New earrings

 

Some new earrings. 

I sold quite a few pairs at last week's craft fair, which gives me a chance to make some more and use some of the beads that I've been avidly collecting! The squirrel earrings were commissioned- I love those charms, I bought them just before Christmas and they have such nice detail. 

The Long and the Short of it

This is a painting of my sausage dog Frankie. I wanted to do a long, thin painting of him to really get a sense of his shape, which is hilarious! Also I thought it would make a great greetings card - but I can't print this at Moo.com (where I usually get my cards) as it's the wrong shape; so I'll probably end up making my own (which is a bit inconvenient to be honest).

Dark Lane Volume 5 illustrations

Every year I do some artwork for Tim Jeffries, who edits the Dark Lane Anthology - we are on volume 5 now. I always enjoy doing this kind of artwork, as I don't get a chance to do much gothic art these days.
Here are the illustrations for Volume 5:

'Death of a superhero' by Christopher Fielden

'Onryo' by David Rose

'I am called Mystery' by Robert Pope

'Holly's Web' by Bill Davidson

Sausage bits and pieces

I've been making some new jewellery bits for a craft show coming up this Saturday (alongside painting, more of that to come!).

 

Sausage dog bag charms. I love the black, enamel ones - they're pretty difficult to get hold of, I have to get them from China. Also I've used some lovely beads, lovely gemstone amethyst, which look so gorgeous in the light. These bag charms are £8 each, which is good value considering how long it takes me to make them!

 

Sausage dog earrings with Swarovski crystals. These are on sterling silver ear wires, which clip together so they won't fall out. I sell these for £6 each. 

 

Bookmarks- I like making these as I can experiment a bit with the beads - and it's a good way to use some of my favourite charms.  

Hare's Dream

This painting was inspired by the imagery I was using in the 'Hare Dream' cushion. It's a narrative told from the hare's own perspective.
I wrote a short story to accompany this painting, which is scratched into the background. It doesn't matter that you can't really read it; it's just supposed to be evocative.

Pendants with regular chain

Here a a few new pendants with snake and cable chains. 

 

I'll just try a mixture of both and see what sells. 

New Rosary style pendants

  I've just made some new necklaces and really wanted to try using Rosary beads instead of regular chain. I like this black beaded one (is it better than using plain chain? More eye-catching perhaps? Probably it's down to personal choice. ) Anyway, I need to try something as I can't seem to sell the pendants. They are £10 each, which is reasonable I think- especially since making the actual pendant is really fiddly! I'll write a blog on how to do that at a later date. 

I've also got these turquoise and clear beads:

 

I quite like the clear beads, really not sure about the turquoise. I'll probably re-do those. 

'Tyto' - the end result!

Background scraped, ink flecks added and I think it's ready!

 'Tyto'

mixed media (oil pastel and lino ink).

Scraping away the lino ink

The scraping stage: I'll concentrate on the owl first ....
I use a tool that you buy to scrape away scraperboard (or scratch board). It's better if it's not too sharp, or you can tear the paper, so use a tool that is quite worn down.

Covering up the owl!

The scary (and messy) bit - covering the entire thing with black Lino ink! Even the light areas need covering, but I need to be able to see what I'm doing, so I won't use much ink here.
It's important not to allow the ink to dry as it will make the scraping less fluid- so I have to start the next stage straight away. . . .

Owl Painting step 2 - colour

Step 2 - oil pastel. It's important not to leave any gaps (as this will leave a black mark when it comes to scraping). The blue I've used here is ultramarine, unusual for me as I'm more drawn to Prussian blue - however, it won't make much difference in this case as I intend the background to be very dark. The owl is mostly white and yellow-grey. I usually use Pentel oil pastels, as they are firmer than a more expensive pastel (eg Sennelier) and hold onto the colour better once scraped.

Example of working method - oil pastel and lino ink painting

This is a step-by-step guide to creating a painting using oil pastel and lino ink and a scraper tool.

Long, thin owl painting- 'Tyto' - stage one: having already done some preliminary sketches I draw out the owl, keeping it quite basic; there's no point in getting too detailed here, as I'm going to completely cover it up. Also once I start scraping away I don't want to see too much pencil work showing through.

Me and 'Affinity '

 I painted 'Affinity ' last year and documented the making of it on my Facebook Vikki Yeates illustration page. 

I'll do this again with my next painting. 

Hare Dream design

I

The painting that I made into a transfer, then ironed onto the cushion cover.
I kept the design for this very simple, like a celtic stone carving. But once I'd finished I felt a bit unfulfilled and so I've taken it as a springboard to another more detailed painting, which I'll show at a later date.

Hare Dream cushions

I came up with the idea for these cushions when I painted my friend's dog Nenagh; she loves snuggling up on the sofa! Usually my animals are surrounded by plants and nature (http://vikkiyeates.daportfolio.com ), so I wasn't sure how to tackle this at first; but then I came up with the idea of designing my own William Morris inspired artwork to put onto the cushions, effectively bringing the outside inside! I really enjoyed the intricacy of the cushion designs so wanted to take the idea a stage further - hence 'Hare Dream' evolved.
Unfortunately I only have an A4 printer and they would look much better if I could make the print bigger. Or get smaller cushions maybe?

Doctor Fell

I do not like thee Doctor Fell,
The reason why I cannot tell,
But this I know and know full well,
I do not like thee Doctor Fell


I love this nursery rhyme. I remember reading it in a Ladybird collection of nursery rhyme, and all of the illustrations had a dark, unnerving quality to them. I think that children get a thrill out of being scared (as long as it's in the right degree) and that most publishers these days don't understand that. Modern illustrations for children seem mostly to be pretty decorations. Which I think is a great shame.

The Rabbit Catcher

I don't know when my obsession with Sylvia Plath began exactly, but it was long before I chose this poem 'The Rabbit Catcher' to illustrate. I love her dark imagery and bitter words - and if I'm ever stuck for inspiration I can always get ideas from her poetry.

This illustration ties in nicely with the previous picture 'Crow and Doll', as I was inspired by the bleak, wintery environment of the sussex downs, abundant with teasles and old, woody brambles. 
An extract from 'The Rabbit Catcher':
'It was a place of force -
The wind gagging my mouth with my own blown hair,
Tearing off my voice, and the sea
Blinding me with its lights, the lives of the dead
Unreeling in it, spreading like oil . . .'

It's probably difficult to see from this small image, but in the background are lots of rabbit skeletons - a morbid 'Watership Down'!

FUSION exhibition continued

Today I sold 'The Crow and The Moon' - I'm very happy, though will be a little sad to say goodbye to this painting, as it was the first in this stage - and it usually has pride of place in my room. But I'm pleased it's going to a good home!

Fusion Exhibition

We had a very successful private view last night at Walcot Chapel Gallery; lots of people came along, drank wine and bought artwork, prints and cards. I sold 2 paintings - Satanic Female and The Scratch Sisters.

Hopefully lots of people will make it to the exhibition this week (opening hours 10am - 5pm).

Busy busy busy

I didn't manage to blog last week, because between looking after the children during the Easter Holidays and trying to get everything ready for the exhibition, I just haven't had time! I'm fairly well organized now, which is just as well, as I'm face painting tomorrow at the Bath Cats and Dogs home (at least it's just in the morning, they only need me from 10 - 11am). I'm really looking forward to setting up on Monday!