Secret Heart

Secret Heart, for the Imagined portraits series.

A few variations: Digital painting and collage.

Horrible hayfever and sinus problems at the moment. I still haven't quite got around to replacing the drawing tablet either: working with the damaged one is beginning to drive me a little bit crazy...it tends to fly off all over the place, tripling actions and skipping commands. Why don't I replace it? I'm not sure! I have been so caught up in 'real life' non-creative stuff recently (which has made for quite a pleasant change, admittedly) that I keep on putting it off. The works above were inspired (partly) by the movie 'Let The Right One In', also by Japanese/Korean ball jointed doll imagery...Dark Alice, the ghost stories of M.R James, terrifyingly self-possessed children! My favourite is the floating head, which was the initial 'rough' version before properly working into the face. I imagine her to have so much to tell, so many painful secrets that may never find expression in the waking world. Oh!

xxx

Shop update

We're back in swing!

The Art&Ghosts shop has undergone a complete re-stock, with many more on the way.

Watch out for new sampler sets arriving within the next week, too!

xxx

Carnaval

For Carnaval

Digital painting with collage. For the Imagined Portraits series.

I feel that this isn't up to my usual standards, (whatever they are), but she expresses something visually that I cannot describe in words. She is a resolution, a small prayer, a thought for the past, and a brighter hope for the future.

xxx

Swann's Way

Swann's Way

Digital painting + collage.

For the Fairytales series.

Dedicated to my friend Maren's little boy, Swann.

This is possibly my first ever fairytale work featuring boys, too :-)

xxx

Green Apples

Lots of photo's!

My new product samples from LaLa Land arrived this weekend. I absolutely love the large, board backed prints (art blocks). Included were new card samples and mini cards, a beautiful poster featuring Harlequin, and Cat Heaven wrapping paper!

Miss Lemon at large...

Orchard Twins above the hearth...

A framed harlequin poster just to the back of Orchard Twins here, not very visible, sadly. I made these in a bit of a rush.

LaLa Land catalogue. Innapropriate Penguin Postcard placement to the left there :-)

Red Haired Twins card.

Card samples and mini cards to the rear.

Under Cover card.

Back soon!

xxx

Harlequin

Harlequin, possibly my favourite ever drawing from the Singing Tree series, now available in print. Hoping to create more intricate work for this particular series quite soon, if time allows. I really love how they combine both digital and traditional media so harmoniously: the scanned watercolour paintings and textures merging with digitally drawn lines.

A long overdue stock update this evening also. All regulars are finally back in store: be sure to check out a few renewed oldies and a couple more pieces from the Singing Tree, too!

xxx

Mountain Dream Tarot

Mountain Dream Tarot, a beautiful, symbolic interpretation created by Bea Nettles, 1975.

I would love to locate either the book or the pack, but it doesn't appear to be available any longer. The images resonate with me quite deeply, both personally and creatively. If you happen to know where I might be able to find more information about them within the UK I would be extremely grateful!

Edit: Thanks so much to Lorraine for providing so much wonderful info & sharing links to this video...

xloux

Quiet Sun

Lewis, created by Le Train Fantome.

We have been experincing mild, sunshiney weather for the past few days, which might just very well turn out to be our first glimpse of spring. So I took myself outdoors without my camera. Typical. I've been enjoying a little time away from home, cycling in the sunshine (pure joy!), reading the English Book of Magic, celebrating my mothers birthday, catching up with Star Trek (DS9), following the moon, and wearing...black.

I am currently obsessed with Arthurian legend (the Templars), fresh lemons, abstract textures, and Chad Merritt's gorgeous photographs. I dearly wish that he lived here in the UK so that we could finally collaborate on a photo project! To see his work in print, click here.

More soon!

xxx

Rapunzel

Rapunzel

New portrait. The hair is supposed to cocoon her, protect her, keep her warm. The brightness levels seem a little strange here on my laptop, so I hope she looks ok to you! I wanted to create a certain ethereal softness, with very little contrast. Lamb-soft, and pale. I think that I prefer the first, cropped version, although the cocoon effect is more apparent in the full version (in the last image).

And a new digital drawing on the magical/nature/Singing Tree theme. Not sure that I am satisfied with this at the moment, so I may alter the image, create new heads for the boys. Love the idea though. I'm not very experienced with drawing male figures, so this is something of a new challenge for me.

xxx

Moon

My first ever 'detailed' photograph of the moon.

My dad gave me a telephoto lens this evening, so, clearly, I had to seek out the moon! It doens't matter whether this is perfect, or crystal clear, or Nasa quality, you know? Because I'm literally reeling with joy at this moment. This is magical (anything related to the moon, the cosmos has profound spiritual resonance for me). Never mind that it was taken without a tripod, prior experience, and shot through a double glazed window : There's nothing quite as uplifting as having discovered something wondrous for the very first time.

xxx