Christmas Card 2024

A Flight of Angels

I was a bit late in coming up with my design for this year's Christmas cards, but luckily they were completed just in time for the last posting date.

Sketch outings

A few of my plein air sketches from this year.  Last year I enjoyed using a brown kraft paper sketchbook for some of my drawings.  Having used that up, I replaced it with another brand which I am not finding so good to use with my usual materials.  I have also tried black paper but, again, have yet to find the best approach with this.  The experiments continue .......

Sewing case

 A recently completed case for my sewing accessories - made from eco-dyed calico, with machine stitching and hand embroidery.

Urban Sketchers September e-zine

 Drawing Attention

Fabric Follies

 

Painted, printed and embroidered calico,

3.5" square, 2" high

My original intention was to make a pin cushion, but near completion decided it was a bit on the large size so turned it into a lidded box.  I have used cardboard inserts to strengthen the sides and lid.

A fragment of embroidery used on a greetings card -

6" x 4"

Poster challenge

Our recent art group challenge was to produce an image in the style of a vintage poster, either railway or theatre themed.

I combined some sketches, made some 30 years previously, when we visited the Italianate-styled village of Portmeirion in North Wales. I laid down a watercolour wash for the entire background of the image, overlaying my drawing and using gouache to complete the scene.

Watercolour, gouache and pen - 8" square

Recent work

 A couple of recent paintings.

"Hollyhocks" acrylic
7" x 9.5"

"Thomas Hardy's Cottage" pen and watercolour
9" x 6.5"

Acrylic experiments

I've been quiet on social media of late and, in the main, what I have posted has been textile-related. However, recently I was tempted to get out my acrylic inks and try some small experiments following an online demo by #artistintheshed.  The process is somewhat similar to the way I use watercolours in my small floral doodles, although less controlled and the inks make for a more vibrant result.  These are all about postcard size or smaller.

Drawing Attention

Urban Sketchers June issue of Drawing Attention:

Patchwork purse

 

A small purse made with a patchwork of eco-dyed cotton, embroidered and lined with unbleached calico.  Approximately 3.5" square.

Textile Gallery Page

The Textile Gallery

I have added a new gallery under the Pages section of my blog. This provides a brief overview some of the textile work I have been producing since 2020.  Fuller details of the individual items are given in the relevant blog posts.

More fabric pots

 A couple more fabric pots made from scraps of eco dyed fabric.  Both are about 3.5" tall, but differ in diameter.

Diameter 3.5"

Diameter 2.5"

Fabric fold book

 Last month I finally got round to completing a fold book structure for the printed and embroidered floral images I had been working on. (Larger images of the individual florals can be found in January and February posts.)

The cover is made from old sheeting, printed, painted, machine and hand-stitched.

Victorian Puzzle Purses

A couple of recent Victorian puzzle purses.  Not really complicated, but I still manage to get in a muddle with the final round of folds.  These were made from sheets of painted A3 copier paper, cut down to approx. 10.5” square for the main structure. 

The fabric pot saga continues ...

A recently completed fabric pot using a patchwork of fabrics eco-dyed with leaves (brown tones) and avocado skins and stones (pink/rust colours), handstitched and embroidered. Size 3.5" tall, diameter approx. 3.25".  Three views are shown as my attempt to video the vessel while turning it round was decidedly jerky!

Drawing Attention March 2024

 The latest Urban Sketchers e-zine.

Paint, Print and Stitch continued

 Three more embroideries to add to the collection (the passion flower image has been duplicated but in a slightly different colour).  

Paint, print and stitch

 Some small embroideries which have kept me occupied over the dark winter nights.

These are approximately 4" x 5", lino prints on painted calico and hand embroidered.  These may be combined to make a wall hanging or perhaps another fabric book.