"I begin with an idea ... and then it becomes something else"
~ Picasso

Sunday 30 May 2010

Seaside inspiration

My seaside inspired theme continues with an ecclectic mix of colour, texture, pattern, inspiration, recent paintings and a few playful monoprint pebbles from my sketchbook

Starting with this tangle of ropes I photographed in St. Ives harbour last week


































The ropes inspired a mosaic of complementary aquas, blues, oranges and rusts























Water's Edge





















I enjoyed playing with my colours and painted a series of small watercolours inspired by the colours of the sand and sea of beautiful St. Ives

Sea Swirl





















Sea Salt















Beach Streams

















This one is my favourite (I think)

















I spent a morning pulling together some sheer fabrics, satins, plastic carrier bags, sweet wrappers and pieces of acetate, heating them ready for a textile project

















Lovely sea and rusty colours ...

















A pebble card I found recently for my sketchbook. I love that pebbles come in all colours
















The following are a few photos from my pebble sketchbook

Monoprint on white cotton stitched into with silver thread


















Monoprint on scrunched up silver paper. Scrunching adds a little texture


















Detail silver paper

















a rock pool heart I made

After five days at sea






















Detail

















Monoprint with wax resist
















Monoprint with wax resist
















Pages from my sketchbook. The image on the right is from a painting by Derek Jenkins

















This is a monoprint I made with wax resist and machine stitching



















Abstract detail - branching patterns and stitch

















Stitching through paper

















a rock pool heart made at the beginning of May

The sun shone

















Lots of layers, stitches and beads

My favourite is the pearl which I encased in a vintage clasp to make it look "found"






















I used pieces of vintage crochet for texture






















I'm not doing anything very taxing at the moment, just keeping busy with little things while I'm waiting for my hospital results, although very soon I do need to make some serious progress with my quilt entry for FOQ 2010. My quilt is based on elements of St. Ives that I enjoy ... cottages, cobbles, beachcombing and rockpools. I may share my progress here mixed in with the pebble sketchbook pages

hope you have happy plans for your day

I shall be spending mine beach combing 
and then out for dinner in the evening with my hubby

Wishing you happy days
Carolyn x

35 comments:

Jensters said...

Oh my Carolyn i dont know wether you have alway had the sound of beach to yr blog as i alway have the sound turned off....but ive been listening to this for ages now and thinking of St Ives.....i wish i was the friend to receive that wonderful heart....im such a fan you yr work and you are so very talented....there is not one part of the above i dont like.....good health to you....Hugs Jennie.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful Blog. Such cool projects.

Happy Birthday.

jsarach@verizon.net

ArtPropelled said...

Happy Birthday for Monday Carolyn!
Thanks for the beautiful, soothing post. Love your monoprint with machine stitching.

Twiglet said...

Happy Birthday Carolyn. What a beautiful, inspiring blog - such scrummy colours and those hearts are totally gorgeous!!!!

Chris Gray said...

Happy Birthday lovely!!...shame we couldn't meet up as planned, but there you go....maybe later on.

Beautiful posting AGAIN!!!....mmmm...love those pebble piccies..that sketchbook must be coming along well by now.

Have a great birthday and week to follow.

x x x Chris

Lynn Cohen said...

This is the most beautiful post. I enjoyed every single photo, all that color and texture, and was so happy that it just went on and on and on...What a beautiful life you lead.
Happy Birthday too.
Fingers crossed that your hospital news is good news only.
Keep on creating. Your work is wonderously wonderful in all ways.

JP said...

You sound better and you colours are gorgous - can't believe your birthday has arrived again - how are Roobarb and Custard? - keep doing your lovely work

Anonymous said...

I agree with everything Lynn above says. Especially love the heated sheers. Looking forward to seeing the results of that. Have a wonderful birthday and hope you get good news SOON.The sounds almost soothed me to sleep.
Penny
xxx

Wildflowerhouse said...

The textures, the vibrant colors and the music... you have reaches all my senses.

Gloria Freshley Art and Design said...

Hi Carolyn,

What an absolutely gorgeous post! Thank you, thank you for so generously sharing your inspiration, your process and the end results!
Loved looking at the watercolors while listening to the ocean.....Gloria

mano said...

such a beautiful post!!! I love your images, paintings, your embroideries and the fantastic sketchbook. I wish you a wonderful day tomorrow!

artymess said...

beautiful inspiring post as always ...happy Birthday for tomorrow ...what a great way to spend it ......x

Julie said...

A wonderful gorgeous post Carolyn. Your watercolours are beautiful! I can't believe I'm missing your birthday. Have a lovely day tomorrow doing whatever makes your heart glad. I will be thinking about you all week. xx♥xx♥xx

Trudis said...

Beautiful pictures and lovely watercolours, it gives us a lot of inspiration! Thank you and have a nice birthday!

Doreen G said...

The colours that you have posted today are absolutely beautiful Carolyn.- as always.
I hope you have a wonderful relaxing birthday on Monday with much beachcombing.

Jill said...

What a beautiful series Carolyn. Sun, sea, sky and sand run through each piece - very inspiring.

Joei Rhode Island said...

Oh...I'm in heaven....well, the beach of heaven. Gorgeous colors...and as always your post is a delight.

Pom Pom said...

Oh my goodness, I can feel the fun!

Chrissie said...

Well you can't beat a pebble .... unless it's a heart! Lovely things as always. And many happy returns
Chrissie x

Cathie said...

Happy Birthday Sweet Carolyn! Treat yourself to a day of peace, sunshine and joy!

Catharina Maria said...

Happy birthday from me , hope you have a great day !
Your post is beautiful .
love ♥RINI♥

Sharne Gregory said...

Happy birthday!!1
Inspiring images of your work, just love it!

Robin Olsen said...

Another gorgeous post full of so much beauty! Love that turquoise and rust combination. Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

Deborah said...

Happy birthday! Thanks for the lovely images. Hope you get good news!

~ Phyllis ~ said...

Happy Birthday Carolyn.
It's such a joy to visit your blog. Your choice of colors are amazing.
Hugs,
Phyllis

Jacky said...

What a beautiful seaside post...I love the tangle of ropes, what stunning colours. That touch of orange/rust is wonderful.
And your frothy white piece is gorgeous too and those heat treated fabrics/ribbon!!!
Hope you are feeling happy and healthy. Thanks for sharing these wonderful images and those beautiful stitched hearts with us all.

Jacky xox

Dorien Ruben said...

I love the details in your work and how you combine loads of very different techniques. That inspires me a lot :)

Aileen Clarke Crafts said...

I love this post with the sound of the sea. I was reading here the other evening and my husband even commented on how lovely it sounded. I tried capturing the lapping of water on stones while we were on Skye. It's just so relaxing and soothing and transports us to beautiful places in our minds. All the images in this post are incredibly rich and inspiring, especially your heated acetate waiting to be used. Hope you had a lovely day beach combing. I'm going tomorrow : )

Jackie said...

I hope your results are what you hope for. This is a truly tranquil and calm post and I hope that it reflects how you are feeling.

Dee / Cloth Company said...

Happy Belated birthday! this post is amazing -- the colors, textures, feeling of the sea, and the sounds of the sea... I esp.love the white zigzag on the deep blue with the wrinkles of paint (gesso?) and the heart, of course, the heart... best to you with waiting and receiving your test results.

Anonymous said...

wonderfull...what better way to relax after family here over half term by taking a tour of your blog, Thankyou Carolyn and Best wishes to you. xx

Michala Gyetvai (Kayla coo) said...

Wondeful, I feel like i have been away on holiday!

Steve PP said...

Superb post and beautiful images, thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

I would just like to say how much your work has helped me. I am doing art as a gcse and my question is Marine Life. I came across your work and thought it was 'bloody brilliant' I decided to do a rockpool on fabric and found you stiched hearts they are so inspirational. I am so grateful for you hahaha, thankyou so much for your great inspirational work it is so intrecite and precise and detailed - amazing

abz said...

your work is so amazing and has also inspired me for my textiles project at school