Fishes

Sketchbook work;

Fishes!

Seasons Greeting!

Happy “insert festival of choice” to everyone…. 

Whatever you think and celebrate at this time of year I hope you have a good day / week.

For us the celebrations start with Yule and the Midwinter Solstice.  Very important to have the light returning.  

Today we have opened presents from family and friends and are about to sit down for lunch.

Presents have included 6 scarves!  DH came back with five from India, one a Kashmir stole and four of the finest silk in beautiful hand dyed colours.  I was given money to buy my own present s this year from parents and decided on Mahabi Slippers, a necklace from Anthropologie, a scarf woven by a friend and a book on Indian ornamentation.  My lovely friend gave me candles, a stunning steampunk watch and much more.  DH also gave me a voucher for 4X4 off road and winter driving tuition!  
A wonderful, electic mix!  
Perfect for me.

Better go and light the candles on the table!  

National Gallery Visit

Hard to believe it was over a month ago I was in the National Gallery looking at these paintings.

Sometimes I look at these famous pictures for real - and I’ve seen them so many times - that I don’t think I really SEE them.

So on this visit I looked for the details.

Caneletto - Venice a regatta on the Grand Canal 1740.

Who are these people gossiping?  What are the talking about?  Are they waiting for a boat?

 

Another picture from Caneletto (Venice 1728)

As well as the grand buildings there are men and women going about daily business.  Children too - Look at the mother leaving her broom and rushing to help her toddler.

 Constable 1820 - Straford Mill.

I’ve never seen the horse having a drink before.

How about the children fishing?  You can imagine the conversation of these two, looking down to see if they’ve caught a fish for dinner.

Who could fail to love Hogarth and his humour?  (Hogarth, 1743, Marriage a la mode scene 4).

Religious paintings don’t generally capture my imagination but who could resist these pinks, reds and oranges?  Still vibrant after five hundred years.
(Workshop of Durer 1500-1510)
 

Rubens is a master of drawing the eye from the very front of the hedgerow - with all the flower detail - along and into the very back of the painting  
(Ruben Autumn Landscape 1636)

Turner - Dido building Carthage 1815

Before Turner discovered the use of the colour yellow he painted scenes such as this.  

Are these people looking at maps?  What are the children talking about or are they playing a game?

Another Turner  - Fishermen cleaning and selling fish - before 1807, detail of the woman working, the men drinking (and making deals?) and the fish arriving.

And two more pictures I must show you.  Another Turner - Odysseus 1829.

I was standing looking at this when a guy commented on how wonderful a painting it was.  
I had to smile (a stranger talking to me in London!) and said you could almost feel the warmth radiating from the canvas.  He agreed.
 Lovely to share the moment with a total stranger. 

This painting always makes me stop and look.  Delaroche - The execution of Lady Jane Grey 1833.

Very much a metaphor for a woman being manipulated by a man into the position he wants her to hold. 

 

 

 

**SALE** DIGITAL WORKSHOPS

**DIGITAL WORKSHOPS SALE***

My workshops are all on sale until the 31st December due to new VAT regulations coming into force on 1st January.

**SALE** Download now for just £6.99 (usually £9.99)

Just Click Here….

**SALE** DIGITAL WORKSHOPS

**DIGITAL WORKSHOPS SALE***

My workshops are all on sale until the 31st December due to new VAT regulations coming into force on 1st January.

**SALE** Download now for just £6.99 (usually £9.99)

Just Click Here….

**SALE** DIGITAL WORKSHOPS

**DIGITAL WORKSHOPS SALE***
The UK Government is bringing in new VAT rules, from 1st January - ANY digital product will be liable to VAT if sold to another European country. Not just that but I will need to register for VAT (threshold is £0), register to hold data under the Data Protection Act (as I need to collect three pieces of info to tell me where the buyer is located) and submit VAT returns. Refusing to sell to other European countries infringes the law. The idea was to catch Amazon etc.... BUT the government had NO idea of the number of small businesses - like mine, that would be affected. 

My workshops are all on sale until the 31st December. Hopefully ETSY will be able to put measures in place, though at the moment it seems not. As for the design books I'm working on...... well, unless I can afford to publish them (not) its been a whole waste of energy and time 

**SALE** Download now for just £8.99 (usually £12.99)

Just Click Here….

Sketchbook Work; Bee Beautiful

 Here is the latest offering from the sketchbook.
There is not a lot of sewing happening in the studio as I’m spending a lot of my time 290 miles away - my mother is seriously ill and has been in hospital since November 5th.

When I am home I’ve been juggling paperwork, a new bathroom being fitted and this week the decorator …. not to mention my gorgeous son who needs mums attention and a husband I occasionally see in passing…. 

Sketchbook Work; Hares Weaving tales of the Moon

Inks and watercolour.

National Portrait Gallery

Last week I took the train to London and had a good dose of art and culture.

 

I started in the National Portrait Gallery with the William Morrs Exhibiton “Anarchy & Beauty"

It was really interesting to read about Morris's life and acquaintances.  He was very much a political animal as well as an artist and craftsman.

 

 

 The Exhibition info reads "Anarchy & Beauty explores the life and ideas of the great Victorian artist, writer and visionary thinker William Morris. Through portraits, personal items and fascinating objects, many of which will be on public display for the first time, this major exhibition illustrates Morris’s concept of ‘art for the people’ and highlights the achievements of those that he inspired."

No photographs were allowed of course (as there never are when there is a book to buy - yes of course, its on the shelf).

For me the highlight was this embroidery by May Morris, worked in wools on linen.
“June frieze with view of Kelmscott Manor” 

Branches were transformed into trees and a medieval influence was clear.

 

Following William Morris I headed towards the Tudor portraits.

its the details that I love looking at - portraits can be a wonderful resource as I’m so interested in historical costumes and ornamentation.

Elizabeth I by Unknown artist early C17th.

 

Katherine Parr, attributed to Master John, active 1554-54

Mary I, Unknown artist, 1590-1610 

Sketchbook Work; Birds on a Branch

Another spread from the sketchbook for you to enjoy today.

Layers of jewel like deep and intense paints with a softer creamy surface.

Posts maybe a little erratic for a while as I’m having to travel to see my mother who is ill.  
As she lives 287 miles away I can’t just pop down for a quick chat.

Despite this (or maybe as a way of reducing stress) my mind is still designing away...

 

After I had completed this work, I realised how much it reminded me of work I painted a few years ago.

I really should do more of these when I get time.

Mixed Media - Chrysanthemums

Mixed Media - Cherry Blossom

Mixed Media - Lotus

Mixed Media - Stained Glass