Snowdrop Time

Snow drops are looking gorgeous in the garden.
We have a really good show this year.

The Daffodils are just coming through too.
Spring must be on its way. 

Time to order from the Sarah Raven catalogue :)

The Feather

The Magical Feather

Sketchbook Work - What Lies below?

 "What lies below" was the prompt from the Documented Life Project 2015.

I immediately thought of Hares - though I realise they don’t actually live in burrows (artistic license!) and I thought of the Cup & Ring marked rocks we find in Northumberland.
So many of which must still be UNDER the ground.

 So here is the spread, I cut through to a second painted page - its not as delicate as I would have liked, but then that’s the point of trying out new ideas, its an experiment, it doesn’t always have to work.  

But it’s a great starting point for refinement and further study.

What I did love was my sleeping hare….. I think you’ll be seeing him again.
Am having a hare thing at the mo…..

Sketchbook Work - The Labrynth

The Beginning and the End.

 Labrynth: An intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find ones way or reach an exit.  
Any confusingly intricate state of things or events.

 

 

Sketchbook Work - Dream

Sketchbook Work - Dream

We should all Dream.
I think it’s important for the artistic soul.

 

Sketchbook Work - An artist is....

An Artist is an Explorer…..

(Or as I said when I posted this on Facebook - An artist is... underpaid, undervalued and fed up! - but I was having a bad day!!)

Don’t forget you can find me on Facebook  here.
Would love to see you there.
 

 

 

 

Empowered

 

My “Word" for 2015.

I’m sure I’ll use many more - but this is the one to hold onto and remember its meaning.

Dictionary definitions;

1. Give (someone) the authority or power to do something.

2. Make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.

Inside that pouch should be my 2015 goals….. but I haven’t had time to think about them yet.
That says an awful lot. 

 

 

Sketchbook Work - The Crow and the Stones

The Crow and the Stones.

Collaged from an old calendar of Avebury Stone Circle (you see it is GOOD to keep things for years, they WILL come in handy sometime!) along with a photograph of stone sculptures I made in the Ingram Valley. 

Beacon of Light

Taken directly from the class on Life Book 2015

Its been a LONG time since I sat down to draw.

WHY???!  
When I love it so much.

(Note to Self - Get on with drawing more!) 

Sketchbook Work - Wild at Heart

 Wild at Heart

 

Poppies are formed with Silk ribbon.  Didn’t have any trouble find that in my studio!

Shall we catch up?

 

One of the things I’ve realised over the last few weeks is that my life is finely balanced between three spheres - firstly, finding time for my family and friends.  Secondly keeping the house clean and tidy, the cupboards full, the clothes clean and pressed, taking the car for an MOT and all those little things that need doing for a house to run.  
Thirdly and finally, my work.  

Inevitably when something unexpected happens that balance really goes wonky!  
And unfortunately,  its my work that suffers, because simply, the rest can’t suffer.
I have a husband who is more often working away than at home (so although I am a equal opportunities feminist, the house, car and garden do fall to me to look after) and I’m mum to a gorgeous, precious and adorable teenage boy.

So stitching - well, not a lot at all to show you.  
In fact I’d go as far to say, none to show.

Mmm, thats NOT right at all!

What I have been trying to fit in these last few weeks is seeing all my friends, because nothing is more important than friendships.

I want to say a HUGE thank you too all those friends both here in Northumberland and to those more geographically challenged (who I meet up with on the internet). 
You have been wonderful with your flowers, coffee, natters, Facebook messages, texts and emails.
Crikey, what would I do without you all. 
You’ve really helped me get through the last 6 or so weeks. 

THANK YOU!

And to escape to my world of "Helen on her own" (which I do like too) I’ve been painting and drawing.  

I’m following four courses (soon to be three as I finish 48 weeks).

 

I’m still catching up on Donna Downeys 48 weeks, I’ve just finished week 44 and these weeks are truly wonderful, not only because Donna is a fabulous teacher, but also because the instructions are in real time detail and though I never follow the teacher exactly I don’t need to think too much about what to do.  

I’m following the Life Book 2015 - with videos and ideas to follow on a weekly basis, more illustration type work and good for me - forces me to draw.

I also signed up for the 2015 class from Donna - Inspiration Wednesdays, video’s every two weeks on more mixed media sketchbook work.

Finally the Documented Life Project 2015 where prompts and ideas are thrown out every week. (This one is free btw).

With this with course you do have to think - this is a good stepping stone for me from the set tutorials to my own mixed media work.

Now my brain is working out how to transfer some of the mixed media ideas to fabrics.
Not so easy when a lot of the texture relies on heavy gesso and other mediums, into which you couldn’t stitch, or even bend the fabrics as they would crack and peel off.

But I love a challenge, so watch this space.

Meanwhile, I have a week of catching up planned for you.
Hope you enjoy it after the few weeks of waiting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow time

Winter has hit Wooler. Brrrr!

Early this morning it was foggy - but very beautiful.

Lunch time I decided to walk back along the “top” road from Wooler - the main road is such a BORING walk.
The top road is much more interesting but it does undulate rather too much!  All good exercise though. 

Almost home when you’re at the bridge, you can see the roof of the studio.

Home!

Coffee!!!!!

My mum.
Who died on New Years eve from a short but intense illness with cancer.
Just 7 weeks after diagnosis (we thought we had 4-5 months).
Much more sudden than we, or the medical profession thought.

She died peacefully in her sleep - a relief from the pain and suffering caused by a rare and aggressive cancer.

I shall miss our phone calls, our walks on the beach and paddles in the sea - in all weathers, either bare footed or in wellies.

I’ve planted tulips (in tears) that I knew you would never see.  This year I did grow chrysanthemums that you loved, you did see me get the gardening bug, you saw your grandchild grow to be a teenager.

I’ve lost one of my dedicated blog readers too.

When I wrote these pages I often had you in mind. 

I’m writing this in advance, before I travel down to the West Midlands to make all the necessary arrangements that are required.

I’ve recorded lots of Elvis, Buddy Holly and more rock 'n' roll to give you a good send off. 

Miss you loads xxx

A review of the sketchbook art.

 As you know I’ve been following Donna Downeys "48 weeks Mixed Media Art Class".

Unfortunately life threw a huge wobbly in November when Mum was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive cancer.  

I thought I would cheer myself up and recap on the journey so far.  
It’s been an amazing year, I’ve learnt so much, made so many new friends too.
It’s making me question my approach to my whole art practise. 

I’m almost finished, ten weeks behind but determined to get to the finishing line.
As Donna said to me - I’m not 10 weeks behind, I’m 40 weeks ahead of those who never started.

 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to Everyone.
I wish you all peace, love, creativeness and happiness for 2015.
Helen xxx 

Sketchbook Work; Buddha and Butterflies.

  

Ming @ The British Museum

The final part of my London adventure took me to the Brisitih Museum to see the Ming exhibition and a general wander around including my favourite room, number 33.

I took 235 photos, below are selection of my highlights.

Room 33 has been reorganised with many more sculptures out on stands.
I was transported to India for an hour. 

 

On News Years Eve I’ll leave you with Ganesha, the God of new beginnings and learning, the remover of obstacles and a patron of the arts and science.

Raise a glass to 2015, its going to be a challenging year but I know I will come out stronger in the end.

 

 

Kiefer and Moroni at the Royal Academy

Continuing the blogging of my London visit…...

The Royal Academy for two very different exhibitions.

The outside installation gives an idea of what I found inside.

A large and poignant sculpture…  very simple really, but with a huge message about war.

 

 But first - (expensive) coffee in cultured surroundings. 

The Kiefer Exhibition. 

I was unsure about this, would I like it?
I’d taken some time to read up beforehand and very glad I did as it explained the artists background in Germany and his exploration of war.
 

I managed to take a few snaps on the phone. 

I was BLOWN AWAY.

 

Wow.

And double WOW.

The scale, the textures, the colours.
All of it spoke to me. 

I just cannot forget this exhibition.

 

Then upstairs to Moroni.

What a contrast.

He is hailed as one of Italy's best C16th portrait painters, capturing their likeness and that “something extra” that gives life to the painting. 

 

After lunch I headed to the British Museum….