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

Monday 29 December 2014

seed head rambles and Mousehole collages

December has been a very good month ... very full of doings and busy-ness
so busy I didn't get time to write here till now ...

it began with a print making session at St. Ives Textiles on 1st December
 at Porthmeor Studios, St. Ives


all working together with the theme of seeds and seed heads | pods

http://www.stivestextiles.co.uk/

 quite soon I will be updating the St. Ives Textiles website
with more about our printmaking sessions and lots of photos
meanwhile here is a little inspiration seen outside Tate St. Ives on the way home





love that little tiny frosted spider's web there










images that I will play with further using photoshop and image transfer techniques
looking forward to this early in the new year

meanwhile ... I've been gathering for the theme and considering colours










and at a workshop in Newlyn I began working on this ...


 a mixed media collage on canvas
with vintage papers and images layered up

with 3D texture and details


the vintage papers have been coloured with water colours and inks
texture paste added through a flower | seed head stencil

then I've added the faux silk flower, real seed pods and the twiggy border

still to be added ... some stitched elements which I will do off canvas and attach
so will show again in the new year when work begins in earnest for
the St. Ives Textiles show in September 2015


other playful things going here are ...
working on textured backgrounds for stitch
using lutradur scrim gesso and tyvek painted with golden acrylics




again ... small samples ... which will be further enhanced when stitched
and then generally having fun with gesso on stamps to create texture on sketchbook pages ...




on 6th December ... another workshop
working with vintage papers to create a spiral bound book
I chose to use a winter berries theme for mine


almost finished ... but had to stop because we've had lots of work going on at the house
(scaffolding erected so the roof could be cleaned of moss and lichen, new fascias soffits
gutters and down pipes fitted and the outside of the house

throughout the early part of December we were additionally busy
with family and friends coming down to stay with us ... which was really lovely

I'd sprinkled snowflakes all around
so it was looking quite pretty indoors, even if it wasn't cold enough to snow outside





and on that particular day that I took these photos
St. Michael's Mount looked so majestic rising out of the clouds
here I've dabbled with some painterly textures on the images I took through the bedroom window


and another ...
with snow added (artistic licence)


and, looking back, I'm not quite sure how I managed it ...
but I made some collages from old cards

this one reminded me of Mousehole (the gap)

xxx



and that's it for today ...

thank you always for making it down to the bottom of the post
and for all your very kind comments always
thank you for visiting
with best wishes
Carolyn x

11 comments:

K J D said...

Beyond beautiful post Carolyn.... I will now have to go back to the start to take it all the glorious details :)

St Michael's Mount is such a special place and you have done it justice here.

I love everything!

Happy happy new year

Karen xxx

Dyer said...

Thank you, so inspiring, love the colours and textures and of course. I adore Mousehole. I wish you a peaceful and colourfully creative 2015

Peneller said...

You are so productive Carolyn! I'm ashamed of how little I've done! New year resolution being formed. Happy new year!

Carol Rigby said...

I have no problem making it to the bottom of your posts,Carolyn. I wouldn't want to miss a thing.
Best Wishes to you for 2015.

Pom Pom said...

Hi sweet Carolyn! Wow! You have been a busy artist!❤️

A bird in the hand said...

A magical post, Carolyn. It certainly lifted my spirits today!
Love, Colette

Anonymous said...

All I can say is yummy, yummy, yummy. Don't stay away so long. Glad things are in a happy place. xox

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this special post that you have shared with your followers; I remember so well, visiting your exhibition with Jo just over a year ago and marvelling at your lovely work before my own eyes. Wishing you all the best in 2015 and looking forward to more of your interesting posts. Sheila Knight (and Gerry)Bristol

TwinkleToes2day said...

What a visual feast that was. I'm left feeling awed and inspired; but then I always am after visiting you.
I'm off to look at today's post in full now ((hugs)) xx

vintagerockchick said...

Such beautiful images as always - whenever I've finished reading one of your posts I want to dash off and start creating!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Oh how I've missed seeing your beautiful images, particularly those of a part of the world that I know I will never see in person. Sounds like you've been kept busy!!