Cerney House Gardens

With wet and windy weather forecast for several days, we managed to arrange our sketch outing

on the sunniest day of the week.  After exploring this delightful Cotswold garden I settled down to attempt this distant view of the pagoda.  I was rather daunted by all the greens and nearly gave up, but the subsequent pen work helped to bring some order to the chaos.

Watercolour, gouache and pen 8" x 6"

Marlborough Open Studios

Despite the forecast high temperatures last Sunday, a friend and I decided to make an early start to visit some of the open art studios around Marlborough.  Quite a few of those participating were in small villages or well hidden farms in the surrounding downs, but we managed to fit in a couple of venues where 3 or 4 artists were exhibiting together as well as some individual studios.

Of particular interest was the garden print studio of one of our art society colleagues, and another artist using fabric, stitch and mixed media.  I am not one to make impulse buys, but I did treat myself to a framed work from the latter.  The beauty of this piece is in the subtle colours and textural detail which is difficult to see in my photograph.

"Fields of Gold" 10" x 10"
by Ann Louise Smith

I was tempted to try out some of Ann's techniques on some scraps of calico (and used/washed antiseptic wipes).

Calico, fluid acrylic, metallic ink, collaged painted tissue
and wipes, hand embroidery, machine stitch and pen.
Painted wipe strips made up the plaited piece.

One page fold book

Some months ago I made this little fold book out of an A3 sheet of cartridge paper.  Originally I had intended it to have a Christmassy theme, printed with holly and ivy leaves with berries, but it wasn't a success so ended up in my scraps folder.  Recently, at a loose end for ideas, I decided to glaze over it with completely different acrylic colours and added more printed patterns with white gesso.  With no plan in mind, I have picked it up in spare moments and randomly added more painted and printed scraps from my oddments stash.  (Finished size approx. 4" x 6 )

A couple of other artists using this style of folded booklet are Helen Wells and Sue Brown which you might find interesting.

Another quirky postcard collage

I have started to over-think these postcard collages instead of quickly just grabbing what comes to hand - not necessarily a good idea.  

Handprinted tissue, mulberry and cartridge paper,
acrylic, gel pens and machine stitch
 (Hahnemeuhle watercolour postcard 6" x 4")