Deliver the letter, the sooner the better...

Well, I did it!  I have just posted a painted envelope to the Mail Me Art 2 project and I'm really excited.  I've enjoyed doing this so much, I really needed to set myself a little project and be disciplined about a piece of artwork, and I've done it!  Hurrah!  I don't even mind if I never hear about the envelope again, I even just like the idea of that little bit of art being out there, somewhere, hopefully making someone smile.

I'm a children's librarian, I love children's books and their illustrators, so I decided to come up with idea that reflected that.  I have tried to make my piece look like it could be a page from a children's book - which meant me having to make up a bit of a story.... so, the idea is that the front of my envelope is supposed to be the illustration from a fictional - fiction book (!) you flip it over (turn the page) and on the back is the page that explains the whole piece - hopefully!!!!

So here's how it all came together, a bit at a time (without boring the socks off you).  I had a few ideas for the front first, sketched in my little sketch book...

Idea number 1:

Idea number 2:

So you have basically got a small decorated envelope, on top of the larger envelope.  I wasn't keen on either of my ideas for the 'smaller' envelope, then found this 'scribble' in an old sketch book that I quite liked...

So, that became the basis for the 'smaller' envelope design, which was essentially supposed to look like a piece of post that had been dropped onto the ground on an Autumny, leaf covered path.  The the little envelope itself is slowly being covered in leaves.  Here is the collage as I started to build it up:

As you can see, I painted each bit seperately, including the Autumn leaves, then glued them down, overlapping each other.  The final front of the envelope, after hours of painting, cutting, gluing and sticking looks like this:

You can see some of the flyagaric toadstools have managed to find their way in!  The back of the envelope I hope will help you understand my thinking for the whole piece:

The size of the piece is bigger than A4, I'd say about 13" x 9" ish (in old money!).  I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this.  I'm really fired up to set myself another project now, got to keep going!  If I hear anything - i.e. whether or not the envelope actually gets to it's destination, I'll post something here.  Watch this space! x

No need for words

In light of the Haiti earthquake, this is the link to the British Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/emergencysite/default.aspx?id=88916

The button to the right is a link to the American Red Cross.

xox

We come from the land of the ice and snow....

....though perhaps not from the land of the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.... !

I thought I'd put this picture from the BBC website (in case you haven't seen it - if you are outside the UK it won't have been broadcast on your EVERY news bulletin) showing the UK under it's blanket of ice and snow.  It is a NASA picture and quite breathtaking I'm sure you'll agree?

I find myself at home again because of the weather - so am starting on a little mail art project I have decided to work on!  I'll post pictures when I have something to show - the final piece will include some of these flyagaric toadstools!  I have decided to make the piece to look like an illustration in a children's book!  Watch this space! x

Snow (hey oh)....

No artwork to post today - even though I had an unexpected day off work yesterday because of the snow.  Snow days are the best, a real excuse to just relax and not beat yourself up for being lazy, for just one day!  Actually I wasn't too lazy, I did get a couple of little jobs done that I have been putting off for a while (never a bad thing) and I have  been thinking about 'pictures and projects I'd like to tackle in 2010' - coming up with some good (?), fun, silly ideas.  Watch this space....

I also spent some time looking at other peoples artwork and found the BRUSH - PAPER - WATER blog, posted by Chris Beck (see my list of blogs).  It's a lovely blog, with some fantastic work by different watercolour artists so I thought I'd share.  I've also listed his own blog - 'I'm painting as fast as I can...'.

Just to brighten this post up, here's a picture of my doggy, Scout (after the little girl in one of my all time favourite books 'To Kill a Mockingbird').  We'd just got back from a long, snowy walk and she was waiting patiently for us to get the house door open so she could run to her comfy bed and get warm.  The snow was blowing in her eyes, so she's blinking a bit.  I've also noticed in this picture that her face is showing more grey fur - aww, she's getting a little older and it makes me feel sad!

If your'e a UK resident (or anywhere with lots of snow....) I hope you can enjoy it rather than have to drive in it (me in half an hour) or, get stuck in it!

2010.........

I can't believe that tomorrow will be the first day of 2010.  Is it just me or does that sound far too space-age.  Aren't we all supposed to be living in bubbles, wearing all-white papery disposable clothing and eating food that comes in fantastic colours, in vacuum packs?  I suppose some people do eat food like that but I'm thinking maybe I have watched Woody Allen's Sleeper just once too often.

Anyway, December has been really busy hasn't it?  I have hardly found any time for artwork which has been a little bit depressing.  I have spent nearly all the time I have had working on one coloured pencil picture in my sketchbook.  Based on some studies I did in the local park in early summer and a couple of photographs I took at the time, this picture has taken me a..g..e..s......!!  I have had a love / hate relationship with it while drawing it, but I finally finished it this morning and thought I'd share it here.  I have also included a couple of pictures I took at the end of a couple of drawing sessions, just to see the progress.  Not sure how interesting you will find them, but I have noticed other people posting 'progress pictures' and I find them really interesting.

I have never really used coloured pencils as much as I have recently but I find them really good to use in my sketchbook and, in the long process of re-gaining my drawing skills I have found them invaluable.  You really have to concentrate, it makes you think about where a mark has to go on the paper and the colour combinations you want to achieve.  After this picture I really want to say how impressed I am with people who use coloured pencil as their main medium!  I am feeling happy with this picture, and a little more confident with my pencil work, though as I was finishing the picture a book was delivered (a treat bought with some birthday money):

.... and as I flicked through it quickly my eyes fell on the work of Andrew Holmes and I nearly wept!  All drawn with coloured pencil on paper....

The little picture I have drawn, took me hours, spread over seven sessions.... how long must these take?!!  Like I said, I am thoroughly impressed with anyone who uses coloured pencils as their main medium! I am really only a beginner.  I'll get back to the drawing board...

If you would like to see more of Andrew Holmes' work it can be found at: http://www.plusonegallery.com/index.cfm

along with lots of other very talented people.

So, to round off for now I'd like to wish anyone who takes the time to come and read this a very happy and prosperous 2010.  I hope the year brings you all you could wish for.  Also, a big thank you once again to anyone who has been kind enough to leave comments for me, I can't tell you how encouraging you all are.  Wherever you are in the world, however you celebrate - have a good one! xx

Paper roses

Just a quick post because I wanted to share this website with anyone interested.  I came across the artist Su Blackwell and her art after reading about her in a Sunday paper.  She creates the most beautiful paper sculptures from old books.

I can't think of a more beautiful way to make use of old books once they are past their useable sell-by date.  It is quite hard to actually recycle old books because of the glues and the different types of paper and card used to produce them.

Here is a picture of one of Su's creations  from The Independent newspaper this week -

Her website address is - http://sublackwell.co.uk/index.php

Enjoy!

More lilies considered....

I have not been able to draw in daylight since the weekend, until today that is (and typically today is very grey and rainy).  I decided to draw some lovely lilies I have in a vase, but just concentrating on the lines - not trying to deal with the shading.  I'm fairly happy with the pictures - it's definitely all good practice!

The perfume from the flowers is almost overwhelming!  I'm waiting for the sneezing to start!

The sun is just trying to break through now, so I'm going to settle down and see if I can work on a painting I started a couple of weeks ago.  I do like Thursdays!