Bleak House

Driving in the dark; the black road is edged in orange and russet as the larch needles fall like snow.Its wild and windy and a catalogue of small disasters has made it a bit bleak up here on Witchmountain ( the heating has stopped working, the washing has blown away and Jake accidentally knocked over a bottle of water in my room so that it has actually been raining on me ,INDOORS, smudging my drawing and almost killing my poor old computer!!)I can’t stop eating toast either, I’m going to end up big as a house.

Apart from all that, my new Gocco stuff came the other day ,so tomorrow I’m going to have another go with a new design and some fabric inks…as well as continuing to play with the old heat transfer dyes. This bird is a little doodle I’m going to try out tomorrow as well…that’s if I can brave the freezing house and don’t get tempted to stay snuggled up with Tove Jannson. I’m watching for the postman too because my Moo cards should be arriving soon….

( Reading “Who Will Comfort Toffle?” Tove Jansson. Listening to: the wind)

DANGER “explosive atmosphere”!!!

I’ve been looking in my old “concept journal” from Minor Project at CCAD. These journals continue to provide ideas and research information so I’m actually heartbroken that the one I did for Major Project, with all my bear imagery, got lost by the college. ( If anyone sees it around the place PLEASE let me know ). These images are quick water colour sketches and heat transfer prints; I think I need to get a better camera though…

I had some more interest from a gallery today so I really do need to get some work ready to show them otherwise I will have missed the boat again. At the moment I’m waiting for new Gocco supplies and still struggling with the ink jet printer which is SO  frustrating as I needed to print out some cv’s and a job application form, grrr.

Bear Hugs

Doodling at silly o’clock at night last night; I still think bears not owls. And on a related subject, look at the sign I saw today in the field next to my parent’s house…I’ve never noticed it before and its actually hilarious in a bitter sweet way ( oh, and quite appropriate for Guy Fawkes Night too). I’m going to make some T-shirts…there’s inspiration all around us! x

(Reading: “The Winter Book” Tove Jansson)

Motivation Radio

These are some thoughts from Witchmountain, as the year comes nearly full circle and I’ve been writing for almost a year…

“When all else fails ” we must go and work in the garden” ( “Candide” Voltaire)

“( for if you’re not afraid how can you be really brave?)” ” The Exploits of Moominpapa” Tove Jansson.

So I just wanted to say…Good Luck to all those final year students at CCAD.Don’t stress too much over Easter!From what I’ve seen this looks like being a vintage year and I’m looking forward to the Degree show in June (?) although I’m a bit worried about the competition! Have a look at their blogs and see what you think.

( sorry if I missed some out, but follow the links on those pages for more CCAD talent!)

Anyway, these drawings are part of something I did in first year when we were asked to illustrate a song or poem using the techniques we had learned that year (collage, heat transfer, stencil, cutwork, stitch and watercolour, amongst others). The song was by John Martyn ( “Fern In The Spring” -I’m not sure if thats the official title…)and those in the know will understand why I chose to post it now.’Nuff said.

Take care everyone and by the way Louise Broomhead and Melissa at TinyHappy are both offering fantastic giveaways on their blogs so get there quick. I’m going to do something similar towards the end of the month to celebrate a year of Witchmountain ( just need to decide what to giveaway…)

Equinox

Here is the button box I bought today from the “Mind” shop.It is full of treasure…and some strange rubbish…I shall explore it’s depths later ( the best and tiniest buttons are always at the bottom.Don’t the orange and green look lovely against my transfer paint papers?

Yesterday Lyndsay and Carl came over for one of our tea, cake and catch-up sessions. We had to make an emergency trip to Helmesley for chocolate supplies and then did a quick  bit of still life drawing as well as  trampolining and talking to the ponies. It turns out that Sara Collins who was in our year at college has just got a design job in Australia, I’m so pleased for her and ever so slightly jealous..Congratulations Sara!

Meanwhile , just as we were wondering where all the jobs were Lyndsay’s phone rang and it was an agent offering her some work.Hurray! The sun has got his hat on and hopefully things are looking up.

This weekend is the Spring Equinox, one of the eight Sabbats , traditionally symbolized by the solar fire-wheel.Janet and Stewart Farrah’s book “Eight Sabbats for Witches”( Hale 1981) gives some interesting historical information on spring rituals, including the origins of Easter eggs, hot-cross buns and lucky Shamrocks. I’m just glad that the equinox means light nights and hopefully warmer days!

Winter

I haven’t been well this last week so I’ve been spending alot of time reading the “Little House” books by Laura Ingalls-Wilder. There’s nothing like re-reading a childhood favorite when you’re poorly and those books make me feel so cozy with their tales of the hardships of pioneer life in the 1880’s. At the moment I’m up to “The Long Winter” which makes the two inches of snow today seem like nothing; however, I am snowed in and enjoying preparing fabric for some Spring designs.

The drawing above is of the willow house last winter.

I’m also doing a few postcard sized pieces which I wanted to send to the TS1 5X7 exhibition in Middlesbrough. The deadline is Friday though so it looks like I may not manage it unless the roads are good by then…

I’ve been thinking about the students at CCAD who will be just panicking about Minor Project and Dissertations around about now…Good Luck!

Why Does It Always Rain On Me?

Today I’m loving the combination of these pink Cone Flowers and chocolatey brown foliage ( I wish I could remember what they’re called, since the label blew away). I want to sit and paint them and make an embroidered design since I saw someone wearing a brown top with bright pink stitching the other day!

Its so frustrating this post college need to be commercial. The need to make some pennies in order to keep the home fires burning (coal has gone from ₤6 to ₤10 a bag this year!!) What happens to all that creativity when all last year’s graduates end up back behind the bar or checkout ?

Ok, that was just a little rant on another rainy day here on Witchmountain! The swallows are starting to gather ready for the trip South and the garden is full of Lilies as tall as me which look like they’ve fallen out of a Pre-Raphaelite painting.

Above is a quick sketch I did with Biro and water colour. Biros are great for drawing with but I can never find one when I need one! I also like the distressed effect of water colour over a base of emulsion paint.

Yes, But Is It Art?…

Its a beautiful morning, not a cloud in the sky, but the man on the radio says its going to get “disappointing” later.Oh well, its a good job I plan to spend the day working on some more designs and embroidery samples; the jungle outside will have to wait.

Here are some drawing sheets inspired by the Wiener Werkstätte. I love the textiles and jewelry of this period , and of course the painting of Gustav Klimt…is the Liverpool exhibition still on I wonder?

Talking of painting, next week sees the opening of William Tillyer’s new exhibition “The Cadiz Caprices” at Bernard Jacobson Gallery,Cork Street, London. It runs from September 12- October 11 and we’re all looking forward to the private view and a family weekend in the city to celebrate! The paintings look great, imposing creations inspired by a summer spent in Cadiz. I will try to get hold of an image to show you but until then have a look at www.Tillyer.com.

Finally, a big THANK YOU to Tigerprint for putting a piece about this blog (and my friend Lyndsay McBean’s) on their blog which meant I got loads of visitors yesterday and I’d like to say how much I appreciate people taking the time to look. Its especially welcome living in a place like this which could easily feel very isolated!

Sorry about the quality of the photograph, I took it with my phone, driving home one day, because the cloud was so heavy you could almost touch it and there was a patch of sunlight lighting up the distance.Amazing…but a lesson to always carry a decent camera!

Forty Shades of Green

 
  
Its raining for the first time in ages and I’ve been listening to Johnny Cash after watching “Walk The Line” at the weekend. Brings back memories of the old 8Track stereo in my Daddy’s mustard yellow Ford Mustang!The forty shades of green outside my window have now turned to blue.
College today was all about finishing the boxes for the catalogue (they do actually look quite good afterall…) and having our photos taken for the gallery (maybe not looking quite so good but they did Photoshop our spots away!”They airbrushed my face” as Michael Stipe once said..!)
I got a bit of time to upload some more images, so today’s offerings include : a drawing of a floral motif which I used for digital print,a set of books covered in printed fabric,a dress with owl applique and vintage lace bodice and a detail of a dress design with hand and machine embroidery.
Right, back to making business cards. Goodbye for now.

Tuesday morning.

Did you see the moon last night? It was really lovely, buttery yellow, hanging in the oak tree. Anyway, I’ve come down from the mountain to have another go at putting some pictures on here. This week I’ve been working on the designs for my portfolio which has to be handed in on Monday. No need to panic then.