New Jennie Ing prints of Birmingham

The wonderful Jennie Ing has been adding to her collection of reduction linocut prints of Birmingham landmarks. This series of photographs illustrates the different colour layers, and how the block is cut away, stage by stage.

Jennie will be exhibiting these prints on Saturday 30th November, at the Midland Arts Centre, as part of the 'Marketplace' contemporary craft event.
The prints are in very limited editions, so pick one up quick!

Girls Who Draw 'Masquerade' Postcard Books Now Available.

The fifth postcard book by 'Girls Who Draw', a small collaborative group of female illustrators. This years theme, 'Masquerade' has been illustrated by Alys Paterson, Aurora Cacciapuoti, Beth Morrison, Helen Entwisle, Karoline Rerrie, Kate Sutton, Kristyna Baczynski, Lee-May Foster Wilson, Ruth Green, Sandra Dieckmann, Sarah Lippett and Yee Ting Kuit.

You can purchase one for £8 from my 'Not on the High Street' page by following this link: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/ruthgreendesign/product/limited-edition-postcard-book-masquerade

2013 Christmas Cards Just Released!

The studio is full of these new cards for Christmas today. All hand printed, and sold in packs of 5, there are 2 different designs available from my 'Not on the High St' page.

What's For Breakfast?

 

Hip hip hooray! So pleased to see this design I did for Marks and Spencer last year on all of this cereal packaging! I was walking around the store with a big smile on my face!

New Work for Great Northern Contemporary Craft

It's The Great Northern this week, a fabulous show in Manchester which showcases the work of some of my favourite makers and designers.
So, stand plan at the ready, I'm heading off on Thursday. These new painted wooden plates will be coming along. These one off, hand painted pieces are £45 each, and around 15.5 cm squares. If you would like to reserve one, give me a quick email asap!

The show opens on Friday 11th October, 10am-7pm, and runs until Sunday. The venue is the Pavilion in Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3AQ

You can see more about the event, and who's exhibiting, here: www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

Garden Masquerade

Today I've been printing a version of my 'Harebells' design that will feature in the new postcard book from 'Girls Who Draw'. This one is called 'Garden Masquerade', and will be included in the exhibition we will be holding at The Bowery in Leeds.

Our show starts on the 14th September, and the new 'Masquerade' book will be available from my 'Not on the High St' page very soon!

Stan isn't too pleased with the amount of prints drying on the sofa..

Five a Day?

More like Fifty a day at present!
To do list....
Make mulberry jam and gin, make a chutney with toms, beans etc, make some tom and courgette ratatouille to put in freezer, make a hotpot of some kind with borlotti beans and spuds, deal with apples, pick the courgettes (again!), pick raspberries..

I'll never get any work done at this rate. Still, it is a very pleasant 'to do' list, and a joy after the drought of fresh produce last year.
Right, back to the kitchen!

New Print Special Offer until Friday 9th August

This new print, 'Buttercups' is out today.
I'm offering a very special discounted price to members of my mailing list and Facebook page.
Buy this print for just £20 (including p&p, and a professionally cut mount) until Friday 9th August- a discount of £10 from the full price of £30 (the price will revert to £30 on Saturday 10th August).

Just follow the website link to make an order:http://www.worldoffox.com/ruthgreendesign/buttercups.htm

all the best,

Ruth

p.s- I'll be at Worcester Artisan Market http://www.visitworcestershire.org/Worcester-Worcester-Artisan-Food-and-Drink-Market/details/?dms=13&venue=1392970&feature=1000 on August 17th,
 and Moseley Arts Market https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moseley-Arts-Market/9711997631 on August 24th.

Studio Days

I've been working on some new prints, after a short Summer holiday. It's good to be back in the studio, and to have time to throw a few ideas around. The Summer always seems to be the best time for creating new work, as other projects seem to take a back seat for a while.

I've been adapting  a logo which I designed for a friend. I liked the end product so much that I changed it slightly to make a print design.

Here's the original logo:

and the design adapted for a screenprint:

There are 30 in the edition, and they are available for £25 each from here:
http://www.worldoffox.com/ruthgreendesign/rainandshine.htm

This afternoon I have been trying to figure out a new dog print. I was inspired by Stanley rolling around in the long grass at Highbury Park the other morning. Here's the sketch:

Should be ready before too long!

Little Steps

Three views of the allotment in March, April and May this year.
I split my plot in half at the end of last year, as I was having trouble staying on top of weed growth over the Summer.
It was all very demotivating, as soon as the weeds were sort of dealt with, the plots all flooded and all the crops were ruined.
2012 was the worst year at Wheelers Lane since I took on the plot in 2003. Making my plot smaller was a VERY good move. It's so much easier to keep in check, and I have a new neighbour into the bargain!

March 2013. A slow start to the year.



April 2013. Covering up unused areas before weeds start growing.



May 2013. New path laid and apple tree blooming!



Just Bee Cause

This new print is now available from my website for £20.
I will be donating £10 from each sale to 'The Bee Cause', a campaign run by Friends of the Earth to support the dwindling population of British bees.
You can find out more here

Stick to it?

There was a time, back in my student days, when all I made was collages. Lacking the facilities, and the know-how to produce print editions, I would print lots of little bits and bobs on different materials, then spend many a happy hour sticking them all together.

The technique is enjoyable, feeling like you are creating new and unexpected things from existing ideas. But it's also frustrating- glue all over your fingers, never quite enough of  the best bits that are working, not to mention the paper storm mess all over the place!

For a while I've been saving odds and ends from my editions, with the intention of 'doing something with them'. I found myself actually printing a few different papers and wood veneers, with the intention of using them in collages. It took a while, but I've finally had a go this weekend (despite the fact I should really be full speed ahead with show prep for Fulham Palace next weekend).
I'm not sure what I think about them. I like the mixed materials, but wonder if I feel a little like it is moving backwards. I'd love to hear any opinions. I might take them along to the show to see if they get any attention.

Orla Kiely's Mantlepiece.

My friend Karoline Rerrie spotted this picture in 'The Evening Standard' last week. It's feature on the interior of Orla Kiely's house.
Look very carefully at the print on the fireplace in the far lefthand corner. It's my 'Pretty Boy' screenprint!!



What a turn up!

This edition sold out a while ago, the 'Pretty Boy' was very popular. But I do still have this peacock print available here



Car Boot Finds.

I found a little cache of field guides at the Studley car boot sale this morning. The illustrations are exquisite, and help me along the way with some new botanical prints I've been planning.
The Collins guide, pictured above, has colour plates from the Flora Agaricina Danica, by Jakob Lange. The other is the 'Young Specialist looks at Fungi' by Hans Haas.

I've long admired the methodical layout of field guides, and the way that the eye immediately picks out differences and specific features when specimens are presented in this way. This 'Field Guide to Insects of Britain and Northern Europe' by Michael Chinery is another lovely example.

Other finds included a box of vintage glass Christmas baubles and a reem of flocked paper, originally produced to cover gift boxes (it seems quite old). Not sure what I'll do with that yet, but some print experiments are certainly in the offing.

A Tale of Two Pearls.

A few years ago, this etching of a greyhound stopped me in my tracks as I hurried through the city centre. It was as if an invisible beam dragged me into the shop, and I bought it without a second thought, even though I was skint at the time.
It's an etching by Sonia Rollo, titled 'Pearl'.
Jump forward a couple of years, and another greyhound print took my eye.

This one is by Julia Manning, who I was lucky enough to meet at Printfest in Ulverston. This one is called 'Cats!'. Once again, I was unable to resist.
Julia told me that this print is of her greyhound, who is also called 'Pearl'. She was inspired by Sonia's work, and named her rescued hound after Sonia's handsome subject.

All of these greyhounds must have got under my skin, as I ended up with this one:

The name 'Pearl' didn't seem to suit him though.

White Birds Painting

Here's another painting, just finished today. Again it's on a shaped wooden board, measuring 29x16cm. This one is for sale at £45, message me if you want to give it a home!

Painted Trees Offer

Here's a new painted tree I've been working on.
It's a one off acrylic on shaped wood, on offer for £50 (36x21cm).
Message me if you'd like to bag it!

New Facebook Page!

Hello!

Thanks to everyone who made it along to Midcentury Modern on Sunday. It was a great day, and a real pleasure to meet so many design mad folks.

Another bit of news, I now have a new Facebook page, for news about shows, new work and very special offers. Just click here:
https://www.facebook.com/ruthprints
and hit 'like'.
Cheers!

What I did on my Holidays.

We had a cheeky weekend over in Varberg, Sweden at the beginning of March. My littlest friend, Freja, has a new bedroom and I vandalised it with her parents permission!
Luckily, my best buddy Emma was there to provide finishing touches, as I had to end work a little sharpish to catch my plane home!

Special Offer on New Prints for Midcentury Modern

This Sunday is Midcentury Modern at Dulwich College.

A brilliant event, with lots of vintage furniture, textiles, ceramics and art, plus modern design which is 'in keeping' with the style. The show opens at 10am, info and pre order tickets here: http://modernshows.com/the-shows/dulwich-march-2013/

In celebration of this show, I have made 4 new prints (in order of appearance here), Basil, Reynard, Feathered Friends and Peach Blossom. All of them fit a 24x30cm mount (inc.)

I am offering a £5 discount on each of these prints from today.
They will be available for £30 each until March 23rd.

On March 24th they will become available to buy from my website for £35.
To take advantage of the discount, please email me if you would like to reserve a print to collect at the show.
or,
If you would like to order via email at the discounted price, please email me with your selection, and I will send you a paypal invoice. There is free delivery for this offer.

New Prints Now Available.

Happy Friday!
The website has just been updated with these brand, spanking new prints.

There are a couple of different colour versions of each, plus the 'Wood Troll' is now available online for the first time too.

Have a good weekend!

Creative Sketchbook Blog

I was chuffed to read this nice review on 'The Creative Sketchbook' blog today:
http://creativesketchbook.blogspot.co.uk/

Thankyou!

Midcentury Modern Show, March 17th

I am pleased to announce that I will once again be taking part in the Midcentury Modern show, at Dulwich College on March 17th.

'Held in the beautiful and very appropriate Christison building designed by Wates in the Sixties, this show is stuffed with all the recognisable classics of Scandinavian, American and British heroes of 20C design. It's like visiting a design museum where you can sit on the classics, talk to knowledgable people and then take the exhibits home with you. I enjoy every show immensely and would recommend this show to any lover of design.' Matthew Hilton

And I heartily agree!

You can now pre-order your tickets, a wise move as it gets incredibly busy:
http://modernshows.com/the-shows/dulwich-march-2013/

I'll be introducing a clutch of new work, including this little chap. He'll also be available on the  website very soon.

A Fond Farewell to Richard Briers.

Finally, the sun has shown it's face, and with it, my box of seeds was hastily rumaged out from the cupboard. Toms, peppers, leeks, and broad beans are all now being carefully monitored to see who will win the germination race (it looks like a photo finish between beans and leeks).

The sun drew me down to the allotment for the first time this year. I was pleasantly surprised. Not the scene of devastion I was expecting, the flooding now almost gone. My kale seedlings were still alive, and the garlic sprouting merrily.

On my return home, I switched on the radio and heard the very sad news of the death of Richard Briers.
I have to wonder if my love of the allotment wasn't just a little bit inspired by 'The Good Life', it made such a big impression on me when I was a nipper. Briers had such a warm and friendly voice, which had me giggling uncontrollably at 'Rhubarb and Custard'.

I raise a glass of '76 peapod to you, old bean.