Joanne B Kaar

Joanne B Kaar inspired by the collection of lichen (crottle) for dye has created a collection of Crottle Spoons. In the past old spoons and shells were used to scrape lichen from the rocks. Joanne painted white enamel on old spoons indented with lichen textures. Part of the; 'Small is Beautiful' exhibition at The Royal Botanical Gardens Edinburgh.

Liz Cambell

Liz Cambell's wonderfully intricate studies of lichen at the Royal Botanical Gardens of Edinburgh in their 'Small is Beautiful' exhibition until May 1st 2020.

Amanda Cobbett II

Amanda Cobbett's Lichen studies are so perfect as to be real she constructs them from paper maché and then embroiders the surface.

Joanne B Kaar V

Last weekend I, at last, got the chance to see the exhibition 'Small is Beautiful' a lichen inspired art at the Botanics in Edinburgh.
'North' was a project started as a response to 'Fabric of place' a Chrysalis Arts Project by Joanne B Kaar. North is an embossed, stitched linen paper coat inspired by coastal lichens, Black- sea tar, Tan, sea star, White, crabs eye (crottle), Shaggy hood -sea ivory.
Crottle or crotal in Gaelic is a Scottish term for lichens that were traditionally used to make dye.
Crottle, according to local folklore, seeks its native rocks, this means that fishermen should never wear clothes that have been made using wool dyed with crottle, for if they do, they will be pulled back to the rocks or drowned.

Megumi Inoue

The soothing power of green in the portfolio of Megumi Inoue むうめぐ(井上めぐみ).

Caroline Ellerbeck

Caroline Ellerbeck's washi tape illustrations are charming, I particularly like the crashed mosquito. 

Sabine Rufener

Sabine Rufener's delightful illustration of a torch submarine and an octopus.

José Sanabria V

'A Page in the Wind' written by María Laura Díaz Domínguez and illustrated by José Sanabria is a story of finding your role in life. José has used pastel, print and collage in these illustrations and the newspaper is just wonderful. 

José Sanabria IV

The details and watercolour of José Sanabria for his book 'As Time Went By' are so lovely, reminding me so much of the English painter Alfred Wallis with crazy, lilting perspective and lovely observations. This is a book about change, shown through the life of a steamboat.

José Sanabria III

A fantastic and essential book written by Brian Bliston, illustrated by José Sanabria called 'Refugees'. This is a book that highlights prejudices and bigotry, the illustrations are coloured by the emotions on the page with dark images relaying fear and mistrust, and bright colourful images showing kindness and acceptance. It is a clever book giving both sides of the story by reversing the poem and this gives space for discussion about the issues involved. 

Kara Walker

Kara Walker's 'Fons Americanus', a 13-meter fountain inspired by the Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham Palace, a Hyundai commission in the Turbine Hall, Tate Modern.

Nathaniel Russell

Dave Eggers 'The Captain and the Glory', illustrated by Nathaniel Russell is the perfect metaphorical story for the madness on either side of the Atlantic in 2020. Dave Eggers who I have revered for his 862 Valentia initiative, has created a fantastically funny but equally horrifying rendition of our current reality, a book to read and heed and Nathaniel's illustrations just perfect to accompany the insanity of our political times.