Winter Time

A recent visit to my studio literally astounded me. I couldn't believe how beautiful my little den was at what is normally such a bleak time of year. The sun was streaming through the windows and the room was warmed by the sun - delightful! It seemed strange that in the same day I was making my Christmas cards for friends and family, with the warmth of the sun on me I felt like it must have been the wrong time of year! But no, it is definitely almost Christmas time! X

In The Air, Then Onto The Water

Leaving chilly England, we spent a week cruising around Italy, Greece and Turkey to places neither of us had been to before. Beginning our trip in Bari and ending in Venice we saw so many beautiful sights, especially Santorini for its hilltop presence and beautiful setting. Ahhh I love adventures :)

A Source of Inspiration

Saatchi Online is such as useful source of inspiration. I visit this site regularly, looking at other artist's work. It is refreshing to look at other artwork with different themes and ways of working. I love these two images pictured, above for the way they have captured the eyes and below for it's delicacy but also double layer of portrait and landscape. It is beautiful, don't you think? :)

Stumbling into Art

Visiting London, I knew there was an exhibition of Hughie O'Donoghue at Marlborough Fine Art but through wandering around the other galleries that lay in the vicinity I also managed to stumble upon an original painting by Kurt Jackson! Not a bad day!

The Love of Running

There is something I feel whilst out running, it is a feeling of freedom, clarity, relief, solitude, power, creativity. I often wonder why this is and if there are others that feel it too. I remember at uni a tutor commented 'you play netball?' as if it was the most absurd thing he had ever heard. A Fine Art student plays sport? Yeah, is that really such a shock? For me, I find that art & sport are two of the most crucial aspects of my life. 

Watching a programme a while ago, on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood William Holman Hunt was portrayed as a passionate individual that regularly boxed and exercised.  Watching a Tracey Emin documentary more recently showed her love for the outdoors, swimming and exercise as a release and I completely relate to this need. Both examples affirm my belief that art and exercise can and do work side by side.  

July - Summer Holiday

 As the storm brews outside, I get ready for a week down in Cornwall...I cannot wait!!! For a second year, we are spending our holiday down there and I just love it. The place sets me alight and how can it not - look at it!!! The picture above is taken in St Ives Harbour, as the tide crept in we fished for crabs and was lucky enough to be joined by a seal! Bliss :) Whilst down there I revisited Barbara Hepworth's studio/garden, it is such a tranquil space.

Barbara Hepworth's studio/garden...you are
allowed to dream :)

Alderley Edge - to the woods.

 A visit to Alderley Edge created some much needed fresh inspiration for my current series 'As Nature Crawls Back'.

Work in progress

The surreal colours within the woods connected perfectly with work I am currently working on and inspired a series of monoprints.

Monoprint 

Monoprint

Monoprint

Artist Influence

A good sit in the library with a book on Anselm Kiefer - absolute artistic bliss and a passage to further development and exploration in my work :)

Combining my own drawings with photos taken

Inspired by Kiefer, made by me 

April

A good month so far...the combination of teaching, studying and making art fits together so well for me. Everytime I finish a class I feel giddy and ready to burst with inspiration. A habit is occurring after a days teaching...sneaking down to the library for a sit on the comfy chairs and a look through Frieze magazine :)

A day at the studio...a time to collect my thoughts

Amidst the visitors during Arts March, I had a good chance to sit and think.

Thoughts and steps to take...

My tree series, 'As Nature Crawls Back' is keen to get underway and strangely I feel really connected to this project, in particular the natural aspect that is creeping back in my work.  I feel that it needs more imagery though, more exploration and experimentation in order to play with its potential.

Since speaking to a couple that own a few of my paintings, about an architectural boat tour they went on in Chicago and seeing the amazing photos from the trip it gave me ideas on how my Waterways series could develop.  This project initially arose from a photographic tour around Manchester with the Cornerhouse, introducing me to parts of the city that I had never reached before.  After seeing the Chicago photos, I came to think that this project has the potential to go way beyond the city of Manchester.  In the last few years I have visited some amazing places, such as Bruges and Brisbane that have a strong water focus and why not combine images of these places to produce my work?

Another thought in my mind is photos I took whilst on my travels around the world.  I recently gathered all the photos that I took whilst out running during this trip.  I discovered a collection of beautiful snapshots of the places I had visited, sneaky looks into hidden places and away from the tourist areas.  I had unknowingly taken some of my best photos during these unplanned outings and I am now keen to use these in some way.

Hmmmmm...food for thought :)

My first ski holiday..and definitely not my last

Woodend Mill - Feb 2012

Whilst not much free time over the past few weeks to spend at the mill, I managed to squeeze in a few days in Scotland to enjoy my first ski-ing holiday :)

The weather was wonderful and I have come back feeling refreshed and unbroken! Yay!

Glenshee - Feb 2012

A New Year

St Kilda, Melbourne - Jan 2011

What a difference a year makes...this time last year we were in Melbourne though 2012 has started with bright skies and I am feeling optimistic :)

View From Our Home - Jan 2012