New Seed Head drypoints

As promised here are the six new paper drypoints.  I've also included a brief summary of how they are made.  I will have framed and unframed prints at the Cambridge Christmas show on Monday 26th November.  There are only six in each edition.  Four of these designs plus two others are being licensed to a new card publisher due for release in the Spring.

Monday 26th November 2012

The Cambridge Christmas Show is fast approaching and I've been busy printing six new Seed Head inspired drypoints which I will post here as soon as they are finished.  I'm also busy packaging my tea towels, making some tree decorations, gift tags, magnets and painting some mini canvases.  So there should be lots of new things to see at 'probably' the best Christmas Fair in Cambridge.  The gift tags shown here are made using hand-cut rubber stamps and will start at just 50p.

Autumn Leaves Paper-cut

For some time I have admired the work of amazing paper-cut artists such as Rob Ryan, By Charlie's Hand, Emily Hogarth and Loula Belle. Today I decided to have a go myself as the design process is not a million miles away from a lino cut.  Also the cutting of paper is a lot easier on the fingers than cutting lino, but it was very fiddly and nerve racking as one slip and you've ruined the design.

I thought I'd post the cutting work in process.  I'm quite pleased with the finished result but I think I'll stick to printmaking or possibly use it as the start of a wrapping paper design.

Cambridge Contemporary Crafts

I'm very pleased to announce that Cambridge Contemporary Crafts on Bene't Street (next to the Eagle) are now stocking my tea towels.  They are in the window next to the very talented mixed media artist Shirley Vauvelle.

Cambridge Christmas 2012

This is the third year for me taking part in this mixed Christmas show in Cambridge on Monday 26th November.  There are some familiar faces from previous years and also new artists and makers who have been specially selected to join us.  There is always a lovely atmosphere in the hall with mulled cider and mince pies to add to the festivities.  Admission is free.

Published Work update

I've just updated the Published Work page at the top of this blog as I realised there were lots of new things not included, including all the new Christmas designs.  It's nice to have everything all in one place. Here are the two new images:

August

Oops, August seems to have slipped by with no posts.  Open Studios went well, with similar visitor numbers to last year.  It's always great to talk to people about my work and explain the various printmaking techniques.  The next show will be on Monday 26th November as part of Cambridge Christmas.  More details are on my Exhibitions page.

We went to Cornwall for our summer holiday this year.  Shamefully only did a couple of sketches though. I did have my fix of artiness though, as we visited St Ives, somewhere I've been wanting to go for years.  The Tate is set right beside the sea and fills the space and shape occupied by a disused gasometer.

We also went to The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Gallery.  Her sculptures are so beautiful and looked even more stunning seeing them in her garden.  Well worth travelling all that way.

Cambridge Open Studios 2012

It's not long now until Cambridge Open Studios starts again for another year.  My studio is open to the public on the 2nd and 3rd weekends in  July.  I've been busy printing some new paper drypoint and lino prints.  The screen printed tea towels that sold so well at my Christmas show are now available in two more colours and I've expanded my range of coasters, so now there are 20 designs to choose from.  As usual I have all my published cards for sale with prices starting at £1.20, plus a lovely selection of wrapping paper and stationery items

I look forward to seeing you at my studio where you are welcome to browse, ask questions, have a go at making a drypoint or even commission something.  The studio has disabled access and there is plenty of parking.

Cambridge Contemporary Crafts

I have a new exhibition taking place at Cambridge Contemporary Crafts next month.  It's a lovely little gallery tucked around the corner from King's Parade, so if you are in the area, do call in and have a look around.  It starts on 6th June and runs until 1st July.

Emma Quay

 
It was announced on Friday that my good friend Emma Quay had won the 2012 Australian Book Industry Association Award: Book of the Year for Younger Children. This is a big deal in Australia and is very well deserved. It was for 'Rudie Nudie', a book she wrote and illustrated.  It's not available in the UK at the moment but many of her other books are, so look out for them.

May Product Release

Here are two new designs of mine published by Phoenix Trading this month.  The Parrot Tulips make a lovely little 'thank you' gift card and compliment the existing two designs in a similar style.  They are 83 x 110mm, on matt textured board with added glitter.

The Beach Huts are just in time for summer, assuming it does arrive!  I love the way they are die-cut so that the roofs pop up above the sky line.  These are also on matt board and measure 210 x 90mm.

10 Years

This month marks 10 years of working freelance for publisher Phoenix Trading.  The Congratulations Champagne image was the first design of mine that they published way back in 2002.  The design has since been modified and published again in 2010 as a money wallet.

They are a great company to work for and I hope I can continue to produce new and exciting designs for them for many more years to come.

New Purchase

I was very excited to receive delivery of this painting this week.  It's by the very talented artist Louise Rawlings.  It's mixed media (mainly acrylic and gouache) on a boxed canvas and 395x295mm, so quite small considering all the detail.  I really like the inclusion of her English Setter, Alfie.

Louise also works freelance for Phoenix Trading, as well as other publishers.  You can see more of her work on her facebook page.

Springtime

I've been busy this month working on a couple of advent calendar designs.  They are taking ages and won't be published until August, so watch this space later in the year to see how Springtime for me is full of festive imagery.

New Cards

Here are two of my new designs published by Phoenix Trading in March.  They were designed for the difficult market of men/boys.  One is based on a circuit board, hopefully appealing to all computer mad blokes (or girls) and the other is a die-cut design featuring a football that looks like it's been 'signed'.

Hockney Exhibition

I'm really hoping to be able to make it to the David Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy before it closes on 9th April.  I love this oil painting called 'Winter Tunnel with Snow, March, 2006'.  Photo credit: Richard Schmidt.

I love to draw trees in winter so it would be great to see paintings on such a large scale as well as the ones he's produced on an ipad.

Happy Valentine's Day

While searching for some interesting facts about Valentine's Day, I came across this piece of trivia: Traditionally, young girls in the U.S. and the U.K. believed they could tell what type of man they would marry depending on the type of bird they saw first on Valentine’s Day. If they saw a blackbird, they would marry a clergyman, a robin indicated a sailor, and a goldfinch indicated a rich man. A sparrow meant they would marry a farmer, a blue bird indicated a happy man, and a crossbill meant an argumentative man. If they saw a dove, they would marry a good man, but seeing a woodpecker meant they would not marry at all.

If you are not already married, have you seen any birds today?  

Stone Circle

I've decided this will be the image to represent my work in this years Cambridge Open Studio Guide.  It's always really difficult to select an image that I hope will draw people to my studio in July.  It's a paper drypoint measuring about 28cm square.

Wild Flowers Card

This is a new card design published by Phoenix Trading that is out this month.  It is printed on matt textured board and has added iridescent flitter.  It's based on one of my prints of my favourite plant, Cow Parsley.

First post of the year

Happy New Year everyone.  First day back in the studio, but really it's just a day for tidying up and sorting through things, ready for some creativity.  The weather outside is hideous, especially compared to the blue sky (windy) day at Hunstanton yesterday.  Shame about the dead whale washed up on the beach.