Christmas card designing

For a couple of years I've designed and printed a Christmas card to give to family and friends. 

This year I thought I'd start a bit earlier and have been working through a design. Usually I spend so long thinking of an idea that I just end up going with it, but this year I thought of a design and worked through it, altering it each time to finally end up with something that I'm happy with. It's been a really enjoyable process that I look forward to repeating.

I took inspiration from a number of different resources, taking elements from here and there and I'm now ready to prepare my Lino and start carving and that may be when it all goes wrong.

Design 1 and 2

Design 3

Design 4 and 5

Final design

Ready to go

French teacup collagraph

I took this photograph some years ago whilst visiting my friend in France. Having been inspired by a linocut artist Yassir Malik who I follow on instagram I thought id have a go at producing a collagraph print lovely based on the teacup photo.

French teacups, original photo

Evening carving

Finished plate

Pulled print

There are bits that I realised were not carved into when they should have been and although Ive altered the plate I have yet to have a go at reprinting it. All in all though pretty happy with the outcome. I ended up with a couple of good prints and will have a go at hand colouring one of them at some point.

We went on a mini cruise

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity last week to take my two girls away on a 4 night P&O staycation cruise. A one off present for the three of us to have some fun and relax. 

What with the school holidays and prior commitments it was a nerve wracking two week lead up to getting on the boat and getting our negatives results, but we made it and we all had a lovely time.

I picked this cruise due to the Covid restrictions in place and I have to say that P&O made us feel very safe whilst on board. There were no excursions, all 4 days were spent on the cruise ship Britannia, everybody on board had to have had both vaccinations and test negative on the day, masks had to be worn at all times whilst walking around internally on the boat and hand sanitiser was everywhere. 

It was so good that I may well be going again in two weeks time with Roy on the Iona, this time for 7 nights, but again a UK staycation cruise.

Queuing to get our covid test at the terminal

Finally on the boat

View in port from our balcony whilst in port

Bottle of champagne in our room

All dressed up for a show and dinner

Celebration night

Cocaktails in the crows nest bar

Cocktails around the pool

Floating past Lundy Island

Chilling out

Silent disco on the last night

A linocut of my girl

I had to say goodbye to my beautiful girl a few weeks ago, she was a huge presence in our home and we miss her terribly. 

Theres a guilt that comes along with feeling so devastated over the loss of a family pet, when the world as a whole is suffering in so many ways, but I am trying to deal with the grief that is in my heart over her loss and keeping busy.

I also have guilt that I am already considering getting a puppy within the next few months, not to replace as that could never happen, but to fill the massive void that Bertie has left in our lives. 

I didn't think for a minute that I could consider another miniature schnauzer, but it was pointed out that to me that although Bertie was very special, its also the breed character and qualities that I like and after a lot of soul searching I have decided that yes I do want another miniature schnauzer, but not another salt and pepper just yet.

For me personally it has been a healing process to look forward, to having a new baby in my life to love, to spend time training and to take on my walks, but I am aware that others aren't at that stage yet.

Photo from 2014

Last week I made a linocut print of Bertie, from a photograph I had taken a few years ago and it now hangs in pride of place within my art space. Its not the best linocut and I forgot to reverse the photograph before transferring to my Lino, but that doesn't matter, its just for me and I'm happy with it.

Teddy - A portrait on Gouache

I managed to get my paints out again last week and got to enjoy some quiet time, that enabled me to shut my mind down for a few hours. Things have been a struggle of late and it was just what I needed.

Although I do paint with gouache it was a new way of painting for me and one which I hope I can emulate at a future date, as I was really pleased with the outcome.

It was a present for my next door neighbour and she seemed very happy.

Collagraph - experiments and learning

I've been following the Sunday prompts from the fabulous Sue Brown and had a go at the torn mount board collagraphs that she talked about a couple of weeks ago. I really look forward to my Sunday morning coffee in bed to find out what will be prompted each week. Its a great way to learn and very generous that artists like Sue give up their time to teach new skills on social media platforms. 

I really enjoyed this way of producing a collagraph print, there's a freedom to it, no pressure in trying to make a realistic image and the perfect way to experiment with different textures. I'll definitely be having another go very soon and hopefully using different colours, although I am hoping someone will buy them for me this week for my birthday : )