Oak and Blossom

With an awful tummy-bug I really should be in bed, sleeping, getting ready for a couple of days at work, an exhibition, and an imminent house relocation.


Instead, I wanted to finish this piece I started a few days ago. It is different from my other drawings because instead of using girls I know as the models, they were inspired by a pair of articulated porcelain dolls by artist Patricia Cabrera http://patitadolls.blogspot.com/



Ok. Off to bed now!

Inspiration Wall

It's been quiet hasn't it? It seems like a time of waiting and biding right now...

I hate cleaning. And packing. But alas, it has to be done! As I've slowly been taking apart my studio room, I took a quick shot of my "inspiration wall".

I posted a picture of my worktable a little while ago, this can be seen as the sequel.

I realised when I tried to draw on a trip recently, that 4 out of 5 drawings did not live up to my standards, and it wasn't until I got them home, sat back at my little worktable, surrounded by my inspirational nest/mess of a studio, that I saved said drawings when I coloured them in. For the first time it was the 'colouring in' that was stronger than my linework, rather than the other way around.

I don't even really look up at the wall too much, but just having it there seems to create a better environment for me to draw and feel at ease. I daydream a lot too, and I guess gazing off into the distance at this wall creates better daydreams than if it was blank ; )

Woodland Boutique

Things that made me happy this week:


-strawberries were huge and on sale

-I saw a preview of an artwork being made for me by artist Marina Bychkova (more on her later)

-My new job is fantastic. I even love hours of blackening rings "great!"

-My love will be comming home in under 2 weeks

-My Exhibition is in 2 weeks (wah!!!!)

and lastly, I received some gorgeous pocket mirrors and tiny pin-back buttons with my art on them, Hurray!!

This called for a new look to my etsy shop, where I sell originals and merchandise featuring my art year round.

~ http://www.mayple.etsy.com/ ~

Creative Space

With all twelve drawings for the exhibition done, and an imminent house-relocation looming, I realised my little drawing desk might not get used again for a while, as things will have to start making their way into cardboard boxes.

I could not help taking this picture, showing the way it has been set up for me these past couple of months.

Quite meagre, really. I blush to think of all the expensive art materials my mum bought me when I was younger and learning to draw. Thinking that with nice materials, surely nice work would follow.

Now that I'm finally beginning to create work I'm proud of, I use 2 brushes (one for water and one for painting), and some old grimy CD cases with dabs of watercolours. How ironic : )

They call me the Wild Rose

When thinking of an appropriate title, I could not help but remember the lyrics from a song by Nick Cave, "They call me the wild rose. Why they call me that I do not know, For my name was Eliza Day."

When you're on a roll you've got to take full advantage of it! This is the third image since I announced "I'm working on the FINAL image now!"

Present Tense Group Exhibition

With all the exciting things happening in my life, it'd be pretty hard to rank them. But there is one upcomming event that I am simply overjoyed about:

A group of friends whom I graduated Art Uni with and I have organized a group show. It will be my first exhibition, and I am very happy, and very excited!
I will have about 12 of my watercolours on show, all A5 size and under.

All works will be for sale.

The Youngest Daughter

I created both of these in the one day, and I like that they have formed a little dyptych, a before and after narrative.

As I worked on the first piece, the story to her character slowly came to resemble that of what I call "The Youngest Daughter". Most fairy-tale Kings will have many daughters (3, 7 or 12), the youngest of whom is usually the prettiest, or the kindest.

I was also reminded of Bianca, the younger of the two sisters in Shakespeare's play "The Taming of the Shrew". In the play there is a wealthy father with two daughters, Katharina and Bianca. Both girls are beautiful, but the older has a sharp tongue, heavy sarcasm and a nasty personality. Bianca, the younger one, is of course the perfect dream girl. The father has sworn that until the older is wed, the younger may not have suitors.

The Youngest Daughter

For the second piece, in a last minute decision, I decided to paint the rose on the table red. How funny that such a tiny decision would concrete the narrative for the whole piece. I've called it "The Proposal", and she doesn't look so happy anymore.

The Proposal

The Locket and the Lullaby

Still unsure as to which account I prefer, I'm trying out an identical post in both. I'd appreciate any feedback in helping me decide, so please visit here too: www.thelonglostwoods.wordpress.com

This piece is officially the eleventh one for my little group show, which is in less than a month! I am incredibly excited. A slightly different format here, originally I planned to add an elaborately drawn frame, hence the oval border.

Oh, before I forget: I draw straight with pen onto paper. So there aren't any pencil lines put down first, hence why the mistakes are permanent. I don't mind them too much, which is so contrary to how I used to work. A drawing could take me weeks, of meticulously drawing every line in pencil, and erasing every single mistake, until I felt the image was perfect. I never thought I could draw like this and be happy and satisfied...

I'm currently working on the twelth (and last) image for the show. I want to finish it soon, because it looks like from now on I'll have to concentrate on boxing all my belongings in preparation for a house move.

Moving Blog...

Welcome, to The Long Lost Woods, where I'll be updating regularly about any artistic happenings and musings.

To view all older posts, please visit my old art-blog:

thelonglostwoods.wordpress.com