Angel Face

Happy New Year friends!  I hope you’ve all had a wonderful festive season and break. We’ve had lots of fun both home and away, spending time with family & friends and enjoying the snow! I just wanted to share with you Angel Face. I know this is my first blog post in a while but she was actually created for Christmas, but with the general hustle and bustle it has taken me until now to publish her here!  I’ve used a combination of media starting on a heavy water-colour paper which is fixed to board. On the paper I used heavy clear gesso which I stamped into whilst wet, and layered up acrylic paint and pencil. I’ve also colour washed and wiped back to reveal background detail and mute some of the tones.

This other photo shows the edging detail; a pretty contrast in sparkley pink glitter!

Angel Face (Side Detail)

Green Goddess

Going gently but deeply within is the only space to create a truly authentic piece from, and this is exactly what happened when I made this one.  I took the time to make my workspace feel special with subdued lighting and the tunes I like to listen to, scented candles burning away in the background and as few distractions as possible. When I can achieve this environment I enter into an indulgent but uplifting time-warp where I really get into a piece with my whole self.  The process here was cathartic and the Goddess within flowed out through a series of strokes and tweaks with minimum fuss. I felt really ‘present’ with this girl and had the feeling that she just IS! And isn’t she rather lovely? If I may say so myself.

I started out on a nice weight of water colour paper with graphite then built up my layers with gesso, acrylic paint, pencil crayon and more graphite before embellishing. It struck me whilst creating this beauty the symbolic nature of using layers for the face, and how when we first glance at people, we take little time to ponder on the layers of experiences which have made that face unique. Our mannerisms, our energy, our expressions are all the result of our experiences and our reactions to them. And how complexly meshed together are those layers of experience!

Girl with Golden Hair

I’m really getting in to painting girls again – I just love painting girls, and I love experimenting with mixed media. Here I started out with some left-over pink acrylic paint which I had previously spread about as a background on to paper. Then I applied some antique decorative paper from the inner leaves of an old book as the border around the face. Then I layered up using stamps, acrylic paint, modelling paste in the hair and pencil crayons. I ‘m pleased with this portrait. Autumnal shades yet a glowing warmth are right for this time in the year!

Corkscrew Goddess

Here we have another Diva, (maybe she’s the Goddess of Wine?). I have been wanting to work on something ethereal for a while now, with an ‘out of this world’ element. I really like the idea of my work being used for something like Goddess cards but was wondering “Does everybody want to do that”? This little lady is cloaked in a diamond studded rich red velour shrug, ready for a special appointment. Who could she be?

Lady in Blue Mantle

Here we have another sketchbook image done in the same layered technique of acrylic and pastel. I produced the image about a year ago in graphite and it has just sat there in my book which I was flicking through earlier. It just seemed to shout out “Paint Me!!”, and so I obeyed. I think it’s made an improvement upon the original drawing, but just wish I had photographed it before paint to show you. N’mind!

Naive Flowers - Lino Cut

Yes, I thought I’d try my hand at Lino Cutting which is something I haven’t had a go at since I was in school. In fact, the piece of lino I used was something which had been kicking about in one of my materials folder since I was at school – so I guess I liberated it!! The background is made of rollered oil paint but I did use printing ink on top.  I do remember using a great big heavy press which I don’t have the luxury of using here, so pressing the design across was a process made up of pushy scrapey things and brut-force!! In the end though, I got some nice solid colour, albeit a little embossed looking!!  I quite like it that way actually!

Coming soon………I am about to create some greetings cards!! Keep an eye out!!

Amanda. 30cm x 13.5cm. Acrylic on MDF Board.

Meet Amanda!  She is a good friend and a brilliant solo guitarist and singer.  She wanted me to create something for her new home as she sets out on new horizons, so this is it!!  I’ve stuck mostly to black & white as those are her favourite colour combo and tried to make it most like her – she loves her little waist coats and pin-stripes!

Had a bit more time free to get back to painting recently, as the kids are now back at school.  I have been able to replenish my sanity once again!!

Funny Faces

So, here is my latest piece. Illustration rather than mixed media. I just wanted to create something simple which would serve as promo material. It is a combination of acrylic and watercolour pencil on birch plywood. I am thinking of having this printed onto some nice organic cotton tote bags so please let me know if you are interested so I may reserve yours now!

I’ve dabbled here and there with this painting throughout the school holidays which have been fantastic. There hasn’t been much time for work as we have been busy having so much fun!! We have been to Leeds, Manchester and London. We have slid the luge, boarded the London Eye and chilled out on board a narow-boat amongst many other exciting things. And here are some more funny faces too:

South Bank, London

Playing in art installation - Invisible Rooms

Aboard 'Liberty'

Framed Pretty Girls, in situ.

Framed Pretty Girls

Hi. Just been to The Little Gallery today where two of my paintings are currently being exhibited. Thought it would be sweet to share some images of them here on my blog. Anna, the lovely owner also has available some limited edition giclee prints of my girls. Things are looking rosy, have also booked a slot for 2011 to have an exhibition there – whoo hooo!! Had better get planning now!

Despite no recent postings on my blog I have actually being busy creating. I have made some random experimental pieces, in and out of my journal (which I may share later if I am feeling brave!). My children have been away with relatives this week which has given my partner and I a nice break and some freedom to work how we like, having guests visiting, pub in the eve, etc. It’s been lovely! Enjoying the last of the peace before we collect them this weekend! We will be treating them to a trip to London next weekend seeing the sights. They have never been and are so excited!!

But for now, I am off to the pub again, he he he, (third time this week!). For a beer and a veggie-burger!!  Bliss!!

Daffodils in Vase. Tissue, acrylic and gutta. 30cm x 40cm on MDF board.

Oh My!  Nearly 2 months since my last post.  So much has happened.  I have purposely been trying to take life a little more slowly so made a conscious decision not to worry about my blog but to adjust gently to the move with a ‘come what may’ attitude.  And so……. we came, and so did life and lots has occured.  We got here in Derbyshire at the end of May, and it is a pretty place.  I do love it here.  The children are settling well into the Steiner school (with a few bumps along the way, but I think that is expected), and we too are adjusting as parents to the changes.  I don’t for a minute have any doubts that we have done the right thing.  Our kids seem to have become ‘fuller’ and so much more of themselves already.  They’re growing well with their new challenges.

Jamie's Space

Sue's Space

I have some studio space set up in the house this time, sharing a work-room with my partner. (Mine’s the messy end!)  It is nice having it back home again and I am getting used to doing ‘a bit here and there’ when I can, fitting in it with my role of motherhood.  I saw a link in Jane DesRosier’s blog to this documentary film concerning motherhood as well as being a creative.  I resonate with it all: www.whodoesshethinksheis.net

I only started to paint again last week as I have been so busy with home-making and putting down new roots for myself and the family.  So, here we have my first piece from my new space.  I must admit that the initial outburst of creativity came out of frustration.  A little bit of anger and resentment which I was feeling was due to the fact that I had worked like a dog since I got here and hadn’t actually taken the time to do anything ‘creative’, sparked this piece.  And then it just seemed to flow.  It just fell out of me.  I like this piece – I translated that enegy in to something joyous.  But the harsh lines!!!  Why do I always end up creating such rigid paintings.  I guess that is just my style – authentically me.  But what does that say about me?  Uptight?  Contained?  Orderly?  Contol Freak??  Who knows?  I keep trying to blur edges and then forget again and get back into the habit of definite out-lines.  Old habits die hard or what!  I took up mixed media painting about a year ago to try to get me out of the habit of being so ‘perfectionist’ about my art.  In my previous incarnation as artist I was mentally torturing myself with finecky details and actually not being that creative at all.  You can see my old work here: www.susan-rhodes.co.uk.  In Steiner schools they have a very interesting method of painting without lines, especially in the earlier years.  They just use paint (natural pigments), wet on wet, and everything blurs and blends.  I think they are trying to teach children to create without boundaries, which is a wonderful means of expression.  These paintings have an ethereal quality and a sense of free spirit.  They are really lovely, – I think I need lessons!  Here’s one my daughter made:

Steiner painting without boundaries

Well, it’s been nice to have touched base with you all.  Will hopefully keep my blog updated now.  Although……….my children do break up today for the summer holidays so I am likely (like all mothers) to have my hands full at this time of year.  Never a dull moment!!