I made this loose study one afternoon as I’m trying to get back into the studio and work on a large canvas I have. Am finding it difficult getting back into it though. Getting going is always the hardest part even though it’s what I want to do more than anything! The dark days and cold weather don’t help. I’m making excuses though. I was glad to do this and get back into making marks however faint and ephemeral they might be. Here’s the result. Click to enlarge!

I decided to make a drawing from the clay head I sculpted for my puppetry project, that I have discussed previously on this blog for my Arts Health course. I sometimes work backwards as it were, and have done drawings from models I have made before. It can give you insights into your own mind-set. I didn’t want to fall into the trap of reinforcing stereotypes. However, I did find it strangely cathartic drawing the caricature-like features of the Grosz inspired character. I am going to make some paper pulp to go over the head to make a hollow shape that I hope to paint ultimately. I’m also going to make an aspirational type puppet alongside the more sleazy character. I think I’ll use another artwork to inspire me. I like doing that. I’ll put the paper pulp over the modelled heads with cling film to separate it from the clay. Will keep you posted. Here’s the drawing, click to enlarge folks!

This is the first large drawing that I’ve made for a while this Wednesday on some large heavy watercolour paper that I bought before Christmas. I knew that I wanted to make a study of our fire. I laid down some colour looking at the coals and diluted some of the marks with turps. I then drew on top with the graphite stick. The title is one that I’ve wanted to use for a while and links to my work on the Arts Health project that I am developing at UCLAN in Preston ( University of Central Lancashire). I want my artistic practice to work alongside my course and see where it takes me. I have some canvas and a stretcher to do another oil-painting relating to this and my work on the theme ‘Self and Other’. So all this work weaves together in a loose way. I’m very excited about the puppetry side of things but am holding it all lightly and seeing where it all takes me. Click images to see marks more clearly folks!

I have been playing with clay and plasticine over the Christmas holidays in relation to my Arts-Health project. I know that I would like to do a puppetry concept, specifically string puppets. I borrowed a wonderful book on this from the local library. A drawing that I saw by the German artist Grosz stayed with me that I saw in Edinburgh before Christmas at the Modern Art Museum there. So I decided to sketch a similar piece and translate it into 3D. I wanted to depict a lascivious character that Grosz was so adept at capturing. This links to my intention to provide puppetry making groups for adult abuse survivors. I thought by making one myself I would get inside the project more. See what you think! I may draw from my model too.

Here’s the drawing I made last Friday as part of my ‘Nest’ investigations. I’m seeing these everywhere and found this on a wall on my way back home after a walk in the park. It felt like a gift that was waiting for me, and I decided to draw it on top of some loose marks I’d created with my oilbars and distilled turps the week before. The petals arrange themselves into a natural focal point for the nest theme. I used graphite as well at the end and had fun grinding it into the paper which can take it! I’ll keep drawing until the stretcher is ready at the local wood merchant so that I can stretch another canvas. I think they must be very busy with the Christmas rush, I’ve rung them twice! Click on images to see marks in more detail.

Here is the complete drawing on A2 heavy Bockingford paper using the oilbars, graphite stick and watercolour. I was working from my jar of beads that resembled a nest that was full of lush rich colour. I like to have something to work from that is real even though I do abstract away from it. I’m including a shot of the real jar of beads. The ‘shadow’ aspect came from a dream, or nightmare really, that I had a couple of weeks back invading the nest as it were. I made the first part of the drawing on Friday 13th Nov ’15 and knew the date was somehow significant even as I made the drawing. The oils bars were hard to control, but I like that. This was all before I heard about Paris. I even tweeted the drawing with the date in the tweet which I have never done before. Make of it what you will, I don’t like explaining too much, presient though in some ways… click images to enlarge for marks folks!

1. Heather Mary Burns ?@Heatherburns201 Nov 13

   #Bead #nest using #oilbar colour lush but difficult to control quite like that tho Friday the 13th November2015

I made this piece on the heavy Bockingford paper using some oilbars I have bought recently and watercolour with graphite. I drew first with the oilbars and oilpastels and added the graphite afterwards. I have the jar with beads with me as I draw. The oilbars had a wonderful texture and lush thick colour. I’d never used such large ones before. I’m still exporing the notion of ‘human nests’ that came from Van Gogh linking to my theme ‘Self and Other’.Do click to enlarge.

Here is a selection of brilliant photos of the interactive show that I was recently part of. Very exciting and the plan is to do a tour of the UK next year with it to venues near the poets, artists and musicians, inspired thought! So proud to be involved.It has been great fun and so rewarding, and it’s not over yet! http://s1028.photobucket.com/user/artipeeps/The%20Nine%20Realms%20in%20Photos/story?src=pb&evt=story_twitter_share …

I made these studies in ink and watercolour and pencil and watercolour after having noticed that my collection of beads resembled a ‘nest’. I’m seeing them everywhere as I go through my day.I have an idea for a large oil to the same scale as my ‘Solitary Figure’ pieces but based on the ‘Nest’ theme.So watch this space folks! Don’t forget to click on images to enlarge and see colour and marks in more detail.

Here are some small A4 pieces I made recently further exploring the ‘Nest’ theme but from a darker standpoint. It occurred to me that Paula Rego often uses her collection of toy animals and props to help construct her pieces and it might help me to copy one or two of hers to get the feel of the outcomes. I chose two that have obvious connotations of family life albeit highly dysfunctional. I enjoyed making the marks in ink on top of the colour washes in the same palette as the one I copied from Picasso shared  the previous post. I am feeling my way towards an idea for my Arts Health Post-Grad project that I am underway with at Preston University UCLAN. This will all tie in I am hoping. I’m finding the course very hard but in a good way.My head often hurts! I feel important work could come out of all this and have even written to Paula Rego,I hope she replies!