The Snow Queen - Work In Progress

I haven't drawn any faces for quite a while but at this time of year I always start thinking about my favourite winter tale, the Snow Queen, and get the urge to do some illustration for it. I've drawn and painted her a few times over the years and she looks different each time. Here I was thinking of her beguiling aspect and tried to give her large, hypnotic eyes and a very serene face. 

At the minute she doesn't look very regal but I intend to add colour and some other elements to the page, although I think she's already visited my studio and turned it into the Ice Palace so that could be an interesting experience!

A Small, Good Thing

Well, several actually. Moments from my day: the paperbark birch in my garden; daffodils in a pot braving the frost; the blessings of a wood burning stove; Sam in his favourite spot. Very cold and wintry here, keep warm everyone.

Forty Years On

A new mixed media piece which was inspired by my memories of the first moon landing, the 40th anniversary of which was this July. How time has flown.

I was watching the very wonderful Alan Bennett the other night on TV. He was talking about the writing process and 'being a writer' and how one is only a writer when one is actually writing. Research, all the hours spent in contemplation and creation, are just postponing the actual act of writing. Having published a book merely shows that you were a writer, once, not that you are one now.

He was, of course, being ironic but also touching on something that most creative people either feel themselves at some time or other or have foisted upon them by those who would like them to get a 'proper' job and stop mucking about. My own feeling is that people who choose not to develop a creative path as a writer or artist which, by its very nature is most usually a solitary affair, do not understand - maybe do not care to - that not everything is achieved by being outwardly busy amongst lots of other busy people. And if you are engaged in creative endeavours it's also not uncommon to feel that the muse might, at a moment's notice, pack his or her bags and leave, never to be heard from again.

It's hardly a  new notion but one which, from time to time, bears restating I think.

Neighbourhood Watch

I've been meaning to photograph these houses for ages, before they're claimed by the wrecking ball. They are the last remnants of several streets which were demolished some years ago to make way for a new road network and stand like a forgotten island in a sea of concrete, tarmac and railway sidings.

How To: Let It Snow Gift Tags

I woke up the other morning with an idea for some cute and sparkly Christmas gift tags and, having tried it out, I was really pleased with the results so thought I'd share the process in case you'd like to try it out for yourself. Most of the things you need you will likely have already but if not make substitutions, or pay a visit to the art & craft shop - it's the perfect excuse!

Materials

lightweight card or similar in contrasting colours - I used Murano pastel paper for the tags in the picture

rubber stamps/printing blocks

embossing ink pad

embossing powder in platinum and gold

crafter's heat gun

assorted small craft punches and hole punches - I used my Japanese screw punch and a small flower punch

soft thread for ties

Photo Mount spray or PVA glue

ruler and rotary cutter or scissors

Begin by cutting out tags 2.75"x1.75" (7cmx4.5cm) from the cardstock. I prefer a rotary cutter and mat for this step as it's quicker but use scissors if you don't have one. Ink up your stamp(s) with the embossing pad and stamp the tags making sure to leave some unstamped areas on each tag. Sprinkle with embossing powder and tap gently onto a sheet of paper to remove the excess - this can be returned to the jar for re-use later. With the heat gun, melt the embossed images. 

Note: take great care with the heat gun if you're not used to them, they get extremely hot so don't get your fingers, or anything else, in front of the business end and always work on something like a tile which will not get damaged by the heat.

Once your embossing has cooled begin to punch into the blank areas you left on each tag. Aim for a random looking but pleasing design and leave room at the top of the tags to punch a central hole for the thread tie. Next, try some of the contrasting coloured card behind your punched tag, keep auditioning until you find one that really makes the whole thing 'pop'. Using your adhesive, stick the tags to the backing card - you may find it easier to stick them onto an uncut piece of card and them trim round them afterwards. Finally, punch holes near the centre top of your tags and thread some soft string or yarn through and tie in a knot.

And there you have it, original and very pretty tags to give your giftwrapping some real sparkle! Please let me know what you think, and if you make some for yourself I'd love to see!

Between the Projects and the Rock Island Line

Normally, when I do architectural pieces I work from photographs, typically ones I or Vincent have taken. This is a preliminary sketch for a painting I'm planning which is based on another photographer's work. 

One of my favourite Flickr discoveries has been the prolific and wonderful Curtis Locke whose photostream Find A City To Live In is a daily must-see. He takes pictures of the built environment with an eye for the overlooked and neglected which is truly remarkable and he was kind enough to give me permission to make a painting from one of his photos.

This building is a central detail from that photo which I have been drawing to familiarise myself with it before I begin work on the canvas. I don't actually know what its function is, and I don't want to. The interesting thing about it for me is the enigmatic nature of this and the other structures in the shot, half-glimpsed among the weeds and chain link fences.

Go check out Curtis's photos while I go and do some work.

The View From Here

 

Another rare day of that wonderful de Chirico type light meant I had to go out and shoot a few pictures round the neighbourhood. 

Queen Of Everything

I am being neglectful of my everyday drawing and blogging, I know, but I have had some sort of bug for the last few days which has made me feel completely washed out. Anyway, last night I slept for eleven hours and today I feel much improved. Might even get a bit of work done!

I am still having a ball making these fabric covered books and I have so much quilting cotton that I could probably keep making them until I'm 90. This one features some Klimt-inspired designs which have metallic gold accents and they look very sumptuous paired with large florals and yellows. The title just seemed appropriate somehow. It's currently available in my shop.

I've also just started reading What do I do when I want to do everything? by Barbara Sher. I was attracted to it when I saw it on the library shelf as I am one of those people who wants to do everything and frequently ends up doing nothing because I just can't choose. Well, Ms Sher promises some insights and ways of dealing with this so I thought I'd give it a go. I'll let you know more when I've read further.

Mr Tumnus's Lamp

Okay, today's drawing is of one of the entrances to Miller Park. As you enter under the bridge there is a very large old tree and next to it a Victorian lamp post which always reminds me of the one in Narnia where the children first meet Mr Tumnus.