Leap Year Day Mini Artworks Giveaway!

Hello,

Happy Leap Year Day!

In honour of this day, which only comes around once every four years-

I am giving away 29 mini postcard size artworks. There are two sets: 4 x 6 and 4 x 5. They are at a "first come first serve" basis, so if you would like one of these please email me at carmen@carmenbnorris.com with your name and mailing address. If you have a preference, I will do my best to send you the artwork of your choice. Once I receive your email, I will let you know if you were successful.

4 x 6
acrylic paints, acrylic inks and gelato crayons on watercolour paper

4 x 5
acrylic paints, acrylic inks and gelato crayons on watercolour paper

Bye for now.

Inspired by the Cover of M&S' Magazine...

Hello,

I often collect images from magazines which inspire me or peek my interest. Either because of the colours, patterns or images in them. I really like the background in this M&S ad, its a painting done by a Cornish artist named Paul Wadsworth, The colours and the brush strokes are really eye-catching. I found the painting soothing and dramatic at the same time. I did a small painting on watercolour paper using watercolour paints and coloured pencils. 

I added a bit more yellow and orange to my painting; I don't know what I will do next with it- maybe I will paint or collage a model in front of it?? I just thought I would "strike while the iron was hot".

Bye for now.

What I'm Working On...

Hello,

This is a piece that I'm working on now. I started it months ago but put it down to work on other smaller artwork. I tacked it to my bulletin board so I can see what it looks like hanging up. I did most of the work while it was on my small table in the studio. There are two others which are "sisters" to this one and will hang together when they are finished. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Bye for now.

New Work

Hello,

This is a new mixed media painting I'm working on.

Hopefully it will be ready in time for the Swindon Open Studio Tour. There are two more similar to this one that I'm also working on.

Bye for now.

In The Studio...

Hello,

I've taken a break from blogging to enjoy our "Summer Holidays" with my family. We've spent a few days in Manchester, a day in York and experienced Paultons Park for the very first time.  The weather is cheering up lately so its nice to finally have a summer. Here is a mixed media painting I've been working on. I will upload another photo onto the blog once my iPhoto application cooperates.

Bye for now.

Experimenting With Salt

Hello,

Today I thought I would start working on some pieces using salt to create interesting backgrounds. I did this years ago when I was in school and it was quite effecting, creating like a batik or tie-dye effect.

 The watercolour papers were painted with a mixed of watercolour, acrylics and acrylic inks.

They were then sprinkled with table salt.

Because the sun was out, I decided to let the paintings dry outside on the wash line. Once they are dry, I'll scrap off the salt and see what the effect is. 

Bye for now.

New Work

Hello,

Here are three mixed media pieces I'm working on.

I started them a couple of months ago-just the background, using the coffee staining technique I used before. Today I added white doilies on each of the three pieces using gel medium.

 

 

I then painted three other doilies using transparent inks. 

 

 

When they were dry, I used gel medium to adhere them to the paper.

 

 

When I brushed the gel medium on this piece it tore.

Rather than put it neatly back with the rest of the doily, I'll leave it. I think it looks interesting.

There is still more to do, I will have to sleep on it and see what next week brings.

I'm not sure on titles yet, the idea is that all three will hang together horizontally on the wall.

Do you have a suggestion for a title(s)?

Bye for now.

New Lino Prints

Hello,

Here are some prints from two designs I carved out of lino. I used watercolour paper to print on, black , blue and yellow printmaking inks and in some of the prints I painted the background first with watercolour paints before I printed the designs on top. What do you think?

  

Bye for now.

Tea or Coffee?

Hello,

After making the previous prints using tea stained paper, I thought I would give coffee a try. 

I started by painting the watercolour paper with a thin wash of coffee.

 I then dipped a few circular shapes in the coffee to make circle stamps.

 

Some close ups.

I then thought I would speed up the drying process of the prints so I could work on them. I turned on the hair dryer, but that didn't work-the coffee stains moved around too much on the paper. So I set them down by the space heater on the floor. I'll see what they're like tomorrow.

Here is another experiment using circular stamps using the same coffee stained paper:

I brushed bronze acrylic paint on a toilet roll and then stamped a random pattern. I then dipped the other end of the toilet roll onto yellow paint for more circles.

Close-up

I'll see that they're like tomorrow. 

Bye for now.

Handmade Rubber Stamps Part Two

 Hello,

I've been doing some more prints using the stamps I made the other day. I went back and made some changes to one I made before. The original is on the left, the new version on the right. I added pastels to the background and then added the heart shaped stamps. I also used two shades of greens for the leaves.
I like the way it turned out. The new name- I Love Leaves.

 22. Blue Harlequin                  23. Blue Harlequin 2

  24. Fly Butterfly    

25.  Fly Butterfly 2

  26. They Love To Dance

27. Shall We Dance?

The backgrounds are all done by staining watercolour paper with tea. I also used markers for the line work and the coloured bunting. Stay tuned for more prints and stamping.

Bye for now.