The snail emerges

So, here we are already in November and I’ve been away from here for some time. But, like a seemingly deceased snail that slowly pokes its head out of its shell unexpectedly, it’s time to surface again. There are so many things I have to do, that I get overwhelmed and then tired and then guilty for not having more energy, more organisational skills, something more interesting to say. And then I wonder, would anyone notice if I disappeared from here? But, like the aforementioned snail, I creep on, feeling the weight of my shell and resisting the urge to hide away forever in it’s safe, dark coil. 

I’ve been catching up with the many things that were neglected when my book took precedence over everything. I’ve painted and felted, drawn and designed, rested and read and had the odd bit of socialising.   

There is a mythical part of my future where I am caught up with everything - all my shop stock listed, all my Patreon pledges up to date, all my ideas down on paper and having something original to say every day for the wheel of social media that never stops turning. But for now, I will be content that I have raised my snail head, said hello to my dear old blog and slowly slither on.

 

For regular weekly postings and a more confidential 'behind the scenes' look at my quiet, cottage life, you can become a 'Seed' subscriber to my Patreon page, for a small monthly contribution of £3 per month or go up a level and save towards one of my needle felted pieces. It's a nice, safe place with friends and helps me pay the bills.

'Sheep May Safely Graze'

'Sheep May Safely Graze' 21" x 11"  (53cm x 28 cm)

We think we have found 'our' cottage. Second viewing is tomorrow. We dare not let ourselves love it too much (though I fear we already do) as it is right at the top of our not-yet-confirmed  mortgage and my artistic low income may be a sticking point with the Powers that Be. 

So I am painting properly again, to try to earn a few pennies towards some bricks and mortar. I have found somewhere which can scan my large artworks. I have found an affordable (genuine)  giclee prints - a Fine Art Trade Guild Accredited Printer, so I will soon be able to offer top quality prints at good prices - for instance, a large A2 sized painting printed on mould made Hahnemuhle paper for around 30 - 35 UK pounds at the stated size plus postage and packing.

The archival UV resistant inks should last for 100 plus years and every large print will come with a certificate of authenticity.  So for everyone who has emailed or commented that they would like a copy of the 'White Hare Hill' artwork - watch this space!

No more fairies

I had more or less forgotten about these two watercolours; they were in my first little exhibition in 2002, when I first discovered that people liked what I did and wanted to buy it. This pair are actually studies for a larger nursery commission.

They are also some of my last forays into fantasy subjects - I find my interest nowadays is returning back to the real world and painting what's in front of me.

The pixi and gnome were sold at the time but the purchaser never collected them, despite my best efforts to contact them, so they've been languishing under my desk for years. Time for them to move on to someone who will appreciate them more than I.

BUY YOUR OWN PIXI OR GNOME HERE!

Poor Celia

I don't know why I think of her as 'poor'...maybe because it's taken me almost exactly a year to get round to painting her up from the original scribble. And as I painted, I wondered (not for the first time) about why I drew her, what it all means, and all that kind of good old naval gazing stuff. Then I stopped, because there's some places I don't want to go. It's a toy bird. With a patchwork egg and hand knitted socks. End of story.

She wears her heart on her sleeve - literally. And like a lot of us, she's a bit saggy in places she didn't used to be.

This is a bit disturbing...it's the same driver from 'The Lost Balloon'. I never did like him. He drove a taxi previously, and is making a habit of turning up in my work, lurking in the background. What is he waiting for? Why did I put him in? What sinister secrets is he hiding? Stop. It's a toy bird. With a patchwork egg and hand knitted socks. End of story.

And here are some potential passengers...oh look, there's a tiny yolk on the sign...I spent a large amount of my childhood waiting for buses with my mum; I wonder if that's me as a little chick. So who are the other two characters? How long have they been waiting? Has dreamy Celia missed the bus? No. It's a toy bird. With a patchwork egg and hand knitted socks. End of story...

'Cheers'

I found this lurking in a paper pile and realised I'd meant to send it off weeks ago, when 'Society Wine' was launched. I painted it up last night, just after e-mailing the first colour sample for 'woodland Creatures' to my US art director. I was using dribs and drabs of that palette, but in pale washes, not the vivid, rich shades I'd just submitted; I hadn't been altogether happy with it. Painting this, it dawned on me that this was the effect I'd actually been looking for, so spent today redoing the entire thing and hoping the AD would agree...thankfully she did. We seem to think pretty much alike on things, and she is very gentle with me if I stray. Now we are both hoping the Big Decision Maker will like it too.

'Balloon Parade'

Most of last week has been spent getting on to the next stage of 'The Various Jobs'. Still waiting for more work on 'Girly Giftbook'. There's an ominous silence which always worries me. Am nearly ready to start final part of Disney work - it should be done and dusted by the end of the month. I am still struggling with one of the main characters from 'Woodland Creatures'. I've always had problems with this one for some reason - I can't seem to nail the little crittur! It's the face that's causing the problems - I've been liasing back and forth with the art director, but I need to sit down and give it my 100% attention when the other two jobs are finished. Completed the Bird commission and have to crack on with 'the Onward Journey' as the christening is happening in - ohh, only ten days time!
In between all this I managed to get some more small works finished. I am very pleased with this one, and would like to take it on a stage as a giftwrap proposal, but there are Difficult Things like designing it to a 'step and repeat' pattern and my simple brain has problems with that kind of technicality...

'Balloon Parade'

'Glad rags'

A little painting done as a 'thank you' present for a friend who sent me the most beautiful jacket...

Mr Apricot

Good things that have happened. My first Disney 'final roughs' have been very much approved of. This is a huge relief. As with anything Disney, it is vital that I adhere to the original design; that it is instantly recognisable. Some artists would probably hate this - a curtailment of their freedom of expression or some such nonsense. I like it. It's a challenge and I've been cribbing from Disney sketches for years anyway! I am being allowed a few of my own tiny touches, while being watched over and guided by one of their official artists, who is a far far greater draughtsman than I could ever hope to be. But something to aspire to.

Another good thing - I have sold 'Moon on a Stick' and 'The Numptys' to a nice person in America. These little creatures are going to get to New York before I do. I think the silly Numptys may get a bit scared in the commotion of the plane - but I shall leave a small gap in the bubble wrap so that the girl and her cat can crawl in with them and keep them company. Perhaps use the moon to light up the parcel.


Yesterday I took delivery of 'Illustration' magazine, a wonderful new publication now in its second year. This is the first UK publication totally dedicated to this much neglected art - anyone with any interest in this field should get hold of a copy. Or better still, subscribe.


Today I've been working on bits and bobs - I've produced 3 sheets of accessories for the 'Girly Giftbook' - even Barbie would be satisfied. The large private commission is stretched and ready for it's first proper colour. And I've finished another small picture. I had real problems mixing up the right kind of dingy orange to go with the dull green background - as can be seen here with the different bowls of colour. The clothes catalogue is Boden - they use such gorgeous colour ranges that I often 'borrow' their schemes. Some more paintings sold and I may be able to buy the jumper I've been hankering after...

'Mr Apricot'

Anyone who thinks that artists should be 100% self sufficient in their work should read Vasari (I think it was), who advised all would be artists to go and copy the great masters. A bit more of that and maybe more of our young art graduates would be able to produce decent artwork. At the moment a lot of it seems to be a triumph of style over technique. That's my grumpy old git rant for the week.

Some kind of horse

A bit of a different colour scheme here - not sure if it's 'me'. It's quite bright and jolly, but I prefer my usual tertiary pallette. I like these colours - but not really in my paintings. Hopefully someone will take to it; horses for courses...

The Moon on a stick

At the moment I seem to spend more time on the PC than actually in the studio - whether it be e-mailing people - scanning in pictures - printing off the Disney brief to working sizes - making an unnecessarily complicated budget form - updating the website - one wonders how we managed before the computer age. But the first final artworks for 'girly giftbook' are sent out, half of the first roughs for Disney are done and I'm waiting for the first layouts of 'woodland creatures' to arrive from the US - which is very exciting. Inbetween all this, I did finish another little picture, based on the old saying of 'wanting the Moon on a stick'.

'The Lost Balloon'

Tomorrow we depart for the little island of Skopelos, Greece. It's a good way to end an unusally busy and productive summer. I have finally got to the stage where I can 'give up the day job' and will be handing in my notice at the shop when we return. It is the first time in ten years that I have been able to support myself on my illustration earnings alone and is a big moment for me. As this will be the last blog for a while, I thought I'd post the final stages of ' The Lost Balloon', which was collected by it's purchaser yesterday.

Here are the first washes, with the art masking fluid in place. It's fiddly stuff. I use a combination of a dip pen, scalpel and pointy stick to place it accurately. But it's worth doing, to get the free flow of paint over small details.


Detail of the mother hen. For some reason I found myself using colour combinations I rarely use, such as ultramarine and purple madder. The atmosphere of the picture, the brooding storm clouds, the air of urgency - 'we must be there by nightfall!' all suggested a Victorian Bronte-esque melodrama to me, and so 'mother' is clothed in rich, heavy colours. Later I found that purple is the favourite colour of the buyer, indeed, she was wearing a tee-shirt of almost identical colour to 'mother's' skirt. which was nice. Like cats, some paintings are just meant for certain people.

Detail of the shell taxi. Actual size is about 1-2 cm. I don't think I like the driver. I'm not sure why.

Here is the finished painting, without the mount. I invariably design my pictures in an oval or a circle, and withough the framing, it can look a bit loose and lost...



...until the mount is placed over it and it all makes sense! I added an extra leaf to the foreground, where a certain Mr Pumpkin-cat dug his little claws into a dry wash. (I thought I'd taught him to read 'NO CATS IN STUDIO'). The path on the right has been altered to come off the edge entirely, adding interest to the composition. And I think there's a warm bed and a cup of tea waiting for them at Journey's End. Who knows where the balloon will end up? The painting itself is by now hanging on a little girls' bedroom wall. She will no doubt have her own 'take' on what's happening in it. I hope it gives her much pleasure and maybe one day she will hand it down to her children and tell them the tale of 'the Lost Balloon'...whatever it is.

While we are away, my friend and fellow artist Rima will be looking after the hovel and its furry crew. I am getting somewhat nervous of Shelob, as I cleared two thirds of her nest while dusting and she has been hunched in a glowering sulk since. She killed another husband recently, and two daddy-long-leg suitors. She'd better behave herself, or she'll be outside for the winter.