Another House from scraps

This is an almost identical design to the one I did last week for my Grandma, but I have decided to put it in a frame second time round, and thus create a present rather than a card. Still need to get bigger and better though!

Interpreting Banksy

This is a painting I have been working on for a long time and which has presented many challenges. My brother asked me if I would do an interpretation of one of Banksy's famous images, as he didn't want just a simple print of it, and wanted the piece to be completed in my own style. It ended up being quite experimental and I tried a lot of new techniques, some of which are more successful than others. I think I've learnt from this one never to give up, and when something seems like a lost cause, just keep going and the answer will more often than not come to you.

Perseverance is key.

Moving Images 5

The sun beams down on the golden fields below
Sending waves of yellow light to every corner of my watchful eye.
As usual I wonder what lies beyond;
this moment, this day, this lifetime, this field.
I guess I'll never know the answers to such bold questions
And I shouldn't be brave enough to ask.
Just Be.

Moving Images 4

Just another day riding the train sat in the same old seat.

Yet Another

This is my favourite one so far.

More Painting

I don't think these paintings need much explanation. They are what they are.

Playtime.

Some New Merges

I always draw. All of the time. On the bus, on the train, in my bedroom, in the garden etc. Consequently I have built up a large collection of simple line sketches, mostly figurative and have been wanting to develop them for a while, adding colour, texture and general interest. Yesterday I managed to steal a few hours and began experimenting with overlaying the drawings onto some of my paintings. The results were very pleasing and I am particularly fond of the static black and white illustration, on top of all the mad experimental colour behind. With The Lovers Seat, it is like the couple are suspended in their own perfect moment, while the hectic moving world goes on around them.

This is simply phase one in the experiment. I would like to continue developing these pieces, stitching into them and possibly adding some embelishments, such as beads and buttons. There is always room for improvement.

Houses from Scraps

Another day, and yet another card! As well as there being so many occasions and people to send cards to, I enjoy working on such a small scale, with the white background and a specific person in mind. I find it allows for a good amount of experimentation, but lacks the fear factor that a big blank canvas brings with it. I have recently been experimenting a lot with acrylic paints, seeing exactly what they can do, how they move and what magnificent effects can be created by scratching, squirting, rolling, dripping, dribbling etc....you get the gist. All of these processes produce one-off outcomes and whilst often the result can be messy, this is part of the fun of it. It is simply an exercise in investigation. I am however finding that with each painting I do, there is a least a small section of it which I like and which can be developed and turned into something else. Ripping,collaging and illustrating over the top is a favourite. Here, I have simply used two different colour experiments and turned them into the rough shape of a house and roof, then done simple line drawing over the top. It's a nice combination I think. The next step is of course to get BIGGER!

Turret Love

This is a little housewarming card I put together for my friend Beth, who has just moved in with her boyfriend Phil, in their lovely little house in London, with it's very own turret!

For a while now I have been collecting dried up pieces of paint, peeled from my pallet and I suppose ready for the bin. I however try my best to salvage everything and make something new from it. The colours which accidentally swirl together, make incredible shapes and patterns - particularly on the underside - and I can often make images from them in my head; I suppose it's a bit like looking up at the sky and making pictures from the cloud formations. I initially did not know what to put on the front of a "Happy New Home" card (apart from the obvious picture of a house), but when looking through my scraps of paint, my brain saw a duvet and a little head poking out of the top of it. That was it! With a few additions of paint and illustration over the top, others can now hopefully see what I saw so clearly.

Look harder, and you will always find beauty.