Banners Are Good…..

Banners are good. Banners are a useful way of breaking the ice when I’m running sessions in art. A lot of adults feel intimidated by ‘art’ and that they can’t paint or draw. Doing banners means they can drop by and do a few brushstrokes or they can get absorbed for a couple of hours.Continue reading “Banners Are Good…..”

Art In The Cellar

I am so lucky to work as an art tutor for a charity that helps homeless people. I love it and I love using art to communicate with people and to give people a lift, a sense of achievement. This banner has been going for a few weeks now. People can drop in and doContinue reading “Art In The Cellar”

Balanced Rocks

Exploring the local beaches around Albufeira last week, Husb and I found a cove full of balanced rock sculptures. It was a small sandy cove with a rock pavement jutting out from the base of the deeply fissured cliff and it was covered with little cairns. I drew this one with black, sanguine and whiteContinue reading “Balanced Rocks”

Hot Earth

  Here’s another drawing I did into my little Khadi sketchbook last week on the coast of Portugal. The colours were incredible, bright blue sky and sea and hot red and orange earths veined with dark greys. Extraordinary geology. There were also a lot of rock balancing sculptures in a little cove just to theContinue reading “Hot Earth”

Aloe Vera and Custard Tarts

I took a small Khadi sketchbook with me on my recent trip to Portugal and drew en plein air with Daler Rowney soft pastels. The landscape is very dramatic and I spotted these gigantic wintry Aloe Veras spearing the land and sky. The colours are so intense in the bright winter sunshine, so different to theContinue reading “Aloe Vera and Custard Tarts”

Across The Planet

  It’s lovely to see where artwork can get to when it leaves me and it’s released out in the wild. I did this mixed media piece, “Annwyl Käthe” – stamping, chine collé, stitching and hand written text – in an edition of 15 for the annual Leftovers print exchange organised by Wingtip Press inContinue reading “Across The Planet”

Back From The Sun

Husb and I have just got back from a few days in the sun. We bagged ourselves a package holiday to southern Portugal, Albufeira, to get some winter warmth. We had to leave the cats in the hands of a kitty sitter and they look fatter than ever. And I suspect that Sparta Puss mightContinue reading “Back From The Sun”

Paws On The Pooter: 8

I think today’s my last chance to get my paws on the pooter box for a while. I’m Sparta Puss and my simian servants have been away for a few days, getting some sunshine. Idiots, all they have to do is lie on a cushion in the window if they want sun! I’ve been allowingContinue reading “Paws On The Pooter: 8”

Paws On The Pooter: 7

Sparta Puss here. The hairless monkeys are away for a few days and Ming The Merciless and I have a kitty sitter, a pleasant enough she-ape who can be persuaded to give me bigger portions than my simian servants do. My usual she-ape calls herself an artist which means that she stares at me whileContinue reading “Paws On The Pooter: 7”

Paws On The Pooter: 6

  The bald monkeys are still away and I’m getting bored. The kitty-sitter is nice enough but I can’t wind her up too much in case she withholds my treats. I like winding up the hairless apes. It’s fun. I like the noise the she-monkey makes when I throw rats at her. A high pitchedContinue reading “Paws On The Pooter: 6”