Juju Loves Polka Dots

Somedays things don't go your way in the studio

I spent a whole day mucking about with paint and stuff and all I got out of it was the left over scribbles and a lot of frustration. You have days like that?

Still Painting

In spite of my ceramic obsession (or partly because of it) I am still painting. Here's a juicy bit of watercolour underway.

I'll be taking a Jain Manuscript painting course later this month at the V&A. I've always been facinated by the techniques involved in minature painting. I rather like the idea of a single hair brush. I'll let you know how it goes.

Playing with Sketchbook in Photoshop Fun

With thanks to Jenny Mendes  for ceramic inspiration.

Sketchbook Ink Drawings

Pencil Scribbles

This is just a quick post to show off my knitting in the Battle Bird colourway  that I dyed the other day.

Knit up, it reminds me of pencil doodles and old red rubbers and I wanted to make a background to express some of that.

I think maybe, this only resonates with me. No one is ever going to look at these socks and wish they had a painting to compliment them.

But to me, it's like scratching a itch.

Ahhh!

 

Focus Juju - Focus!

This idea of mine to post on a single topic, over a month, is not working out.

My interests and activities changed and I didn't make the time to shift gears and post about sewing from Japanese clothes books.  Sorry.

I think I'm going to return to my previous format and post about what I'm currently interested in. I will come around to more sewing info eventually, but you might as well know what I'm up to now.

With my discovery of Ravelry, my interests moved back to knitting and crochet. They were already on their way there but this helped get the fire going. I've been doing a lot of knitting from other people's patterns and dying my own yarns.

This one is called Sweet Ernie.

And I made a beret called Honest Ernie with removable flower pin.

I love neckwarmers, cowls and shawlettes. Especially in my hand-dyed cashmere.

Along with the dying, my paints have come out again, too. I'm just mucking around at the moment. Getting warmed up.

Much more to come!

In the Woods

What's black, white and red all over? Half a cat.

I told you there would be bad jokes...

But maybe I didn't tell you that I would be gone for so long...It goes like this every summer. I have the best intentions of blogging from my cabin but never find the time. This year has been my worst. But I'm still alive and well and happy in the woods in Canada.

I have finally recovered from my pneumonia, although it persisted throughout July.

I haven't been painting as much as I planned. I did these three before I left London.

I have been busy beading though. Here is my beading picnic in the woods. That's the lake in the background.

I can sit here and bead, watch the forest life and talk to our friendly chipmunk, Wunky. Next post I might show you what I've been making.

I'll be teaching beading workshops at a new London venue in the Autumn called the Make Lounge.

Today's Inspiration: There are so many great magazines on this side of the pond. I'm enjoying Craft. I just finished making (and drinking) delicious blueberry wine after reading an article in the last issue.

Likes: The call of the loon.

Painting daily

What's brown and sticky? A stick.

That is one of my favourite jokes. Sad, eh?

Hopefully by the time you read this I will be in Canada and recovered from my pneumonia (I'm posting ahead).

I thought I'd show you my strategy for painting everyday (even when I've got other stuff I must do). A while back I was complaining about how difficult it is to paint regularly and meet all my other commitments.

Well, now I have arranged things so that I have a reduced painting kit that I can leave out all the time - or take with me. Basically it includes a tin palette of 26 watecolours with mixing areas, a tube of white gouche, coloured pencils, two jars or water, a small spray bottle, three of my favourite brushes and a postcard size block of watercolour papers.

I leave it out all the time and paint every day now. I'm just painting abstractly but it keeps my hand in.

Here are the sort of paintings I make daily.

Since a lot of my interest in painting comes from playing with the properties of my materials, this is a useful way to keep at it everyday. I hope to complete some larger paintings this summer as well.

Today's Inspiration: The Monster Engine

Likes: These cute acorn earrings on ETSY.

Getting down

How does an elephant get down from a tree?
He sits on a leaf and waits till autumn!

I've found two new (to me) watercolour painters to be excited about. They are mother and daughter, I believe.

First up is Shirley Felts, who I can not find any information about but my friend Joss sells beautiful prints of her watercolours (and Katy's).

I love the way the water is very evident in the paintings but they are not at all wishy washy. She has a beautiful way of loosing edges.

Her daughter, Katy Ellis is also amazing. Brilliant, batik-like,dense colours and awesome draftsmanship.

I wonder if she uses a lot of masking fluid while she floods colour on? I suspect she might.

Both Shirley and Katy make paintings that make my mouth water! Although I said in my last post that I'm not generally attracted to finished watercolours, the exceptions make my heart skip a beat. And these are two exceptional painters!

Today's Inspiration: Shirley Felts and Katy Ellis

Likes: A cool walk in the woods on a hot, sunny day.

Elephant's Pyjamas

How do you know if an elephant is in your bed?
You'll see the 'E' embroidered on his pyjamas.

Okay, so I've started playing with the paint again. I'm so happy! When I'm working with watercolour paint I feel so sensual and liberated!

Funny thing is, I have never been partial to the finished look of most watercolour paintings. But making them is such a joy!

I remember how little I liked watercolours before I started making them. I always preferred the look of gutsy opaque mediums with their strong, dense colours and ability to rework ideas. (An inspiring example of this is shown in this wonderful stop motion video of a painting by Gillian Warden - have a look !).

It is a surprise to me that I have chosen to paint in water based media. But there it is. I feel good when I'm doing it.

So far I have only just started playing again. Making a few experiments in a small square area, based on magnolia blossoms I drew in April.

Today's inspiration: I'd like to say the sun, but can't as we haven't seen much of it. However, roses are blossoming everywhere! And I'm enjoying the yellow ones particularly.

Likes: New toy - Derwent Inktense pencils. They are so much more vibrant than pencil crayons!