Black on Grey on White

Shoving 2016 off to the side and bringing 2017 into the limelight. Energy, creativity, growth and prosperity the lights of choice. Ready to make 2017 memorable. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Time and inspiration. They've collided and are creating a noise  vision! They are making a mess on paper and it's ending-up looking like ... a horse!? Wee note to all fellow artists,  when they (time and inspiration) come calling at the exact same time. Knock on the creativity door with a synchronised bang! Peek through the same window holding hands. Let them in. Go with it! Rejoyce! They are not playing any kind of joke. There is no blue moon. They are, simply (amazingly), in the same room at the same time. It's an amazing feeling. A feeling of speed and lightheadedness. A feeling of good solid fun. Not finished, but here to prove my thoughts: the first few steps in the still-to-be-titled-big-portrait-of-beautiful-stallion. More to come :D 'cause I believe miracles can last (well long enough to get this drawing signed!)     

It's January, the month of new beginnings . Fresh starts. Things are going well in the studio and that's just it: they are ticking along smoothly. Time for a " spice up" . To boost my mojo . To re-asses. On the plan this month: Step out of my comfort zone .  Notch up my pencils to a new level. Dare to make mistakes Try a new technic , a new approach, new pencils. Slow down and feed my inspiration the good old fashioned way: curled up on the sofa books and magazines in hand; : AWAY from the computer from the fast lane of image overflow! Visit the art museum. The space, the light, the art are pure eye candy and a wonderful way to feed my artist soul. Make mistakes but make a start: pick up my pencils fearlessly Watch this space it should be interesting…. "Four Power" Sheona Hamilton-Grant. 2014. All rights reserved.

Who else will nod in sympathy when I admit to finding organising memorable Birthday parties tough? Finding that cool weather proof party idea, (one that has not been done a million times), a great venue (yep house is too small), something that's not too hard on the already pulled to a max time frame or thin wallet is somewhat of a challenge. This year the "party mission" grew in difficulty: number one daughter has now reached the grand old age of tweenhood... Totally unsure in how to proceed, I turned to what I know best and where many of my problems and solutions lie: art. Success: the Kunstmuseum in Bonn organises a number of different (fantastic) birthday workshops! Having Max Ernst  (1891-1976) turn up (well his legacy ) and lend his ever trendy talented approach to surrealism and art was magic. The girls rolled up their sleeves, got chatting & laughing. Submerged themselves in a world made their own by the simple use of wire, plaster and creativity. ...

A couple of days ago I mentioned, in passing, being a professional graphite artist and a amateur photographer.  This led to: how do I draw the distinction between being a professional artist and an amateur photographer? Now this turns out be a question laden with serious food for thought (and a rather long blog post)! A pro is paid an amateur is not. Rubbish answer. After another quick head rummage, it became clear that this question had a mass of tangents to get lost down and that no straight forward answer would be possible. Let’s go back to the question: how do I draw the distinction between being a professional and an amateur? Let’s see. ·         As a professional artist I draw for money as well as enjoyment.  As an amateur photographer for enjoyment alone. ·       Success, customer satisfaction and results are how I judge my graphite work whereas when I photograph participating is mo...

We don't get a chance to do many things and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

Quality time takes on many facettes. New unforgetable encounters being one of them. I love birds,watch them from afar, respect them, and when it comes to swans actually the respect runs into fear... Needless to say that getting "up close and personal" with a beautiful bird of prey made my day. Sod's law played it's part in today's photography: my Eos spent the day with the cats and the pencils snoozing in the studio (yep I forgot it!) and it was an iphone rescue... The advantage: you all get to see the camera shy face behind the pics and the words in this blog (hi all!) Having this wee chap so close to my chest was AMAZING!!! We even had a wee conversation (or so I like to believe!) Hope you have all had a fantastic first autumn week-end with moments of precious quality time and pics to mark the occasion. Tomorrow back to the studio where a beautiful equine awaits!!!

They pick up their brushes, pens, pencils, engage their imagination and create. No questions asked, no qualms, no deep soul searching... Good friend and fellow artist Kim Santini suggested trying journaling for my "Ladies" when the winter was at its deepest and coldest. It has been a life changer and a big part of the last few hectic months. "Lets bring out the Doodling Book" only needs to be whispered once... Islay aged 8 Amelie age 6 Islay age 8 Amelie age 6 Islay age 8

Children are the anchors that hold a mother to life. - Sophocles

Spring in Bonn is "bloomin'" cool! Many of you may remember, my studio suffered from a few " post move trauma" months at the end of last summer. (We moved lock, stock and barrel from Chimay-Belgium to Bonn-Germany) It is, really, only recently that a momentum has been re-established and stamina no longer some kind of stranger. Lazy- Sunday- afternoon- Trundles- along-the- Rhein season is now officially open (here are my photos to prove it). Just the right inspirational balm the studio doctor ordered - that is of course if there is such a person! Wishing you all an ace week, fill to the brim with creativity and inspired thoughts.

2011 is going to be a great year, a year of change, challenge, growth, inspiration and prosperity. How do I know? I don't. Giving it my most serious shot will kick start it to being just that. We all have the same: twelve months, 52 weeks and 365 days. 10 days have already been spent at this end working on the change, facing the challenge, feeding the growth, nurturing the inspiration and preparing for the prosperity. 355 to go... here's to a cracking 2011!

Up and running and drawing! My pencils are enjoying their new home as are both Wilbur and Bernadette. The space we have been allocated is just fantastic! Our previous work area was really cool too. Totally different and just much much smaller. Here, well this is pure luxury with space for the indispensable drawing board and red trolleys but also for my (big) favorite sofa, all my music, books, fellow artist, mementos and ... a chess board. For all of you interested here's a wee guided tour... New work area: great light, space and view. Behind work by Kim Santini , Juliette Harrisson and Linda Shantz . Old well loved yellow sofa. One of the 2 studio cats in action (also known as Jessy Jane or Jess ) Music, books, reference photographs and files Printing and Prints area. Above work by Karmel Timmons . Over looking the action: Wilbur & Bernadette . Side view of new cutting and framing area. In frame works by Donna Ridgeway , Kim Santini , Tami Oyler , Jenn Pratt , Kathi Pete...