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

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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).