As an artist, when you get a commission you are chuffed (that’s a strange English word for ‘very pleased’). But you don’t always know how well the results have been received.
When you get a repeat commission, you are even more chuffed.
I’m really chuffed to say that one client, Karen Barclay of @karensquilts , has the triple whammy!
From top to bottom; Arthur, The Shed, and The Old Granary. Thank you Karen!
I can’t reveal the Christmas commissions till after the big day, but I can show you a special birthday card.
This is for Eddie who is Millwall’s biggest fan, and pretty darned good at the game himself. His mum sent a picture of his favourite boots, for me to put on his birthday card, which he got last week.
So here we have a pair of Copa Mundial boots, which I am pleased to say I didn’t have to pay for. Have you seen the price of these? And now he takes an adult size to make it worse. Anyway, play up Millwall! Happy birthday Eddie.
Have you got any special requests? Christmas cards next!
Ok, it’s a miniature. Another cottage inspired by the driftwood models created by Collette Stacey of Cosy Cottage Designs. (Instagram @cosy_cottage_designs).
This one is a little different as the occupier has raised beds for vegetables and flowers. There is an old shed in the garden, too. Let’s hope they get the washing in before it rains!
Check out Collette’s Instagram page to see what she is doing. Then come back here and tell me what you think.
Recently released by Chocolate Baroque (the renowned manufacturer of high quality and durable rubber stamps, based in England) is a new range with a Native American theme. Each stampset has sentiments either as quotes or poems by Native American poets, or by Lesley from CB, herself.
All the stamp sets are available and can be ordered from Chocolate Baroque. Links to each set are included in the description below. While you are there, have a browse for all the other crafting supplies available.
The original art work is drawn by me (Kim Moody).
The first stampset is called ‘Catching Dreams’. It consists a traditional dream catcher, ceremonial pipe, and tomahawk.
The second is ‘Do right always’. This time there is a tipee scene and totem pole together with feathers and cactus fillers.
Third is ‘Hold on’. Here we have an animal hide, may be bear or buffalo, stretched on a frame. It is ideal for placing pictures or sentiments, or could be cut out to reveal a picture behind.
A couple of cacti are included.
Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a shop called Studio Minerva. In that shop wonderful things happened …
For Studio Minerva was a place where dull grey clay was turned in to wonderful, colourful ornaments and trinkets. It was a studio where people were taught to decorate ceramics – the teachers were Julie and Kim.
Since that time I have only done a little teaching here and there, sometimes at the BADFA convention. But tomorrow, I do it again – big time!
I have designed a day as a ‘pen and ink’ class, and tomorrow it gets its first proper airing.
A trusted friend and one of her students will be subjected to a session of me and pens.
Who knows what the end result will be, but plenty of time, planning, and thought has gone in to it, so I’m confident all will be well, with only a few minor tweeks needed.
… and they all lived happily ever after. We like a good fairy tale.
Sometime ago I drew ‘The Old Cottage’ at Burnards House, in Devon. One of the techniques I’ve wanted to experiment with is adding colour. I’ve tried before and not been pleased with the result.
This time I used Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolours in tubes. The ink has dried completely (well I drew it over two months ago!) and is Daler Rowney FW Acrylic, Black 028.
So what do you think? Colour, or no colour?
I’m not sure which I prefer. I enjoy the drawing and the detail. May be each picture will tell me what is best for them.
Out of the comfort zone. Sometimes you have to try something a little different. Many of those I follow on Instagram are tattooists, or design tattoos, or like dark, gothic stuff – which often involves skulls. So, I thought I’d have a go, just for fun.
This skull is pretty unexciting, a bit anatomical really – but as a first attempt I was pleased with the result.
This fella is all stippling, dots, or pointillism – depending on how you like to describe the process. I used a Derwent Graphik art pen, 0.1 point on 100gsm copy paper.
Looking at his teeth, it could almost be a self-portrait! What do you think?
Manelle’s Challenge.
It is too hot for me, so today I gave up and I’m sat in a darkened room, which is only about 5 degrees cooler than out side – but it is good.
So, it is a good time to accept a challenge – a ‘draw this in your style’ challenge.
On Instagram, Manelle from Utah, on her site @talesfantastic, has set a challenge to draw her mermaid in our own style. Her mermaid is one of a series that can be found in her new book, ‘Mermendium’. This mermaid reminds me of the tale of the fairy, Melusine although there is no connection.
She has used watercolours. Mine is using an Artline pen and Karismacolor pencils. I’ve put the two together so that you cam compare. What do you think?
Check out my Instagram page: @kpm.illustration
Manelle’s beautiful original
My version
I’ve been framed – by a customer.
Last week I delivered their commissioned picture*. Karen of Karen’s Quilts assured me that this one was going to a good home and would be well looked after. Looks pretty nifty in the black frame, don’t you think?
So, here it is, hanging in the kitchen where the picture and the ‘real shed’ can be viewed together. Visit her blog for the full story.
Karen’s speciality is handmade, bespoke memory quilts. If you have a special memory that you want to keep and share – may be a new baby, a wedding, or graduation perhaps – or a loved one who is no longer here, Karen will tailor the design to suit your requirements.
*Visit my portfolio at kpmoody.wordpress.com for details of Karen’s request, and how to commission one of your own.
My other blog, Twitter account, and Instagram all use ‘scratchypen’ in their name – read the Why? page on my blog for a full explanation.
As it is about time I added to this blog, using my scratchy pens seemed to be a good idea. So here is a quick doodle / sketch of my house and its immediate neighbours, just for fun.
For info, the initial layout was on cheap sketching paper, with HB pencil, the large writing nib, with black FW Acrylic Artists Ink, for the outline, and the small mapping pen for the detail. Final shadows and shading with 4B pencil.
I hope you approve. Let me know what you think.
Kim - splash it! 