Beach paintings, feather etchings and peanut butter cinnamon swirls

 

We've been busy this last week redesigning the exhibition in our gallery. The beach and sea paintings fit really well with the wood panelling. 

 My new business cards arrived as well....they're so cute....

I've recently added a few new etchings to my Etsy store: this larger etching above of a group of ladies wearing the traditional outfit for one of the islands in our area. I used dry point, aquatint and vernis mou on this etching. These are all techniques that give the piece the different textures.

And these 3 feather etchings were new additions to my store this week.

And lastly, on Saturdays, for the etching workshop and open studio, I make a cake. This week's was this scrummy peanut butter and cinnamon swirl....wow it was delicious! Not a crumb over......

moo cards

How groovy are these little guys?! They just arrived today...100 wee moo cards. I love moo cards...sometimes too much because I find it hard to give them away :)

Sint Annastraat, Breda

Beautiful Breda, here in the Netherlands, last week. Met some new Etsy people and their 'real' shops in the Sint Annastraat....a very cool street....the highlight was cafe couture vintage seller of handmade clothing and accessories, who's desk was an ironing board and footrest a mini sleeve ironing board.

flowers and bees

It's been a while since I've posted our news here since I've been more active on Facebook lately...but our news is that we have a new etching press. As spring has unfolded early this year flowers and bees have formed a new theme...

...and safari animals...all our new work have already been listed in our etsy shop already... 

light as a feather

The atelier is filled with the aroma of etching ink today...a couple of new prints were born...a spotted feather and a peacock feather...available in my Etsy store!

little winter birdies

This is where the creating is taking place at the moment...we've not been in the studio so much while the weather's so cold but that doesn't stop the art. I start the paintings with a dip ink pen and then add the watercolour. These three little birdies are common here in Western Europe: a blue tit, a magpie and a robin. The blue tit is particularly tiny! They're already listed in my Etsy shop... 

 ...along with this watercolour: Quiet time...

between adventures and meal times

A new etching has been born! The first of the year. A kitty taking a break between adventures and meal times...zzzzz When I came back from printing, our cat was looking just like this =^x^= Already listed in my etsy shop...

a dance in ink and watercolour

This last week I've been working on these ink drawing and watercolour paintings. I use a dip pen which has a wonderfully sketchy quality on the watercolour paper I use. I also like to use a water soluble ink which mixes nicely with the watercolour paint when I apply it. These three pieces are already listed in my Etsy shop.

prayer for peace: etchings printed on handmade paper from Nepal

These are a couple of very special etchings. They are both printed on beautiful handmade paper from Nepal which has a soft natural colour and structure. A friend of ours runs a charity in Nepal and makes yearly visits to Kathmandu. On her recent visit she brought me back a pack of fabulous paper. I featured the etchings themelves a while ago but I wanted to print these special editions because I think the etchings themselves fit well with the qualities of this paper. They are both here and here in my Etsy shop.

being together, never alone: new etching

The summer is well and truly over and after all the art markets this summer we took a little break, but now we are back in action. The art centre is spick and span ready for the art classes that start this week and I've been back behind the etching press.  I began with dry point, working directly in the copper, then used an aquatint to create the shadow areas. It's already here in my etsy shop: being together, never alone...

taking the plunge

The end of a warm day and the sun is dipping towards the horizon and the bright light twinkles on the sea's surface. The beach is emtying and the stillness is interspersed with the sound of seagulls and the occassional shout of enjoyment from the sea....aaaahhhh summer days.... (oil on canvas 13 x 18cm)

The sea looks so enticing...gentle waves and crystal clear waters, but the sea off the Dutch coast (and my homeland England) is pretty chilly and it takes a while to get used to before plunging in. Still my favourite thing to do...apart from painting! (oil on canvas 18 x 24 cm)

oh I do like to be beside the seaside...who doesn't! new paintings

Californian dreaming on such a dreary grey summer's day. The summer season here in Holland has been, well, not so warm and sunny but when the moment has arrived I managed to capture these images to paint on canvas. I just love painting the summer light. Above and below are 24 x 18cm and further down 18 x 13 cm. Prints are available of these paintings in my etsy shop and the paintings can be found on my website along with more of my work.

sunny side of the dunes: new paintings

Last Sunday we visited a village on the coast in Zeeland, the Netherlands, called Zoutelande (in English it would translate literally to Saltland). It's a small touristy place nestled behind the dunes where we often cycle to throughout the year and I spotted these two scenes of people enjoying the sun. As you can see from the coats they are wearing it was sunny but cool because it was quite a windy day. I just couldn't help myself but capture the scenes on canvas (above 18 x 24 cm and below 13 x 18 cm oil on canvas). Prints of the paintings are now available in my etsy shop.

making paper with the white kind of love

Just before Easter I was asked to write a simple 'how to make paper' guide for a small booklet that would accompany 101 woonideeen (101 living ideas) and after having to keep it quiet for a couple of months, I'm not good at keeping secrets, today the much awaited printed version finally arrived in the post! The little booklet attached is filled with inspiring Dutch and Belgian Etsy artisans...a real little treasure.

...and *drum roll* ...here is my mini guide to making paper... very satisfying! Even managed to squeeze in a sunny photo of Zeeland. 

ducky duck on top of the world

I was hanging out of our bedroom window to try and get his shot! My little etching of ducky duck can be seen here in front of Tholen's 14th century townhall, with the oldest bells in Holland. You can just about see a windmill on the right hand side too.  Etsy wants to collect photos of Etsy items in front of local landmarks in order to put together a video of the diverse Etsy community. This is our little corner of the globe...

the chickens and the butterfly: new stuff

I had a burst of creativity yesterday afternoon and made 2 etchings, this one of a fabulously elegant butterfly, and the 3 characters below who I met recently in a local farm.

They made me laugh bobbing around on the branch, so I tried to capture their playfulness.

 All now listed in my etsy shop...

the key and a whole load of hot air: new etchings

This week I've added 2 new etchings to the collection. Hot air balloons dreamily drifting through the sky and a key; to a secret garden perhaps or to a love one's heart and soul? I like the way the hot air balloon etching looks like an old fashioned sepia photograph when the etching plate hasn't been completely cleaned of ink. They are both now avaibable in my etsy shop.

it's in the bag

I've been looking for a handy belt bag for a while, for art markets in particular, and I came across this one from Nomadum. It arrived the other day and I love it! It's made of fabric rather than leather, which is what I was after and it's a good size. Great for hands free shopping!

And these were the fab stamps on the envelope!

On sale in the Amsterdam museum shop

Yesterday this great display of postcards went on sale in the Athenaeum Museum Shop in the Amsterdam Museum. I feel very honoured to be one of the artists asked to participate in this collection of cards from artists who are members of Etsy here in the Netherlands. I love it! Oh...mine is a card of my etching of beach huts in the middle at the bottom...if you were wondering ;-)

This Saturday we're making etchings on the art market in Ooltgensplaat come and say 'hi' if you come along!