I know I have been so slack again, I have gone a whole month and not given you any updates which means there is going to be loads to say now, I will try to keep it brief. I’m sorry, time has just gotten away from me again this month. Hubby and I keep saying how I need to sort out a schedule to help me get blogs out, I will, I promise, one day! Anyway here is a roundup of the month’s activities, if you want to know more details, please just ask.
StART Studio Portrait Class
I took a 6 week portrait class at an in person studio. I’ve actually had the class booked and due to start since November 2020, however due to – well you know what – restrictions and lockdowns it had to be delayed, we tried again in January but again had to be delayed, but we eventually got it going and I was able to attend with around 8 other students and we learnt in a classroom how to create portrait work. We used graphite pencils one week, acrylic or water colours, we had one week where we had a model in class, and we got to try drawing from life not photos, and finally we spent the rest of the weeks choosing a picture we wanted to draw, ourselves or someone we wanted to draw/paint and then worked hard on producing a final picture.
The Gallery is showing some more of the pieces I created and my progress.
Botanical Journal.
I followed a class on Live Art Journaling class and Self Development to make a journal that was designed to help ease us back into the world after lockdown. The class was filmed and issued a while ago, however I have spent the last couple of days working on it and finishing it. Everything used is from my stash, magazine clippings, washi tapes and also some stickers bought from various places and some from Kia_Creates.
ICAD
61 days of ICAD came to an end on 31st July. I cannot believe I have achieved creating a piece of art every single day for 61 days. Yes sometimes I made 2 or 3 in a day so that I either caught up or had a break. But ultimately the project had me create something of my own design, every day. I didn’t follow a class, I didn’t follow a tutor, I didn’t go looking for ideas, yes sometimes I had to google a word to know what it meant, but ultimately every single design has come from me, using things in my stash and is on index cards, I did run out of cards on one size and had to use bigger ones, but again its about using my stash not buying more things. I actually followed the official Daisy Yellow Prompts, but also the prompts from Nina Fickett, so I doubled my ICAD everyday by using both prompts on one card.
My Gallery of cards is here
New Pen
I have been following a new UK company on Instagram, The Good Blue, run by Sunil, watching with excitement their manufacturing and testing process and anxiously awaiting the launch of their brand new Fountain Pen. Honestly I love a good pen, that’s not in any doubt, and I’ve always wanted a good quality fountain pen. I know I dont have the best writing, I know I play at learning calligraphy, but I absolutely knew I wanted to buy one of these pens when it was released. I got the launch email and whilst I was not surprised at the price, as its appropriate for the work that has gone into designing and getting it to launch, I did suck in my breath and go really think omg do I buy it, especially as I am meant to be on a self imposed art supplies spending ban. So I was trying to find ways I could swing it in my own head, however I got super lucky that I had a conversation with my Dad on the same day, and whilst talking about my art journey I happened to mention the pen, and he reminded me that he had not yet bought me a present for my half centenary birthday this year. So we talked, and agreed between us that he would buy it for me. I wasn’t angling for that but I cannot deny I am super lucky! So we placed the order and waited patiently for two days for it to arrive. Without doubt I am not disappointed, it is supplied in a metal tin, surrounded by protective sustainable fabric and I have two Nibs. The pen we ordered was the “R615 Fountain Pen – Limited Edition” It has a gorgeous Royal blue barrel, It has a Ink Converter And the Nib is the Fine Flex which is designed to give a flex to a 1.44 mm line.
Thank you Dad for my birthday present, I truly am a happy with the pen.
I cannot lie, this is a truly gorgeous pen to hold, to write with, to own. I love it and I cannot wait to use it for every possible piece of writing and drawing I need to do. Shopping lists, post it notes, letters, signatures on documents, pictures of cats, one line drawings, whatever I will use it for everything! (p.s. I wrote an actual check out on Monday and I used the pen – it felt proper old school!!)
Moses Roper Project
I saw on Instagram an IG friend was featuring a University student Emily Hands who is doing an MA and as part of the MA she is collaborating with Gressenhall Museum to produce a piece of artwork that will be exhibited in the museum. The project is to depict Moses Roper in fabric. Emily has chosen to ask members of the public to collaborate by producing a picture of Moses Roper, which she had produced onto fabric and then cut into small squares and ask members of the public to produce a small piece of art on each square that will ultimately be sewn together and displayed as a large piece. I came across this and decided to offer my help, and I ended up doing two squares. I haven’t used a needle and thread in many many years, and my pieces needed to me white work embroidery as I had plain pieces.
I enjoyed doing this, but took me out of my comfort zone,
If you have made it this far, I thank you, and I wish and you will say TTFN until next time.
Disclaimer:
All opinions expressed here are my own.
I paid for any products discussed.
I received no payment and I am not affiliated in any way with any brand mentioned herein.
