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.

This new print, 'Fisherman Pete' is now available to order online. A very small edition of 16, and priced at £45 each.

Today I'm continuing to print the 'Firedbird' design. I've been experimenting with gold ink, trying to vary the tones with the addition of acrylic colours. And then, I'll be drawing the little centaur. The mythical creatures theme has got my imagination going. I  saw some beautiful carved lions at the Pergamon Museum in Berlin last weekend, it would be wonderful to have a winged lion as part of the group. Better pull my finger out!

Mythical Creatures Exhibition with 'Girls Who Draw'

I've been working on this 'Firebird' drawing today. It's for an exhibition at 'Here' gallery in Bristol. They have kindly agreed to host the 'Girls Who Draw' and our Mythical Creatures show.
The show opens on February 9th- hope I get time to do a centaur before then as well!

Winter Walks

Snow has visited Birmingham, and decided to stick around for a while. What a treat.
I know lots of folk find it bothersome, and inconvenient, but I love it. I love mucking around in it, watching it fall, looking at the shapes it forms, and watching how it affects everything it touches.

The last couple of days I have spent the mornings walking with Stan. Out to Highbury Park, and further to Holders' Wood. These Daphne (?) blossom looked beautiful with their icy covering.

It's been a quiet time since December. Christmas felt like being trampled by a herd of elephants, and I've been happy to potter in the studio and make plans for the coming year. There are a few prints in production, and several irons in the fire.

I even got the seed box out this morning. Sowing to commence on Saturday.

New Birmingham Prints by Jennie Ing

My lovely friend, the super talented lino-cut printmaker Jennie Ing, has just completed these two new editions of Birmingham landmarks.
There are two prints at present: The Rotunda, seen from Moor St. Station, and secondly Birmingham Town Hall, with Gormley's Iron Man in the foreground. And apparently there's a new one in the pipeline to be unveiled at the MAC 'Marketplace' contemporary craft event this weekend.

Trying to choose is so hard! I love them both, and I'm sure the third will be equally desirable. If you can't make it along to MAC on Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th, the prints will be available from the Jennie Ing website at £80 each. But get in fast, the edition is tiny (only 10 prints of each), and they're going fast!

Incidently, I'll also be showing at MAC this weekend too, a good opportunity for some Christmas shopping, without the pain of the city centre!