art focus

following on from the exhibition ...

I've been working away in the background in a quiet, thoughtful, way

aware that I haven't posted here in a while

between the exhibition in September and December I had another bout of illness
the dreaded cough/cold and chest infection thingy that seems to be doing the rounds
this developed after having my flu/pneumonia jabs in October because I'm asthmatic

I had a short spell when I was ok and managed to do "Stitch St. Ives" in November
but with a burst blood vessel in my eye (which felt very weird)

during that time I kept up with stuff for St. Ives Textiles, had a week in Somerset

 and did an indigo dye workshop at The Exchange Gallery in Penzance

...  then was exhausted for most of December

January was a busy month ... just catching up with "life"

I worked on a project full time with my hubby renovating our cottage in St. Ives

and I seem to be doing ok so far this year apart from the asthma

(which is always worse this time of year)

these days I  have  to pace ... and I'm learning to go slower

learning to sleep better and take care of myself

and not beat myself up if I don't get everything done every day

so I think it's ok to dip in and out of my blog

better to pause and take a break than to stop altogether ...

so ... now ... the time seems right to share some catch up posts

and some of the other things I mentioned I would share in the last few rambles

I am focused once again on new work and new projects with St. Ives Textiles

the group has a Cornwall theme this year for exhibition in September

and I'm creating landscapes, seascapes and vessels with beach finds;

mussels, shells, barnacles, seaweed, pottery pieces, fragments of cloth

and other unusual / rarer discoveries like vintage bisque doll's arms

I continue to experiment with the various materials I love to work with

and have been developing my art practice working in sketchbooks, collages and mosaics

art is a great therapy for me and I never tire of pursuing my favourite themes in different media

colour texture and inspiration found in nature

studio gatherings and art that inspires

in April I will, once again, be at "Stitch St. Ives" with my textured textiles

today, 1st February, I began a new weekly surface design collaboration with my sister Evelyn

working through the exercises in the book "Surface Treatment Workshop"

this week it's stamping ... which is really, in my opinion, a basic form of printing

these are a few of my first prints

I have more prints which I'm still working into ... adding layers of print

so will write more about this in the next post and share some of the processes I used

these are my main points of art focus this year

as I have chosen also to concentrate more on personal projects during 2017
but I will also share some of the things I have missed over the past few months
and give thanks to all my blog friends for the kindness shown to me

thank you for reading x