The latest MATS class I've been working on is the Portfolio Review. Taking the class is transforming the way I think about my website and I've picked up so many tips that I genuinely wouldn't even have considered. Gradually, I'm managing to make my own improvements. I've just created this little hand-painted banner for the top of my home page.
MATS Bootcamp - Suffragettes
Back in March we were given a Bootcamp assignment on the Suffragettes. While researching the project I discovered so much I didn't already know about these brave and remarkable women. I had no idea of just how much they suffered in the name of votes for women. Many of them went on hunger strikes while they were in prison and were brutally force fed with tubes being stuck down their throats or even up their nostrils while being physically restrained. The abuse they experienced effected their physical health for the rest of their lives. It is truly humbling to consider the sacrifices these women made for the benefit of all women in Western civilisations today. While there were many of these extraordinary women who made up the Suffragette movement, I particularly researched a leading figure: Emmeline Pankhurst who in their desperation to be heard, encouraged militant tactics. She founded the all women political organisation the WSPU (Womens Social and Political Union) in 1905 whose slogan was 'deeds not words'. Against much criticism, she encouraged her members to use extreme measures such as arson. She died in 1928, just weeks before the vote for all women aged over 21 was granted on 2nd July. A memorial of her can be found near the houses of parliament.
Repeat Pattern in Blue & White
It's been 3 days since the snow came to Devon, the first snow in 5 whole years and our first ever 'Red' weather warning. Everything really came to a standstill, the UK isn't equipped to deal with these weather conditions. All the local schools closed, much to the children's delight and we now have igloos and snowmen scattered around the garden. In the meantime, I have taken the opportunity to stay warm and concentrate on learning about seamless repeat patterns in photoshop. I've taken some of the icons from my vase of flowers to make this repeat pattern to be used as wrapping paper with my Mothers Day card for Folio Focus. It's taken forever to learn, but I have finally achieved what a year ago, seemed like the impossible!
Flowers for Mothers Day
It's week 3 of Folio Focus and our brief is all about Mothers Day! I've been desperately wanting to illustrate some vases of flowers for ages but haven't found the time. I'm thinking that I might make this one into a print when I open my Etsy shop later in the year.
What You Seek Is Seeking You
This months Bootcamp was to design a journal cover based around tea and particularly tasseomancy, the old art of reading tea leaves. I've been really into painting portraits lately so decided I wanted to focus my work around a fortune teller. Many moons ago I used to quite enjoy reading tarot cards and so my gypsy fortune teller, is based on the 2nd card in the Major Arcana, The High Priestess. She's intuitive, empathetic, independent and has a wonderfully balanced equilibrium. The quote I've used: 'What you seek is seeking you' was written over 800 years ago by the well known mystical Persian poet Rumi. In todays world of violence and uncertainty, it seems more important than ever to keep hope alive and remember the incredible importance of our spiritual journey, a healthy soul and our connection to everything and everyone! Quiet moments of contemplation seem so hard to come by in our fast paced lives. It's important to give ourselves some sacred space, whether that be a walk in nature or curling up with a cup of tea in a candle lit room. Quiet reflection recharges us and that in turn my friends, allows us to focus on kindness to others. Here's a link for you to check out the Mats Bootcamp February gallery.
Happy Valentines Day!
I made this design over at SketchbookSkool last November while studying 'Let's Make Greetings Cards' with Salli Swindell of They Draw and Cook. Salli was inspirational and I came away feeling so creatively nourished. Last September, my eldest son started at his new school and I was completely absorbed with helping him to settle in. So, this was the first painting I'd done for a while, having had a break for a good couple of months. It can be hard to get back into your creative groove if you stop for too long, however much you might love it. This class gave me permission to just create for fun, which was the perfect tonic and I've found it hard to put my brushes down again ever since!
