Sunshine,Sea, Slow Worms And Waiting For Moths

The other day we drove some miles across the border to Dorset and spent an afternoon by the sea.

The sky was clear, not a hint of a breeze blew, unusual for the coast. The sun warmed the sand like a summers day but the smell was spring. Gorse flowers perfumed the dunes with scent of coconut.

The landscape on the dunes is so different to home. You can almost imagine you are in distant lands with the large ants crawling around on the sand beneath my toes and the trees and grass reminded me of Zimbabwe my husbands homeland.

Back in the garden primroses and cowslips.

And slowworm in one of the compost heaps enjoying the warmth. Haven't seen any grass snakes yet?

I'm sure these two have though?....

                                                         (Mummy hen with one of her two son's that were born last year)

So what else have I been doing? Quietly working away on small bits and pieces. 

Oh and I found these when I was tidying the greenhouse....

 Can't wait to see what type of moths they turn into?

Any ideas anyone?  x

An Interview With Dpi Magazine

Several weeks ago I was kindly asked to do an interview with the Taiwan magazine dpi. Dpi stands for (Design Popular Imagination) It's a lovely monthly magazine by the looks and I'm really happy with the spread they have done. I'm in this months issue, so thought I'd share it with you.   

 Here is the interview as it's to small to read on the pictures......
 

What kind of material, tool and technique do you use for your creation?

 I work very traditionally in acrylic paint on canvas, wood or watercolour paper. Sometimes I might use coloured pencils on paper alongside the paint. I occasionally add metallic paint and gold and silver leaf.

It feels peaceful to your artworks, and how do you describe your creating style?

Yes, alot of people have told me that my work has a calming effect or sense of peace to it. I'm really happy about this as hopefully it means I'm achieving a little part of what I've set out to do? Much of my work is about connection. The connection between humans and animals, plants trees, nature in general. I often feel that there is a disconnection between us and nature /animals. We as humans have separated ourselves from it, living in cities or submerged in our material worlds. Sadly we exploit it and have in some areas lost all respect for it. In my work I try to show that the connection is still there if you look for it. A special magic, wisdom a spark, a deep respect that was once lost can be re-found, relit and reconnected. I use imagery with stars alot to potray this magic and my colours are often centred around blue which is a very calming colour. I hope the peace that people see in my work is maybe that connection showing itself?
Other pictures of mine can be more whimsical and light hearted and are painted with a specific piece of writing in mind.

What's your inspiration from? Is there anything can inspire you from daily life?

Nature, stories myths, folk and fairy tales and a single word can spark an idea. A piece of music an image, film or an old object found can open rusty locks to creative doors in my head. I'm inspired by many things.I love notebooks and am always  filling them with sentences that often come to me in the midnight hours. These often lead to a painting. At my desk on a daily basis I'm inspired by what's going on outside my window. The trees, their skeletal form in winter. The birds rooks and jackdaws that live in them. The light, how it falls , the constant changing of the sky, the windsong on the leaves.

 

It looks that your artworks contain a lot of animals, such as owl, fox and dogs. Why do you like to draw animals in your artworks? Would you share your design conception with us?

I use animals in a symbolic way. I've always been interested in stories using animals. Fairytales and superstitions relating to them. I use them as the inbetween link between us and the earth or ethereal world I suppose? 

The owl sat amid the starlit forest in my painting  'The Keeper Of Time' for instance is just that an owl, but is also reminding us of wisdom and the passing of time. Or a wisdom lost over time. 

The fox in my picture 'Wearing A Robe Of Gold ' is to me a prince in the landscape. He turns to glance at the light. I used the light to symbolise hope of things to change and the elephant hawk moth that has just hatched from it's sleep represents new beginnings.

  

Would you talk about your works “the hare” and “thrush”? What’s your design conception of these two images and why do you want to put people and animal in the image? 

I use people and animals together to emphasise a bond. The Thrush picture or 'Nest' is about  similarities. Reminding ourselves that we too are animals How we both have the same instinct watching over our offspring.The hare and woman is again about connection something passing between them. Unspoken, a feeling, a knowing between them. 'A Secret'

The image of “Magic Toyshop” looks has different design conception with other artworks. Would you share the creating idea with us?

The Magic Toyshop painting is an old work of mine. My palette and subject matter was much darker at this point in time. It was work I did at college and based on Angela Carters book of the same title. I won first prize as student Illustrator with it at the Benson And Hedges Gold Awards. 

Will you try another creating style in the future? Moreover, do you have any latest artworks now?

At the moment I'm happy with my style of working. Although I would like to learn more about digital work. I would also like to do some much larger paintings and more book Illustration work. I'm working on preliminary ideas at the moment for my next painting about the circle and dance of Spring.

                                                            *************

Now to the Novica giveaway!  Before I announce the winner I have a little good news. Instead of one voucher for $75, I got things a little mixed up and actually have two!  So.. that means two winners!  

I asked my son and daughter to choose two numbers and they chose numbers 11 and 12.

         So the winners are.... 'Deborah Long'  and 'Bunnits'

Congratulations! Email me and I'll send you the vouchers! :-)

Some Thoughts About Earth Our home

With the miracle of Spring happening all around us at the moment, who can not notice the beauty of the Earth.

Trees are bursting into their blossomy leafy cloaks once again and primroses decorate grassy banks  The days are filled with sweet song of robin, blackbird, thrush and the tap tapping of the woodpecker down in the little wood has returned. It's a beautiful sound to hear, calming and comforting as bees humming from flower to flower. I've seen brimstone butterflies, bumble bees/dumbledores and many native species ladybirds. The moths have returned at night fluttering against my window. Their eyes reflect my desk lamp and glow like tiny fairy fire embers. New life is everywhere and of course soon the glorious hawthorn will grace us with her white magic. One of my favourite sights and the smell...heaven.

The other day I imagined if the leaves on the trees didn't arrive... What if no flowers came into bloom, no birdsong, no bees. What if we waited and waited but Spring just didn't happen?  A horrible scary thought indeed.  But we do take everything so for granted. We put such importance on things that really aren't. How can so much value be put on a diamond when water is worth so much more?

 It made me think of these words...

Only after the last tree has been cut down

Only after the last river has been poisoned

Only after the last fish has been caught

Only then will you find money cannot be eaten

~Cree Prophecy~

Saturday like many people we lit candles and marked Earth Hour. A small statement for change some would say, but change is what is needed. I believe we should all strive to live by the Earth Commandments.

Thou shalt love and honor the Earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.
Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons.
Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.
Thou shalt give thanks for thy food to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.
Thou shalt limit thy offspring for multitudes of people are a burden unto the Earth.
Thou shalt not kill nor waste Earth's riches upon weapons of war.
Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth's expense but strive to restore its damaged majesty.
Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth.
Thou shalt not steal from future generations by impoverishing or poisoning the Earth.
Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share Earth's bounty.

 Ernest Callenbach

'The Song Of The Earth Is Love'  is the title of my Aceo for Japan.   It will be for sale in my Etsy shop shortly and all money will go to the Red Cross appeal. Again like all Aceo's it measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches. It is a pencil drawing on moleskine paper with some acrylic paint added.
A tiny gesture that I can offer as I can't begin to imagine how those people affected by the earthquake and tsunami are feeling. Small things do make a difference. From where we buy our vegetables, eggs, tea, coffee, are they free range? is it fairtrade? What about our shampoo and toiletries? (I always prefer natural things and products not tested on animals) Even just our small choices which we might think insignificant affect the bigger picture so we must remember to be mindful when we choose. I was contacted a while a go to do a review on here. Now I wouldn't normally agree,  But this company Novica I did find inspiring so I thought yes, why not and the fact that they have offered a gift voucher which I can give as a blog giveaway prize was enticing. :-) So why did I find them inspiring and who are they? Novica are an online company in association with National Geographic who promote Fair Trade by Artists and Artisans from around the world enabling them to make a living by sharing and selling their products. There are some beautiful things to buy there. Wood sculptures masks, rugs, jewellery, stationary, bags. ceramics, paintings, weavings, drums, musical instrments... take a look at the coporate gifts section. I particularly fell in love with these by Mexican artist Marco Polo.  And I love this solar wind one.                here.
More favourites of mine are the eco friendly products If you would like a chance of winning a gift voucher for $75 to use on the Novica site, then just leave me a comment and I'll pick a winner in a couple of weeks time. Until next time tread lightly and good luck x  If you would like to find out more about Novica and their fair trade products have a look here: http://corporate-gifts.novica.com http://microfinance.novica.com/ http://eco-friendly.novica.com/ http://www.novicalive.com/

Painting The Moon

Saturday evening I watched in awe as a magical orange moon rose up behind the branches of trees into the clear March night sky. A super perigree moon I believe. The closest it has been to earth for 18 years.
I've been painting the moon, as you can see above. My latest painting on canvas, aptly named 'March Moon'. I know that hares in March in folklore are supposed to act a little mad and of course gaze at the moon but this one is far too sleepy for that after having a busy day filled with the joys of spring.

The sun has been warm  and I've enjoying my little outdoor work space. You may remember I got it at the end of last summer. I'm still settling in and arranging it to feel just right. These things take time don't they...? I've been burning incense and the only music I've wanted to listen to out there while I paint is birdsong. It's quiet and my mind has space to find the right roads. I have no computer connection  there so I have nothing to lead me down the glorious paths of distraction. ;) So now I'm on the look out for a rug, to make it just that bit cosier. Many pretties are appearing outside it's doors while I work away inside.

 Here is my little friend that serenades me ..... One of my neighbours I believe feeds a robin sultanas from her hand. I wonder if this one is the one. I could try but don't want to tempt him or make him too tame as I have cats.

 

I also painted some Aceo's last week. Aceo's in case you don't know are small sized art work that always measure 2.5x 3.5 inches in size. The size of a trading card. They are quite collectable I believe.

These went into my Etsy shop and have sold already. The one on the left was sold for Comic Relief. I really enjoyed doing them and must make a point of doing more regularly. I'm going to try and fit in doing another this week and the money will go to Red cross to help with the terrible tragedy in Japan.

Talking of my Etsy shop, there are some new  postcards now available of my paintings 'The Moonlit Gathering' and 'One Moonlit Night'

I hope to do a mixed pack of different cards in a bundle soon too.

Several days ago we celebrated a birthday. My boy was sixteen.

Where does time fly?  It only seems a moment ago that he was just a baby fascinated with the music from wind up music boxes and nursery rhymes. He has always had a fascination and strong love of music and now  is playing and composing his own, which is wonderful to hear. The other day he recorded some of his pieces at school on the digital piano and has uploaded them to youtube, so being a proud Mummy I thought I'd share a piece with you...



I hope your week is beautiful  and filled with the wonders of spring.
x

Down To The Little Wood And Some Tree Spirits

Down to the little wood I pass the sunny faces of celandine and primrose. The snow drops have almost said their goodbyes and young silky leaves of Cuckoo Pint or Lords and ladies (arum maculatum) are appearing between the kindling.

There are discarded walnut shells. A squirrels feast?
I  hear the alarm bell call of a blackbird, the flutter of wood pigeon wing against ivy  and the sweet trill of a robin.
It's bright. Squinting my eyes up through the branches at the March sky I count twenty one rooks nests. They are busy, very loud going about their business. I love watching them.  

I'm listening, really listening, absorbing a spring morning. The snap of twig, scuff of shoe on branch and soft moss.
The gentle sound of water. The stream  ripples and the sunlight sparkles dancing in the chilled morning light.

Magic....

I can almost hear the sap rising in the trees. If I was an animal with a powerful sense of hearing maybe I could?.... But I don't need to hear it, as standing quiet I'm sure I can feel it...

My latest hearts are tree themed. Forest spirits.

And I've also been busy attending to a starlight wizard.

Each of these items will be listed in my Etsy shop tommorow if you are interested in buying them.

Now to the giveaway results! No I hadn't forgotten ;-)
Thank you lovely folks for commenting and all your kind words. I asked my son to pick a number from 1 to 75 and he said 8.

So congratulations comment number 8 you are the winner!   Simply Vintage 

(Email me your details and I'll send the pendant and postcard off to you.)

xx

A Cathedral A Fox And A Birthday Giveaway

Out and about this past week. Over the border into the county of Hampshire, we paid a visit to Winchester the old capital of Wessex and England.
Our feet trod the same ground as Kings had done. The same streets and stone that rang with cries of the black death.
In the cathedral my footsteps echoed the ghosts of footsteps, almost a 1,000 years worth of them. Did I stand in the same spot and glance at the same piece of ornate carving as Queen Mary Tudor might have done when she married Prince Philip of Spain here back in 1554?

 A hushed but sleepy presence filled the cold silence.

I wonder about these sleeping Bishops and am curious of who they were. Did they enjoy strolling through meadows filled with wild flowers. What did they eat for breakfast? What colour were their eyes? I wonder about the  simple things. 

And I wonder will they be still here in another 1,000 years?

If I could be granted a super power it would probably be the gift of flight? However it would be a hard decision to make as oh how I would I love to be able to go back in time! Which would you choose?

In the garden outside the cathedral we found  a sleeping stone fox.

I'm not sure what his story is?
Winchester is a lovely place to browse around  if you get the opportunity. I hope to go back soon as I haven't seen everything that I'd like to yet.

My sleeping fox has it's own story this week as I've been busy making these pendants out of my odds and ends  and scraps of wood.

 Small prints have been securely glued then several layers of varnish applied. Threaded with hemp string and a bead.

I will be giving one of these away to celebrate my blogs 3rd birthday which happens to be about now. The 29th Feb to be precise, but we'll have to do with the 28th  because it isn't a leap year. ;)
So, if you would like to win one of these packages that contain a postcard and pendant...

 Just leave me a comment and I'll  pick a winner and announce it the next time I do a blog post.
  xx

As Above So Below

As I sit at my desk everyday darkness falls that little bit later.

Each day shows a new sign of Spring.
This last week and abit I've had my fingerless mitts on, and I've been spending time in the shed cutting out wooden bits and pieces. It's been mighty chilly too. I'm not sure why but these last few days I've felt colder than I did when we had the snow and ice back in December?

At night when the house is silent and all except me are asleep I immerse myself in water. Physically and mentally. (Yes, I confess to being a bath time reader.) I'm just reaching the last few chapters of Roger Deakin's wonderful book 'Waterlog' I love the way he writes and I always finish a chapter with a wholesome feeling or an appetite for simple food such as cherries and a jug of milk. The type of food Enid Blyton's characters used to take on picnics to secret islands. And of course a desire to be swimming in clear fish filled waters and catching a flash of irridescence of a dragon or damselfly. That will have to wait until summer and in the meantime I'll meander through the woods, in the other book that I have beneath my pillow.

Connection between ourselves and nature, is as the book I've been reading,  also the theme of my latest painting as much of my work is.

                                                                                        'As Above So below'

I have named it 'As Above, So Below'  This painting is about how we are all interconnected on the planet by  a  magic or lifespark that entwines us.
I called it this, as these words 'as above so below'came into my head as the painting took shape.  It was quite strange really as it almost felt like something was telling me to call it this?  The phrase seemed familiar to me and I had probably read it and locked it away in my store cupboard of a mind which I'm afraid I'm always losing the keys to. Anyway you well read folks probably know all about the origins of this phrase but I had to google it after it popped into my mind. And so I was quite taken aback when there it was saying the same as I was trying to portray  just a of glimpse in my picture..

"The significance of this phrase is that it is believed to hold the key to all mysteries. All systems of magic are claimed to function by this formula. "'That which is above is the same as that which is below'...Macrocosmos is the same as microcosmos. The universe is the same as God, God is the same as man, man is the same as the cell, the cell is the same as the atom, the atom is the same as...and so on, ad infinitum." 
You can read more here
 Be warned, you will lose yourself along corridors of dusty doorways  leading to a maze of ancient secrets and an emerald stone tablet that reveals the magical secrets of the universe. Wonderful!

Talking of doorways, I don't think I've shared this piece of work before? 

 It's a fair few years old now, but along with this one (which I know I showed you before)

 They will both be available to buy as prints in my Etsy shop  later and the new picture will follow shortly.

PS: Please forgive the different font sizes here and there. Blogger is behaving naughty. ;)

Very Sweet Things

Today I have probably made the most sweet sickly biscuits ever? ;)  It all began with glitter you see. Edible glitter that I had my eye on getting for a while now. A wonderful idea drifted around in my head. Sugary starlight heart and moon biscuits for Valentines day covered in constellations and the deepest indigo icing sounded wonderful.
So this morning with oven on I proceeded to begin.

All seemed to be running smoothly...

Until it was time to ice them.
Where was the icing sugar? Just a dusting remained in the bottom of the box. How silly of me, I had forgotton that yesterday afternoon my littlest also had the same idea and made biscuits covered in pink icing. So down to our village shop I walked on this beautiful Spring morning and bought the only box they had. Natural sugar that turned a golden colour rather than the icy white that I needed for my moons and stars!

Carrying on I mixed the colour. Plenty of blue colouring but the black that I thought we had left over from Halloween a couple of years ago had disappeared? So, no indigo but peacock blue it seemed. And the silver tiny balls? Oh, there weren't any of those left either.
Hmmm... As you can probably guess they didn't turn out 'quite' as I'd imagined.....

But I'm sure they will get eaten regardless?
Hope your Valentines day is sweet too.
x

Beautiful And Magical

Something beautiful and Magical
Happy Weekend x