Art During Lockdown and Exciting News!

Hello,

Hope you are all well and keeping safe.

I just wanted to share with you some art that I've been doing lately during the lockdown.

These are 12 mini abstract paintings on watercolour paper, each around 8"x 8". I worked on them all at the same time. The materials I used were charcoal, acrylic inks, acrylic paints and acrylic pens. I wanted to try and paint more abstractly and was inspired by the artist Tracy Verdugo. She offers some art mentoring as well as some free courses. I will sit with these for a bit and then see what I need to add to them.

I've also gone back and reworked some old mini paintings on canvas.They need a bit more doing to them, I may add more paint or add collage elements as well. But will post when they are further developed.

We have also had really nice weather lately, so I have been sat in our back garden.  Its been very relaxing to just sit by the water feature and weave.

I also have some exciting news-I am in the process of updating my website! Something which I have been meaning to do for a while, but now with the lockdown and I can focus on doing that. I will keep you updated and let you know when it's up and running.

Stay safe and I will be in touch.

Bye for now.

Art During Lockdown

Hello,

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm trying to stay more creative during this crisis that we are facing. The UK will now face at least 3 more weeks of lockdown, another reason to try to keep safe and sane.

Here are some mixed media abstract collages I've created recently, measuring 8"x 8" and 6"x 6". I've used papers from magazines, printed tissue papers, and papers I've painted using acrylic inks and acrylic markers which I then cut up or tore. The backgrounds are mostly watercolour papers.

Thanks for stopping by, hopefully I have inspired you to try something creative during this time of isolation and lockdowns. 

Bye for now.

My Way of Staying Safe and Sane

Hello,

I know its been a while since my last post but I just wanted to reach out to you all to say I'm fine and that I hope you and your family have been staying safe and sane during this time. Whether that means spending more time with your family, more time keeping healthy by eating the right foods or getting more exercise or more rest. Some of you may be taking up new hobbies or catching up on home improvement projects. 

I've been trying to rest as much as possible as well as trying to do some form of exercise each day-thanks to Joe Wicks :-). My husband and I (our son is happy to stay at home) go for walks in the evening and shopping when we need to while adhering to the social distancing rules.

But I've also tried to do something creative each day and share it on social media as a way to stay connected but also hopefully inspire others to do the same.

Here are some examples of mono prints and art in my sketchbook-

I've also made small woven pieces-

How are you spending your time during this global pandemic? How are you staying safe and sane? I'd love to know.

Bye for now.

Happy 2020

Hello,

How is everyone? Hope you are well. Sorry this is a bit late, after the holidays I got busy trying to organise my studio(a constant battle) and have started back at work so I never got around to writing a post :-(.

 I thought I would start out 2020 by sharing some quotes I came across Pinterest as well as some interesting videos on procrastination-something I've struggled with my whole life. This year I really want to work on keeping it under control and not letting it get in my way. Hopefully this will help my fellow procrastinators :-).

4 Easy Strategies You Need to Beat Procrastination

How To Tackle Procrastination 

Inside the mind of a master procrastinator | Tim Urban

The surprising habits of original thinkers | Adam Grant

 And one thing I also crave for more this year -JOY!

Bye for now.

Holiday Greetings!

Hello,

I just wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!

Thanks for all your support through out 2019. I look forward to seeing what 2020 brings!

Bye for now.

Arkell's Outdoor Christmas Food and Craft Market

Hello,

Tomorrow I will have a stall at Arkell's Outdoor Christmas Food and Craft Market.

Here's a look at the some of Christmas cards I will be selling.

I will also have Christmas decorations, mixed media prints and mixed media artwork. If you will be in the Swindon area tomorrow, please stop by and say hello. Hope to see you there.

Bye for now.

Artsite Alternative Christmas Fayre

Hello,

Just a reminder that I will be at Artsite's Alternative Christmas Fayre tomorrow.

Here are just a few things I will have at my stall tomorrow. If you are in the Swindon area and need some unique, handmade Christmas cards, Christmas ornaments or original artwork, stop in and say hello. All visitors to my stall will receive a small gift from me :-).

Bye for now.

Two More Christmas Markets

Hello,

I will be doing two more Christmas markets before the year is out and here are the dates and times-

Artsite Alternative Christmas Fayre

Saturday, 30th November

11-4pm

www.artsite.ltd.uk

Arkell's Outdoor Christmas Food and Craft Market

Saturday, 7th December

10-3pm

 www.arkells.com

If you will be in the Swindon area and need that special gift for Christmas, make sure to stop by.

All visitors will receive a small gift from me.

Bye for now,

Carmen

Christmas Craft Market Next Sunday

Hello,

I've been very busy lately gearing up for Christmas and have a few markets which I will be selling artwork as well as handmade Christmas cards, and Christmas ornaments.

Next Sunday, I will have a stall at The Commonweal School Christmas Market. So if you are in the Swindon area and want an early start at Christmas shopping come take a look. You are bound to find something you like at affordable prices :-). 

  Sunday 17^th November 11am-3pmw

The Commonweal School

The Mall, SN1 4JE

07821 428679

Also, If you mention this blog, you will receive a free gift :-).

Hope to see you there.

Bye for now.

Getting Ready For Christmas...

Hello,

As I work at a school, I don't always get enough time to go into the studio during term time. But being I am on my Half Term holidays, I was able spend more time making art and getting ready for some Christmas Markets I have coming up.

Here are some photos which I shared on Instagram and Facebook-

Along with selling artwork, I will have Christmas decorations and handmade cards. I had a request last year for religious cards, so thought I would try to make some. These are made using rubbers stamps which I carved and used embossing powder to add the glitter.

I made some angels cards using paper doilies, printed papers, washi tape and embossing glitter.

 These angels are on Kraft paper.

I also made cards with baubles on them, using a gelli print technique which I use in my mono prints.

Here are some Christmas tree designs. The trees and snowflakes are 3 dimentional.

I also tried making some ornaments using air drying clay, I will add colour to them but have to wait for them to dry.

So...very busy and my studio and dining room table is a mess but have been enjoying myself.

I will post the dates for the markets shortly.

Bye for now.

Quick Recap of the Swindon Open Studios 2019

Hello,

Just a quick recap of this year's Swindon Open Studios- 

The Swindon Open Studios 2019 came to a close last weekend.  I'm really glad I did it this year, last year I took a break and just went around and visited other artists. Meeting other artists and seeing what and how they create motivated me to take part again. This year the turn out was a bit quiet, but some of that had to do with the Swindon Marathon taking place on one of the Sundays and wet weather which kept some people away. 

Having said that, I had really nice feedback from people who came to see me and some even said I inspired them, which was great to hear. I had a few sales and gave some demonstrations on creating mono prints using a gelli plate.

Here are some photos of my set up and of a piece I was working on while at the library.

 These are the prints from the art challenge I was doing in September.

This was a piece I was working on at the library.

Now I need to take a break and recover. But not too long of a break-I need to get ready for Christmas :-).

Bye for now.

Invitation to Swindon Open Studios 2019

Hello,

This weekend is the start of the Swindon Open Studios.

If you are in the Swindon area, please stop by.

I will be displaying paintings, prints, cards and work in progress.

I've also been busy this month with an art challenge initiated by Birgit Koopsen-Bernstein.

I will be displaying these examples as well.

Hope to see you then.

Bye for now.