Wednesday 25 May 2016

Drawing in the Lakes

So this weekend I sent a few days with my friend who came to visit me after she went on a short experimental drawing course. I took her up to my folks caravan and we got lost in the lakes for a few days drawing en plein air. It was fabulous I loved it I mean really loved it, it was so relaxing and I have not giggled or laughed so hard for a very very long time.


We ended up getting lost and found Torver Common after a few detours well I love this place so we stopped for lunch and well didn't get very far afterwards as it's where I drew 'For the love of trees' a number of years ago so its a place close to my heart. 



 It was all very experimental and about mark making with different tools and grounds. I ended up using a feather to draw with and so very new Derwent coloured charcoals which I fell in love with. 



I introduced twigs and sticks from the surrounding birch trees and bracken we were sat in. 


Playing with a palette knife too  


Drawing with feathers dipped in inks






Sorry I have only just realised these are upside down! bugger I will see what I can do to rectify this min the meantime here's the link to the online shop.

Sunday 15 May 2016

Sorry its been a while

Well that's a month of intense working and sadness I don't want to repeat.

I think I'm just coming out of a flare up and with new meds for high blood pressure its been eventful. 

New work going to new homes 

Lord Montague Weasington Popgoes if off on his way to his new life down in Bristol 



 We have been working towards Open Studios which was yesterday which went well down at Higherford Mill.

 When my fingers are seizing up or joints causing a lot of pain (psoriatic arthritis) I try and work on something that doesn't stress them out too much which extraordinarily are these little things bird and hares etc in a soft stoneware. 


But as they eased I could get back to playing with my slab roller trying to work out how to combine the simplicity of the leaf prints but not loosing the drawing aspects of my slip cast work. I have combined them but and still developing the ideas to get a product I feel would be saleable, reasonable priced and keep me developing the porcelain side of my work which I feel such a strong bond. Do I stop it and concentrate on the animals and birds? I don't know that I am ready so I need to see how the wrists, joints and other things play out so here's the results. 





So onto the reason of throwing myself into the work.....well some may know others may not but we lost our Charlie Dog on the 18th April. And it hurts, a lot, I can't write more as I will start to cry again. It's too raw and fresh even now it lose such a character who captured your heart with those big brown eyes. We are sadder than a really sad thing but glad to have met him to one of his pack and to be loved by such a marvelous creature. I am signing off as I am crying again.... see I said to raw to soon and too beautiful a boy. Sleep well my lovely. 



Workshops dates for 2020

Julie Miles Ceramics Courses for 2020     So I am launching my new workshops at long last! So if you fancy having a go, being crea...