Just To Feel Normal

I just found out about the artist Ian Cumberland. If my maths is correct, I think he was in the same Art College as me, and at the same time! His painting (see below) won third place in the BP Portrait Awards; one of the worlds most prestigious art prizes with fifty entries each year. It's a major launch pad for new artists and a huge accomplishment. Not bad for a boy from Belfast, and extra cool given that he went to the same art college as me! I'm planning a trip to the National Portrait Gallery in London to see his work and that of the other talented artists soon.

Just to Feel Normal

I recently read an interesting interview with him in Artists and Illustrators magazine; although he done a Fine Art degree, he considers himself taught. He was so unimpressed with the direction and tuition he received at University that he nearly dropped out, but literally got knocked off his motorbike en route to do so. He ended up just taking a year out. I wonder if I should have considered taking a year out, rather than dropping out completely and running to Liverpool!? Like Ian, all I wanted to do was paint but my tutors kept pushing me towards graphic design (unlike Ian I have no talent for photorealism!). How wrong they were, and how good is Ian for sticking it out and accomplishing so much!!

Back to school!

I have a new 'thing' to keep me occupied for approximately the next 52 weeks! Christine, who absolutely astounded me with her 52 Crafts in 52 Weeks is at it again, only this time she wants people to join in. Of course I had to jump at the chance! This time, she is choosing one crafting theme per month and is hoping that other people will join in with it, or with another craft of their choice. I think I will stay with what Christine is doing and try to do an many as possible. This month the theme is Print and this week its potato printing, which I haven't done since Primary School, and from my research I see that it can actually be a very stylish craft.! Christine has put a nice tutorial on her blog here. I'm planning to print something nice on a tote bag before the week is over!

Cherry Blossom Print

Leaves

Leopard Print

taking a little break

I jumped straight into this blog thinking that I would be able to do something creatively brilliant every day and have time to blog about it, but I can't work under that kind of pressure, even if it is self imposed! Someday's, my creative 'thing' is rubbish and wouldn't make for interesting viewing. Other days its merely an idea sketched out on paper. Once I feel that I absolutely have to do something, I start to rebel against it. So I have taken the last two weeks to chill out and not have any pressure. I have decided that I still want to blog about my creative attempts, but I won't aim to do it every day.

I got this image off tumblr but can't remember where, I will search for the link and then amend.

So in my absence, I have been going to work, going out with friends as well as the following things:

1. I'm going back to school to study a GCSE Astronomy during my Friday lunch breaks.
2. Been getting onto tennis and watching Wimbledon, discovered that tennis players are hot!
3. Been having tennis lessons from a patient and skilful friend. I enjoy the therapeutic effects of hitting balls with racquets.
4. Made strawberry and cream cupcakes for the Wimbledon final, and drank a lot of Pimms.
5. While I have taken a break from art to collect my thoughts, I have come up with lots of new ideas.
6. I've been shopping way too much.
7. I've started back at the gym and started eating meat again.

Butterfly wings

I painted a photograph of a butterfly which I had lying around for ages. It started off as being a very light wash of watercolours, but then I drank some wine and I was a bit too heavy-handed with the acrylics, as per usual!

Then I found this guy on my wall a few days later...I think the incredibly warm weather done something odd to his natural cycle.