Art show looming!

I am currently in the process of making work for an Art Depot Show in Gloucester Docks in the first week of December. Can't believe it's coming round so soon! Watch this space and I'll let you know how it goes!
xxx

They walked together in the cool of the day.

It has been too long but finally I have managed another painting! The idea for this piece was adapted from Genesis and it speaks of the intimate relationship between Adam, Eve and God in the Garden of Eden.


I have been wanting to use fabric in my work for a while and have recently bought a great book called 'Fun to Wear Fabric Flowers' by Elizabeth Helene Searle, and so have tried out one of the styles of flower in this piece.


I am also really enjoying experimenting with the dripping method and have found that ink works really well. Am intending to experiment much more with it! The only down side is that I have been unable to find any ink bottles in a bigger size than that used for calligraphy (about 30ml I think!) So any suggestions welcome! Otherwise I think I am going to end up spending a fortune on small ink bottles! (Well, I guess I can use the finished bottles to put little things in, so it's not all bad!!)


I got really excited too when my hubby and I came up with the idea of putting the text on the side of the canvas instead of on the face of the painting itself, because I desperately wanted the words there but didn't want them to detract from the painting. So after chatting with hubby we decided that on the edge of the painting might do the trick! Am in my opinion, it works!


Have already started on my next piece so hopefully it won't be too long in the making this time! Especially with an exhibition at the start of December I need to keep the momentum going methinks!
Well, I think that's all for now. Have a great weekend!
Bye for now!
xxx

The Wedding One

It was my niece's wedding on Saturday and I was really looking forward to it. I had found a lovely summery floral dress to wear, I had even managed to get my hair cut in time this time, and had found my daughter some lovely sparkly silver sandals to go with her purple dress~which incidentally she called her wedding dress! (of course! What else would she call it?!)

So, as we had already decided that we would not stay over the night before in a Travel Lodge mainly because the littlest one would probably be disturbed in the night by something (~anything!) so we would not get a good night's sleep, we got up and were ready to leave at 8.30am. The wedding was at 11.30 which my dear hubby insisted would give us enough time to get there~did I mention it was in Devon?? Well, I went along with him as a dutiful wife, and we set off.

So we had not got far when we realised that EVERYBODY north of us had also decided to go to my niece's wedding! And you know they say that SAT NAV is good? Well! Not when you are checking the arrival time every 5 cms per hour and it is telling you that you will arrive at 00.03am the next morning!!!
We ended up getting off the motorway and taking the scenic route, (for which I am actually very grateful to the SAT NAV lady, coz otherwise I think we would still be on the motorway now!) but still ended up missing the whole of the actual church ceremony, and ended up being 2 hours late!!!!!! The journey down ended up taking 5 hours! Can you believe it! The sad thing was that the traffic jam was due to an accident which obviously was much more terrible than our late arrival of course.
Thankfully we made it to the reception where we did catch up with our family and the bride (she did look beautiful and my other niece had made all the dresses which were all amazing!!!Well done Kim!) So we did manage to enjoy the rest of the day and the kids had a great time playing about as kids do at weddings too which was lovely.

Oh here is the picture I did for my niece and her hubby on their wedding day!



(Can you also believe that I forgot to take the camera so I didn't get any piccies of the day itself! Duh!!!) But all in all it was worth it! A lovely time had by all!
Oh and the journey back took an hour and a half!!!
That says it all!
xxx

The little clay birds make an appearance.

So I have finally made the little clay birds! After having trouble deciding on the colour of the birds I was finally satisfied with the result and now another original Angie Walsh has been created! I am so excited about my painting right now because it's so new and yet just seems to work! So I am happy!

So here it is:
And also one MUST NOT forget to include my 'very proud mummy moment' on the last Year 2 assembly of 2010, where my 7 year old was awarded the Progress Cup for his class for all the progress he had made in year 2!
So chuffed! ;o)

Still smiling! TTFN xxx

Just lovely!

As members of the National Trust we recently paid another visit to one of our favourite haunts, Hanbury Hall in Worcestershire. It's a lovely place for the kids to run about in, and explore and we can take a leisurely walk whilst they dart here, there and everywhere. During one of the customary games of 'hide and seek' I came across some gorgeous pine cones under a tree and got distracted enough from playing the game of finding the children to hunt some of the better looking cones as they would look fabulous on a canvas!
Unfortunately, upon turning the cones over, most if not all the decent ones I'd found were a home to rather a lot of bugs, insects, and other unmentionables, so I hastily put them back in their natural habitiat, and reverted to taking a snapshot of them for posterity instead. A sad moment, but I didn't really want to end up with an infestation of little critters in my art room now did I?

But I guess you never know, from the depths of my imagination I might eventually make some sort of flower for my canvas which resembles those lovely natural objects!

And yes, I did find the kids in the end too!

Love, Love, Love.

On this grey drizzly day~10 things I love:

1. the rain
2. the smell of lavender
3. my childrens' drawings
4. when my art ideas work
5. watching a good movie
6. baby babble
7. my 1 year old's hugs and kisses
8. holding hands with my hubby
9. receiving hand written letters
10. having a fun day out with the family

I could go on!

xxx

Me, myself and I.

Isn't it interesting where ideas take you? I started off my most recent paintings by taking ideas from my 3 year old's drawings thinking that it would take me in a certain direction. And now, I have produced this painting which I am really happy with as it captures something which I have found very hard to express in my art, and that is a sense of 'me'.

For so long I have lacked the confidence to just be myself in my work, but lately through experimenting and just making work, I have found a sense of my own style starting to come through in my work!

It's just amazing that it has taken me so long to come to this realisation!

I think I need a sleep after that bombshell!
xxx

And another....

Goodness! Am quite on a roll!! This painting I'm in two minds about but I like the drippage effect as a background very much. I also like the doodles I have done in ink, I'm just not sure it works overly well with the flower, but I think at the moment I am all about experimenting. And that, is something I have found very hard to do in previous years, so that in itself is great!!! AND I have also got an idea for my NEXT painting!

So it's all good!
TT4N xxx

Inspiration from little ones.

Well. Most of you will know that I have been a bit poorly of late, although after starting some well needed antibiotics, I suddenly had an amazing amount of energy on Sunday evening and taking inspiration from my daughter's drawings, did some experimenting of my own! The results so far are as follows:

I'm not sure about the darker one, but it did originate from a 'cow' design so I guess you can't blame me! But I do like the organic feel which seems to come out in the other painting, so that is what I think I need to follow up on.

It was just so rewarding after feeling generally yuck and blurgh for a good few weeks, to finally have some energy, and to actually do something with it!!!

And I feel another wave coming on!!
Go on me! The sun is still shining!

And they get even smaller.....

Wow! Have you ever seen such a small bottle?

Next question is: what can I put in it???
So cute! (Thanks Jo!)

Inspiration!

Well, I have lately been feeling a bit flat when I think of doing some arty creations~I easily seem to fall into pressuring myself into making 'work' and it's then when all creative flow stops and I feel like a shrivelled prune with no juice left!! Or I just get plain too busy! But I recently came across Donna Downey's blog, (thanks Emily for pointing me in her direction!!) and stopped by her 'Inspiration Wednesdays' entries. Well, even though today is thursday, I read just one entry and felt all inspired again!! So, not putting pressure on myself, I picked up my art journal which I have recently started, and the creative juices started to flow again! Yay! I am amazed at how much I am learning about myself at the moment in relation to producing art and just being creative! What a journey! And I feel it's really only just started even though I have been being creative all my life!

What a lot to ponder on! Hmmmm. xxx

Too good to eat!

I spent some of my birthday money last year on a subscription to the Cloth Paper Scissors magazine (which is amazing incidentally!!) and was inspired by an article about cupcakes made from clay and ramekin tins in one of the issues. (I forget who the artist is, off the top of my head~Pamela something seems to come to mind? Sorry Pamela!) Anyway! So this little bee decides to come buzzing in my bonnet as I love cupcakes and wanted to try making some myself. (the non eating type, you understand!) After trying unsuccesfully to base the cakes on the ones in the article, I came up with the idea of trying to make ones from plaster.
Here are the results so far, and I was very pleased with them if I do say so myself! :o)
So now to do a whole platefull!!!

Birthday Boy!

It's Little Boy Blue's first birthday tomorrow!!! I can hardly believe he is a year old already! Time has most definitely flown by! He had a little friend over to play this afternoon, and he seemed very excited to have someone else to play with who was near enough the same age, rather than us giants! I made him a cake and some fairy cakes, and was really happy to see that he demolished some of the fairy cake without having a milk reaction to the margarine used, as he seems to have a milk intollerance at the moment. It's just a shame that he can't have chocolate!!! (or maybe it's not such a bad thing!!!) So tomorrow is the big day and we have got the traditional birthday balloons ready to adorn his highchair and the presents and cards are all hidden upstairs! Am looking forward to it!!!

xxx

One small step-one giant leap!

I have finally mastered up the courage to try out my sewing machine which was bought for me by my mother in law about 8 years ago!!! I know it seems like a very daft thing to say, but I have been too scared to use it until now incase something went wrong while I was using it. But now during this strange but very exciting season of my life, I am going back to things that I have wanted to do, but felt I couldn't, and am actually trying the things I never thought I would! So this little piece is very basic but is a huge milestone for me both artistically and emotionally, and spiritually too, come to think of it! I actually made this piece for an altered book round robin event that I am doing as part of an art group I belong to in my town, and I am very pleased with imy efforts!!! (By the way, the text on the page opposite doesn't relate to my piece so please ignore!!)

So now I have taken the first step on this road, I hope many more tiny footsteps will also be heard in the future!!
I am enjoying my new wings! xxx

The Narnian Obsession

My all time favourite set of books. My dad used to read them to my brother and I before bedtime when we were younger. Love the films so far. Have tried reading The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to my eldest already but it is a bit too old for him. But we do love to watch the film as a family each Christmastime as a Christmas family tradition. So you are not to be surprised that this passion leaks out into my art work from time to time! I have already got two paintings which are both up in our home inspired by the series and I am now intending on doing some more work with this theme in mind.

I picked a random page from The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe book to use as part of this little flower and am just playing about with it really, but thought you might want to see it anyway. I like it!

Well that's all for now. Have a great evening!
xxx

Happy Mothers' Day!

A day late I know but hope all you mums had a fab day yesterday! Remember, you are so valued!:
"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.' Proverbs 31 v 28

I was given a picture on the birth of my littlest one made by one of my friends, which inspired me to do something similar for another friend on her littlest one's 1st birthday. (Hope mine doesn't look too much like yours, Jo! It wasn't intentional!!) So here it is, and it has sparked off the thought to do similar ones using the woodern stencils that I got from a car boot sale a few years ago, thinking that I would use them lots, but not actually getting round to it much. But now.....well, watch this space!
(er, can one have SO many ideas that they never get round to doing any of them?? I hope not!)
Well, ta ta for now!
xxx

Get Your Art Together

I am finally a 'real' artist! I sold two of my pieces at the 'Get Your Art Together' show at the weekend! I rather foolishly forgot to take a photo of my stall, but I WAS there, and I DID sell my work!!! :o) Yay!!
It was rather a strange feeling, because it was as if I had my heart on show, in my paintings and I felt very vulnerable, standing there next to my art work, wondering if anyone would actually pay for any pieces! But it was a very good experience none the less!

There were some amazing pieces of work being shown there and it was a priviledge to be part of a fundraising event where the two girls involved are going to give help and support to so many children in need. They raised about £700 from the variety performance held in the evening and the art exhibition to go towards their costs so it was well worth it!!

Well, that's all for now, take care.
xxx

Technology!

I am a bit frustrated as I wanted to try out the scheduling a post application as I was on a roll when I last updated my blog and did three entries at once! But, not wanting to post them straight away, I changed the date and saved as a draft. When I next came to post the entry it still came up as the date I had written it, and not the future date that I wanted! I also tried publishing the post rather than saving it, under the future date and it still posted it on the date I originally wrote the entry! Confused??? I am!

Any suggestions very welcome!
xxx

Art of the Every Day.

I had a brainwave the other day! I was having a conversation with a friend about art and housework(!) and it dawned on me that I could very well focus my feelings of guilt about the lack of housework that I seem to do, towards ART! And so here is the first snapshot of my ART of the Every Day and I think I shall call it "the beauty after lunch."

There! I have set a new art trend! I shall be photographing the fluff under my sofa next!! :o)
xxx

Get Your Art Together

The countdown is on until my work goes in an exhibition called Get Your Art Together in the Holy Trinity Church, Tewkesbury, on Saturday 6th March from 1-4pm. The show is part of a fundraising event to raise money for a trip to India that two of the younger members of the church are undertaking to work in some orphanages (I think). I am hoping to show 7 paintings at the show, this being one of them, above. So do come and take a look if you are in town on Saturday!

Am looking forward to it!
xxx

Earning my wings!

Well, what LOVELY weather we have had today!!! The sun was shining and the birds were chirping!! Almost makes me feel a bit like singing "Doe, a deer..." or something of the like! (Well, maybe not quite, but you know what I mean!!) Anyway!!! So, had a rather arty afternoon today, as my friend Jo (check out her blog on my Creative Inspirations link) asked me over to have a 'play' with some fabric and dye!!! What fun we had! (although I think both of us agreed that the best result did in fact seem to be the part of the fabric painted by her three year old!!! That says it all doesn't it!!) :o)

I also finally managed to go out into the garden and take the photo that I have been itching to take for a while now, but it has just been too wet! I bought these wings in a shop years ago and they were just packed away in a box for ages. I knew I wanted to do a piece centred on them but never found the right time. However, lately I have had a real change in the direction of my work, and I feel like I have 'taken flight' and am beginning to 'earn my wings!' I am very excited at the new freedom I am experiencing in my creative work, and so I wanted to take this picture to represent the new chapter I feel is taking place. I intend to use the wings again but for now I am happy with this starting point!

Well, enough of the heart to heart! Have a great evening!
xxx

Roll on good weather!

I am rather frustrated at the lack of good weather at the moment! I have two items I really 'need' to photograph, but due to the grim light and wet ground outside I am unable to do it!!! Grrr! But at least I have things to photograph which is great! Lately my art seems to be taking off somewhat, which I am really excited about! So that is fabuloso! Well, watch this space for the ball appears to be rolling!!
xxx

Russian Dolls

I am feeling good~I have just finished a little idea I had a while back~just not sure of its title yet: 'family' or 'home sweet home'!
This is a big thing for me~to just make an idea~and to turn it into a finished piece! So I am chuffed! Long may it continue! Just take one step at a time and see where it leads, I was told recently, and so that's what I am doing!

Oh and I had a great evening at the pub this evening! It's good to have good friends!
Nite! xxx

Half Term.

Well, we have just got back from a trip to the inlaws and although good to be away, I am glad to be back! Our little 10 month old, Little Boy blue was also noticibly joyous to be back too, bless him! I was very excited to receive my first comment on my blog, many thanks Em, and although I did try to put a responding comment, it didn't seem to appear so I guess I still have many things to learn about the land of blog!!! (Oh and by the way, yes some of the letters were from you!!) Ah, yes! Uploading photos onto each post would be the other thing I am not so sure about yet too! So any advice would be much appreciated!!! :o)!

My next artisitc venture is coming up on 6th March at Holy Trinity church, Tewkesbury, where I am going to show three of my large paintings and hopefully a few smaller ones! I am quite excited about this as there will be the opportunity to sell some work too, so I had better get cracking on the smaller pieces especially! I will tell you all about it! Well, the dear hubby is having a bit of trouble keeping our two older ones quiet while Little Boy blue takes a nap, so I had better go and assist! Many thanks for your visits to my ramblings! Have a great half term! xxx

Beginnings.

Well, so far I am very pleased with myself for designing my blog page! I have also been anticipating doing lots of arty stuff since the weekend but this has not happened so far, although I did have fun taking pictures this afternoon of all my old letters from friends during my university years to put on my page as you see it! Rather pleased with the result too, I might add! But no 'real' art as I have just been rather busy! My art journey currently has me exploring what exactly is my niche.I feel that I have been too scared for so long to actually try stuff for fear of getting it wrong, and I want to get out and break free from that so I think that is where I am starting from at the moment.
So watch this space!!!

My first tired ramblings!

Well, here I am! I have finally decided to create a blog and am can now say that I have achieved my ultimate goal! (well, not quite but just managing to set it up was a mini achievement in itself!!) So I am very proud that I needed no help from my hubby or anyone else and did this entirely on my own! Yay! I am now a 'blogger!' I am also very tired so am going to head off to bed but with a happy smile and thoughts of a blogging future! Nite nite!!