Mary Fedden II

Now we enter full winter, those silent snow days waiting for the sun to warm and spring to come. 

Mary Fedden has many wonderful pictures of sheep in the snow, patiently waiting. 

Mary Fedden I

A selection of paintings about birds in the snow by Mary Fedden (1915-2012).
Mary was born in Bristol and from an early age set her ambitions on being an artist. She attended The Slade School of Art between 1932-1936 studying under Russian theatre designer Vladimir Polunin. On graduating she painted sets for Sadler's Wells but decided against a career in stage design and returned to Bristol to teach art and work as a painter. In 1951 she married fellow artist Julian Trevelyan during her life-time she painted prolifically and there are many works that you can enjoy.

Emma Crockatt

An angel by Emma Crockatt who works mainly in block print and paper cut designs.

Rob Hodgson IV

I have chosen this happy, benevolent image of a stone stack today by the inspiring Rob Hodgson.
It is my beautiful son's birthday and he is a 'rock stacker' a patient creator of transient beauty.
Happy Birthday, Fin.

Bernard Cheese I

Bernard Cheese (20 January 1925 - 15 March 2013). It amazes me that after all these years of blogging and studying I can still find a gem, that has eluded me. Bernard Cheese is such a gem, his beautiful humorous works have the same aesthetic as those of Roger Duvoisin, Gerald Rose and to a certain extent John Burningham. These artists all allow space, fun and sparkles of observation in their works that make them sing and resonate with smiles and recognition of good things in life.

Richard Jones II

A less happy lion by Richard Jones, whose work has these wonderful scumbled layers of colour. Richard uses acrylic paints on cheap paper and then scans the images to work on them digitally.  

Richard Jones I

Devon based illustrator, Richard Jones's Tiger and dog both wearing jaunty neck ties. Richard claims to never be happier than when he is drawing animals in neckties, and you can see this in his pictures.

Max Machen

Now I am caught in big cat illustration love, so the next few posts are BIG cats, starting with London based illustrator and printmaker Max Machen 

Jenni Desmond

Simple tiny drawings in wax crayon that hold so much magic. This is the work of Hackney based illustrator Jenni Desmond who is inspired by Japanese aesthetic and often works to music to change the energy and feeling of her work, you can read an interview with Jenni here.

Nina Cosford I

A cheetah on a bicycle is just what I would like to see this morning. This wonderful creation is from the imagination of Nina Cosford. Nina has a series of beautiful 'illustrated adventures' on youtube, here is her illustrated exploration of Iceland.

Tracy Mcguinness-Kelly IV

Tracy Mcguinness-Kelly's beautiful collage and print depiction of an insect in the rain.

Gerald Rose IV

As you know, I adore the work of Gerald Rose so I was thrilled a couple of weeks ago in a local charity shop to find a copy of Trouble in the Ark from 1976, water damaged but beautiful to me! Wishing you all a happy weekend,

Brian Wildsmith III

A last blast of colour to celebrate the work of Brian Wildsmith. When describing his work and working process Brian often uses the analogy of music;

"I use what I call the Mozartian method. Mozart had an idea totally impregnated on his mind. And I work like that. ForABC I didn’t make sketches or anything. I drew straight onto the page and painted on top of that in gouache. The turtle was drawn entirely in paint, without any pencil."

"When I’m painting, there often comes a stage when something isn’t happening right and I have to start again until all the music and all the notes are becoming intertwined and they make what to me is a beautiful image of what I want to present." Brian Wildsmith

Christian Birmingham

Christian Birmingham is a British illustrator and painter with a classical style. Christian mainly works in pastel and has illustrated many classic children's books including the Snow Queen, A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist, The Night Before Christmas and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this illustration is from the Snow Queen.

Rose Wylie I

Rose Wylie was born in 1934 her work is inspired by an eclectic range of sources including news stories, celebrity gossip to Persian miniatures and everyday observations. Her work is lively, varied and exciting, full of life and excitement, raveling in the freedom of age. 

Becky Blair II

It has been four years since I featured Becky Blair here. Her work is a celebration, happiness and a breathing space she works in layers of paint and glaze building images from memory and dreams.

“I want to capture life, the beauty and magic of everyday experience, threaded with dreams for the future and memories of the past shifting like layers to create images that evoke joy. Sometimes with a touch of longing, passing or moving on, while still celebrating the inescapable rush of life. To evoke movement and vibration, using colour and texture to render physical, certain aspects that, in real life, are intangible.” Becky Blair

Adam Neate

Of all the images I have viewed lately the top picture here by Adam Neate has stayed with me.

"  I spent a decade leaving paintings on the streets "Those years were my art school. I learnt about colour and composition simply though practise. The critics were there every day.." Adam Neate

These works by Adam Neate are on cardboard, they are not easy images, they are quite distressed especially added to the distress of the medium. I also think his style here is very reminiscent of the work of Francis Bacon.

"I couldn't afford canvases but where I lived there was a lot of cardboard in the street, I would collect it and reuse it. I have used it for so many years and developed different techniques, using different sizes and shapes. I am tentative to use canvas, because with cardboard it doesn't cost anything so you are free to do what ever you want."  Adam Neate

Nick Gentry I

 

Nick Gentry's social art from the obsolete takes ever day objects that have formed part of our physical histories and transforms them into contemporary portraits. This series is painted floppy discs, it is very like graffiti and has the appeal of  contemporary commercial illustration.
"People say to me well who are the subjects? well actually the subjects are the discs themselves  . . . the data inside. Nick Gentry (thank you)

Amanda Collis

 

 

Amanda Collis's wonderful layering of thick beautiful colour, Amanda is based in Derbyshire England.

Vanessa Cooper III

 Vanessa Cooper, I just think her work is perfect for this week of blossom and sunshine, a celebration of life.