ACEO 365 - No.1

One of my many art ideas for this year is to make lots of new ACEOs - 365 to be exact! I want to try to reach a total of 1 ACEO for each day of the year - although that will be reached by making more than one some days and none on others.

The plan is to make ACEOs on any subject and in any medium as a way to experiment with different ideas. I also want them to be produced a bit faster than my usual watercolour ACEOs which can take several hours to paint.

So here is ACEO No.1; a postbox painted in gouache on collaged postage stamps and envelopes on mount board.

The original ACEOs in this set will all be for sale in my Etsy shop.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! After a nice Christmas break (which seems to have gone even quicker this year) I am back to work. I have lots of exciting plans for this year which should keep me very busy!

There are brand new supplies kits ready to be listed in my Etsy shop....

I also have ideas for new artwork, including Hexley illustrations. You can look forward to seeing some of that soon - I will also be posting some works in progress including sketchbook pages.

The first thing I have to complete this year though is backing up files and sorting reference photos on my computer - a long and frustrating job but it definately needs doing! Once that is done I can get on with the more enjoyable work of creating things!

Let's hope that with some hard work and a bit of luck 2010 will be a good year!

Hexley update

It's been a while since I have made any new Hexley paintings but I have a new sketchbook and lots of ideas so you can expect more to be appearing soon! With Christmas being a busy time I don't expect to be doing much Hexley work over the next couple of weeks but will definately be working on it in the new year.

For now here is an unfinished, practise piece I have been working on. It started as a pencil drawing which I used to practise my digital painting.

Back to work...

I've been a bit behind in making and listing new things for my Etsy shop over the last week or so. We have been having some building work done on our house and it's a little hard to concentrate with constant banging and mess! The builders have nearly finished though and I have tidied my desk and work room so it's much easier to work now. :D

On the weekend I booked a table at a local Autumn Fayre and Bazaar, it's in November so there is lots to prepare for that! I have lots of ideas I can't wait to get on with - including a craving for doing some sewing - but that may have to wait a few more days.

My first priority is to photograph and list some new items in my Etsy shop. So far I have listed some new magnets...

The top set are covered in three different fabrics from my collection and the bottom set feature transfer prints of three of my illustrations on a plain white fabric. Each hand covered fabric magnet measures approx. 1.2inches (3cm, the magnet on the back measures 0.6 inches (1.5cm). The magnets are quite strong and will hold several pieces of paper. I'm planning on adding a wider range of magnets to my Etsy shop very soon!

Bookmarks

I recently bought myself a laminator and have started to make laminated bookmarks. The first few are finished now and I've started listing them in my Etsy shop today.They are all printed with HP inks on HP premium plus photo paper to produce a high quality print. On the back is the title of each print and my shop address. Before laminating, I rounded the corners of each print.

Buying these bookmarks would be a lovely way to collect my illustrations, they would also make great little gifts and of course being bookmarks they are useful too!

So far most of the bookmarks have been made from my Hexley illustrations. The first one I have listed in my shop is the 'Hexley Solo Dirigible Balloon':

The Solo Dirigible Balloon is one of the many modes of transport to have been developed at the Transportation Centre in Hexley. After several years of experiments and prototypes the first fully functioning Solo Dirigible Balloon was built in 1892. It is the perfect flying device for the lone traveller. Once the balloon has been filled with hot gas it can be steered by means of large 'fins' and propellors attached to the traveller's back. Although the traveller is not limited by the direction of the wind when flying, it is recommended not to attempt journeys in strong windy conditions!

Diving Station Cotton Bag

I am in the process of testing out ideas for new products... The first thing that I've had a go at is making a transfer print and ironing it onto a cotton bag. I was really pleased with the result :)This bag features my 'Diving Station' print - one of the illustrations from my Hexley series.

The Oceanography Centre, led by Francis Jennings is one of Hexley's six main outer settlements. As well as being the centre for ocean research it is also the site of the area's harbour. Less than a mile offshore is the Diving Station; a quiet place for observing the ocean. Diving bells and small boats can be tethered here while divers rest or study the sea. The Jennings Diving Bell (which appears in the lower right corner of the illustration) is used for deep water exploration and has space for a maximum of 2 men.

I am planning to start selling cotton bags with this and other illustrations on soon. Until then you can purchase ACEO and 5x7 sized prints in my Etsy shop. :)