Tuesday 11 January 2011

An Artistic Question...??

Today, walking Izabel up at the woods, watching Spring trying really hard to be noticed, with the first buds on the trees, I wondered.  Is it really necessary to have a 'signature' bead or piece of art? 

While I was drawing and painting, I loved to use my coloured pencils to 'portrait' the animals around me, mainly dogs and cats, but, I also liked to be more abstract which eventually led to a more 'impressionistic' approach to large scale paintings of the woods.  Trees and flowers being a favourite, with seascapes coming in a close third.  When I found glass, I experimented with all kinds of styles of beads settling on encased flowers and, albeit, still very much still in the 'experimenting' stage, my worlds in glass.  Swirling layers of glass, giving a paperweight effect.  But.  I also have a love of whimsy.  When I was little I had a very special set of dogs, Snoopy style, in clear acrylic (probably plastic of some kind) with lilac ears, joined together with a cheap (probably plastic) gold coloured chain.  I loved them and I often think of them whilst making the whimsy creature out of glass.  The two styles of beads are so different.

Sammy Seagull

Lovesick Hound

A world in glass

Collection of Sculptural Roses and Hummingbirds
So, while today I am planning a 'whimsy fest' day at the torch, I will ponder this question whilst singing along (badly!!) to old classics on the radio and generally having fun. 

Art is supposed to make you smile....right?

Thursday 6 January 2011

New Year, New Plan!

Happy New Year to one and all!  I hope everyone had a fab time over Christmas and New Year.  We had a great time here, lots of food, too much drinking (but it was lovely ;O) ), good company and lots and lots of laughs.

My daughter turned 15 three days before Christmas and my son turned 17 on New Years Eve, so we celebrate lots here. 

Izabel had a lovely walk with her cousins up at the wood over Christmas.  It is so much fun when one of your cousins is a puppy!! 


from L-R, Izabel, Ellie (my neice and Izzy's favourite friend in the whole world, they do get into some trouble together!!), Nina and Jasper (the puppy Akita).



Now that I have a new website of my very own, and have re-opened my shop on Artfire, as well as my shop on Etsy, I am planning a big beady year.  I have lots of shows pre-booked throughout the year and am really looking forward to being productive.

Laney x