It's Sunday

A late getting going this morning. A late Saturday night with my pens starting my first large drawing.
It was, of course, a ghost bunny piece, a very belated present for my nephew's little daughter so I thought gb's would be the sort of thing that would appeal, light and fluffy, flying kites whilst sitting on mushrooms.
I don't think at her tender age she will look at it and think . . . magic mushrooms? flying white rabbits? how halluconogenic, will she?
It was quite daunting starting this as I've only done smaller bits up to now but I've started so I'll finish . . .

After a Long Gap . . .

I have been most remiss and haven't put anything on my blog for, ooh, well over a year.
A lot has happened, had a gallery, closed a gallery!
Still papercutting but have discovered pen and ink so have started drawing again.
And have created "ghost bunny", more on that later.

My papercutting has developed to the point where I know use full colour which means lots and lots of layers of paper, and much quicker filling up of my jam jar of dead scalpel blades!
My pictures are filled with much more wildlife now, after years of saying "no" to such subjects! Well, I can do them in paper . . . weirdly!

And I've jumped into the world of greetings cards having been taken on by Natural Partners, a North East based publishing company.

Only in the last few weeks have I started drawing again.
I have discovered the joys of watercolour pens! A blessing as my forays into proper watercolours always ended in puddles of mud a hippo would love to roll in!

This is probably where I can bring up "ghost bunny".
He started life as a papercut character, a little creature that just popped out of my head onto my cutting mat one day, where from . . . nobody knows!
He has his own little online page and a few fans, though I'd love him to have more . . .
When my first pens arrived he became my model, of course.

There is more freedom, I find, with the pens I can step back from the precision needed when working with a scalpel, a bit more scribbley, so my eyes are sighing with relief, not that eyes sigh but you know what I mean.

Time for some pictures now . . . if I can figure out how to put them on after all this time away, lurking in the dark depths . . .

Anther Tour de France piece

And here is the last piece I'll be doing for the imminent visit of the Tour de France to Yorkshire.
This time it's Harrogate, a hint of the Stray, and a bit of the Pump Hous e Museum.
I've enjoyed working like this, creating art that is more poster than picture. I think more will come, possibly with more text, of a more poetic bent too

IT'SUMMER!

As ever, I haven't updated for such a long time, I find my scalpel easier than a keyboard! And I have actually been up to quite a bit . . . artistically that is, no normal life adventures to regale you with I'm afraid, work makes Jill a very dull girl! though I can never find creating dull.

I have had work in several exhibitions over the last few months, several commissions done and more to go.

And, of course, we have the Tour de France hitting Yorkshire on the 5th/6th July, so she who owns a pushbike that is a garden ornament, has had bikes on her mind, under duress I hasten to add! and done with a lot of artistic licence! Please don't comment on the fact that my wheels are spokeless!

It all started because of an exhibition in Leyburn, at the Warlands Gallery with two other artists. 
I did a poster type papercut, with colour, to advertise the fact that Leyburn is on the route, then another version for West Tanfield as it is just down the road and I may tootle down on the day and have a look.
And requests from some of the folk I know in Harrogate inspired me to do another! I have drawn the line now, no more arm twisting for other venues, though I have, due to the Harrogate design, become inspired to do more cuts with buildings on. So for all my moaning about bikes, I will be adding to the range of my images. 

The Harrogate papercut is nearly finished so I will post it later today hopefully . . . or tonight.

I have also done a few more images with animals on recently. Changing for a while the way I do my trees as the image sizes are smaller. I will still do them how I used to when I get back to doing my larger works.

Back Again!

2 days in a row, what is the world coming to?

A bright day today, the sun shone and the sky was blue, and although i work in my little cluttered studio/spare bedroom, it is definitely a joy to have light coming through the window as I hack away at my paper. It's amazing how a little sun can make you feel more inspired to work.

Today I've been working on a commission, a tree with family names in it. Not my usual type of commission but that doesn't matter. Some colour will go into this piece but it will be subtle, unlike the pic I've just finished

           'tis a bright one this! But I'm having fun letting go of pastel tones for a bit. I think it has a look of embroidery about it, but that's just my opinion.

My love of doing bird papercuts isn't diminishing at all, where it has come from, I don't know. When I painted birds were rarely a subject to attempt, far too fussy! As I tend to add detail for the sake of it in this work fussy is great. Cutting paper is an ideal way to put in feather details and as my feathered friends are rather imaginary I can go as mad as I like with detail!

I'm going to have to add to my coloured paper collection this week, I feel the urge for some bright purple in my next bird!
Shopping for paper and books beats "proper" shopping any day . . . with a bun break of course.

Long Time no Blog!

It's so long since I have updated this, sorry folks, but it does show I've been working . . . honest!

My work has changed a bit since I was last here, more colour, probably due to the wet grey winter we are stuck in. Though up in this part of Yorkshire we aren't suffering the floods they are down south, my heart goes out to all those who have drowned homes, and especially to the farmers who have had to move stock and are desperate for help with fodder and the like, thank goodness they are being helped out by fello farmers the country over.

Since my last waffle on here i have been busy, lots of exhibitions and fairs, commissions too. And I'm getting new stuff ready for 2 exhibitions coming up in March, one at the Wensleydale Gallery in Leyburn, t'other at RHS Harlow Carr at Harrogate, lots of trees and birds coming up for those, my favourite subjects still. And this is where the colour comes in, I do love mediaeval manuscripts and have been inspired by the bright colours and oddly unreal birds and creatures represented in them, so my very recent work is a far cry from the black and white with subtle colours I always used to do, and will still do.

And now for something a little brighter!

Weirdy Bird is rather outrageous, especially for me, but I have to say, I'm enjoying a more flamboyant use of colour, and slightly stranger bird forms. 
bye bye for now xxx

Back Again!

It's been a very long time since I last posted on here, profuse apologies.
So, as I can't sleep and it is 4 in the morning, I will write something, which hopefully won't be too garbled!
Lots has been happening work-wise, so at least I have an excuse for hiding away from this blog thing . . . don't I??
Earlier in the year I exhibited at Ripon Cathedral with the Great North Art Show and sold my Mermaid. She was hung the wrong way but this obviously helped! I got to meet her new owner a couple of weeks ago and have been invited in to see her should I ever be passing, which was great, and as she is local, Copt Hewick, I may well do so one day.
I also showed at Art for Youth North at Queen Mary's, Topcliffe, no success at this one I'm afraid, but you can't win 'em all.
Crafted by Hand was a super duper art/craft fair organised by Josie at the Gallery in Masham at the end of October, I had a fantastic day, in fact, I think everyone did. Every stall holder was a real artist/maker, nothing bought in and the crowds who attended were obviously blown away by this as Masham has never been so busy! And all, it seemed, had come with the intent to support us by buying. I think people really are on the look out for handmade at the moment, so many art/craft fairs have become a tad farsical of late, lots of bought in work etc, so to actually be able to buy handmade off the actual makers, talk to them about what they do and see some of us demonstrating, made a refreshing change. A fantastic day!

And up to date, earlier today Sue, Emma and myself hung our joint exhibition at the Station in Richmond, pastels, felt and yours truely's papercuts. I'm rubbish at hanging my work but I hope it looks ok, it will have to as we are now open to the lovely public. or will be when today reaches a more godly hour. We have 2 weeks at this venue so fingers are crossed that we all make at least one sale apiece!
I have had several commissions on the go too and still have some to go, things have picked up somewhat on this time last year, for which I am very grateful. 
Art is the only thing I have ever wanted to do, since being a small child, so when things go badly I wonder if I made the right choice, a very panic inducing thought! when I have work coming in it makes me feel as though all these years of sticking with it have been worth it all, even when I have had to do other work to supplement my living. And the fact that people actually want a piece of work, made by me, to hang on their walls, still makes me feel hugely privileged and I hope this feeling doesn't go away, I would never want to become complacent about what I do, nor arrogant. Please knock be back down to earth if I do! Seriously folks.
For the first time ever I also have things in my diary for next year too, shows and a couple of collaborations. And I am going to have a go at a couple of competitions too, both outside my usual remit, but what the hell, nothing ventured nothing gained! My little brain is getting a challenge, we'll see how it goes. 
I will try to add something a bit more often from now on, and will now try to get a bit more sleep . . . though it hardly seems worth it . . . busy day ahead!
goodnite xxx