Visitors

 

Thanks to everyone who visited over the two weekends.  I think there were about 150 in total.  I sold all my new pebbles prints which I was very pleased about plus the new coasters were also a big hit.  Something to think about if I do another Christmas show this year.

I also visited several studios myself most notably *Amanda MacPhail in Cottenham, Chris Wood in Stretham, Terry Beard and Stephen Mufitt in Wicken and *Emma Mitchell in Reach.  All really talented people, *'s indicated where I couldn't resist buying a few things.

Open Studios

One more weekend to go.  The weather forecast isn't great, so hopefully people won't be going to the sea-side, gardening or going to summer fayres and will instead have the urge to visit some of the 240 artists taking part in Cambridge Open Studios this year.  Check the website to see who is open on which weekend.  My studio will be open from 11am - 6pm, 16th & 17th July, and there is another artist, Chris Thomas, in the same street.

Some new things that proved very popular last weekend were some coasters I've had made, depicting 15 of my designs and prints.  I sold out of a few of the designs so have re-ordered and should have the new ones in time for this weekend.

Balance

My first Open Studio weekend went well.  I sold a couple of my new balancing stone prints and I thought you'd like to see the process.  The printing plates are made of card so they are easy to cut into shapes, so I thought I'd move away from the traditional rectangle and cut them into pebble shapes.  I painted them with oils and carefully arranged them on the press.  I had to place the paper on top of the plates very carefully as I was worried I might move the arrangement.  But they all stayed roughly where I put them and I'm really pleased with the result.  Only a little bit of watercolour was added to the final print to enhance the shadows.  I printed seven with seven balancing pebbles and five with five pebbles.

Hogweed print with watercolour

As promised here is the Hogweed print I did last week, now with added watercolour.  It is one of a limited edition of eight.  I've just taken it to be framed ready for my Open Studio next week.  Better get on with finishing off all the other work.

Open Studio 2011 Invitation

Hogweed Print

I've finally started printing my new designs for Open Studios! I have four weeks to produce some exciting new things that are mainly in my head at the moment.  Above is the new Hogweed print using a drypoint board as the printing plate.  It shows various stages of the process.  I'm waiting for them to dry so I can add some watercolour.  I've tried colours out digitally and will post the finished print with added watercolour next week hopefully.

White Iris

Always hard to find when you need one, is a tasteful Sympathy card.  Hopefully this new card by Phoenix fits the bill.  I chose a limited palette and a style that resembles a wood-block print.  I thought it made a change to use iris rather than the more usual lilies.  Iris was a Greek goddess of the rainbow, which she used to travel down to earth with messages from the gods and to transport women's souls to the underworld. The three upright petals and three drooping sepals are symbols for faith, valour and wisdom.  They have been printed on matt textured board and cost £1.20 each from your local trader.  I will have all my cards and wrap for sale at Open Studios in July.