To blog or not to blog?

Its been over a week since I did my last blog - not good!  This is the first time I have felt a bit funny about doing the blog, part of me thinks, what is the point, does anyone really read it and does it really serve a purpose? But you know once I start putting these words down I begin to enjoy it.  It somehow releases the jumbled stuff in my head and puts the weeks creative events in some kind of order.  I often get frustrated when I haven't put pen to paper for a while and the longer that goes on the harder I find it to sit down and create - I get kind of scared of starting a project. This has been the beauty of doing the blog since January as it does put me under a little pressure to produce something.  I think we all need a little bit of pressure in life.

I have been busy with personalized cards.  One for my lovely Mr B, it was our wedding anniversary last week.  Just a small little card but heartfelt. The other one was for my dear friend Sarah whose birthday was celebrated on Saturday.  I got a wonderful response from friends who were there when Sarah unveiled her picture - even tears came to eyes - Wow!  I stupidly didn't take a photo of the completed picture that was framed.  The picture shown is pretty much the completed version.  The finished one had a few more branches , butterflies and birds around the edges. Through this I have been commissioned to do a personalized illustration for Cinzia and her family which I'm really looking forward to starting.

So yes to blogging even though it may never get read or may not mean anything to anyone else.  The key is it helps me in my creative development!

Linocut

Well as I mentioned in last weeks blog my friend had shown me a beautiful illustrated book that she had just bought.  The book in question is The Alphabet of London by Christopher Brown.  Christopher Brown is a linocut artist who I had never heard of before though I feel I should have. Such stunning linocuts of the not so usual and usual well known landmarks and figure heads. People like Amy Winehouse, Charlie Chaplin and Mary Poppins pop up as well as a zoo keeper from London Zoo.  Sorry no images to show you of this beautiful book (mine hasn't arrived in the post yet) but this link should take you to Design Week newsletter page which gives a lovely write up to whet your appetite http://www.designweek.co.uk/blog/an-alphabet-of-london/3034107.article

All this got me a little excited about doing my own linocuts.  I remember doing them at Art College and not being particularly good at it. I'm sure the linoleum that was provided at College was much tougher then because I have had a go and found it a lot easier than before.  The tracing of the image and cutting was all very straight forward but the printing was a little harder.  I didn't have printing ink so used Acrylic paint instead which didn't coat the lino well.  Julia came to the rescue with her pot of water soluble printing ink,  the result is above. Not perfect but a start.


Also as promised is Fish completed with water colour wash.

World wide web here I come

I have been inspired by my friend Julia's new venture www.becreativedaily.com. She is on a 30 day challenge to be creative everyday and set up a website promoting this (well worth a visit).  I decided to be brave and start work on my website, something I've been wanting to get going for a long time.  I think I must have spent all day last Friday looking into the best deal and best choice of designed templates.  I finally went with Moonfruit and have spent the majority of spare time changing and tweaking things.  I managed to get www.lambandfox.com as my name but as yet it doesn't come up when you google it so help is needed with this.  Also I need to connect Facebook, Twitter, beloved blog to the site.  I have asked my friend Tim who hopefully will solve these computer mysteries for me.  He is a very busy man so it might not happen soon. I do still need to upload all the prints yet
anyway.  It is very exciting and frustrating in equal measure
but I am enjoying it.



I had in mind that I wanted to do an illustration of myself for the 'All about Lamb and Fox" section.  Thought that would be nicer than a photo.  You wouldn't believe the amount of time I took doing the face to get a likeness.  I think it looks a little like me?  My girls seem to think so, Mr.B said it didnt do me justice - sweet!  I also did another one, the smaller one shown.  I got a bit carried away though and have ended up looking like a smiling Madonna!  I have a book of European folk art that I sometimes use for inspiration and had been looking at the Bulgarian religious icon section showing the Madonna with amazing rays coming out from behind her head representing light.  This made its way into the little portrait, I think its clear I was obviously feeling good about myself on Saturday!

A million things still to do on the website.  Last night I sat down and thought to myself I need to do another word picture as I'm in danger of getting bogged down with computer stuff.  So started on Cat, hopefully I will finish this for the next blog.  Also the thermo fax screen arrived this morning, testing will begin soon! Busy, busy, busy.

Avoidance

A strange uncreative week really.  I didn't have much time to sit down and create which is always very frustrating.  Also after sending the designs to the thermo fax screen company I was disappointed to be told the designs were not suitable as they were too, "fussy".   They needed to be more simple with cleaner lines to avoid bleeding.  I find it hard to do simple designs!   Also my dear friend Julia discussed with me the possibility of exhibiting my work at the Nellie Dean in Dean Street, Soho.  Available space from the end of May.  I don't think I could be ready for the end of May (panic seeping in just thinking about it!) So I have done the classic Laura thing of avoidance so not to face the problem (sorry Julia for not getting back to you about this X). When will I feel ready - most probably if I'm honest mid - late summer.

Anyway back to the thermo screens I managed to illustrate this, in between re painting floorboards (a true avoidance task!). Yes a simple design. Okayed by Claire, "perfect to be made into a thermo screen".
YAY - onwards and upwards.  Julia I will be in touch X

Printing thoughts

Thinking more and more about doing my own printing, I do like to be in control!  I almost signed up for a screen printing course at the weekend.  While researching this I came across thermal screen printing, very similar to screen printing but much more simple and cheaper.  I have found a few companies that I can email my designs too and they will turn them into a screen ready for printing. I've done the two small designs shown that I think will work well as greeting cards.  The originals are in black and white.

Really it is a test to see if it works, if it is a success then I can get bigger screens done. Also printing on lovely textured paper or fabric could be interesting.  I did screen printing at Art college many moons ago so I am really looking forward to having a go on a small scale again.

Other work finished this week was this illustration based around the London postcode map.  I did all the postcodes first (a fine feat for someone with mild dyslexia, many mistakes made!) It looked really like a patchwork when I had finished, so I decided to add the words, "London is my patchwork quilt that keeps me always warm inside" around the edge.  I'm rather pleased with it.  I didn't have a plan when I started it, so it evolved naturally which I like.

Thanking and thinking

A few hours spare on Monday and Tuesday to illustrate a thank you card to send to friends and family who gave me lovely birthday gifts.

A selection is shown below.  Particularly looking forward to reading Spitalfields Life.  The lovely Paris notebooks are already in use.  I know lots of people use the notes page on their phone or iPad but I still prefer pen to paper for notes!  A lovely brooch by Stockwell designs which adorns my mac.  Beautiful hair slides too.  I also got some cash which will go towards the much needed camera fund!

The other card I had to unfortunately illustrate was for Muriel a dear lady who Mr B and I met on our honeymoon 13 years ago.  Her husband Ken died last Friday after a long illness.  We didn't get to see much of them as they lived in Sunderland but we have always kept in touch with cards and phone calls.  We have very fond memories of Ken and Muriel who were the "life and soul" on the little boat we were traveling on around the Greek Islands with.

Rest in peace Ken Royal x

A little break

Just back from a mini break to Rye.  We stayed at The Ship Inn, which is where we always stay when we go down there.  The beautifully decorated rooms are such a welcome from the many uninspiring B&Bs and corporate hotels around.

lampshade makes a rather fetching hat!

Bright and light in the bedroom but still retaining the old quirky features in the pub downstairs.  The breakfasts are to die for too!

We also paid a visit to Hastings.  So many interesting shops in the old part of Hastings to look in and to purchase lovely things.

The French matches and badges were very cheap.  The 'old bag' brooch is mine in celebration of my birthday that day!

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking on Hastings Country Park.  Just stunning as the sun was out making everything as bright as it should be.

Feel refreshed again and inspired!