creativity is a very rewarding never ending process
In 2020, with little experience in this sort of thing, I decided to make a website and start a small project called ‘Carry Forth Tradition’, to share beautiful and interesting articles about our traditional ways of life, to get friends and family involved and to bring some joy to the world. Thank you to everyone who has joined in!
For articles and blogs on Carry Forth Tradition, I like to use my own photographs and artwork, so skills come in very handy, and it is more authentic. Over the years I’ve been on various courses including cooking, willow sculpture, natural fabric dying and batik, pottery, woodcarving, wood engraving and I even made a stained glass clock which hangs in our dining room! I’m a very keen needle worker, and have done many pieces of cross stich and black work, very, very minute detailed work.
I always return to some form of drawing and I work hard at it when I am being disciplined. My work is of a more traditional nature and of small scale. Ink is my preferred way, I like the simplicity of just a pen and paper and I particularly like drawing in black and white and cross hatching, but I have given most things a go. Like trying to ink my wriggling, semi-sleeping dog (below).
acrylic
A few years ago, I went to a few art classes in Bristol run by the wonderful, well known local portrait artist Vincent Michael Brown where I learnt some techniques for using acrylic that have been really helpful. Vincent encouraged me to keep up with my art, to which I thank him, it really helped me find some confidence to have a go.
I painted the chimp in acrylic in one of Vincent’s art classes, from a photo.
In the past, I also subscribed to New Master’s Academy and The Society of Visual Storytellers which are excellent, but I floated in and out of the courses inconsistently, and I did other short, online courses including learning ‘Procreate’ on my I-pad Pro but I’m not really a fan of working in the digital realms.
My artwork and illustrations have been used in various small projects and commissions; I have two really small illustrations in the book ‘Mapping The Mind: The Art of Sky Running’ by John Proctor a professional wilderness climbing and running instructor. I also have artwork in a gallery in Filey.
Since 2011, I have practiced Falun Dafa, an ancient Buddhist meditation practice that promotes truthfulness, compassion and tolerance and it has really helped my art skills, especially with patience and concentration.
You can find out more about this beautiful practice, which is free to learn, here - Falun Dafa
oil paints
Here is my first ever oil painting of our Airedale Terrier, Connie, in one colour as I was a bit nervous and unsure of how to use them! Sadly she is no longer with us, so this little painting is a happy memory in our kitchen.
The little train picture was done at the same time for my dear Uncle Mick.
watercolour
Inspired by Japanese Woodblock prints, I’ve been exploring using water colour paints to simulate this technique. I first drew the images from photos I took in Filey of the Bandstand and the little Boating Pool, which I have fond childhood memories of. The I inked the outlines and used some wonderful Japanese watercolours by Kuretake called Gansai Tambi. They’re so beautifully vibrant.
ink
This Jamaican Woodpecker was drawn using Sakura Pigma Micron black ink pens - some of my favourites (Sakura : Pigma : Micron Pens | Jackson's Art Supplies (jacksonsart.com)
The colour was applied using some really beautiful coloured ink brush pens my sister kindly bought me last Christmas that can be mixed with water, which is how I blended the colours. (Brush Pens - Creativepeak (creativepeakstore.com))
First, I drew the outlines in pencil from a photo I found online (although I couldn’t find out who took it sadly) then I drew the outline in ink and finally applied colour using the brush pens which I found really versatile once I’d got used to them. Adding water to blend the colours was very satisfying.
I made a video chatting about the process and the materials I used which you can see here -
I’d like to encourage you to have a go at creating some artwork. I’ve learnt that the best thing to do is follow your heart. Sometimes the first step is the hardest and even now I often find it hard to get started, and I find all kinds of reasons not to, but once I sit down and start drawing, I enter another realm and my art comes to life! It’s magical.
If you’re interested in finding out a bit more about my background and family upbringing you’re welcome to read this -
