All the Little Things

Last Friday I went to Edinburgh. It was so lovely to be in my old stomping ground.  I stayed at the University Halls in the shadow of Arthur's seat. I did a lot of sketching.. When I go to Edinburgh I get a more intense zest for sketchbooks, like I have rewinded to my art college obsessions! It helps me have deeper memories of each trip.  I got lost then made it to the Modern Art Gallery.. Where all my dreams came true because there was a Joan Eardley exhibition on. I have loved her landscapes for a long time....

Craft fairs are such a lot of work and sometimes can be a bit soul destroying if the stars don't align and they are a bit quiet. Last weekend I did the Hepworth makers market and it wasn't soul destroying even though the weather was very hot and that effected visitors. The reason it was still so lovely was because the organisers put everything into making it a great fair. There was a cafe, refreshments, lovely ice cream, air con and great music!  I was pleased with my stand and sold a lot of hand printed t-shirts. I saw loads...

I have had thoughts about class and art for such a long time and never really known how to express them. I think I also had a sense of embarrassment probably at my lack of connections, aspirations and funding.  I grew up in a small northern town that didn't have any kind of arts scene. When I said I wanted to do art to my career advisor at school it didn't cross my mind that I could be an artist. It didn't cross theirs either because they suggested I become an art therapist. I knew I didn't want to do...

I have always been interested in drawing the moon; its circular form being both abstract and detailed at the same time. I guess there has been a lot of sky gazing with Nasa's Artemis II mission. I am not sure about having moon bases. I would like it to stay a magical and more mysterious. I saw such a beautiful exhibition at Leeds Art Gallery called "Don't Let's Ask for the Moon" , which keeps it that way. The exhibition brought together John Atkinson Grimshaw's Moonlights from the 1880's alongside more contemporary nocturnal landscapes. It is on until April 19th...

Take a walk with me at Beadnell Bay..