Colour Addict

Winter, with it's ultra-violet snow, pale gold sedge grasses and dramatic lighting gives way to another colour palette in Spring. I'm not the first to admit that I'm addicted to colour. Wrap up a nice slab of turquoise, or canary yellow and I'll sink my teeth into it like it's a piece of chocolate. I get such a kick out of it. But I think the colours of Spring are so...arresting...because they are set against the Winter backdrop, thus popping. I'm not saying that I don't love Summer (I do), but it's a very different thing you have to agree.

Today is one of those days you just know is going to be smashing before you even pull the blinds. The birds are in full swing, and that Spring Smell is in the air. So I took my mismatched menagerie down to the river for a little stroll.

Boo and his shadow self - such a rarity to get strong enough sun for strong shadows!

Some alien looking algae growing in a puddle, such a vibrant shade of green!

Boo, checking out an invisible robin in the hawthorn tree.

Himself, posing, against a sea of blue

The wonderfully loyal and humble daffodil. These had been starting to come up since early January, and popped open while I was away in the States. They are so joyful and bright and a sure sign that Spring has sprung!

In conclusion, colours are wonderful. Even the most grey 'miserable' day affords us with a litany of colours and tones to enjoy, it's just a matter of finding them and seeing their worth. We wouldn't appreciate or see the beauty of Spring and Summer's colours without the gentle palettes of Autumn and Winter.

Return!

So I have returned from my rambles abroad. While I was there it felt like such a long time. Now that I'm home only a week, it feels like a very long time ago. Time is strange that way.
I found the trip extremely inspiring and energizing. I'm full of ideas for my own work, and looking forward to finishing a big project too...now that I can see a context for it. America is oh. so. big. Everything seems very possible there.

Check out these amazing bird houses (above) ...bird hotels...bird villas. I don't think there is an appropriate term for them, they are so magical. And with a lick of paint, some I think would look very like this...

Unfortunately, purple martins, the type of birds these little palaces are made for, will only nest in white houses. I guess they have standards too and prefer the timeless appeal of delicate white wash.
I experienced all the seasons while there...torrential rain, gale force winds, heavy snowfalls, and a little Indian Summer. It was suitably March-like in it's schizophrenia. But now that I'm home, the daffodils are up and the green fields are showing off against the dramatic light of Spring. Whenever I return home, I'm strongly reminded that I am right where I need to be. It's quite wonderful.

From the heart necklace...

A necklace I made to wear for an upcoming special occasion. I really enjoyed putting this together last nice. I have a special place in my heart for circles, and green (the colour of the heart chakra) is actually quite an appropriate colour for a wedding.
Over the years I have been given, gifted, acquired, collected and happened across lots of things which at the time I know will be useful for something one day...the constant mantra of the artist.  This is a perfect example of how those things, separately bits of nothing, can come together in a gentle working constellation.
You can call it recycling, up-cycling, being creative or cheap...I'm not labelling it. All I know is that I made something that I would have never found on the high street. That I will never see another one quite like it on someone else and that was completely put together with my own fair hands.
There is something magical and empowering about that, I think. Something very real and primal too.

Yes, I will bend this wire, so help me, and cut and stretch and search for just that one more THING! And there it is, ta dah! A circle-y collection of green...

Thank you, brave little heart.

She Said Goodbye to the Circus (in progress)

Hey.

I know, I couldn't actually wait another second, and it isn't even close to being finished.

I guess I wanted to put it up before I go off on my galavanting at the end of the week. When I get back I'm going to absolutely BLAST it with detail...you know, little things like giving the zebra eyes and what-not o.O

I bet you can't wait either.

Something new will be here soon...

I've spent the last three days drawing solid. I haven't drawn in literally weeks due to having the flu and other things going on, so it felt so amazing to get stuck in to it again. 

And

I'm absolutely loving what I'm drawing. Usually I think it's ok, or yeah, good enough...or I struggle to get things going and right, but this one...its basically drawing itself and I'm just sitting here watching it come together.

A friend and I were talking about it last night actually, and she was saying that when your drawing for yourself, there is a strength and truth in it, which makes it universal anyway. And that's why its so easy, and well...likable.

I can't wait to show it off and post it up on absolutely everything, and get it framed and hang it on my wall so I can just look at it every time I come into my studio.

It's nice to do something for myself.

:)

Something about commissions...

As most artists' will know, commissions are almost always part of the job at some time or other. We often are asked to do things we simply can not do, because we are an artist. I don't know if it is a lack of understanding, but it is something I have been thinking about more since getting this new work started.
What you can see is the beginning of a cover up. Something long overdue, and mulled over for the best part of 6 years. Where the subject of commissions comes in is here - you see, I didn't really know what I wanted...well I did, but not being a tattoo artist, my ideas, and what was actually possibly didn't line up exactly. So, I commissioned my artist to come up with a design, incorporating elements which I suggested based on his own interests as well, his style and what I could hear and see him being excited about. Because that is what a commission is. You ideally go to an artist (insert appropriate folk here) whose personal work you like. Then you trust that they will take what you want and bend it to a shape that suits their own style. And if you have gone to the right person, that painting or tattoo or piece of music or poem, will be everything and more than you had imagined.
If I had to sit down and design this particular piece, it would NEVER have come out this way. The layout alone completely blows my mind as do the little details like the mouses' tail, all the gorgeous circles (i love circles) and the extra designs on Ganesha's trunk.
This is only the first stage...I get so excited when I think about seeing it in it's next form!

And that's my spiel on commissions. Go to someone who's work you already love. Be open and trust that they will make something beautiful for you and you can't go wrong.

The Invisible Circus and a New Year!

Goodness, it has been awhile, hasn't it!?
Well greetings one and all who visit here and a wonderful happy new year to you. I hope the last few months have been treating you well. I suppose I should re-cap...
The opening went very well. John Corless opened it, said lovely things and was very encouraging and genuinely liked and engaged with the work. (He likes tigers, so that was a plus). I had a good turn out, and everyone who I really wanted to be there came, so that was a nice surprise.
I was given new insights by the audience, saw things in the work that I wasn't aware of and finished up with a little spring in my step, ready to tackle the next phase.
It was a wonderful experience and something that I will be looking back on with fondness for many years to come.

Plans for this year...
I have a few little things in the pipeline. Some new things I want to experiment with and try. There are a few ideas, motifs, themes that I would like to flesh out and pin down more. And as a little side project or resolution, I have to write and doodle something everyday into my journal (which I had given up doing for various reasons)...which I am really enjoying. I also want to do more indepth research into current/past artists in order to get a better grasp on what it is I am actually saying and how it fits into everything else.

I have a drawing I started before the new year which is going SO slowly, and a new sketch I'm doing on wood (we'll see how that goes) but I'm feeling inspired, energized and I just wish I could spend every waking moment at it...I'm sure I'm not the only one.

To conclude, to those other creative folk out there, and all those just peeking through the curtain, I wish you endless inspiration, health and contentment for this year, and many blessings to come.

x SB