Being a self-taught artist, I have found myself to be, well, all over the place when it comes to style and technique! I’ve gone into this in more detail on my ‘About Me’ page, but this page is for showing off work that I’ve just done for myself. No artwork brief, no client. Yikes! How do people do that? I needed someone to tell me what to draw! Having illustrated only for clients with specific needs, entering my first framed piece of art into a gallery show (at Artworks, Kenosha) was terrifying! I sketched out the idea and showed it to the galley owner for approval—because I couldn’t possibly move on to final artwork without approval!—I was told, by a slightly amused Chet, ‘Um, yeah…it doesn’t work like that.’
It took me a long time to actually start to get my creative juices flowing without any brief or deadline. Such a strange way to work! These days it’s no longer a problem and I regularly enter pieces into shows, and am hugely honoured to say that every-so-often, they sell! Happy dance.
After that first show, much of my work defintely had a children’s book illustratrative look to it. Since I’d been doing that for years, it made a lot of sense that that influence would occur. However, gradually my work became more abstract and less planned. Someone once described it as a stream of consciousness, and I would agree with that. The marks I made got smaller and smaller, and the illustrations became very layered and seemed to take on a life of their own. I found it very easy—once I let go—to allow the pen, pencil or paint to make it’s own journey across the paper. Paper, or plates! I’m not totally sure why I suddenly decided to draw on plates, but I’ve sold every one I’ve ever made! Time to make more!
The following pieces have been created just for the love of creating. Many have been in gallery shows, others have been sold at art fairs, but all are me getting whats in my head down on whatever substrate takes my fancy at the time.
Ink and watercolour. SOLD
Ink and watercolour. SOLD
Ink and Watercolour. Available for purchase.
Watercolour. SOLD
Ink and Watercolour. SOLD
Ink and Watercolour. SOLD
Ink and Watercolour. SOLD
Mixed Media. $500
Prismacolor on black paper.
SOLD
Every January, a gallery I am involved with locally has a 1x1 inch art show. I’ve entered pieces every year since it started and sold quite a few of my tiny pieces of art.
SOLD
Venturing into repeat pattern making … of course it had to be an octopus! Digital vector art.
Ink and watercolor. As well as octopus and otters, I have a thing for bord art. They are so great to illustrate.
SOLD
Clients son was too smal for the Hulk sneakers she found online. She asked me to paint some custom ones for me. Definitely a challenge, but they turned out great. He LOVES them apparently! You’re welcome little dude!
One day I decided it would be fun to start to draw on plates. Don’t worry, I wasn’t bored at some fancy dinner party. I just bought a bunch of vintage plates, grabbed my Sharpie and went to town (Or at rather, sat at my dining room table, at home).
They get baked and sprayed with a sealant, but they are purely for decorative use. I was pleasantly surprised how popular they were at the art fairs I have shown them at and have sold every single one!! I think people like the unique idea. I love making the creatures interact with the plates design.
I named the series ‘Brit in a China shop’. Mostly because I am a Brit, and I’m know to be clumsy, especially dropping things. Also, because I think I’m hilarious.