can be viewed here.)
I have strengthened some of the fragile pressed leaves with tissue, either on one side or both. In addition, the veining in a couple of them has been highlighted with metallic wax crayon.
The book measures 8" x 4", using 140 lb watercolour paper (mainly Bockingford hot pressed). The buckle is made of a couple of layers of the same paper, the band from some calico which was dyed in the same pot.
Both 3" x 3" - watercolour, white and black pens in Moleskine Watercolour Notebook
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| Watercolour - Cad Orange, Light Red, Cad Red, Ultramarine Blue, plus sepia and white pens |
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| Watercolours - Quin Gold, Perylene Maroon, Opera, Mauve, plus sepia and white pens |
I have finally got round to utilising some of my eco-dyed papers in a handmade book. Much of the inspiration has come from following the Instagram accounts of Sue Brown #sb.brown21 and Jo Horswill #paper_cloth_studio.
So far I have only added a few pressed leaves to some of the pages, but I might add some prints or drawings later.
The full filmed flip-through was too long to be added in its entirety, so I might re-film the second part later.
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| "Ginger and robin's egg blue" - watercolour and sepia fine liner |
I have been following Este MacLeod's September Instagram challenge #coloricombo and integrated some of the colour suggestions in my mini-doodles.
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| "Lemon and elephant grey" - I saw this dancing couple in my randomly painted watercolour washes |
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| "Carrot and coffee" - watercolour, sepia fine liner and white gell pen |
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| A section of the dyed paper strips. Smoke bush and wisteria leaves, hollyhock and Japanese anemone flowers, plus red onion skin |
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| Calico, with smoke bush leaves, Japanese anemones and onion skin |
Not all my efforts in this series have been successful or pleasing. The first two below are rather dull. I used a base coat of gold acrylic ink for the fuchsia, thinking it would gleam through the subsequent washes of watercolour, but rather it seemed to dull them down. Adding gouache to try and brighten things up didn't work either. The hollyhocks were painted in gouache over a watercolour base, with added watercolour pencil, gel pens and Neopastel - definitely lacking the delicacy of the actual flowers. (All in a Moleskine sketchbook)
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| Gold ink base, with watercolour, gouache and gel pen (3" x 3") |
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| Watercolour, gouache, watercolour pencil, gel pens and Neopastel (3" x 3") |
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| Watercolour and fine liner pen (3" x 3") |
Back in 2019 I made a paper fabric case for my mini iPad. It has been in constant use since then and is definitely showing signs of wear around the edges and corners. During lockdown I started doing some small embroidery samples and decided to use some of these to make a new case. This project stalled for a while until I could get out to the shops for some quilt batting for the lining. Completed at last with a simple wrap-round strap!
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| Watercolour, fine liner and gel pens (3" x 3") |
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| Pen and watercolour 3" x 3" Cobalt Orange, Magenta and Cobalt Turquoise plus white gel pen |
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| 3" x 3" in watercolour Moleskine |
I tried out Golden high flow and fluid acrylics on this one. After the subtlety of watercolour, I was a bit overwhelmed by the strength of just a small amount of acrylic. I went overboard and added a background glaze of gold ink, then decided to try and tone that down with some hatching in watercolour pencil and white Neo-pastel.
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| Watercolour, black fine liner, white gel pen 3" x 3" |
I have been having issues with the removable tape to mask off the edges of these small images. Stix2 removable tape worked OK with my first two efforts, but subsequently began to tear the paper surface in some places. On this image (and a subsequent one) I put down a band of matte medium around the edge of the square, then used the tape, but that only resulted in the paint bleeding under the tape.
I have since raided the first aid box and tried out some microporous dressings tape - so far this seems to be a better option.
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| Watercolour, black fine liner, white gel pen, silver acrylic ink (3" x 3") in Moleskine watercolour sketchbook |
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| Another watercolour with black fine liner and some gel pen (3" x 3") in Moleskine watercolour sketchbook |
