I had so much fun drawing this beautiful Mandala design. I've been away from the blog for a while now, concentrating on commissions and working very hard! I've been experimenting a lot with Mandala and dot work pieces and have come to love the intricacy and technicality of creating them.
This is one of the first ones i have ever done which includes the dot work!

Trinkets

It was lovely to finally see some sunshine today! I spent most of the day sorting out work inside though :( but managed to sneak outside for a cup of tea and a quick painting! This is my very very old pencil case, grubby, broken and wrecked which I still refuse to get rid of! Watercolours and biro.

Very Exciting!!!

Now here is something a little different! I've been working on a series of hand made bespoke treasure boxes based on National Trust houses, personalities etc. My first one is based around the writer Thomas Hardy, the area in which he lived and wrote his masterpieces and the general feel of his life. Inside is a collection of original prints, glass bottles with old keys, buttons etc, vintage photographs of Thomas Hardy, my own paintings of his studio and portrait, pen drawings of his house and area, greenwood tree, etc, hand made organic cotton bags, hand printed with my etched feather design, full of bits and pieces picked up around his home when i went to visit! Miniature oil lamp (i'm sure i've missed some things!) All wrapped in original khadi handmade tissue paper and sealed with wax in a wooden box covered with thick gauge printed bird paper, with a handmade tag and vintage map paper covered inside!

Wow.... so now you can see why i've been away for a while!!!

Hope you like it!

5 minutes of freedom!

Have just taken a break (from more exhibition preparation) to do a quick pencil and watercolour sketch whilst having a cup of tea! done on the back of an envelope with my trusty Windsor and Newton very old watercolours! Work work work!