A Spring painting and re-connecting with creativity

 Spring is finally springing here in this beautiful corner of Galloway, Scotland and what a welcome relief it is. There are treasures peeping up in the garden and the hedgerows, sure signs that mother earth is waking up again, promises of new life and things to come.

In my previous post, way back in July last year, I mentioned changes I had made in my life and my move back to the garden studio, as I tried to re-connect with my creative self  in the hope that my inspiration for painting would finally reappear. I had no idea back then if I would ever feel like picking up my brushes again, it was a rather scary place to be. 

I can look back now over the last 3-4 years and remember some of the wonderful collaborations and projects I have been lucky enough to work on, but I also see I kept saying 'yes' to everything that came my way, and in the end the price for doing that was complete 'creative burn out', (I don't really like that saying, but can't think of anything else so fitting), and that awful feeling of being totally disconnected from all the things that inspired me in my work. 

So, Spring has a very special feel to it this year, for I feel I am waking up again too, coming back to myself and the things that inspire. I have spent my days immersed in the things I love doing, taking long walks and visiting old haunts (as much as we are allowed just now), reading treasured books, re-discovering my love of knitting, watching favourite movies, family history research, working in the garden and rekindling my joy of taking photographs.

Then for Valentines Day my lovely hubby (who has been so wonderful encouraging and supporting me every step of the way), brought me this scrumptious set of  Coliro Finetec Mica pearl and shimmer watercolour paints,  and suddenly I couldn't wait to get into the studio to try them.

So at long last I am seeing inspiration all around again and can feel the magic rising. My fingers are tingling to pick up my pencils and brushes, and my sketchbook which has sat dormant for many months, is beginning to find little creatures, Spring blossoms and gnarly trees scribbled on its pages again.

And this happened . . . 

 . . . the beginnings of the Spring painting to accompany the Summer and Autumn set! I will share progress in my next post, and hope to have her finished by then.

I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to be creating again, and feeling much more like my old self. I really hope I have learnt my lesson and will take time to listen to my heart when it tells me to pace myself and consider what it is I truly want/need to be doing.   

I wonder what do you do to re-connect, recharge, or even keep from taking on too much? 

Glorious colour in nature and art . . . and a little Kaffe Fassett

As September turns and makes way for October, I am amazed at the glorious weather we are still having. It has been so mild, I can still sit out in the garden and marvel at the sparks of remaining Summer colour showing here and there! The richness of the colours combined with the hues of Autumn weave a rich tapestry indeed.

 All that colour reminded me of the exhibition I saw during our Summer break "Kaffe Fassett: 50 years in colour".  I have long loved Kaffe's work and was lucky enough to fit in a visit to Aberdeen on our way home to see this!

And, wow was it worth the effort.  I have to say the exhibition itself was one of the most inspiring I seen, it made me want to dash right home and experiment with lots of colour and pattern. Below is a video Kaffe made for the launch at the gallery.

Kaffe Fassett: 50 Years in Colour from Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums on Vimeo.

As soon as you entered the exhibition you were enveloped by the richness and pattern of Kaffe's work, sumptuous knitted garments for which he never follows a pattern but designs each as he knits, inspired in part by the colours he has chosen.

Fantastic mixtures of colour and shapes in his needlepoint. I very first came across his work when years ago my lovely Mom bought me one of his tapestry books and the materials to stitch one of the cushions.

It is one thing viewing these works in a book, but seeing them in "person",  all grouped together is inspiring indeed. His patchwork kept me mesmerised for ages, the mixing of patterns to create such intricate designs was wonderful.

I came away with a copy of his autobiography, "Dreaming in colour" and couldn't put it down. It is filled with beautiful images of his work and inspirations. I love the way he views the world and sees endless possibilities for his knitting, mosaics, patchwork, ceramics, etc.  You can read more about Kaffe here on his website. As you can see from the top left and middle image below, I love colour and have lots of pattern and colour splashed about our home. 

The crochet throw (shown top left) was made many moons ago by my Grandma. I was recently inspired by one of her patchwork creations to make a quilt for my Grandaughter. My daughter decided the colours: hot pink, turquoise, white and I have been collecting scraps of fabrics for ages (even some snippets of her baby clothes will be added). The trouble was I didn't quite know where to start, it is to be a throw for a single bed, quite a large piece for a first go at patchwork!  Seeing the patchwork at  the exhibition though was perfect timing, and now I am inspired at last and can't wait to see the end result, I'm hoping to have it made by Christmas!Talking of wee rascals, look who's staying with Grannie for a few days. The best kind of distraction! 

Not forgetting of course the winners of my "Blessing Tree" draw.  Thank you to all who took the time to enter, both here and through twitter and Facebook, I loved the replies I got so much I just had to choose two winners in the end: Susan King & Hazel Lightfoot. Congratulations ladies.

As the shadows lengthen and Autumn spreads her amber glow I shall leave you with one of my favourite quotes and some of the words shared by readers of their favourite reasons for loving Autumn ~ Enjoy!

Autumn

The colors, the cool crisp air, the smell of leaves and apples, and I get to bring out my favourite scarves and boots! I could happily in eternal autumn.

Autumn... colours, leaves, berries, low sunshine and stunning sunsets x

the changing colours, the cooling weather, warm cardigans, kicking through crunchy leaves, warm puddings and custard.

Foggy mornings, spider webs looking like necklaces, porridge for breakfast, leaves turning and that lovely 'smell' in the air.

I love the warmth of the Sun and the cool air; I love the colors of the deciduous trees; I love the lighting at this time - it's such a clear light; I love Hallowe'en; my birthday is at the very end of Autumn so you know I must love the season since I was born into it!

The light, the light, the glorious light....

I love all the seasons, but being a person who loves color, Autumn in New England is really beyond astonishing EVERY single year. 

Here in Southern Wisconsin the Autumn leaves and colors are just starting to show...my favorite time of the year.

Autumn; I was born on a Wednesday in October, like a seed cast willy-nilly under the opulent leaves. Potential in waiting. And my mother named me Hazel, as the asplendent Harvest sun lit all the shells of my fruits. Autumn reminds us to let go; a reminder to surrender. As a creative farer, an artist, we carry this emblem to continue yielding to the Divine, allowing its imagery to flow through us, as rain through Autumn moss.

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I have recently updated my Etsy shop "Mythweaver" and now accept direct payments from visa, credit cards etc as well as the usual paypal. Do visit for a peep at my work. I am soon going to be uploading lots of new goodies very over the next couple of weeks!

Treasures at Glasgow Cathedral . . .

At last we managed our overdue visit to the medieval Glasgow cathedral

St Mungo's, watched over by the Necropolis with its towering monuments

It was an overly dark day, all gloomy and rain grey,

 and little did we suspect the treasures tucked away inside!

Treasures like the crypt,  built mid-13th century
to house the tomb of the patron saint of Glasgow,
 Saint Mungo, who originally built his church on this site.

Wonderful Gothic features & carvings, green men & details galore,
Fragments of brightly painted stone found beneath the floor,
that once graced a door archway

 This perfect copy of the biography of St Kentigern,
by Jocelyn a monk from Furness Abbey, made in 1180.
I love the corrections in the margins of each page.
(original can be found in the Marsh library, Dublin)

The Blacadder crypt or aisle built 1483 -1508

quite awe inspiring to walk down into this beauty

 a sumptuous display, some of the finest carved bosses in Scotland.
Perfect examples of the work of medieval craftsmen.

 The Millennium window painted by Mr. John K. Clark
once a student & lecturer at Glasgow School of Art.

and of course I'm always drawn to colours and patterns

such as these wonderful tiles in the 15th C Sacristy

and the preserved old stained glass

A wee bit of a long post, but worth a share, it is after all

the only remaining medieval cathedral on mainland Scotland.

More information can be found here & here

and I have uploaded more images here.

Folklore, Corrimony Cairn & Munlochy Clootie well

I hunted down treasures whilst away up North

One day I found wondrous snippets of folklore in Inverness museum

top left - a medieval spindle worn to protect against the evil eye,

centre, elf's arrow pendant made from a pre-historic flint, protection against faeries,

folk once believed these were made by faeries who weren't able to use metals.

 

The ladle, used to remove the evil eye would contain a piece of silver, 

a person suffering bad luck would drink from this standing under a bridge. 

The tiny charms, bottom right were sewn into the clothes or the bedding

of children protecting them from the faeries & changeling babes.

these also caught my eye, medieval ring brooches, the Achavrail armlet

and treasure found in 1875 by a lass in a field in Croy.

Another day I crawled down the ancient entrance tunnel into Corrimony Cairn

a chambered tomb or passage grave, built four thousand years ago

I felt its ancientness seep into my very bones as I looked out

at the silent stones standing guard in a circle .  

 

Most moving,  the Munlochy clootie  well, an amazing sight, a myriad of "cloots"  

left by visitors  who have visited this place wishing for healing for a poorly loved one.  

So many wishes! To make a wish you walk sunrise around the well three times, 

splash water from the well onto the ground and say the wish. (Cloot means cloth).

The wells use possibly derives from "the power of water in Celtic tradition"

*      *      * 

I am ever fascinated by these folk who's customs & beliefs I have seen 

who lived in a world filled with wonder & fear and feel even more that

these are the stories I want to keep alive, want to work into my paintings.

folklore feature, film & museum

 Vogue has done a spot in its July issue on

British folklore,

with quirky photography by Tim Walker

using real folksies for the shoot

read more here . . .

(image by Tim Walker) 

A wonderful film due for release next year

Ruadhan the Bard

the first of a series 

filmed just around the corner

in Whithorn is bringing

Scottish folklore to the big screen.
Cast members include
Margaret Bennet, regarded as Scotlands best folklorist,
&  Sheila Stewart, acclaimed storyteller and ballad singer. 

(Image from the Ruadhan the Bard site) 

and for another taste of the same

visit the ever growing

"Museum of British Folklore"

setup by set & costume designer

Simon Costin.

A fascinating & much needed project.

gothic splendor, times past & present. . .

On travels to see my lovely eldest lass in Bristol

there was time to visit awe inspiring Gothic splendor

St Mary Redcliffe church, Bristol

with its intricate lace like patterns, carved in stone so long ago

We found glowing stained glass, the sun streaming through

throwing jewel colours onto stone floors, worn by many feet.

How many generations past have gazed at these windows
trying to conjure the ancient tales they may tell?

Green men & gargoyles were tucked away

waiting, silently, to be found again.

Unrecognisable beasts curled ever in waiting

guarding the entrance against long forgotten evils.

Tortured souls gazing sightlessly from their broken columns
for how many moons have they looked down upon the throngs?

and waiting to inspire; bright, medieval colours & patterns

in painted panels, vaulted ceilings & mosaic floors.
I pondered the lives of the folk who created these so long ago.

Inspired i was indeed, by the intricacy, the brightness, the detail.

Inspired enough to finish, at last, my stained glass inspired foxy painting.
Thinking on the passing of time, as i dipped my brush in deepest blues.
Remembering those treasures folk have left behind, shrouded in mystery.
As i added golden stars to my midnight skies, i gave thanks.
Thanks that we have these treasures still,  linking back to the past,
to our ancestors, their skills, their imagination, their patience.
* * *

I am fleeing away far overseas, for a wee while to visit my precious niece,

Taking time out, my sister & I,  to holiday together with our lovely Mom,

The last time we all were together like this i would have been 16/17?!
How time does fly!!
When i return my foxes shall be sitting in my shop.
Wishing you all happiness & peace x x

summery things . . .

summery holidays (even without very much sun)

* mean lots of catching up with friends & family painting a picture of my own for a local gallery competition

visiting the glasgow girls exhibition

and discovering such detailed works by annie french

a trip to edinburgh, & the national gallery of scotland

to sigh over saint bride by scottish artist john duncan

trying my hand at some stone art on an evening beachy stroll
and attempting some driftwood hearts
i have so many things i want to share
but they shall have to wait till next time
i do hope you are enjoying these summer days x

costume & medieval magic . . .

we couldn't leave bath without a visit to

the costume museum

to soak up the details of old

and stumbled upon another unplanned treat ...

an exhibition of designs by "bill gibb"

whose work i have long admired, simply stunning

later we found the 13th century st marys church in berkeley

with medieval wall paintings that would once have glowed

and jeweled colours in its stained glass

painted bright by the sun's rays

and there just outside

the resting place of the very last jester in england a trove of treasures we unearthed on our travels

complete with a visit to see my eldestall in all we had a wonderful time away
* * *
now its nose down to finish two commissioned pieces
until next time x x
* * *
more beautiful images of st mary's here

inspired by. . . nature

the pattern of a delicate fernthe form of a single featherthe colours on a weathered old gatethe symmetry of thistledown
the contrasts beetween manmade & natural

* * *

these things i am inspired by

as they catch my eye when i am awandering