Fairport's Cropredy Convention 2012

Scary farm we stayed at, and yes, that barn was full of bats

The Chadwell Digestive Biscuits Do You Good

Spotted this lil fella in the basement of Lulworth Castle. For some reason I think his face is hilarious, can't really see why you would use that character to advertise biscuits, but I'm charmed by the illustration non-the-less.

Finished Bird Canvas

That's it folks, first ever canvas completed, and I'm pretty happy with the results. It's simple, bright, experimental use of materials, combined with a more traditional-looking drawing styles, designed to cheer up my grandmother's (sorta dingy-looking) bungalow.

fake feathers, buttons and ribbons stitched onto canvas (18" by 14") with acrylics, oil pastels, fineliner and pencil

other stuff I raided from the library

I want to make a mixed-media textile comic and these are my starting points so far: textures I like, gothic revival Architecture, stained glass windows and illuminations and quilting. I also have a couple of weird looking comics that I took out since it also occurred to me that I'm not massively knowledgeable on those either. I guess it doesn't look like much but these are my starting points so far.

From The Art of Annemieke Mein

just a couple of sketchbook studies from The Art of Annemieke Mein: Wildlife Artist in Textiles

Had a trip down to library to look for some clues as to where my next project might be headed.

For the love of kittens and all things adorable, somebody get me a ukulele! <3

Oh no, a hot flush! WHAM!

Kate Talbot ...the fricking awesome things you can find on google if you look hard enough <3 was thinking of writing my own textile-based comic for my next canvas so I wanted to see what was already out there. Not a lot thankfully, not that I pretend google search is be end-all of research at all. Honest.

Ms Talbot kinda reminds me of Roy Lichtenstein if he was funny and totally rad at textiles ^_^ she gets a bunch of old comic frames, re-appropriates them and then sells prints and posters.

I need a new project to work on

"Woe to him whose good name is more to him than goodness" Moby Dick by Herman Melville

Canvas update

-Decided to add buttons into the canvas to tie in with the arts and crafts DIY feel of the painting. Plus, buttons are cute ^_^ 

-Added some oil pastels over the acrylics to create a more vibrant contrast and although you can't see it in the photo, I have stitched into some of the wings and profile of the bird on the top half of the canvas (apparently it's a canary?). 

Definitely coming together, all excited because this will be the first ever completely self-directed project I have finished.

Why seek ye living amongst the dead?

Quick doodle of the chapel at Lulworth Castle and a half-finished detail sketch of one of the windows. Had a dance on top of one of the castle towers, twas grand :)

Got stressed out and decided to take a random camping trip where I was able to cool down and do a bit more design work. I have my first bowl built and waiting for firing. Recieved a lovely email from Potterycrafts which was incredibly helpful as to information about my grandfather's kiln. Just need to do a bit of research into exact temperature ramps for bisque firings, but I'm getting very close to having my first bowl completed and I'm loving the way my designs are headed.

good things grow from dark and unexpexted places