trying new tricks

it seems like i've taken a detour. i was a bit tired of portraits. and i have always loved vessels, and flowers. 

i've been having so much fun in the art studio

i fixed it up quite a bit, tidier now and more welcoming

the room in itself is a blessing, overlooking the back garden orange trees and, when the window is open, the scent of honeysuckle and cecile brunner roses in bloom filter in. 

i count myself lucky to have a room like this.

ofcourse it is filled with work not only by myself but my favorite contemporary neo modern/outsider artists such as mary stanley, melodie stacey, colette copeland,jeanne marie webb, jenny wentworth, robin laws, lynne hoppe, amanda blake and cathy cullis. i have yet to own a jessie chorley and a julie arkell doll but i'm saving for a lisa graham small painting of a shirt on etsy.

my teabags continue on and off. i want to try the circular ones but still no luck finding any.

i did a tribute to lotta dam on a teabag. 

the teabags are addicting i must say

and i've been making postcards with natural elements such as these bouganvillea petals

and exploring the whimsical

this "indigo child" came about after listening to a russian singer

my friend erika immediately claimed it

i think i will mount it on a wood cradle

when my friend susan buchanan visted, she suggested mixing up some of my smaller work with my larger, juxtaposing. great idea i thought rather than having the portfolio filled with miniatures. i'm going to sort.

i'm also doing some illustration style watercolors

but the occasional face mini pops up

out of nowhere

and ofcourse i continue using my mechanical pencil and a few apps for my finer paintings, finer as in thin lined.

i sketch at night, in bed, while i watch the telly.

            birds are always a subject

i've also taken a liking to faceless portraits. when i posted on instagram i was told amish women leave doll faces blank so that children can imagine a loved ones face. i found that so touching.

          grid of some of the teabags

the painted shards keep multiplying

lots of packages are going out, lots of friends with birthdays, swaps , thank yous and the like.

as with this little sketch i did of a newfound friend on instagram

                first try at an animal

and occasionally i do a selfie and play photographer. above my daughter and i who are the best besties ever in the history of ever.

and, as priti lisa rightfully painted on a rock

blessings to each and every one of you who happenstance upon my blog

all over the map,creatively speaking

being homebound has pushed me into my art studio more often than usual

and i've been trying new substrates as well as trying to paint other subjects as well as portraits. at the moment, i am drawn to vessels of every sort and florals.

yes, vessels, especially kettles

painting like this takes more time since many layers are required for blending.

i use gesso, gel medium between coats, acrylics, stabilo pencil, colored pencils, lead pencil and thick bristled paint brushes for the background textures. i try to use what i have rather than buy more, although tempted to buy the watercolors lynne recommended and some doll turning tools nola recommended from canada. 

i continue to paint on little rocks and shell shards

 and experiment a more modern take with watercolors

ofcourse i still paint on teabags

and shipping tags, probably my favorite throughout the years

but at night i scribble and sew while i watch every imaginable english period drama on you tube, free and commercials free too. my favorites so far have been "the pallisers" and "south riding", both oldies but goodies. 

i received my "how to be a wildflower" book and am lettering a small sign for my friend katey in alabama

and i picked up my silk ribbons again and for two straight days embroidered this cuff bracelet which sold in an instant. 

this fella always with me

i even painted on a garden wood chip

i even made a carboard doll;

my inner child is always always whispering

and i knit 

and draw disproportionate bodies

and look for ways to display my little makings around the house

some, like this collage, remain in books

others get framed and hung in my studio

and in between

i cook

and garden

and it rains

and we sleep 'neath the vast sky dreaming of playful tomorrows listening to that pitter patter

and play house after short naps to recover that energy which has been so iffy lately. i've tried to eat well and rest and not stress, but something is amiss, i know my body. oh well

i have also discovered new art friends on instagram: susan hopkirk and olivia and very many from faraway lands with incomprehensible texts but beautiful photographs which spell creativity. 

it's been a good month in the art room, different, adventurous. i now have the urge to make a paper mache doll à la julie arkell so am gathering all the tools to get started.

and ofcourse my very own handmade pony. i used to love mine as a child. 

i do so miss the outdoors though, going on a hike. only once have i been to the beach since i returned from baja. tatiana just came back from the grand canyon and her photos blew me away and julie is up in yosemite right now and esther jyst got back from zion national park. 

i promise to write and share the art that has captured me over the past few months next time. 

and that about sums it up

hope your month has been creative too