Tears of a clown?

This graphite/coloured pencil drawing is my submission for this weeks' Inspiration Avenue challenge - "Circus". 

It's a bit 70s and kitsch-y but I think I quite like that about it! You can see all the circus themed submissions here.

My favourite art exhibition so far this year!

Some of my favorite things from this year's Manchester University Art Degree Show. These pieces are by Art Foundation, Textiles, Fine Art and Embroidery students. 

I'm always inspired by the the fabulously innovative work on display. The chair below is made entirely from cutlery! 

Happy Fathers' Day!

There's a lovely Fathers' Day feature in the UK edition of the Storque this weekend, all about crafty dads and their children. I'm delighted that a little piece I wrote about my dad has been included (thanks Amity!)

You can read the full feature here, but I just wanted to show off some of my dad's work on my blog too :) 

My dad worked in manual jobs all his life, but he always had an artistic side. His enduring love was fretwork - he made the most intricate wooden items, from beautiful decorative boxes to tiny Christmas ornaments. Sometimes I'd paint the finished pieces for him (like the wooden easel pictured here).

When he retired, Dad explored all sorts of things - watercolours, polishing stones, stenciling; he even took up knitting and cross stitch in his 70s, bless him (it still amazes me how he produced such neat stitches with his stocky fingers)!

Strangely it’s never occurred to me before to look for similarities in our work, so it was fascinating for me to realize that we do seem to share some things - a love of the ornate, curves rather than straight lines, and swirly patterns!

My dad sadly died a few years ago, so the things he made by hand are extra-special to me now. Having them is like having a little bit of dad still around - they're a great reminder of how talented he was, and maybe where I got my artistic side from.


I love that my dad had such a zest for learning and exploring new things, and appreciating the beauty around him. If you’re somewhere looking down and reading this, Dad, I’d just like to say - cheers, I love you, and I hope you know what a great inspiration you were (and still are) to me.

Revive Revolve Relove

Remnants

The "Revive Revolve Relove" exhibition continues at Broadstone Mill Gallery until 30th June; the exhibition's theme is "everyday discarded objects, brought back to life by creating aesthetic pieces".

 So Many Stories

I have 3 mixed media canvases exhibited, all of which involve the use of re-cyled papers/ephemera.

September 

There's a wonderfully diverse range of work, including picture frames made from recycled tyres and some fabulously macabre puppets by Teresa Wilson. This one - "Bad Nurse" - is my favourite, though I'm slightly worried she's going to give me bad dreams!

Look what I got!

 

 Look what I was lucky enough to receive in the post recently! I won this gorgeous art pendant from my IAE team mate, the terrifically talented Lisa of Priti Studio. The pendant is created from Lisa's own original art, and the photo doesn't do it justice, it's even prettier in real life. 

I don't know if you can see from this picture but it even says "angelic" so it seemed as if it was always meant just for me (Lisa has obviously recognized my inner angel)!

The gorgeous card Lisa enclosed is from another of my IAE team mates, Stephanie, who creates the most lovely and amazingly detailed flower paintings (what can I say, we're a talented lot at IAE!).

If you haven't seen Lisa's work before I'd highly recommend a visit to her etsy shop and blog - I'm sure you'll find yourself as amazed and inspired by her creativity as I always am. 

I couldn't post every piece of Lisa's work that I love as we'd be here all day, so I'll just share two of my particular favourites. First, Lisa's blue guitar - this made me hyperventilate when I saw it!! 

And I adore this mixed media piece about death and rebirth - so beautiful, in concept and execution -

So thank you once again Lisa, I love my pendant and it's wonderful for me to own a little piece of your creative spirit!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

A suitably summery theme for the inspiration avenue challenge this week - "How Does Your Garden Grow".

This is my submission, a wreath blooming with paper flowers! I've covered the wreath in a white satin ribbon and pinned on lots (and lots!) of paper flowers in various colours and patterns.

It's now for sale in my shop over on Folksy.

Come and see all the other submissions, and join in our next challenge, over on the Inspiration Avenue blog - details will be posted shortly!