Exploring Encaustic

Hi All!

Today I thought I would share my continued explorations with encaustic painting. It it so addictive to watch the wax reacting, the colours melting into one another. It is definitely challenging! The medium is unpredictable and hard to control yet so much fun!

For this piece I started with a base of stamped rice paper then experimented adding layers of colour and splashes over the top. It really has a spacey feel to it like a nebula or something and I like how the rice paper still peeks through.

These two miniature pieces are an experiment in using stencils with the wax and also incorporating fabric. I love how these turned out, they are definitely my favourite so far! 

I hope you like how these turned out! I can't wait until I find the time to try some more!

Bye for now xxxx

Encaustic Painting

Hello all!

This year so far has been a busy one but I thought I would pause a minute to share with you some new encaustic painting I have been exploring (having been bought the kit for Christmas) Encaustic is an ancient art form dating all the way back to Egyptian art 100-300 AD The word encaustic originates from the Greek word enkaustikos which means to burn in, and this element of heat is necessary for a painting to be called encaustic. It uses a mixture of beeswax and damar resin with different pigments mixed in. You use a hot pallet, working with melted wax and heat guns to melt and blend the different colours together.

I used wax a lot back at University to create sculptures so I feel like it is going back to an old friend and yet I have never attempted encaustic painting and working with a hot pallet holds new challenges for me. I was a little nervous to start with but I am starting to get into the flow of it now and I love it! It is quite addictive watching the wax react to the heat and pigments.

Here are a few photos of my attempts so far:

I love how you are able to carve into the wax and embed different objects and textures in it. I have also been experimenting adding ink and pastel pigment to colour the wax in between the layers. The possibilities of this medium seem endless and I am really excited to continue to explore where it will take me!

Bye for now xxx

Art Art & more Art!

Hello All!

Well I am now a few months into running my new art workshops and I have to say I am absolutely loving them and they are going so well. I have met some fantastic people and it feels wonderful to inspire others to try new things!

The courses I have run so far are 'An introduction to Art Journaling' and I am in the middle of a 5 week 'Expressive Drawing' course. I have also been tutoring one lady one to one in abstract art and getting set for some lovely Christmassy one off workshops over the next few weeks.

While all this means is I have less time than usual I have found myself totally inspired and keep sneaking off whenever I have a minute to work on my own stuff and to come up with new ideas for workshops.

Here are a few shots from the recent workshops:

It is lovely to see how different everyone's work is. I am particularly proud of the drawing course. Some of the participants were nervous and unsure of their abilities to start with however two of them were so proud of their drawings they have since framed and put up their work at home.

As well as the workshops I have been very busy with a new abstract canvas, here's how it looks so far:

At the moment I seem to be attracted to yellows which is unusual because it is not a colour I normally use. That said I am loving how this one is turning out!

More to come some! Bye for now xxx

Creative play

Hello All,

Today I thought I would share a process that I sometimes like to do when I am feeling uninspired. Sometimes I go through a lull and my motivation to create just isn't there. This is when I turn to what I call creative play. I delve into my art supplies and just pick some things that catch my eye..not too much or it is easy to get overwhelmed. On this last occasion I chose spray inks, modeling paste and some stencils, glass bead texture gel, iridescent medium, some ecoline watercolour inks, a few stamps and an ink pad, a few old book pages, and four tubes of craft acrylic.

I then prep some A3 plain paper with some gesso and get to work. Using only what I have picked I just let go and do whatever comes to mind. I don't think too much about it, simply just letting myself play with the colours and mediums and see what happens. Here's what came from this process at the weekend:

Sometimes I really like how they turn out and may add to them to create a finished piece. Other times I just stash them or cut them up and use them in other projects. What is important is that it gets the creative juices flowing again and straight away I feel more inspired. It is very therapeutic to just relax and play with the materials and even if I don't like the results I have spent a happy afternoon anyway.

I definitely recommend it if you have lost your motivation!

Bye for now! xxx 

Finished Painting and Creative Play

Hello All,

I haven't had the time or inspiration to do a lot lately and I think cold evenings mean I end up curling up under a blanket rather than doing any art. Today however I am not at work, the kids are at school and it is freezing outside. The perfect day for some creative play.  So I just got a piece of A3 paper and a selection of art materials, set myself up with some music and a cuppa and just let myself play with the materials, not thinking too much about it:

So far so good and it felt good to be creating. I also wanted to share my latest painting which is now finished:

I am really pleased with this one, I love all the metallic colours combined with the subtle pinks. 

well back to another cuppa, maybe a biscuit and some more creative play before the it's time to pick up the kids.

Bye for now xxx

New painting

Hi All,

I have tried to start the new year as I mean to go on with the start of a new mixed media abstract painting.

I started with the texture with modelling paste and glass bead texture gel both free hand and through various stencils. I then started adding colour to the smooth areas using pigment powders. I decided to use a box canvas and I am enjoying the texture spreading around the sides.

My aim is to ensure that I put aside time every week for painting and hopefully get some of them exhibited somewhere. fingers crossed.

Bye for now xxx

New Painting

Hello All,

Autumn is well and truly here or actually already on its way out with the first snow fall the other day. Christmas adverts are back on the telly and Christmas music in the shops. This is my absolute favorite time of year. I love the colours of autumn and the lovely bright crisp cool days (before it gets miserable cold and wet) The build up to the Christmas season is one the best bits with cosy evenings under blankets and delicious food ahead.

Inspired by the colours I got stuck into another painting:

To me it feels like autumn leaves in the rain. I like how the texture softens into a wash of colour like the colour is draining out down the canvas.

I hope you like it! Bye for now xxx

New Painting

Hello All,

After completing my last painting I was inspired so much by the combination of textures and vivid colour that I dived straight into another and have managed to get it finished relatively quickly:

This one makes me feel like I am under the sea looking up to the surface at the light and pattern of the current. It is full of different textures and shimmery bits that catch the light:

Here is a detail of that texture. I didn't paint this as a commission, just for enjoyment but luckily it has sold nearly straight away.

I am now trying to focus on arranging some workshops as I haven't been able to fit them in now for almost a year. These are definitely top priority now! I have also been hired to deliver a children's autumn themed craft party next month so I have that to organise too.

I will be advertising my workshops via my website which you can link to from here so look out for them! 

Bye for now

xxxx

Finished Painting and spot of Bookbinding

Hello All,

Having lots of time off with my kids this summer taking them to various art workshops as well as getting crafty at home. I am feeling really inspired and full of creative beans. The sun is shining, its all family fun and frolics. I can't wait to get back to my various projects whenever I have the chance to.

I was enjoying my latest canvas so much I seemed to finish it rather quickly and so have gone straight into another. Here is the finished piece:

I adore all the yummy colour and texture in this one, particularly the blues and greens which I think I am going to use for the next one.

Apart from painting and the odd bit of art journaling I also had the urge for a spot of bookbinding and started three at once. I have managed to finish this one:

This one is made from an old cereal bar box and brown paper packaging. The cover is painted with acrylic paint and iridescent medium so it is all shimmery. The inside has decorative paper and sketch book paper pages. 

I love making journals! They take time but the end result is so satisfying, turning what is essentially rubbish into something that is both beautiful and useful.

I will get on and make the other two I started now! 

Bye for now! xxx 

The Start of A New Commision

Hello All,

I am back to canvas this week and thoroughly enjoying myself. I am feeling really inspired with this latest piece which is a commission for a friend of mine. Here it is so far:

And a few details too:

I have been working with inks, acrylic and pigment powders mainly, with some mica powder and gelatos thrown in for good measure. The texture is built up using tissue paper, modelling paste and glass bead texture gel. I am really enjoying the contrast between the texture and the smooth. I already have in mind two or three other canvases combining the two again.

I have progressed really quickly with it cause I can't leave it alone and I am nearly finished, but like a good book I will be almost sorry when I do. I may have to dive straight into another!

Bye for now!

xxx