Easter

Hi there!  It's been a long while (again!).  I've been under the weather for quite a while but things seem to be improving a bit.  I've been reading when I can.  I bought 'My Life In a Column' by Tracey Emin.  It's a collection of column entries she wrote for the Independent newspaper.  It's so good.  She has such enthusiasm for life and seems to feel so free.  I wish I could let myself be a bit more free (too much worrying!).  I also love the stories she tells about her cat 'Docket'.  When I've been low, I read it and she always cheers me up a bit!   I've also been looking at art books and magazines, mostly contemporary art.  There are so many great artists out there.

As you can see I have made an Easter inspired artwork for mindshare.  It kind of has many meanings hard to put into words.  I don't like to talk much about what my art means because I like others to take their own meanings from it.  It isn't meant to be a religious work.  I guess I was thinking about when I was a child and I felt so unfettered and 'New'.  I was thinking, 'how do I get back to there?'.      

Chrissy Art

Hi there!  This is my Christmas artwork for Mindshare.  It's in coloured pencil and ink pen.

Life has been kind of heavy lately so I wanted to make something happy, cute and uplifting.  I guess it was inspired by the stories I heard about 'Mad Pride' and 'Bonkersfest' in the UK.  I've spent so much of my adult life feeling ashamed of my illness and eccentricities but i've decided to embrace those things, they're a part of me, part of who I am.  The world would have no colour or beauty if everyone was the same.

In the same vein, Christmas can be what I make of it.  Christmas doesn't have to be what popular culture dictates.  I think most often that it isn't and people end up disappointed.  I do get into the spirit somewhat.  I love giving pressies and baking yummy stuff!  I just don't have the unrealistic expectations of Christmas that I used to.

Well, warm Christmas wishes to everyone!

bye for now!

Doll Experiments

'Elsa The Red Shoe Girl From The Deepest Seas'

H 70cm

Muslin, Calico, Wool.

Hi there!  It's been awhile, I know.  I've been experimenting making dolls.  She's a prototype named Elsa.  I love vintage looking cloth dolls.  She kind of turned out Folk-Art-y.  Not that there is anything wrong with Folk Art, it's just not what I intended.
I was inspired by the story of the 'Red Shoes' and swapping a meaningful 'handmade' life for a life of artificial highs to ease the pain of loss of self and spirit.
Of course she's from the 'deep', like all my figures are.  As I finished Elsa I was flooded with new ideas, so hopefully I will upload more dolls down the track.  I'm preoccupied with drawing and painting at the moment which is what seems to happen when spring comes along and the sun's out for longer.

Bye for now!

New Art Blog

Hi there, this is my new Art Blog.  Please feel free to look around.

'The Light At The End...'

Oil on Canvas

100cm H x 76cm W

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'Hanging On To That Star'

Oil on Canvas

100cm H x 76cm W

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'Gardening Keeps The Monsters Out'

Coloured Pencil on Board

40cm H x 29cm W

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This is a Coloured Pencil drawing I did for my Nanna.  The paper is roughly A3 size.