Museum Love...

A few weeks ago my daughter and I spent a lovely morning sketching at our local museum.

They were so helpful there and allowed us to draw some of their items that weren't on display.

There is absolutely nothing more enjoyable for me than to draw for the sake of drawing.

It really was bliss.

I was 'drawn' (sorry!) to this skull, I think it's an albatross?

To just get 'lost' in something that's really complex and use drawing to help you work out its structure feels so satisfying.

I think it is the closest thing to mindfulness/ meditation for me, it is completely absorbing yet my brain switches off at the same time - I hope that makes sense!

 Best wishes,

Mrs B X

Snip. Snip. Rip. Rip...

I never know where my work will end up, and this piece began as a sketch of a hare's head.

You can't beat drawing on old paper, the texture is so velvety and soft.

For the past few months I've really enjoyed drawing and collaging.

I think that preparing for workshops ignites your own creativity and makes you explore new techniques and ways of working.

The torn edges of the paper began to influence the overall atmosphere of the collage, and a slight Miss Havisham quality began to emerge...

Does she seem lonely and heart-broken, or liberated and free to do as she pleases?

Maybe she'll tell me her story one day!

Meet Madame Gris At Hope & Elvis!

I'm so excited to let you know that there will be a brand new Mrs B workshop weekender at the wonderful Hope &Elvis on May 5th and 6th 2018!

It will be a whole weekend dedicated to the joys of paper and collage, and will be based on a new body of work that I've been snipping and drawing and sticking for quite a long time now.

Madame Gris will be the star of the show on the Sunday workshop, (alongside Monsieur Le Dandy, but you'll get to meet him another time!)

On this day we will be splashing the paint around preparing patterned and textured papers before collaging a creature of your choice.

I've really enjoyed developing these characters and I can't wait to share them with you!

And don't worry if you don't feel too confident about drawing because I will have sets of templates all ready for you on the day.

I can also help you if you want to make your own animal too, whatever takes your fancy!

On the Saturday workshop you will get to meet some other animal friends of mine and we will be playing with vintage paper and collage.

But I'll tell you more about that day soon!

All the details about both the workshops are on the Hope &Elvis website, there are a few places left if you fancy a day of chatting, snipping and playing!

Whoop!

X

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Summer Time Sketching...

One of my favourite times out of the whole of my holiday in Cornwall was actually a pretty wet and miserable afternoon.

When the weather lets you down it gives you the perfect excuse to go to a cafe, get out your sketchbook and people- watch.

And that's just what me and my lass did.

They do a mean chai latte at The Exchange Gallery in Penzance, (the art is rather impressive too!)

The weather was so bad I managed to drink two massive mug fulls!

Would you like to see some of the other sketches I scribbled during the summer?

After I have sketched something,whenever I look back in my sketchbook, it takes me straight back there.

Perhaps sketching and observing makes you switch off your brain, I suppose it's a visual form of mindfulness in a way.

It is one of the things that makes me completely happy and relaxed.

We also visited the beautiful museum and sculpture garden of Barbara Hepworth in St.Ives, we managed to find a lovely sunny corner in the summer house to sketch...

(My lass didn't know that I was sketching her!)

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Happy Holidays!

Happy Easter holidays everyone!

I'm looking forward to putting me feet up, having some family time and consuming a large amount of chocolate!

This is what I'm working on at the mo, I thought it was rather fitting for this Spring-time post!

Lots of love X

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Half A Life Time Ago...

I also absolutely love teaching on the Art Foundation course, and this week's focus is fashion design.

When I realised that some of my fashion designs had been produced half my life ago, I hoped I hadn't forgotten how to do it!

I sketched these a while ago, just to flex those fashion muscles again!

I'm really looking forward to seeing the students' work!

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A Lesson Learned...

During the summer I attended a two day experimental painting workshop at The Newlyn School of Art.

The tutor was Sam Bassett, and I have been a fan of his work for a long time.

We had a glorious time playing with paint and mixed media, and the fellow students were such a great group of creative, generous souls.

Using some of the papers I prepared, this was the piece I worked on during the second day.

What I found out about myself was that I can feel embarrassed about the recurring motifs and subject matter that appears in my work.

I think at some point everyone can feel that they should do something different, something more.

So when my rabbit- eared girl decided to come out to play, I talked about this when we were sharing our thoughts in the group.

But I learned a valuable lesson that day.

She is MY rabbit- eared girl.

And honest imagery evolves slowly and will keep re-appearing.

And I'm not troubled by this anymore, and if any more hares or wild haired ladies or jackdaws and black birds want to come and play, they are more than welcome!

( Thanks for listening, I feel better for that!)

X

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As I Was Going To St. Ives...

Fancy a pootle around one of my favourite towns in the whole wide world?

Don't forget your sun hat!

We'll just pop in for a bit of brekkie!

There's art everywhere!

And giant plastic ice cream cones of course!

Where else would have a Barbara Hepworth sculpture in front of the Tourist Information Centre!

I love the back streets too...

Peeking inside a Cornish Inn...

(it's a bit early for me!)

Wishing I lived in one of those cottages...

Loads of lovely samples to try in here, well, it would be rude not to buy a bar (or three) after partaking!

It's getting a bit hot now!

Time for a bit of sketching...

Up the hill to catch the train!

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