Self Portrait Painting - Time Lapse

I haven't done much painting in ages so I really wanted to do something and I've made it into a short video to watch on YouTube! Take a look...

Bye for now! xxx

The problems of being an artist - #1

Yes, this may actually end up becoming a series as I can already think of a few and that's just what is at the top of my head, without any deep thought...

Problem number 1, mess. See image below.

I would apologise for the mess but, if you notice what is actually out of place in the image and is causing a mess, you will notice it is mainly art equipment. As an artist, and I am unsure whether other artists will agree with me on this one, I have two contradicting minds. One wants to have a lovely tidy place to live with no mess. The other would like to express itself and produce art and, whilst in the middle of the production of said art, would like to leave it everywhere so it is easy to come back and pick up where I left off at any moment. This is why all artists should have a studio. It's just a lot easier said than done.

I just wonder how many other artists agree with this?

You'll hear of more problems to come, I am sure...

Bye for now! x

Obsessive Compulsive Cleaning

'Obsessive Compulsive Cleaning' is a British programme that I am truly in love with. I think I can relate to it on a certain level (definitely not as extreme as some of the people on the programme!), I also find it interesting but hard to understand how the hoarders/non-cleaners can live how they do.

I was so interested in this subject matter I did one of my a-level projects on it (a lot of talk of my a-levels lately, sorry!).

Here are some photos from the project:

I'd love to hear your comments.

Bye for now!

A-Level Art

For my A-Level exam art work I did a project on transvestites and transgenders. The theme was 'Inside, Outside and In Between'. I interpreted this as how you feel on the inside, look on the outside and every aspect in between. Obviously I could've have gone down any route but this subject matter captured my attention and made me want to explore 'why?', in an positively open-minded approach.

I used a model for the basis of my work; to take photos from, and to sketch and draw. He wanted to have copies of the work when finished so a couple of weeks ago (when I finally got my work back after a year) I let him borrow the work.

I thought I'd take advantage of the fact that he got some great quality copies of the work and asked for some digital copies. I thought I'd post them here to be seen:

I hope you like some of it and please feel free to leave me with any of your comments!

Bye for now!

Anxiety Undiscussed

I have just read this blog post and it has really got me thinking.

It made me think that I'm sure I already channel my anxiety into something, but it's not necessarily what I would like to be channeling it into.

I believe I channel it into where I work. I spend much time as I can there and I'm sure it's the money that is motivating me to do so, however, I also find it a place where I don't have to think I just do. I work each day and sleep at night and there is no time to think about other things. This isn't really helping me though. It stresses me more as working that hard makes me very tired which makes me more stressed. The worst part about the situation is not having a rest from it all, so I will have days at work where I just can't do anything, no will power allows me to do anything.

I wish I could channel the energy from my anxiety into my art. At the moment I have so little energy after I have finished work that I can't do any work at all. Let alone work with energy in it that I enjoy creating. It really has been a while since I created work that I truly enjoyed doing and have had a reason for creating.

This is only a small blog post. Maybe one day I will go more into my anxiety in a post. I find it a relieving thing to do and I don't know whether people read the posts or not but perhaps they do and find them interesting to relate to.

Bye for now!

DIY Cheap Headboard

I'm just sat here warming myself up having been in the cold for about an hour and thought I'd right a blog post.

The other day I finished making a headboard for my bed. I'm sorry that in the photo above it isn't very clear, clearly it's camouflaged! I hope to add some kind of decoration to it to make it look a little more interesting as well but at the moment it is doing its functional job.

How did I do it? Well, I don't want to claim to any of the ideas behind it because it wasn't my idea at all. I followed THIS tutorial. There were many tutorials to choose from but this one seemed simplest to me. Partly because it meant I didn't have to buy a big sheet of foam to fit which could also be expensive. I used cardboard rather than wood for the backing and filled with old pillow stuffing which had over-used it's time inside the pillows. So I spent about £1 on this entire headboard as I did have to buy the material which is made from two curtains that I got in Red Cross for just about £1! Bargain.

You may be wondering why my headboard looks different to the one in the tutorial because when I got to the point in the photo above I felt it didn't look very neat or stable so I went and added another layer of fabric on top which smoothed the headboard out and brought it all together.

Now it's supporting my head when I'm in bed and is nice and comfortable. I just hope it lasts a while but even if it doesn't, I'm pretty happy with my £1 spent!

I hope you like this blog and let me know if you end up making a headboard too!

Bye for now!

Inspiring Art/Journals

Yesterday I was just flicking(/clicking) through Bloglovin posts and came across a blog that I started to go through all the posts of. I found it seriously inspiring and it just made me want to grab a sketchbook and get drawing/painting/sketching!

http://www.jennys-sketchbook.com/ << this is the blog!

This is one of her videos but have a look through them all! I love them.

Bye for now!

Marilyn Monroe Drawing

This drawing is something I'm selling on Etsy so I thought I would show here some of the stages that built up to this finished drawing.

This process can be seen in more detail on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE1vEOcMMos&feature=c4-overview&list=UUfp5V4Oj3SKjJHTPnfC2pcw

If you like this then you can buy it at Shed Creativity: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/174601733/marilyn-monroe-graphite-drawing-detailed?

Bye for now!

DIY: Pen or Make-Up Brushes Pot

Here's the first of (hopefully) many DIY blog posts that I will be doing. I'm starting with an extremely simple one. It's a cute pen or make-up brush holder which can be customised to will be the proud owner of it!

All you need for this DIY is:

• Some fabric of your preferred colour and pattern choice
• Fabric scissors
• Double sided sticky tape
• A washed and clean tin

First of all take your tin and ensure it is clean as you don't want any bean juice or left-over soup in there!

When it is fully clean you can cover it in double sided sticky tape! Everywhere to ensure the fabric sticks well.

And then all that's left to do is cut the fabric a centimetre more than you need on all four sides to all yourself to easily fold those in and hide the frayed edges.

This is what you should end up with! And of course you can put whatever colour(/color) or fabric that you so wish to suit your fancy!

I hope you like the DIY post. I hope to be doing more similar DIY posts soon!

Bye for now!