Found my mojo!

I found my creative mojo this week!  It wasn't far away, I just needed some quality time with myself.  It was a pleasure to create this piece, commissioned by a friend for a birthday gift for his mother.  Called 'The Journey of Life', the river symbolizes the ever onward flow of life, the fish her Christian faith.  The bridge leads to other places, part of a well travelled life. The trees are symbols of her children and husband.  In the front, the flowers represent six grandchildren.  The butterfly is for a lost child, offered rosemary for rememberance and a snowdrop for hope.  Music and art and nature were suggestions to be included and I really hope that the piece is well received!

Today I am exhibiting at the George Spencer Art Market, Stapleford. So much energy has been put in to setting up this Art Market where contemporary artists and makers will show alongside A-level students.  The students have had responsibility to set up and market the event.....it's even being filmed for local news!  I'm really looking forward to exhibiting on my door step and meeting local creatives.  Hope you can come.  It's open from 10-3 today and I'll be selling my newly repackaged decorative tiles as well as original artwork and ceramics.

Woo hoo!

Remember the tiles I was commissioned to create?  Well here they are in situ.  I'm really pleased with how they turned out and hope they are an inspiration to the chef!

They now reside in Sudbury, Suffolk where we had a lovely day out at the Open Gardens in aid of St.Nicholas Hospice.

I also delivered work to Gallery 47 in Sudbury for their Picture Bonanza weekend from Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd May. So if you fancy picking up a bargain or adding a Hallows or Hallows to your art collection, pop along! 

Tile commission

A lovely friend asked if I could turn one of my pieces into a set of tiles to be used as a panel in their new kitchen.  Here are the eighteen tiles, making a panel measuring 60 x 30 cm. I think they are going to look really effective.  I'll let you know what they look like in situ when they've made their journey to their new home.

A date for the diary

The Sock Makers' Market is approaching fast.  Billed as a celebration of quality artists and makers, I'll be exhibiting at Loughborough Town Hall on both the 26th and 27th March. Entrance is free and there is a free workshop for children aged 4-16 on the Sunday.  It would be lovely to see you there!

First commission

Family. 30cm x 30cm

One Sunny Day.  17cm x 12 cm

Ever since I immortalised myself and the boys in the piece 'Family' (above), people have asked if I work to commission.  So for one of the craft fairs I produced 'One Sunny Day', another self portrait, but this time to invite commissions.  My friends Kate and Stephen were lovely enough to see the potential and asked me to create a portrait of their three children.  It's taken a while, mainly to muster the confidence to do justice to someone elses family memory.  The initial idea was from a family photo from a day at the beach, one of those days when everyone is happy.  In Kate's family this was more than a nice day at the beach, it was a miracle day, a day at the end of a long year of very bad health.  For me, knowing this, it was more than a portrait, it became a celebration of a very special family.  The sun signifies that warmth and unity, and although Kate isn't in the picture, she is symbolised by the sun.

I delivered it last night, to great praise and I do hope they love it! 

Rough design and sketches from photos

Pencil sketch

Colour selections for Paddling

Paddling 30cm x 30cm



If you would like to commission a family portrait, or immortalise a memory, I am currently taking commissions for Christmas.  Please get in touch through my website.

Today

Today it's raining which has forced me back in to the studio.  I've started work on the first of my family commissions.  This one of Josiah, Grace and Max, forms part of a larger sea side composition called 'Paddling'.  I've also started work for the craft fairs and festivals that I'm doing over the summer.  This is the starting point for a piece called Sunshine.