When Nothing is Working... Try Something New!

A new approach...

Last weekend was earmarked for Art with a capital A. With the West Norfolk Artists Association Summer Exhibition fast approaching, and the deadline to get entry forms in almost here, I was running out of time to produce some new work. If I had high expectations, they soon came crashing down. Nothing was working out, I felt rather uninspired and it showed. Frustration and disappointment set deep by Sunday evening. My long suffering husband had to put up with 'woe is me' and lots of sighing. "I don't know what my personal artwork is about..." and "It's all got a bit lightweight and flimsy" were some of the words muttered.

My mind must have been in overdrive while I slept, however. Monday morning I woke up, and a little mental pep talk whilst in the shower gave me whole different mindset for the day. Deep down I do know what I want my work to be about - contrasts of media, translucent versus opaque, detail versus abstract passages (for a start). I would try something different. I would experiment. Take the pressure off. I already have one pastel being framed so at least I have one work to enter. If nothing else I will at least have some fun!

Taking my theme of 'Artist in an Acre' I selected two photos as inspiration. I planned to create an abstract underpainting, then bring some semblance of order out of the chaos by working on the top but allowing passages of the initial layer to show too... These step by step photos demonstrate the stages one of the paintings went through. I started by laying the support on a waterproof sheet, on the floor, for the initial work - I planned on getting messy!

Diluted acrylic washes painted on to a canvas board - not pretty.

 

Thicker paint sponged on in selected areas.
Once dry, liquid acrylic ink is squirted and diluted on the surface,
drips encouraged.

Oooh, now things are getting interesting... dribbles of white diluted gesso.
The yellow acrylic ink wasn't as dry as I thought and mingles - I like it! 

Once the previous layer dried more acrylic ink is added...

Assessment time... 

Taking charge, now referring to reference photo more -
need to keep things loose though

Ah, now there is some context.

Keep the work loose. Spatter and droplets of brighter colour
for suggested leaves...

 

Tinted gesso for skyholes, needed some more 'pop' generally
 and more emphasis on sunlit grass. Out come the Conte crayons and
 finally 'Ta Dah' - finished!
Stream of Light, 35.5cms x 46cms, acrylic & Conte on canvas board.

I have also completed another artwork, a diluted acrylic underpainting on gessoed mountboard then worked up with soft pastel. Unusual for me, I did no blending of the pastel layers. So, when nothing is working... try something new. A different approach could work wonders. I am delighted with the results of the past two days, fingers crossed the selectors like my work!

Late Light, Spring 59cms x 54cms, acrylic & pastel on gessoed mountboard.

  

The Open Studio Experience

Doors thrown open in welcome...

Norfolk & Norwich Open Studios 2014 has proved to be an enjoyable affair and, even if not in monetary terms, I consider it a success. It was the first time I have opened up my home studio and did wonder if I would get any visitors at all as I am tucked away in a little village so far out. After a slow start on that first Saturday (the torrential rain in the morning may have played a part) the remaining days saw a steady trickle of family, friends, neighbours and a few new curious people from further afield who saw my entry in the brochure. A very big "thank you" for your support and interest, it has been much appreciated. The feedback on my studio and artwork has been very encouraging and sales of greetings cards plus a few items from the browser has been a boost.

Trying out drawing techniques with Quink ink and dip pens...

I had laid out a table with two work stations and encouraged visitors to have a go with the dip pens and Quink ink. Whilst this medium is not suitable for wall hanging work as it is not lightfast, it is perfect in a sketchbook. When diluted out into a wash with clean water the black ink separates out into delightful blues, greys and sepia - all by itself, like magic.

Will I do an Open Studio event at home again? Definitely, although maybe the year after next as it will give me time to build up a new body of work. What would I do differently? I was very happy with how I had the studio and felt the cards/postcards/browser and bargain basket were worth having. I enjoyed taking the artwork off the walls and rearranging (curating) into a new configuration - it helps to see the work with fresh eyes. I wanted to display some of my collection of found natural objects and felt having them dotted around amongst the art created coherence and added interest. I think next time I would splash out on advertising with personal invitation cards, and post notices in the 'What's On' free sections of local papers/online.

I shall leave you with some more images of my lovely studio and a few views of the work I had on my easels during the period...

Bringing the outdoors in...

Artist in an Acre 2014 display

Some of the natural objects I collect...

Information about art classes 

Dog portrait in pastel - the underpainting stage

Work in progress - camel in charcoal

Pencil drawing (from specimen) on white Bristol board, candle wax added to
dandelion seed heads to act as resist during next stage

Varigated watercolour wash applied,
plus some spatter

Colour and detail added with coloured pencil

Open Studio - First Weekend

Inside and out... studio ready for visitors

As I write and look out the window, heavy rain is lashing down and it takes me back to the start of the weekend when Paul and I struggled in the wind and rain to fix laminated notices to gateposts. However it cleared by early afternoon and Open Studios was up and running. I had a quiet first day and only two visitors so finished the day wondering if my fears of being too 'off the beaten track' were well founded. Sunday dawned bright and clear and I had a lovely day with a steady flurry of interested visitors. Some were members of the art classes I teach and keen to see where I create the sample work for the sessions delivered at the Henderson Art & Framing studio in Gaywood. Others were members of West Norfolk Artists Association and having met me, or heard of me, seemed to enjoy chatting about the challenges of being an artist and viewing my personal artwork. Neighbours called round to find out more about what I 'get up to' and, of course, the dedicated art lovers who browse the NNOS14 brochure to find studios they would like to visit.

Studio view... happy to put the kettle on while you look at work
and feel free to take a seat and chat about any aspects of being an artist.

Yesterday, Bank Holiday Monday, was once again bright with sunny spells despite showers forecast. I was delighted to receive visitors again interested in art and artist studios. I have Work in Progress on my table easel and floor standing easel, but haven't made much progress as I do love to chat! A major highlight of the day was when my mum and sister surprised me with a flying visit, they had travelled all the way from Hertfordshire.

Blocking in base layers for dog portrait using soft pastel

So, what can you expect if you visit? The walls display my personal artwork which includes many animal portraits, a particular passion, in a variety of media. There is a browser with mounted (but not framed) work and these include studies and still life subjects. A Bargain Basket contains loose work of mostly experiments or workshop studies. There is a stand with cards/postcards for sale and a display of artwork samples to promote the pastel and mixed media classes I teach. Further round is an area devoted to my Artist in Acre Project - self initiated and an ongoing task for the whole year. This brings us back to the Work in Progress, this will change as artwork gets completed and a new challenge gets underway.

Read the programme for current classes,
and view examples of work from previous sessions

I have also set up a table with natural objects and examples of drawings done with dip pens and Quink Ink. Feel free to have a go and experience the amazing properties of this permanent ink - ideal for use in a sketchbook (but not work for hanging as not lightfast).

Try your hand at drawing with a dip pen, and Quink Ink

This weekend has proved that there are family, friends, neighbours, acquaintances and art lovers who are local or from further afield, interested to see what Open Studios is all about. Thank you all for your interest and support, it is greatly appreciated and I look forward to meeting more of you over the next two weekends.

Visit www.nnopenstudios.org.uk for more information on participating artists.

Open Studio 2014

Apologies, I can't believe that I left it so long without updating these blog posts! The busier I am, the more I have to potentially show you but the less time there is to sit at the computer. The sun is shining and there is a Bank Holiday weekend coming up - yes, it is that time of year again when artists across Norfolk throw open their studio doors and invite family, friends and the general public into their creative spaces. In previous years I have intermittently participated as part of a group in various locations, but this year I am opening my own studio here at home...

I have been doing some dusting and hoovering and sorting/organising the clutter that inevitably accumulates in the corners, but don't worry, it is unmistakably a working artist studio and I certainly plan to be drawing and painting during the opening times. I have enjoyed deciding what work to display and where, I think I should change things around on the walls more often! It can help to see work with fresh eyes. With just a few days left to go I now feel almost ready.

Almost ready... and here is a taster

 
For directions please visit the Norfolk & Norwich Open Studio website at www.nnopenstudios.org.uk or if you are local and have a brochure see page 66, under West Norfolk 14. Please note it is a different image in these locations - so look for the lemur!

In the meantime, here is a personal invitation. If you are in the area it would be lovely to see you. More news soon, and I will catch up news on my self-set 'Artist in an Acre' project.

Sketching Frenzy in the Frost

Frosty morning. Pollarded willow branches piled high.
Sketchbook page.

From Artist in an Acre journal entry (this morning):

Bimbling around the bedroom - shower, drying hair, daydreaming. Throw back the curtains - sparkling frost! Already the weak pale light/warmth of the morning sun threatens to melt it quickly away. Thick jacket on and out I go.

In the studio I swish on a darkish background in black gesso with burnt umber, bronze yellow and a touch of white added. Opaque line work should work over the top to describe all the branches piled high on the bonfire.

Quick application of paint for dark background on pages.

Let out Somme, who snatches up his squashed basketball and heads off up the paddock at a rate of knots. I follow with sketchbook, collapsible stool and tin of Inktense sticks. Start straight into drawing with coloured linework mimicking the growth of branches and twigs. Can only use approximate colours and modify or try for 'frost' by utilizing the white. Dash in a few dark marks to hint at the depths of the pile. Side of green stick to suggest distant hedge, trees, then work heavily with white into this and over blue for sky - attempting to silhouette some branches against the sky. Using lighter colour try and cut in around base and edges of pile.

Close up detail of drawing.

Quickly assess - few more darks, think I can't say any more with this one.

Somme moves before I can note what's happening with hind legs...

Opposite page - already dark base painted on. Frost rapidly melting. Somme is stretched in the grass nearby - in white Inktense stick I attempt to describe his shape - block in negative space around. He moves. Settles again, new position. Flip over page. Dark stick on white of paper. Few lines - fairly high viewpoint as look across and down to him. He moves.

Bit better...

Suddenly acutely aware of cold. Silly, forgot to put gloves on! Pack away quickly. Somme energised by my movements - he snuffles at the sketchbook and tin on the seat of the stool. Thin tin flips off - lid flys off and - of course - tin lands open, upside down! Most sticks remain snuggled in the foam 'holder' of tin, a few fall out. Scrabble in frosted grass, now thawing, getting damp. Find all but one quarter of pale ochre. Fingers painful with cold by now. Calling the dog I pop to studio, leave equipment just inside the door. Somme put away in his run, snaffles the treats offered greedily. Up to the house to the warmth of the kitchen and ready for a cup of tea.

11 a.m. - all the frost has gone.

Somme, stool, sketchbook, Inktense sticks.
Frost almost melted... time to go in and warm up!

Sketching Pigeons on the Patio (Again)

Pencil sketches of birds on the patio...

I can see birds will feature quite heavily in my sketchbooks this year! I always enjoy seeing them swoop down onto the patio to feed on grains and seeds we put out and get a lot of satisfaction attempting to capture something on paper. One or two are starting to show a little more detail, I think, as I start to get to grips with their shapes and the way the wings fold back around the body.

Note (to right) of all the different birds who visited in that short space of time

In the photo above, the bottom left sketch was a delightful collar dove perched on the 'wave' of the decorative fence, the feathers on the chest were all puffed out. He seemed to be enjoying the morning sun. To the right is a list of all the different species of birds I saw in the short time I was observing through the kitchen window - eight in all! I ought to get the bird books out and find out more about them, maybe take time to do some more detailed colour sketches and familiarize myself with the markings and characteristics.

Have you tried sketching birds as they go about their daily life? Not an easy task - they will keep moving!    

Artist in an Acre - Personal Project for 2014

Personal project brief... and up and running!

Almost a fortnight into the New Year. Did you make any resolutions? How are they holding up? Having made so many last year I decided to be more focused on a single resolution for 2014 - and so a personal project has been born :  Artist in an Acre.

My aim is to maximize time spent on developing personal work and a visual language whilst exploring, discovering and documenting my front garden, patio area, back garden and in our small paddock. (Yes, you guessed, the area of these is probably just over an acre - "our little bit of England" as my husband describes it). The plan is to do this with research, investigation and interpretation through the processes of drawing/painting/photography and video. I have even composed a personal project brief! This step feels like a real commitment and already I am on my way...

Sketchbook pages 1

Sketchbook pages 2

Just after New Year we had the willow tree that grows alongside the studio pollarded, this is necessary every few years otherwise the branches scrape against the felt shingle roof and damage it. We all pitched in to help, but I did manage to grab a short time to try and record the activity. Constantly moving, no time for posing, I just had to keep looking at the figures even as my pencil moved across the paper... real 'action shots'.

Sketchbook pages 3

I have also scuttled up the paddock on another occasion when the sky and lighting were quite dramatic, to scribble a quick sketch with notes to act as reminders in case I'm inspired to work on a painting from it at some point. I have grabbed the opportunity to study some of the old apples still hanging on grimly to the apple trees in the front garden, knowing that if I delay the birds will have finished them off.

Sketchbook pages - apple studies in sepia Pilot pen

Currently I am working in a 81/2" x 12" sketchbook with good quality cartridge paper pages, I plan to do some work in situ on larger sheets of individual paper plus some paintings. So please do visit regularly to see what is happening.

Why not set yourself a project of some kind? Perhaps explore your own surroundings? Or maybe focus on still life for a period of time... or figures... or portraits...What might you achieve with a concentrated period of time on something specific? I would love to hear.

Captured on camera by my son!