Vanaheim

Another busy week…but in a good way.I'm in the middle of a watercolour- based mixed media phase at the moment.The Winter Olympic Games from Sochi are quite a distraction but inspirational .Having a TV in my studio/dining room means I can follow the action in between adding layers…..  

I'm using Arches 300 gsm paper on which I'll do un underdrawing followed by light washes of watercolour paint.Gradually I add layers of watercolour then gouache and finally acrylic ink to achieve the depth to my work .
It can be a long process as I wait for layers to dry before starting again. It allows me to look at the work and work out was is required in the next application.
Finally I'll use pencil and fine pen to draw the tiny lines-this can also take hours but again,is quite therapeutic.To finish off I add tiny slivers of gold or silver leaf which adds a final highlight to the piece.

Working this way can be quite a challenge…sometimes I think I've lost it …only to leave it,come back to it and it works out well.It can be difficult to know when a piece is finished.I tend to stop quite early on before tentatively adding bits here and there.

I've also been experimenting with new colour palettes. It's easy to become stuck in a rut however experimenting with colours in sketchbooks avoids paper wastage….and keeping ideas in mind for the next piece.

This is 'Vanaheim',50 x 30 cm, watercolour mixed media…..photographed before the gold leaf was applied.New colour palette and new techniques which I'm quite excited about.

After discussions on Facebook with a fellow artist,I've decided my next challenge will be to go big.The lady in question thought my work was large from the images she could see so we'll just have to see what happens next…...

A Time to Keep…..

I had thought that I would have a relatively quiet start to the year.How wrong I was! My first solo exhibition opened at the Mustard Gallery in Langholm on 18 th January. I was hoping for positive feedback and was grateful for the opportunity of getting my work 'out there'.The opening Saturday saw two sales…..

'A Time to Keep'

'Threads'

'A Time to Keep' and 'Threads' have both found new homes.Quite overwhelming really….and the positive feedback about the exhibition has been rewarding. It makes it feel that all the work has been worthwhile.

In the meantime I've had a couple of deadlines to meet with regards to submitting images for marketing for the Biscuit Factory ( April10-May 18)and Spring Fling for the exhibition in Gracefield prior to the Spring Fling weekend.

I was also invited to join The Yellow Door- an artists collective which has so far had a couple of successful pop-up exhibitions in an old building brought back from dereliction by Luke Moloney…..really exciting prospects in store.

A phone call from a fellow artist has started something which I am really excited about -a collaborative project…but it's very early days and I'm keeping it under wraps until we have more specific plans in place.

Yesterday saw me taking some new box- works to the Mustard Gallery  at Langholm. I really enjoyed making the miniature book and am very pleased with the outcome...

'The Weave of Time' is set in a pine boxed frame and measures 15 x 15cm. The title is taken from work by George Mackay Brown,the celebrated Orkney author and poet…...