Yesnaby cliffs Orkney

This is a dye, oil-bar and stitch response to the cliffs in Orkney done from a sketch made on the spot, my memory and some photos for reference. It was spectacular and I knew straight away when I stood there that I needed to make a drawing. My friend was concerned I would fall off the edge! A metaphor for so many things in my life. I am sharing this now, not sure if I am done, not quite I think. I am letting it settle awhile. I don’t usually share before a work is ‘done’ whatever that is. You just stop at an interesting point! Stitch doesn’t seem to mind being shared so much it seems. Not sharing the sketch yet, may later! We’ll see.

‘Inside the Closet’

I have been adding some stitch elements to this oil-bar on handmade paper piece. Don’t know if I am done we’ll see. I need to let it sit with me awhile. I have shown this one this blog in a previous post if you would like to know more, just scroll down!

Garden End

Here is today’s oil-bar on canvas with stitch element. I made this final little response to the garden I visited the other week where I did a sketch on the spot as shared on this blog. I am stopping a bit sooner than usual as I can overdo things if I’m not careful! Enjoyed the lush oil-bars  immensely!  Onto  pastures  new  now….

Garden Start

Oil-bar study I made yesterday on a small canvas the same size as the previous one I shared. I am referencing the sketch I made at the garden where I do a little tidying. I was unsure if I was going to use the sketch for further work but it seems that I am! The whole process is so organic, so I stay open to where it all takes me. I tried using paper masks on top of some of the marks I made, but didn’t really like it so just worked in further with the oil bars and feel more on track again. Don’t know if it is finished yet! Watch this space…

Garden Crux

I made this small oil bar and stitch piece over the past week based on a sketch made at the garden I visit as shared on my previous post. It is on a small canvas gifted by my son. I have two more of these to go at so may make a little series of studies. I’m really enjoying the oil bars at the moment as they are a halfway house between drawing and painting. I have been looking a Joan Mitchell garden paintings too and include a little sketch I made in front of one of her pieces here too.

Birks Mere revisted sketches

I went back to the garden I help tidy and do a little light pruning for the first time this year. It surprises me how much I have missed it and I had to keep pinching myself that I really was there. It’s in the Lake District here in the UK. The rhodies are not really out yet, but the heathers are and I did a sketch with my oil-bars in my new sketchbook with the wonderful hand made paper that is really bumpy and textured. It was the light on the lawn that was the key this time. Later it was the magnolia tree on the terraced little lawn. The garden is just waking up. We made a fire on the beach and my gloves ended up smelling of wood smoke and still do! A very special day where the lake was like a mirror early on. I saw a swan flying low over it perfectly reflected so it looked like one was flying upside down as well.

‘Chair with handbag and scarves’ and ‘Inside the closet’

I made these two studies in a new sketchbook I was gifted by my son at Christmas. It has lush handmade paper and I am just finding out what I can and can’t do with the it!. The surface is quite bumpy and I tried using oilbars as I have been enjoying their texture and rich colour in recent work. The paper is a good support for the oilbar but fine detail is nigh impossible. I then thought I could introduce some stitch as the paper is really sturdy. This is working quite well and I may continue to experiment in this way. These studies are providing interesting halfway houses before I embark on a new theme. I always feel quite bereft when I leave a piece that has taken awhile and I have been immersed within it. The muse always returns in some form and I am staying open and trusting that it will! Click to enlarge as usual folks!

Norfolk Grasses more sky work

Well I am approaching a point where I will leave this one alone. I have done some more work in the sky using oilbars and stitch. I enjoyed putting oilbar marks over the stitch in areas too as it hides the thread and reveals the parts I leave alone in terms of colour. I must be careful not to overdo this one and may stop soon! Watch this space. Then I may think of getting a frame made for it.