Splat!

Welcome to January 🙂

I’ve been hunkering down in my studio for a few weeks, and enjoying a daylight bulb that fools me into thinking the misty, dull weather is a figment of my imagination! I also made a decision to keep some fairy lights down rather than returning them to the Christmas box, and I’m loving a bit of twinkly happiness in my sanctuary. I turn them on when I need a little hug of light on a winter’s day.  I feel it might be one of this year’s most important recommendations for you 🤣

That said, I’m already feeding a blackbird who waits each morning for some titbits and the birds are getting flirty in the garden. I’ve been amazed at how quickly the year turns in that respect.  Longer daylight hours already at work… 

I think my nest will be finished at the same time as they are making theirs. Having done a coupleof other ones, I knew it needed bulking out at the bottom as the shape wasn’t right. It was very annoying to go back to twiddling brown sticks again when I’d enjoyed all the sea blues and turquoises, but needs must. I’m just sorting out the inside as we speak (second go at it due to being a numpty) but here are the twiggy bits…

I’ve also made the most of stitching over these quiet months and the front of the ‘yellow’ dress which is everything but yellow now is nearly complete. There will be well over 100 hours of work in each side, but I think I’m going to have a break before doing the back. My main mission has been to work out the swirls on the shoulders and chest area so that there is interest, difference and design that leads the eye, but avoid possible circles each side that would be rather unhelpful 🤭. I’ve cracked it I think, and I have just a small patch left to cover in stitch. I have a bit of a line going down between the blue and minty greens that needs disguising, too. It’s easier see on a photo which creates a bit of distance.

I live in a little town with an agricultural background but it’s now got a new identity as cafes and small shops have arrived in recent years. It’s also got a really lovely arts community and I’ve been getting ready for arts week in March. I shall have some paintings in a shop window as part of ‘art on the high street’ and I’m giving a textile talk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society and doing a small workshop. If you are local, you can find out about it all here

Since a coaching programme in the Autumn I have to say, the shift I felt inside regarding painting has remained which is causing me joy.   I wanted to paint without it feeling was so hard-going and I have enjoyed the process more than I have in a long time.   It was important not to lose the impact from the programme.   

I’d have never used purple and yellows at one point and as I’ve been pushing forwards with freer marks and greater enjoyment I think the colours have started to reflect that – art tends to mirrors where you are in life and seep down your arm into a brush, needle or pen.  In my case it resulted in the purchase of a splatter brush so it also seeped all over the studio 🤭.  What absolute fun though!   

And this one I’m super pleased with which is for our house. It holds a lot my intentions for the piece which was the core of the coaching programme.

These are reasonably small as befits a bedroom studio, but I’m going to tackle a much larger canvas as energy returns.  I may need to issue hazmat suits for the neighbours as I think splatting will need doing outside; I still feel I want whole arm movements to get something out my system.  Look out, blackbirds! 

So I hope to show you a finished nest in February and perhaps a little of a group project I have begun. And maybe, if you are up for it, also share how I have used AI in researching new work.

Until next time…