Tuesday 17 June 2014

Brazil World cup 2014

With the World Cup in full swing, flags of all the participating nations, and this year in particular the flag of Brazil,  are much in evidence!  Here's one I made earlier.The original  stamp collage was sold a couple of years ago, but canvas prints and giclee prints can always be made in a variety of sizes.  All the stamps are from Brazil, and show events, places and personalities from the country's history.

I've many more stamp collage flags, all of which are made from stamps of the country concerned,  which can be seen on the flags page of my website. Originals, prints, and cards are available for most of the ones shown, and prints can be made to order. Please contact me if you would like to know prices.
I'm always happy to consider commissions for flags of other nations and am currently working on the flag of Barbados!

Friday 13 June 2014

Everything's coming up roses ..

There are a  lot of weeds in my garden,  helped on their way by the abnormal amounts of rain we've had and the limited amount of time spent getting rid of them due to the awful weather. But, as the old saying goes, "There are no rainbows without rain" and the plus side is definitely the wonderful display of flowers this year!
Not only am I admiring the roses and other beautiful plants in my garden at the moment, I'm also working with some  very pretty flower stamps, creating collages. I hope the finished result will be a picture which brings a definite feeling of love and happiness, with hearts and flowers much in evidence!

I'm really enjoying this latest project and am constantly finding stamps showing flowers, particularly roses, which I recognise from those growing in my own garden, such as this beautiful specimen. Unfortunately its label has been lost, but I think it is Rosa Mundi, as shown on the 1976 11p stamp, one of four from the British roses series.
   I'm using some of my flower and rose stamps from all over the world  to make a heart design, while others are being used in a patchwork formation with bouquets in pink vases, all made from stamps. Currently a work in progress and quite labour intensive!!

I heard a great quote from a fellow artist recently.  When asked, "How long does it take you to make a picture?", she replied .."more than 50 years".  I thought this was a wonderfully clever  response , as many years of experience, research, practice and love of one's craft go into an artist's work.  It may take  a few hours, days, weeks or months to produce a finished picture but knowing just how to accomplish this will no doubt have taken many years of  hard work, many mistakes and careful study.

Sunday 8 June 2014

Cotswold Essence (Summer edition) features my stamp collage work

I was delighted to be be invited to feature in Issue 39 of Cotswold Essence,  which came out at the end of May, for the June/July/August issue. It's a great free magazine which can be found in and around Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. I've only recently become aware of this interesting and informative magazine through friends who recommended it and then just by chance Sue Smith, the editor, got in touch with me.
I've reproduced the article which appears on pages 66 and 67, and you can't find a hard copy of the magazine, you can  also read the magazine online  at www.cotswoldsessence.co.uk and click on the link for the latest issue with the pretty cover, by Gemma Dawks, a local photographer also featured in this month's issue.  So much to read in this lovely colourful magazine!