In waiting

There's a stillness just before Spring bursts forth, and that is where I am, in that stillness. I'm waiting with the trees to put on a fandango of colour! As the days have drawn out I've enjoyed a couple of trips out...to Lincoln and to Oakham to visit galleries (find me at Itch Gallery in Oakham) and to seek out the new.

My bid to give up plastic for lent has led me down some new paths too. I've been enjoying home-made bread and home-made yoghurt. Shopping has become a different experience and I've sought out interesting farm shops and markets. I've also had a deeper appreciation for the handmade and hand mended. It's important to me to create art that is made from the heart with processes that tread lightly on the earth. 

As I have crossed the landscape I have been inspired by the bare trees, layered up. Some conceal what is behind them. Some cast shadows. Some play with the light and create a dance of negative and positive shapes. It has been a fruitful time creatively and I have felt at peace with my creativity.

Looking Through

Midnight Trees

But now I'm looking forward to the growth, the colour and the energy that comes with the longer days. I'm looking forward to being outside soaking it all up. I'll be sharing time in nature and my creative techniques and response to nature on my Summer Sketchbook workshop on Saturday May 21st in Long Eaton. And in July there's my Back to Nature art holiday when you can join me for three idyllic days in the hills! And I've a Mark Making studio day on Saturday June 25th. I hope you can join me!

Over Easter I'm looking forward to getting my seeds planted. I have been shirking my responsibilities on the allotment but already Mr Hallows has some lettuces popping up in the polytunnel. I hope we get some warm days and to be able to get out on some new adventures. I'm taking part in 100 Happy Days to bring my attention to the small, joyful details of my life. There are many but I need reminding to stop, to look, to appreciate. You can follow my #100happydays on Instagram or Facebook where I'm also having a give way!

Visit, and like, my Facebook page to enter the giveaway.

Workshop

I had the pleasure of being invited to run a workshop on an inset day for art teachers.  There was an exciting buzz in the air as creativity was unleashed! Some were from digital or photographic backgrounds and enjoyed the challenge to their neat and tidy tendencies. Others were new to stitching and broke through their fear of getting behind a sewing machine. Some took their work to new scales working long or large. The outcomes were really dynamic.

If you are interested in attending a workshop you can find out more here.  Or if you would like to talk to me about running one for a group, please click here.

Inspiring

This is a detail of a piece that Penny created on my last landscapes workshop.  She really engaged with the different mark making techniques and applied it to her own images of travels in Vietnam.  The tumble down buildings on stilts along the waters edge were realised with an eclectic range of papers. Lovely!

Workshop March 3rd

A few pictures from what proved to be a very productive workshop.  There was a great sense of energy to the day.  I'm off to Gateway College in Leicester on Friday to work with the A2 students.  I've been replenishing my stash of papers/paints and inks.  I need the car boot season to start again so I can replenish my vintage paper supply!

If you'd like to come to a workshop, I still have places on 'Collaged Landscapes' in Long Eaton on April 28th and July 14th.  I also have places on the 'Memory Books' day on July 7th.  Please visit my website for contact details.

Collaged Landscapes

Yesterday I ran the first of my 2012 workshops.  The day went really well with all learners responding to the challenges of working with ink, collage and some stitch to create a landscape.  It was a very busy six hours with a lovely lunch provided by Karen and some really good outcomes.  Well done ladies!

If you're interested in joining me for a workshop, places are going fast.  Next Saturday's is fully booked, there's currently one place left on May 26th and I am now taking bookings for Saturday 14th July. You can find my contact details here.