New month - new art journal

Hi everyone,

It has been quiet on the blog front but I have been busy. As Spring is starting to bloom and the evenings are becoming lighter, I have started a new art journal and painted several new canvases this month.

R and I also decided to start an Instagram account called #andyandrachael where we try to post daily photographs of projects and things that inspire us. Please feel free to check it out if you are interested. We would love to see you there...

Here are a few photographs of the journal so far:

As you all know, nature is a big source of inspiration of mine and this has crept inside the journal

I was really inspired when I revisited the paintings I created on Flora Bowley's ecourse Bloom True last year and this double page spread reflects that inspiration.

                       

This source of inspiration continued further last weekend when I added to some new canvases  It felt brilliant to be working on canvas again and to watch how they are developing (as well as getting messy!). Lucky for me, my wife is very supportive when I am in the painting zone!!! 

Hope that Spring is inspiring you too.

Andy

Christmas Decoration Swap

Hi Everyone

I am so sorry that I have not posted since Halloween. I have only just got over my illness. It has driven me crazy not being able to get out into the man cave and paint large canvasses, but it has not stopped me painting something small.

I decided to paint a Decoration for Miriam's Christmas Decoration swap. As I write this, my bauble is now on it's way to the the States and I hope that the recipient will like it. 

The actual bauble is ceramic and I have used a selection of acrylics and pens to create my little elves.

I am off to check Miriam's blog to see what other people have created and I am thinking of painting some more baubles for Christmas. I think it will be rather a crafty Christmas this Year!

Have a good week.

Andy

It's all in Black and White

Hi Everyone,

What a week it has been. There was family to catch up with, and lots to do around the house. While sorting out our studio, I found a little treasure that I would like to share with you.

It is a small sketchbook that I created ten years ago at the start of my teaching career. Back then, I took the train to work and I would spend that time drawing and sketching. It is interesting to look back and see the symbols I created and to now think of how they may have influenced my more modern sketches.

Looking at these I can see a fossil influence, especially in this section of the first sketch. 

The first image shows an Ammonite and the second has an Ortheceras influence 

All of these were done with Biro to give a good gradient with tones. It is amazing how the tones and colours can vary when using just a black Biro. It all depends on the manufacturer. I have a collection of about ten Biros from different companies and each one is different.

The above sketches then developed into these drawings.

Looking at some of my more modern sketches, I have noticed that the same symbols are starting to creep in. I have even observed that they have started to show up in my paintings too.

I am also busily painting and will share these with you soon. I am at the stage of adding layers of colour and applying the details.

I have loved having an Arty Summer and hope that it will continue now that the 'Man Cave' is completed.

Enjoy these last few days of summer.

Andy