Two foxes in the wood - new print

 I wanted to create a small print inspired by aboretums as I  live in a garden suburb surrounded by lots of different sorts of trees and populated by the odd owl, fox and occasionally visited by a pair of jays. The final print became "Two foxes in the wood" I made the print during my holiday in Bullans Court - Cornwall.  I will probably do lots more work with trees over the summer.

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - its a no from the judges.

The postman has just delivered a really thin letter from the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition - immediately I knew it was a no from the judges. I will try again next year though - 
On the upside (and believe me there always has to be several of them!) when I went to London to submit my print to the Academy I went to the Liberty Print Department with my good friend Geraldine and treated myself to this exquisite original small japanese woodblock print by Tanaka Yoshinosuke dated 1928. I love it! I would like to know more about this artist and his inspiring work. Liberty has lots of prints by Yoshinosuke in their department - perhaps I will go in and get another when I am in London to collect my print from the academy- better start saving up now!

Quick Print Foam

Tuesday 24 may - just spent an enjoyable hour in my son Max's school showing his class my designs and how to create a relief print. We used a product called Quick Print Foam which is available at art shops. A single A4 sheet will cost about £1 - you can also use the foam they package pizza with.  You can buy 15 large sheets for £10.00 online at places like www.artsaver.com.  I pre - cut the foam into four inch squares and each child drew a design into it in pencil.  Using sponge rollers and trays of poster paint we created lots of prints onto thin white paper.  The class of  7- 8 year olds came up with some brilliant designs and asked lots of interesting questions about art and design - I told them that when I was five I wanted to become an astronaut but eventually changed my mind about that.

Palm,house,quay x 3 May 2011

Even when I am fatigued juggling all the different aspects of my life (two teaching jobs, two kids etc.. ) I  shoe horn some print making in because I get such a kick out of it. My latest print "Palm, house,quay" is from a sketch I did in the beach tent on Porthminster in April using tiny watercolour set and refillable brush pens (will do a separate post about brush pens!) Could not decide on the colours so this edition of 100 will come in a choice of blue, gold or red.:-

              

Upcoming Event!

Exhibition Plans - Clothes Pegs

No doubt as you read this post I am scurrying around excitedly preparing for my next art exhibition which will take place at Eric and Joans lushly planted Garden  -  number 3 Victoria Mount @ Oxton Secret Gardens 2011 on Sunday 8th May - it is sure to be a lovely day for garden and art lovers. I suspect I will be using lots of these beauties to display my work..... I present to you the storm proof clothes peg... it is the BMW of clothes pegs...