Frédérique Bertrand II

Love this path drawn by Frédérique Bertrand. What paths will the week ahead, lead us to follow?

Frédérique Bertrand I

Today I am really enjoying looking through the back catalog of Fotokino, really love these works on old paper bags and scraps of paper by illustrator and graphic artist Frédérique Bertrand. 
Frédérique Bertrand lives and works in Nancy, she uses a beautiful palette of colours and has uses a wonderful variety of marks, whilst retaining a unique and recognisable style.

Anne Winder-Boyle II

Another selection of vintage style works by encaustic artist Anne Winder-Boyle. 

Anne Winder-Boyle I

I came across Anne Winder-Boyle's work last summer in Cornwall. Anne uses old book covers to created encaustic illustrations building up layers with inks and wax. Her work beautifully captures the past in these examples, but often she twists the present into her retro styled works. 

There was an old woman with eyes on her knees . . .

I finished this picture last weekend on the train to Yorkshire. It is very appropriate today, my eyes are sore after hours of searching through old photographs, due to someone attempting to steal copyright on one of my personal photos. 
I hope that you all have a happy and restful weekend and thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Stitch Books

I have been working on sample/ stitch books with my students this term these are photographs of the pages before they were secured in to the books.

Abigail Halpin I

Here Abigail Halpin combines delicate pencil drawings with stitch on antique postcards. Abigail also has many illustrated books and though her work is often very serene it also has a lovely sense of fun.

David Hockney's Trees

Above: 25 Trees at Salts Mill

I love these paintings. David Hockney has captured all of the nuances and yet also perfectly conveyed the joy of those moments, when you take time and let the beauty of such things as trees take over your senses. 

The bottom picture painted when David Hockney discovered these trees felled and logged is amazing. The shock of the vivid colour captures his shock and the brutality of the scene. It has a startling anger and horror, the more I look at it the more disturbing I find it, despite the beauty of the patterns and composition, it is very emotional and powerful.

Salts Mill

It was an amazing weekend, lovely to catch up with good friends and see new things. 
Part of the weekend I spent at Salts Mill, a beautifully redeveloped/ regenerated Mill originally built by Titus Salt in the mid 1800's. Now I have been once, I will be visiting regularly as it is a wonderful space to explore with fantastic book shops, exhibitions and cafes. 
On the top floor is the '25 Trees and other pictures' David Hockney gallery. An exhibition that I have wanted to see for some time and it didn't disappoint. 
Thank you Deb and Helen for making this such an eventful and enjoyable weekend.

Running Away to Yorkshire

I am running, running, running, today work and then jumping on a train with my daughter to see friends for a wild 36 hour trip. 
I leave you with my 'Poor itchy man fae Dundee'  who was finished last week. At the moment I am really enjoying doing these stitched nonsense rhymes and so this is what I am concentrating on. As I will be taking my sketch book away with me, there may well be some Yorkshire themed ones soon.
I hope you all have a great weekend where ever you are.

Larry Calkins II

Larry Calkins is so prolific and diverse in his creativity in the media of sculpture, painting and photography that I am slowly introducing it here. This assemblage is called 'cat mask full' Larry likes to used found objects and materials that have their own history and energy.

Keiko Shibata VI

It is lovely to curate your own (virtual) gallery and to be able to go from something sublimely beautiful and sophisticated as Juan Fontanive to something sublimely silly and fun. These paper mache works by Keiko Shibata are great fun. A wobbly collaged interpretation of our world,  full of joy.

Juan Fontanive

A breath takingly beautiful, kinetic installation by Juan Fontanive, please go and see his ornithology and vivarium works, you will not be disappointed in his stunningly beautiful flip book machines made with watercolor and image transfer onto bristol paper, with steel, aluminum clockwork and electronics. They are really hypnotic.

Ivila Caballero II

Love this working picture of Ivila Caballero's sketchbook with her signature celestial style created using alcohol markers and pencil.