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 .......
A recently completed case for my sewing accessories - made from eco-dyed calico, with machine stitching and hand embroidery.
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.
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| Watercolour, gouache and pen - 8" square |
A couple of recent paintings.
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| "Hollyhocks" acrylic 7" x 9.5" |
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| "Thomas Hardy's Cottage" pen and watercolour 9" x 6.5" |
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.
A couple more fabric pots made from scraps of eco dyed fabric. Both are about 3.5" tall, but differ in diameter.
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| Diameter 3.5" |
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| Diameter 2.5" |
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.
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.
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!
Three more embroideries to add to the collection (the passion flower image has been duplicated but in a slightly different colour).
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.
