tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66745677791628103992024-03-13T00:51:13.982-07:00acornmoonA place to share inspiration.Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comBlogger328125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-67088915776316315482023-10-18T04:09:00.001-07:002023-10-18T04:09:27.965-07:00Royal Society Miniatures<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhom6uJMibMIAbQHQ-0WTUuyV84cUG1tnW1ltkKQmTXFeZDhmptY1C2zFlBvcJAO7lR_apxAXFnASJnr7AHbblv5Jf6w__8WHGE_hICwnxdn40b5px9B5zjWcD9B6zoJybXYeiYLD3iM4XdSqGPVNH9_k9K6HqDNzedpFyLWMgAZrsjb7r1uK-cY6devss/s864/king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhom6uJMibMIAbQHQ-0WTUuyV84cUG1tnW1ltkKQmTXFeZDhmptY1C2zFlBvcJAO7lR_apxAXFnASJnr7AHbblv5Jf6w__8WHGE_hICwnxdn40b5px9B5zjWcD9B6zoJybXYeiYLD3iM4XdSqGPVNH9_k9K6HqDNzedpFyLWMgAZrsjb7r1uK-cY6devss/s320/king.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>This year saw a Royal Coronation, I decided to create a special gilded miniature for the occasion. My design incorporated our four national flowers and King Charles's favourite native animal, the red squirrel.<p></p><p>The miniature painting was one of six to be chosen for the Art in Miniature Exhibition at Bankside gallery this summer.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgA8ziLRAtjcOcG13ZG8A4C0opKrRsuAuQJsakb77Q0m3f2DyLI9ZUsIgX7Ow9mJBTyWDgwLZj8C9kcYvqUAU4PSAoZosRllEWG8WoR3f8Nv1TBJaBX56f31zP6g7h6sW0sJPYRgwor-zf1HYVP_h6OQUvdWk4I1J3Rvd-iOOhHI0dL-CHT3X6CIgR4Y/s1080/exhib.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1080" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgA8ziLRAtjcOcG13ZG8A4C0opKrRsuAuQJsakb77Q0m3f2DyLI9ZUsIgX7Ow9mJBTyWDgwLZj8C9kcYvqUAU4PSAoZosRllEWG8WoR3f8Nv1TBJaBX56f31zP6g7h6sW0sJPYRgwor-zf1HYVP_h6OQUvdWk4I1J3Rvd-iOOhHI0dL-CHT3X6CIgR4Y/s320/exhib.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybQK0L_xo3jsMXwnL-th-ZyzaMrJCBXc1icGGomKVVHSNi1-cJFsAFWr_l33kL64ADQLRzX9ZBshmr0lNzKZkL4bXm_6oTmTX8KdID4IagfW8Uarw_4yebpONrt-FEnJe4-sv89lsqZ1Yh9ZgTx_wGIZ9vBL66iKm9qsmRXr7jBWOZopsHTM2RVsWTI4/s864/jay%20min.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybQK0L_xo3jsMXwnL-th-ZyzaMrJCBXc1icGGomKVVHSNi1-cJFsAFWr_l33kL64ADQLRzX9ZBshmr0lNzKZkL4bXm_6oTmTX8KdID4IagfW8Uarw_4yebpONrt-FEnJe4-sv89lsqZ1Yh9ZgTx_wGIZ9vBL66iKm9qsmRXr7jBWOZopsHTM2RVsWTI4/s320/jay%20min.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYEyd-9dOpRNvToO6EaZBj08-HJUb0YEb4U7_C2leS-go1XigZq6om06P_AWx_TU6rbW5Gvo2hGPuSwu59b43qBNXzi8PhwvOhu9HN6VHyvPWscl64y72rzcAeL81y3phQq9SHHnDxqeI0AWNcSrsi22HCRmJY6zJjOTqGjIGIhIjdfhVDxAmcTltWpU/s864/owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYEyd-9dOpRNvToO6EaZBj08-HJUb0YEb4U7_C2leS-go1XigZq6om06P_AWx_TU6rbW5Gvo2hGPuSwu59b43qBNXzi8PhwvOhu9HN6VHyvPWscl64y72rzcAeL81y3phQq9SHHnDxqeI0AWNcSrsi22HCRmJY6zJjOTqGjIGIhIjdfhVDxAmcTltWpU/s320/owl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlWkt46Y5DWWXENR7t4daNexm8KvCZ5ORxXOBwghayJ7HVYO5P6F3Q4wWJhdmBDJWsEfm-jPhJ3tVD0lak7wrMr-IKEgVHltIgCfIUhCprHf6IUqN_9j1HbkCj6_6m4PitAc22yHQcT7Pb_OFMfgDA3DdE1FH-QbXgCxesEJW9HVRR84zVOi8EzrhP9Y/s1008/robin%20holly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1008" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlWkt46Y5DWWXENR7t4daNexm8KvCZ5ORxXOBwghayJ7HVYO5P6F3Q4wWJhdmBDJWsEfm-jPhJ3tVD0lak7wrMr-IKEgVHltIgCfIUhCprHf6IUqN_9j1HbkCj6_6m4PitAc22yHQcT7Pb_OFMfgDA3DdE1FH-QbXgCxesEJW9HVRR84zVOi8EzrhP9Y/s320/robin%20holly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I also demonstrated painting during the exhibition and met lots of lovely people, although I was very nervous to paint with an audience. I completed my "Don't forget the bees" piece.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwjrWW-AsNfL0Px2LzX-Hba1gyAEAQsazMLS_nFtVZz_No5GeZiTbvLMBi-nE9ncnfGCPq6ekvWVnGhE0RlNyO5MIEJXM6hTDZ8t6b-Ygd8iNL36ttMhCHeedKoleSAgLIngEYfru7NF1gWEAFGEQ9E69v6TJBJ9wlsac1W9MdHClarm-DhBJQbT0mlM/s864/demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="864" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwjrWW-AsNfL0Px2LzX-Hba1gyAEAQsazMLS_nFtVZz_No5GeZiTbvLMBi-nE9ncnfGCPq6ekvWVnGhE0RlNyO5MIEJXM6hTDZ8t6b-Ygd8iNL36ttMhCHeedKoleSAgLIngEYfru7NF1gWEAFGEQ9E69v6TJBJ9wlsac1W9MdHClarm-DhBJQbT0mlM/s320/demo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-52389633737914301582021-11-26T07:29:00.005-08:002021-11-26T07:29:44.836-08:00The Royal Miniature Society's 125th Anniversary Exhibition<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL13NOCaTsXHvt8QHI0wJXf6Nh2jmF_WVUJ63Uy_88eDweQRYaYkWUtyZR_eLUeLWa2tYDEUPmaJrG_icrH7YDwLYjoROCUzk4ky9swDsESCY7U6wM9s3WLah1CNMYPUqpSMoYaSflRs/s815/wren++72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="815" data-original-width="581" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSL13NOCaTsXHvt8QHI0wJXf6Nh2jmF_WVUJ63Uy_88eDweQRYaYkWUtyZR_eLUeLWa2tYDEUPmaJrG_icrH7YDwLYjoROCUzk4ky9swDsESCY7U6wM9s3WLah1CNMYPUqpSMoYaSflRs/s320/wren++72.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><br />Yesterday we travelled down to London for the day to see the <a href="https://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk" target="_blank">RMS exhibition</a> at The Mall Gallery. I had entered seven paintings and was delighted to have all paintings accepted for the show. I was delighted to learn that I had won two awards. <p></p><p>The first award was the Society's award for the best collection of five or more works. I entered a set of six gilded bird paintings which I had been working on earlier in the year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5srlXS0nmxoTG-VSzigrt83CFPYp6IN6YsmaUFx506NoegzEGcqMmXVRu9vmut66Ea6B8Oh1kF8ln3lK5KzGFAO6PVhPyTYkdBRH7y466UI9qpUh7YqHk0zZNhWnmQB_3hnvEnIHg0o/s2048/collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5srlXS0nmxoTG-VSzigrt83CFPYp6IN6YsmaUFx506NoegzEGcqMmXVRu9vmut66Ea6B8Oh1kF8ln3lK5KzGFAO6PVhPyTYkdBRH7y466UI9qpUh7YqHk0zZNhWnmQB_3hnvEnIHg0o/s320/collection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The second award was an Honourable Mention for the Golden Memorial Bowl. This was for my painting Wren with Ivy, shown above.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW0YBIsZ7-5aSXjmCHtAf6r-TXpUHpINB0w02RFNuM-58LfNsN-0Ti_uXQsOyKQtsY2u_z1YX1NColv97v285DrTQkpVU98mRAcbLKDroMY7uwMym4fULGAZ3hnsnUYArSWtH4xIEBSY/s1881/IMG_4040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1881" data-original-width="1693" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvW0YBIsZ7-5aSXjmCHtAf6r-TXpUHpINB0w02RFNuM-58LfNsN-0Ti_uXQsOyKQtsY2u_z1YX1NColv97v285DrTQkpVU98mRAcbLKDroMY7uwMym4fULGAZ3hnsnUYArSWtH4xIEBSY/s320/IMG_4040.JPG" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQzzPhCMe3i0wLJVmgd-Ox56wBRMF54Z5JbvdvZHMrpO1ARkOcVTbJnZa9IjbEaBV9KMiC7uo3nWJ36o-V7-u0-gP7Z4i3xiEHJGwkyS3bUyj1IsiBu8tLlog3Q1MOA3x5PB_7ahbV5U/s1649/IMG_4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1649" data-original-width="1619" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQzzPhCMe3i0wLJVmgd-Ox56wBRMF54Z5JbvdvZHMrpO1ARkOcVTbJnZa9IjbEaBV9KMiC7uo3nWJ36o-V7-u0-gP7Z4i3xiEHJGwkyS3bUyj1IsiBu8tLlog3Q1MOA3x5PB_7ahbV5U/s320/IMG_4048.JPG" width="314" /></a></div><br /><p>It was lovely to meet up with friends old and new and to see close up all the wonderful miniature exhibits.</p><p>The exhibition runs until December 5th, details are on the <a href="https://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk" target="_blank">Society's website</a>. Entry is free but you need to book a ticket.</p><p>Most of the paintings are for sale and would make the most beautiful gifts, also on sale are greetings cards featuring the artworks of our members. Please visit if you are able, I think you would be entranced.</p><p><br /></p>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-34419978753437954852021-07-31T07:58:00.005-07:002021-07-31T08:01:52.541-07:00Exploring Silverpoint<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTpJtCDiNCJadt9DIuiN241DlqkL-d3vyq5hlunopeMHoZWonM7-Xk90k9ln-wK_a9VOSqUf2Jh9nbvy9VR8c9klTH30NehFEtgsZ7UFU6i2LfAZjR39_t268izMIvbc-75KC6VgDwJ0/s1830/IMG_3979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1830" data-original-width="1467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTpJtCDiNCJadt9DIuiN241DlqkL-d3vyq5hlunopeMHoZWonM7-Xk90k9ln-wK_a9VOSqUf2Jh9nbvy9VR8c9klTH30NehFEtgsZ7UFU6i2LfAZjR39_t268izMIvbc-75KC6VgDwJ0/s320/IMG_3979.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently I have been experimenting with Silverpoint drawing. This is a very old technique favoured by artists of the Renaissance which produces very soft and subtle marks which darken over time as the metal tarnishes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To begin you need to prepare your ground, I used Silverpoint Drawing Ground by C. Roberson and Co.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mine was traditional off white, I painted it onto Strathmore Illustration board. In the past I have used pre-prepared paper. If you don't have a ground the silver doesn't make a suitable mark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For very fine lines you can use silver wire and you can attach it to a handle or use it in a clutch pencil, providing that the dimensions are the same. I also purchased a pencil type with a thicker piece of silver, this makes thicker, heavier lines and you can use it to good effect for shading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's fun to experiment with different kinds of metals and objects, this tiny silver spoon was used to create a soft texture on the hare drawing below. The hare and cygnet drawings are ACEO size, 3.5 by 2.5 inches. It has not been possible to show these images at a high resolution due to their size but I hope it gives some idea of the effects of this medium. Maybe you will feel inspired to have a try yourself?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IlIHG2rmc3gqCTDzIhmwh8lBrBThWwsUWSQjDKoCHdOlmk-PAAWadSpW2lu9jWPooVfKgRkz9x7As0xQVHQKUXMUIP4xKVGSV7sr3rkmrTdWf8NefhRKxHZ7IK8os1gM_6_kspPD9lg/s950/running+hare+Etsy+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="950" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IlIHG2rmc3gqCTDzIhmwh8lBrBThWwsUWSQjDKoCHdOlmk-PAAWadSpW2lu9jWPooVfKgRkz9x7As0xQVHQKUXMUIP4xKVGSV7sr3rkmrTdWf8NefhRKxHZ7IK8os1gM_6_kspPD9lg/s320/running+hare+Etsy+.jpg" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwMmemjAi76E8lQFsgVGf_tbHd8SxhyWutjUQWFPor0IWZqFfAvBOI4Qox_sIpyAaNSDsJ4QyLsm446jb6e-HIpa3fTVzBPgpijmkeowdW1xHFW36QnHVAPzAtr6PAQua3IDmFacdPyk/s1314/close+up+running+hare+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="756" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwMmemjAi76E8lQFsgVGf_tbHd8SxhyWutjUQWFPor0IWZqFfAvBOI4Qox_sIpyAaNSDsJ4QyLsm446jb6e-HIpa3fTVzBPgpijmkeowdW1xHFW36QnHVAPzAtr6PAQua3IDmFacdPyk/s320/close+up+running+hare+1.jpg" width="184" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XN9JmHI5PUsNoMJjUNVLtFtcBUyX8GndOILfiFaG1pm-A5PzS6DP9DjSlAWZAuHuB1vMm7oEScoejkbVM6e9-P8Uib8O071jFSUM2xLi0E9mXzNWi9DICImszMyxpKjPd5Mbob0Nj84/s1365/close+up+baby+swan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1164" data-original-width="1365" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XN9JmHI5PUsNoMJjUNVLtFtcBUyX8GndOILfiFaG1pm-A5PzS6DP9DjSlAWZAuHuB1vMm7oEScoejkbVM6e9-P8Uib8O071jFSUM2xLi0E9mXzNWi9DICImszMyxpKjPd5Mbob0Nj84/s320/close+up+baby+swan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSd-o6dR2bBpKZhpSr0SeIMjQAXvnwIwHhozTWpeN2tUTsMnqCucx4_EFysMLjiNQitPQdXwtnFm_NQqq8tTl3fx8yUvGrRHqYDfRLSaquIbB1KsHerTHue0TOjv6LkUsW-6ySA2SbQ7g/s950/cygnet+Etsy+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="950" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSd-o6dR2bBpKZhpSr0SeIMjQAXvnwIwHhozTWpeN2tUTsMnqCucx4_EFysMLjiNQitPQdXwtnFm_NQqq8tTl3fx8yUvGrRHqYDfRLSaquIbB1KsHerTHue0TOjv6LkUsW-6ySA2SbQ7g/s320/cygnet+Etsy+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><br /></div>The tiny drawing featured here are for sale in my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon" target="_blank">Etsy shop Acornmoon. <br /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-49027816130545243922021-07-08T08:33:00.000-07:002021-07-08T08:33:41.654-07:00Good News!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGorkLIk9cs3nQSKzpWaDWTTjQ0U4Kee4cwkqtwyWHjySsbmGA9nY9qmfcZT6-g4qfUAtTq4Wn76LIE7wlOICoV2uPXAghffUjCpP2mB1tdO00lKY-vCpLdkJUNHN-yx1myq9ATE5pSw/s864/IMG_3964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="864" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpGorkLIk9cs3nQSKzpWaDWTTjQ0U4Kee4cwkqtwyWHjySsbmGA9nY9qmfcZT6-g4qfUAtTq4Wn76LIE7wlOICoV2uPXAghffUjCpP2mB1tdO00lKY-vCpLdkJUNHN-yx1myq9ATE5pSw/s320/IMG_3964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was delighted to learn that my gilded miniature painting entitled "Golden Silence" was voted as a joint winner of the most popular exhibit in this years Hilliard Society Exhibition held in Wells last month. Although the exhibition is now closed it continues online and as I write this painting is still for sale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">You can find details of the online exhibition here- <a href="https://www.hilliardsociety.org/2021exhibition.html" target="_blank">The Hilliard Society 2021 Exhibition</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUQ3EtjV20LOgS65QZl2XOgjIMxrh7S4Q9hRCGUHCkI3RVUa5HA24ybqo2C-Gkge_h3KF7AvcuCr9jBkPX7a8UZekm2E1sf84S08-0mO209-farbkt-BZk7N8MI9OW4cd4NxuYag8l9o/s864/IMG_3958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="864" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUQ3EtjV20LOgS65QZl2XOgjIMxrh7S4Q9hRCGUHCkI3RVUa5HA24ybqo2C-Gkge_h3KF7AvcuCr9jBkPX7a8UZekm2E1sf84S08-0mO209-farbkt-BZk7N8MI9OW4cd4NxuYag8l9o/s320/IMG_3958.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It has been an inspiring time here in England, we have had sunshine and showers and everything in the garden is growing apace. The Swallowtail butterfly miniature is a recently completed piece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq8S9MF2FnbEAn7RNMBy5aLMq78u30VE7PieUZZ7kjes-ODTEMZIo1BThW-K5UteyVQNf9p5ykYfLxMLIdaIttNn6Eqll-McShZMPY4tbBfATSkweQxkXo9Tj9D24UUlXdbnCIuumv4s/s2048/IMG_3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq8S9MF2FnbEAn7RNMBy5aLMq78u30VE7PieUZZ7kjes-ODTEMZIo1BThW-K5UteyVQNf9p5ykYfLxMLIdaIttNn6Eqll-McShZMPY4tbBfATSkweQxkXo9Tj9D24UUlXdbnCIuumv4s/s320/IMG_3944.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The decorated Jay was a private commission for a bird lover who's name begins with J.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEHtIM6rZaKoyIo9mzqm6OunZ7tNmnn7xiSrqRCYvxjVOf-64EieetJ995eBAy-ZpFChbHmRXSizvtEYpKmJBbHmQ_snM0KyttFXxkDdFBkaRB956sj5D5EMeonNaXIVpJEyPnlZcQE4/s864/IMG_3934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="864" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBEHtIM6rZaKoyIo9mzqm6OunZ7tNmnn7xiSrqRCYvxjVOf-64EieetJ995eBAy-ZpFChbHmRXSizvtEYpKmJBbHmQ_snM0KyttFXxkDdFBkaRB956sj5D5EMeonNaXIVpJEyPnlZcQE4/s320/IMG_3934.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p></p>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-58192915945366356852021-05-05T04:24:00.003-07:002021-05-05T04:24:31.025-07:00Busy as a bee!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8c9fUwhyphenhyphen-EAhM2QCi1zb9GTxOXaySbG__TGg_77SawSZaB0bVSKazGYFR3OkmMJbaPemJrxKNeRq-XFaFBfYMm86Q-Wr8dvb7b5WnqFIGP-zvsJB3GG3YOAjqOFIgcUgQfP6-WX6vb7g/s1454/3EEA9C3D-7CC7-4F05-8332-272B2FD592B0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1454" data-original-width="1454" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8c9fUwhyphenhyphen-EAhM2QCi1zb9GTxOXaySbG__TGg_77SawSZaB0bVSKazGYFR3OkmMJbaPemJrxKNeRq-XFaFBfYMm86Q-Wr8dvb7b5WnqFIGP-zvsJB3GG3YOAjqOFIgcUgQfP6-WX6vb7g/s320/3EEA9C3D-7CC7-4F05-8332-272B2FD592B0.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hello again, I hope all is well with you and yours. Spring is always a busy time, longer days and warmer temperatures are always welcome and bring a new found energy to create, garden and explore.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been busy painting bees, inspired by the many bumblebees in my garden at the moment. It has been fun to add gilding to these paintings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3tUpDTAUX50gh3C7ie3POkY1NRRqbWGK4A3vE28YeSjj_GqkTwSCev6HYMEh_hB_GS-4Qng3eZl0ZjJtLQhfy7sCqzZFRkFIoueOGp9sxIhipMFy__IJ-DubrwdUXY1wsfoIfQFhIJM/s2048/bee+framed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1976" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3tUpDTAUX50gh3C7ie3POkY1NRRqbWGK4A3vE28YeSjj_GqkTwSCev6HYMEh_hB_GS-4Qng3eZl0ZjJtLQhfy7sCqzZFRkFIoueOGp9sxIhipMFy__IJ-DubrwdUXY1wsfoIfQFhIJM/s320/bee+framed.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In fact I have been getting carried away with gilding, there is something so entrancing about the shiny metal that becomes addictive!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This painting of a Wheatear has been given the treatment, using both flat and raised gilding in the borders.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IWEyGsBCVFEkDklyDc-mE95mWPp4tFfWj5ZzR7M_h7pw0fN3vgymnu0MPkwb0jo50JD2t15ZjI4osn36qjxm5fZLwujg9T7J_8_4QoMRN1ccOPx_fggRgGVn0qsGyjNU0RK0l95_JkM/s2048/DSC02433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IWEyGsBCVFEkDklyDc-mE95mWPp4tFfWj5ZzR7M_h7pw0fN3vgymnu0MPkwb0jo50JD2t15ZjI4osn36qjxm5fZLwujg9T7J_8_4QoMRN1ccOPx_fggRgGVn0qsGyjNU0RK0l95_JkM/s320/DSC02433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrQWlS_bivW4r419c6nN4miuJQXOBya74On6jxbxbVoQSBGEZD0WybW0Pl_AK073JwWjciomO5adFFFAwyi0GfLnxgIjvylUXms0zzvK8v998xMn_VsiOG1qNrNgy2grF7HmY33vaS8Y/s1817/736184EB-4739-4430-8B45-1010FC57F5FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="1817" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrQWlS_bivW4r419c6nN4miuJQXOBya74On6jxbxbVoQSBGEZD0WybW0Pl_AK073JwWjciomO5adFFFAwyi0GfLnxgIjvylUXms0zzvK8v998xMn_VsiOG1qNrNgy2grF7HmY33vaS8Y/s320/736184EB-4739-4430-8B45-1010FC57F5FB.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally, I have been busy with preparations for this years <a href="https://www.hilliardsociety.org/index.html">Hilliard Exhibition</a> of miniature paintings to be held in Wells Town Hall. The above painting "Golden Silence" will be one of the many miniatures on show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More details on their website.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Junge, cursive; font-size: 24px;">June 5th - 12th 2021</span></div><p></p><div style="font-family: Junge, cursive; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 24px;">(closed on Sun 6th June)</span></div>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-81398012411080500482021-01-13T08:24:00.000-08:002021-01-13T08:24:59.498-08:00In the bleak Midwinter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P6DFITxlfYUiX6bfIJUzgqkeYt66bkOB-PH2DKZO4Pz1NfT0AcfK5EuL95b9nI6Y-TGsy3-BZirlXkj3xy_eN9Vl-aoxai37NIT-btodkU_lqCovlac5DA5s5Nl8LZvC6GIpN-68QyA/s1440/D601D02F-F271-4EB1-99E1-D8A1F0B7CC14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2P6DFITxlfYUiX6bfIJUzgqkeYt66bkOB-PH2DKZO4Pz1NfT0AcfK5EuL95b9nI6Y-TGsy3-BZirlXkj3xy_eN9Vl-aoxai37NIT-btodkU_lqCovlac5DA5s5Nl8LZvC6GIpN-68QyA/s320/D601D02F-F271-4EB1-99E1-D8A1F0B7CC14.jpeg" /></a></div> <p></p><p>Hello everyone, I hope you are all safe and well and coping in these difficult times. I have been grateful to have had lots of projects to occupy my mind and have found great solace in creativity. <span style="text-align: center;">The news about the dreaded Covid 19 virus continues to go from bad to worse so it has been good to have easy access to some beautiful places to walk our dog and to observe nature. </span></p><p>Towards the end of last year I tried out digital printing onto silk. The results were encouraging and I hope to have more available soon.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueN7ZGgmow9IXfNEDMdiB2_s4CCFM49QrAhLDYR4zLf0JcLrmaPApyhqT7yu9ReGedIcc0SOfQA4PdbfwGIaHNj1UPR-vl8oD5HErExFFKuMbExQf6UByo2B99shKaFrIuCgFErg3ivE/s2048/IMG_3711.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1455" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueN7ZGgmow9IXfNEDMdiB2_s4CCFM49QrAhLDYR4zLf0JcLrmaPApyhqT7yu9ReGedIcc0SOfQA4PdbfwGIaHNj1UPR-vl8oD5HErExFFKuMbExQf6UByo2B99shKaFrIuCgFErg3ivE/s320/IMG_3711.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This Amaryllis waited until New Years day to flower. I am taking that as a good omen!</div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSZRtN5nvoyyxj9-tCm76iJg_TqS7iY1ex2oqAqpYmj7pc0OjZ0n_vwO6N3bwxs8xfi2qgtpM7A1hiyp7zBnxGRyChKRyL1XYY-sm1XdYW6g71C1DC-vSpqLSXlLLH6P0a4SfhQKP86A/s1414/IMG_3702.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1414" data-original-width="1238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSZRtN5nvoyyxj9-tCm76iJg_TqS7iY1ex2oqAqpYmj7pc0OjZ0n_vwO6N3bwxs8xfi2qgtpM7A1hiyp7zBnxGRyChKRyL1XYY-sm1XdYW6g71C1DC-vSpqLSXlLLH6P0a4SfhQKP86A/s320/IMG_3702.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I think this is possibly the most miniature of miniature paintings I have completed to date, the image measures just over one inch across and one and a quarter inches high. The hand made frame is ebony and the painting is displayed </span>under bevelled glass. I really didn't want to part with it but it is now with my gallery <a href="https://www.booksillustrated.com/gallery.php?artist#20" target="_blank">Books Illustrated at Art of the Imagination.</a></div><p></p><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKm6otMusikI4ZHRTl94LBxpwCZoW4ic3JQjfVjXVIn9M00pt6MHz5r_xakFCc5Gtz1CCcT_9OEfKUnqJ68FaBHwJ-XA54pSgll9E1MQOPgQ2tsq4Iy5FBcMr74_1SRkvSNH_rye_HALU/s2048/IMG_0272.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1742" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKm6otMusikI4ZHRTl94LBxpwCZoW4ic3JQjfVjXVIn9M00pt6MHz5r_xakFCc5Gtz1CCcT_9OEfKUnqJ68FaBHwJ-XA54pSgll9E1MQOPgQ2tsq4Iy5FBcMr74_1SRkvSNH_rye_HALU/s320/IMG_0272.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></blockquote></blockquote>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-1517271252841303602020-11-29T07:00:00.002-08:002020-11-29T07:00:53.805-08:00Autumn days <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvQk5MRG-R12P41J-VqNIaJdAlBPmmLHHADxJWBh_nMZzbDM59_a_rJ9tLYdRLYbPSEi6Yf_FZXZAlRs7xrF-IVIICzvBrRoX6HCmkwOQl3V8cZ_B73gvZhEX9OgMtaUPO8W56BY3uK4/s2048/IMG_3426.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1747" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIvQk5MRG-R12P41J-VqNIaJdAlBPmmLHHADxJWBh_nMZzbDM59_a_rJ9tLYdRLYbPSEi6Yf_FZXZAlRs7xrF-IVIICzvBrRoX6HCmkwOQl3V8cZ_B73gvZhEX9OgMtaUPO8W56BY3uK4/s320/IMG_3426.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Strange times continue to challenge us all, however at least I have been able to find solace in nature and quiet hours sitting at my desk. Fortunately walking is still an option and we have enjoyed some splendid excursions. </span><span style="text-align: left;">The photograph below shows the landscape around my home close to the Cheshire-Staffordshire border in NW England.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> I enjoyed working on this gilded painting of a Screech owl with Tiger moths. Earlier this year we visited an owl sanctuary in North Wales and I was able to observe this owl at close quarters. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pu6U_tcAf9fpbgbTpj_4R8L_Ek10OYFnrBc1hyywM2KS6nFC4ZGwNoYYQSmLUbMoZL8nLx17jCOO_QRmOGNuJSwfOXXUpWkY_x0-wp6znkPa_t75IJfaPGYWP6TC60jSGIfar3yJjZo/s2048/DSC02374.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pu6U_tcAf9fpbgbTpj_4R8L_Ek10OYFnrBc1hyywM2KS6nFC4ZGwNoYYQSmLUbMoZL8nLx17jCOO_QRmOGNuJSwfOXXUpWkY_x0-wp6znkPa_t75IJfaPGYWP6TC60jSGIfar3yJjZo/s320/DSC02374.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>This is the time of year we would normally be travelling down to London to visit the annual exhibition of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, to meet up with friends and to experience all that is lovely and magical about Christmas in London. All these things and more have been cancelled, I expect you also have a long list of cancellations. It is possible to visit their exhibition of previously <a href="http://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk" target="_blank">exhibited work here</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjust8VKgXKbqdXfzy-hpZmY7sKjw47P6J0Wb5l0K_HKjadpows-MfGrSnjMoQ86wPp1ypXOF0PmSMI9C2Sa04yFJf6j6lGf52akS0ohqF5CC50Y3URFKRR0MuOzA8VI7BU8wNYWg3f2B4/s2048/D18C6B4B-175B-4B8A-8D7B-CC7CF069F71F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjust8VKgXKbqdXfzy-hpZmY7sKjw47P6J0Wb5l0K_HKjadpows-MfGrSnjMoQ86wPp1ypXOF0PmSMI9C2Sa04yFJf6j6lGf52akS0ohqF5CC50Y3URFKRR0MuOzA8VI7BU8wNYWg3f2B4/s320/D18C6B4B-175B-4B8A-8D7B-CC7CF069F71F.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Earlier in the year I enrolled on a hand throwing ceramics class with master potter <a href="https://french-jon.wixsite.com/jonfrenchceramics" target="_blank">Jon French</a>. I managed to throw and complete several wobbly and imperfect pots before this too was cancelled due to our newly enforced tier restrictions. It was so disappointing as the whole class had made progress and were getting into the swing of things, so fingers crossed we will be allowed to continue our studies in the new year. I tried my hand at decorating with various glazes and techniques including sgraffito.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TybosnSmIDQjgregVGkv9-R8VNcoDkNDK5pE-oa1KaS0bp_8X_S2CJEd0JK4I1ysk-TEPXXY0MOh61u6vDBCrMXNWlmzUUcYMIePi07kQb2KhbaRhNl5sFsLMQQ5X1ZCYDwkr40Mioc/s1666/IMG_3622.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TybosnSmIDQjgregVGkv9-R8VNcoDkNDK5pE-oa1KaS0bp_8X_S2CJEd0JK4I1ysk-TEPXXY0MOh61u6vDBCrMXNWlmzUUcYMIePi07kQb2KhbaRhNl5sFsLMQQ5X1ZCYDwkr40Mioc/s320/IMG_3622.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Fortunately I have been able to sell some of my original paintings through <a href="https://www.booksillustrated.com/gallery.php?artist#20" target="_blank">Art of the Imagination</a> who have an online gallery. Nearly all of their planned exhibitions and events have been cancelled, indeed it feels like everyone is living in some sort of suspended animation. They have some pieces for sale online including this badger miniature. Although we have wild badgers living near our home they are very elusive and are now being ruthlessly culled, so I was very grateful to the photographer Steven Owen @steadyowen for allowing me to use one of his photographs as reference. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrWlpHfx6InS27IdVufKRA35rIL1olHehGSp1cd7bfBw_YCRk-pjp_wmPaJU2tefMIKoYcmboSRh8KTTllUBJdppVr0mCOiEwafHqoIobaV13us_VjTyZ3zIjtjrqgWsNWOsOAaISejo/s1412/IMG_3646.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="1244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrWlpHfx6InS27IdVufKRA35rIL1olHehGSp1cd7bfBw_YCRk-pjp_wmPaJU2tefMIKoYcmboSRh8KTTllUBJdppVr0mCOiEwafHqoIobaV13us_VjTyZ3zIjtjrqgWsNWOsOAaISejo/s320/IMG_3646.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I do hope you stay safe and keep busy and hope this wretched virus clears off once and for all before too long. </div>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-17768791234070038672020-06-27T09:33:00.001-07:002020-06-27T09:51:13.622-07:00Strange Times<span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASriX5-2Z-M5BFcdHu6fYgtzyIXPUfXE2ras3dgJ7-8S6_GRhCEOeGIbwrFNrIIk-J3b-VHPZ309oR_eVzPkaUtCDw5H1HTMsx8sG7WHqJXn_N5uW_E1xRJdNWIp6Hd6P3g6IkAiGtwE/s1000/IMG_3331.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASriX5-2Z-M5BFcdHu6fYgtzyIXPUfXE2ras3dgJ7-8S6_GRhCEOeGIbwrFNrIIk-J3b-VHPZ309oR_eVzPkaUtCDw5H1HTMsx8sG7WHqJXn_N5uW_E1xRJdNWIp6Hd6P3g6IkAiGtwE/s320/IMG_3331.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;"><br /></div><font face="inherit">Over the last months I have been concentrating on decorative illumination inspired by Medieval manuscripts. For inspiration I have turned to my collection of books and exhibition catalogs that I have acquired over the years, after visiting museums, libraries and charity shops! During this pandemic it has not been possible to continue attending workshops or other events I would have enjoyed in more normal times and apart from dog walking, shopping and gardening there has been little to distract me from sitting at my desk and practicing.</font></span><font face="inherit"><br /><br /><span>I created this miniature using two gilding techniques, raised and flat gilding.</span><br /><span>For the flat gilding I used miniatum and transfer gold leaf. The raised gilding was a new venture for me, for this I used Instacoll which I found much easier than gesso.</span><br /><br />We are now being asked to wear a face mask when social distancing isn't possible. I have been having fun creating some designs using my artwork, these are now <a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/Acornmoonart/shop?asc=u" target="_blank">available to purchase in my Redbubble shop.</a></font><div><font face="inherit">So far the owls have been the most popular! </font></div><div><font face="inherit"><font color="#000000"><br /></font></font></div><div><font face="inherit"><font color="#000000"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu6DlN5MuRfGzRFLL9O7PEqmFY7ooIohlNfCMNgdUI1tbE3pdz4qy8vyePH1mrB-h3Vm7HYgTf2BDAB0oduLjD6WgGXr-bRwPJY7Q-50s4fBdC7QzDJtAy8lApp3Slyl2YQWFy_D7oKk/s1320/mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="1320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDu6DlN5MuRfGzRFLL9O7PEqmFY7ooIohlNfCMNgdUI1tbE3pdz4qy8vyePH1mrB-h3Vm7HYgTf2BDAB0oduLjD6WgGXr-bRwPJY7Q-50s4fBdC7QzDJtAy8lApp3Slyl2YQWFy_D7oKk/s320/mask.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhPp3v-yX3OWfg6WlfrU2v_uG3RgnVanXrplrSNBX_Cni6jbvBlofmG8F6deSj1qxLtJZDr51LwxxZAaNNfR3R5icxKpg25w1P4OCRyQsczvIz5-ydwLtS37NXz5ZaZFIC4gxqSbxRe8/s1362/IMG_3314.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhPp3v-yX3OWfg6WlfrU2v_uG3RgnVanXrplrSNBX_Cni6jbvBlofmG8F6deSj1qxLtJZDr51LwxxZAaNNfR3R5icxKpg25w1P4OCRyQsczvIz5-ydwLtS37NXz5ZaZFIC4gxqSbxRe8/s320/IMG_3314.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://www.redbubble.com/people/Acornmoonart/shop?asc=u" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></font></font><div><br /></div></div>Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-20395421236966182832020-03-30T07:52:00.001-07:002020-03-30T07:52:07.008-07:00Home schooling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With so many parents now finding themselves at home with children I thought that some of you might like these sheets to print and colour? I am uploading at a high resolution in the hope that you might be able to print them onto A4 paper? I created them to give to schools and bookshops to accompany my book "White is the Moon". Stay safe everyone X<br />
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-1927740026039451142020-03-03T11:01:00.000-08:002020-03-03T11:01:42.834-08:00O is for Owl.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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January and February are always something of a struggle for me; my energy and enthusiasm levels are low and hibernation seems like a pleasant notion. At last the days are getting longer and despite the cold and rain there are welcome signs of spring. We travelled down south through the Avon valley region and saw some rather alarming floods. Bradford-on-Avon was open as usual but the river was dangerously high. It was so lovely to see primroses growing in the ancient churchyard.</div>
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We had a trip to Llandudno in North Wales and visited <a href="https://theowlstrust.org/" target="_blank">The Owls Trust</a>, primarily to see a White -faced Scops Owl in order to complete a commission. Despite the howling wind and cold I managed to photograph many of the owls and had a guided tour by a knowledgeable and friendly guide. The miniature painting was duly completed and delivered.</div>
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The Illuminated letter O shows another bird I met at the sanctuary; this time an Ashy Faced Barn Owl which is now endangered. The lettering style and decoration were inspired by historical illuminated letters, in particular those depicted in Owen Jones's Grammar Of Ornament. The border has been gilded in gold leaf, the rest is water-colour on hot press paper. It measures three inches square, and yes, I do need specs and a magnifying glass!</div>
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Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-89787835438949741452019-12-18T06:44:00.000-08:002019-12-18T06:44:35.266-08:00So this is Christmas...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US">As always, December arrives and as usual I
am unprepared for the Christmas festivities. I tell myself there is plenty of
time and then find myself running around like a headless turkey! Decorating the
house was something of a challenge this year due to our new four legged friend
and a squeaky toy has been bought, wrapped and hidden.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Most of this years artworks have been
executed in watercolour but I have enjoyed returning to print making. The
“Stellar Hare” relief print above has been proofed and this one is having some
festive gold paint applied by hand. I printed a small edition and have sold
several through my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon" target="_blank">Etsy shop Acornmoon </a>which is now closed until the New Year in order to
give me time to enjoy friends and family gatherings.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">At the end of November and into December I
took part in the annual exhibition of <a href="http://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk/" target="_blank">The Royal Miniature Society </a>at the Mall
galleries in London. As a full member I was allowed to exhibit not only
miniature but also some larger works. It was a very enjoyable event and a good
time to meet up with friends and family visiting London.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I decided to use some of the images from my
miniature paintings to produce a small collection of ceramic brooches and
pendants, also available via my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon" target="_blank">Etsy shop.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://www.walesandborders.com/news/features.html?id=2226" target="_blank">Welsh Border Life Magasine</a> very kindly
featured my artwork in their December edition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Our granddaughter delighted us all by
producing this very charming and detailed drawing of the nativity. She worked
entirely unaided and I think it remarkable for a five year old to show such a
great sense of design, not that I am in any way biased ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">I would like to thank all the people who
have followed and supported my work throughout the year and I wish you all a
Happy and Joyous Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-80095779092499095352019-11-14T06:53:00.003-08:002021-11-02T09:09:19.101-07:00Autumn News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiiTyKC2LCsyFvOdwnLKuIS4eLtv4TPxAc9yLGcOhm-Ti6kvO8bk16tWV9a9fLk5G41Dl4QjInwMeU1u_UoW_sewkz5JLoS2bmpBHmxqqRvWdDfgX2TX5c_DWSdBZVDuKG3V0PwSWBSI/s1600/the+lake+district.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1000" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYiiTyKC2LCsyFvOdwnLKuIS4eLtv4TPxAc9yLGcOhm-Ti6kvO8bk16tWV9a9fLk5G41Dl4QjInwMeU1u_UoW_sewkz5JLoS2bmpBHmxqqRvWdDfgX2TX5c_DWSdBZVDuKG3V0PwSWBSI/s320/the+lake+district.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Our big news is we have a puppy; he is a
small but very lively Jack Russell of sorts. I say “of sorts” because he is
very different to our dear departed Ted. He is black and tan with white paws
and a bent tail and we love him, he has brought much joy into our lives. As soon as we were able we took him on a trip to
The Lake District where we enjoyed a brief interlude of sunshine between the
showers. He proved to be an enthusiastic walker and found many admirers in the
dog walking community. I had forgotten how many people stop and talk if you
have a dog!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">We visited Buttermere, possibly one of the
most beautiful lakes in Cumbria. </span>The colours in the landscape were beginning
to change and added a sense of warmth to the reflections in the water. I loved
the woodland walks and found inspiration in the tiny ferns and mosses growing
in the crevices in walls and trees. We spotted several moths and butterflies,
berries and fungi, some of which made their way into my new painting “Moths and
Moonshine”.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">This year I will be submitting a couple of
larger paintings into this years R.M.S, exhibition. You can see <a href="http://www.valeriegreeley.com/" target="_blank">details of this over on my website</a>. “Moths and Moonshine” is one of these larger works; it is watercolour
with gold leaf inspired by our recent trip. The barn owl was one I met earlier;
he was so tame I was able to take lots of photographs of him for reference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Some of you may have noticed that I have
reluctantly removed the comments section form my blog. I do genuinely miss the
interaction with my blog friends but have found that I spend more time on other
platforms like Instagram and my neglected blog was attracting too many spam
posts. I do hope a few of you still find this space interesting enough to visit
despite recent changes.Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-88486777078838574482019-06-19T05:52:00.000-07:002019-06-19T05:52:05.004-07:00Rain and Wild Roses.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anyone who has visited the UK recently will testify to the remarkable amount of rainfall we have had. Our "green and pleasant lands" rely on the rainfall but it would be good if it would fall only when we are sleeping!</div>
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I often get asked where I get my inspiration from, something every creative person must have been asked at some point. Some artists carry sketch books and make notes of inspiring subjects to refer to at a later date; to be honest I have never been able to work in a sketchbook. I find it too inhibiting, instead I prefer to surround myself with images, books, prints, photographs, objects from the natural world - all help in the creative process. By far the most inspiring thing for me to do is to simply walk and look. As I lead a fairly sedentary life I find that walking is essential and I gain great benefit from being surrounded by woodland, wild flowers, birdsong, insect life etc. Whenever I walk I try to take my little pocket sized camera with me. The painting of wild dog roses (above) was inspired by walking and observing a favourite footpath near my home in Cheshire. I probably took about fifty or so images of bees, trees, roses in order to create the painting back in my studio.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48B-0xaVRHnrelNnWBc0jART1WiQlgghV_9U0jzOQ_koJ3xQTP8Y3Q65XYulJxv5axqCKuH54sHUPQq0gOM8ZOMUrAS80xIf8_IsGPVZJP-IkTGJTN6xS3Acy2DK8GaUtNNQyZeoeDhE/s1600/DSC01211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg48B-0xaVRHnrelNnWBc0jART1WiQlgghV_9U0jzOQ_koJ3xQTP8Y3Q65XYulJxv5axqCKuH54sHUPQq0gOM8ZOMUrAS80xIf8_IsGPVZJP-IkTGJTN6xS3Acy2DK8GaUtNNQyZeoeDhE/s320/DSC01211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am so fortunate to have a choice of footpaths close to my home. This one is a disused railway line once used to transport goods to the nearby potteries in Stoke-on-Trent. It is now maintained as a nature reserve, popular with walkers but also with the various wildlife that call it home. We have all kinds of native trees and wild flowers. At the moment it is the turn of the dog roses and cow parsley, each plant puts on a show lasting no more than a few weeks before it is superseded by another species. I think the transient nature adds to the attraction of the walk, each visit brings something new to see; a new birdsong to hear, a new insect to discover.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0djYXQWKDI-3RIIljwMkVkT9zNOg8IApYXPqIW8_syzpTxNEim0O4BW2arIGeBw80pKwogilrV3M2lBWpJY2BtJNVurPYelbtLhasQNVyhkqBrQ-2ee16VyfU-kNWbQHk_qz-N9MazSM/s1600/DSC01229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0djYXQWKDI-3RIIljwMkVkT9zNOg8IApYXPqIW8_syzpTxNEim0O4BW2arIGeBw80pKwogilrV3M2lBWpJY2BtJNVurPYelbtLhasQNVyhkqBrQ-2ee16VyfU-kNWbQHk_qz-N9MazSM/s320/DSC01229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The beneficial effects of walking in nature is something that has been known for centuries by many different people. The Japanese call it "forest bathing", perhaps forest breathing would also be an apt description. The dictionary definition of "Inspire" is "the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something creative", perhaps it is no coincidence that there is a simpler definition- "an act of drawing in, especially of air into the lungs". So the next time you find that you are in need of inspiration, get your coat on, pick up your umbrella and breathe in the inspiration that nature so freely provides.</div>
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If you would like a copy of my wild roses print you can find it here in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon">my Etsy shop Acornmoon.</a></div>
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Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-82768453039889500642019-04-14T06:12:00.000-07:002019-04-14T06:13:02.278-07:00Half drop pattern design tutorial. Making a seamless repeat.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxUdpH1pg_FTRJsPGnqI3Caq6_pTF8L0uz4aWOp9h_J4hFkT8VmKAvns82VmQdGo-z0_iqMd8P5QnX1HiOsU891LIMsP-q8pSUKd0CJ0Hmda0prbe_pGFPwuQj8oFCXy0zMSQ_mM9gMA/s1600/Half+drop+VGreeley+Christmas+pear+scroll+on+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxUdpH1pg_FTRJsPGnqI3Caq6_pTF8L0uz4aWOp9h_J4hFkT8VmKAvns82VmQdGo-z0_iqMd8P5QnX1HiOsU891LIMsP-q8pSUKd0CJ0Hmda0prbe_pGFPwuQj8oFCXy0zMSQ_mM9gMA/s320/Half+drop+VGreeley+Christmas+pear+scroll+on+cream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been asked to explain my method of making a half drop seamless repeat. This is the way I was taught as a textile design student before computers existed and dinosaurs roamed the earth.</div>
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1, the first thing you need to do is to design the elements in your design and think about how you want them to appear. This design started with doodles.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc7j4nRX630o3bsJAGsk6IHeuaJMiPuDPcV2ujAmyWHuxd7IVPxQsbZ7lm7pmrqFdWk0BeN-H62uN5Q4NEvj_vK0FzcJuYFLDns02e4STFZ2h2Y72Sinnke_xpzK_2bZx7s7RESlcPFM/s1600/A+step+1+Christmas+scroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc7j4nRX630o3bsJAGsk6IHeuaJMiPuDPcV2ujAmyWHuxd7IVPxQsbZ7lm7pmrqFdWk0BeN-H62uN5Q4NEvj_vK0FzcJuYFLDns02e4STFZ2h2Y72Sinnke_xpzK_2bZx7s7RESlcPFM/s320/A+step+1+Christmas+scroll.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">2. Decide on the size of your repeat and
the kind of repeat you want, this one is going to be half drop. This means that the design
repeats at half way intervals to the side.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Mark registration corners on your layout
paper using simple crosses. This will determine the size of repeat.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCR-obbg4AXidTnuxhV3yZprYV6K1jIq7_k-G8wiEJuq5ypOWobEOsUfzoUQjoOzwMhjLtRzgsZ_b3q84-ATP6bSvVfHK0NIu4qudAxSqv7rlfXz3wBPs-qUNgQUH89Emy78KHECQtwY/s1600/+B+crosses+step+2+print+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRCR-obbg4AXidTnuxhV3yZprYV6K1jIq7_k-G8wiEJuq5ypOWobEOsUfzoUQjoOzwMhjLtRzgsZ_b3q84-ATP6bSvVfHK0NIu4qudAxSqv7rlfXz3wBPs-qUNgQUH89Emy78KHECQtwY/s320/+B+crosses+step+2+print+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">3. Trace a piece of your design making sure
you mark the crosses at the corners.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Transfer the design onto your layout paper
and repeat, matching up the crosses.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdFHBfbyyl2PYfVMh3KrXFrAw3vTom0UlP0KnIAfDarOG0Su_hfckzHcZAmTpnbUg9kKuBza71c6vICZyqJg_6DM-hrgivj0q8Z5zCdNHDgc-g4ShoI69vWSn0tmrYxJKDYw3ApXV1hc/s1600/++C+next+crosses+step+2+print+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="641" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdFHBfbyyl2PYfVMh3KrXFrAw3vTom0UlP0KnIAfDarOG0Su_hfckzHcZAmTpnbUg9kKuBza71c6vICZyqJg_6DM-hrgivj0q8Z5zCdNHDgc-g4ShoI69vWSn0tmrYxJKDYw3ApXV1hc/s320/++C+next+crosses+step+2+print+2.jpg" width="205" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">4. Begin to grow the design sideways to meet
up with the repeat.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Now repeat your new area accordingly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcfKUDkk5i-IX-UXlGMS3HHE68CWUMlBFGW40GoTAY6xEbnG615syBfTUmhGMcI-L8vVZZVQuEQ1-6PGUj_3gs796c9l5ccOD5HrKT9jb7bEW9uA8rSDyqVjBk6FptnkqkPu8MkkVTRI/s1600/step+2+print+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcfKUDkk5i-IX-UXlGMS3HHE68CWUMlBFGW40GoTAY6xEbnG615syBfTUmhGMcI-L8vVZZVQuEQ1-6PGUj_3gs796c9l5ccOD5HrKT9jb7bEW9uA8rSDyqVjBk6FptnkqkPu8MkkVTRI/s320/step+2+print+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->5. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Now start
to fill in the areas above to meet up with the repeat, and repeat!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuEq5hrTD8mfwPKXPGLau9QJ_kf988TCSl_LnBYQZumrqhyphenhyphen-fEpeVKhy03AxTXe5mtnjWgKN0HXuhgj7PIQ1LaFnmI6zXnpbRioLlaavti_pXe4fTvsHPkEcg8qs5KlRAvEBLoxUHgMk/s1600/step+3+print+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuEq5hrTD8mfwPKXPGLau9QJ_kf988TCSl_LnBYQZumrqhyphenhyphen-fEpeVKhy03AxTXe5mtnjWgKN0HXuhgj7PIQ1LaFnmI6zXnpbRioLlaavti_pXe4fTvsHPkEcg8qs5KlRAvEBLoxUHgMk/s320/step+3+print+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt;">6. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>9</o:Words>
<o:Characters>54</o:Characters>
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<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
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</xml><![endif]--><!--StartFragment--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Continue
filling in all the gaps until you have a seamless repeat, keep going, nearly there!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1La4JlEvNYI1VJwIy2AXX9hK5p4yIbrYv0U54uX2eqLEx2RQXd7aly3Vqr6c48VxQwT6vz9-SBEXL26iCZRs7-AJ031pmyRFFjjTtMb15INJ2n3JLv9PylohBEA0ZFVjwNRUH1fwSsGE/s1600/step+4+pattern+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1La4JlEvNYI1VJwIy2AXX9hK5p4yIbrYv0U54uX2eqLEx2RQXd7aly3Vqr6c48VxQwT6vz9-SBEXL26iCZRs7-AJ031pmyRFFjjTtMb15INJ2n3JLv9PylohBEA0ZFVjwNRUH1fwSsGE/s320/step+4+pattern+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">7. Carry on until all the elements are joined. Now you have your final tracing, complete
one full repeat in colour adding more details as required. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBfWncjCCwG3Q6KbOSJAzNWPc-05lep0G6Dl8j9cAOujz94bPCPaGqsucYOJj78a8hv2mFG4_yg8vBgMJv6NU635yeulYDap0-ld1HHNM91fdRNKrbFMtdXWIZATFxVVOANqmQoihfq0/s1600/step+5+patern+master.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBfWncjCCwG3Q6KbOSJAzNWPc-05lep0G6Dl8j9cAOujz94bPCPaGqsucYOJj78a8hv2mFG4_yg8vBgMJv6NU635yeulYDap0-ld1HHNM91fdRNKrbFMtdXWIZATFxVVOANqmQoihfq0/s320/step+5+patern+master.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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8. Give yourself a round of applause! and repeat !!</div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-49013205867614759852018-12-18T06:11:00.000-08:002018-12-18T06:17:40.042-08:00December RMS news.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvUZLx-Rt2VicBx204Yjeg4mHPTBwRCZiSVHqLqjMfwHIu2xMvsZ9JMroIaUo58HkkURjlTmHdsKtavbdyUvSRxslj4WwJcaOajTuGhw4-HwTqiiC8k2o5iU_KDHaj4btIGxuwhKy3VA/s1600/Mall+Galleries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvUZLx-Rt2VicBx204Yjeg4mHPTBwRCZiSVHqLqjMfwHIu2xMvsZ9JMroIaUo58HkkURjlTmHdsKtavbdyUvSRxslj4WwJcaOajTuGhw4-HwTqiiC8k2o5iU_KDHaj4btIGxuwhKy3VA/s320/Mall+Galleries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Earlier this month I took part in the Royal Miniature Society annual exhibition at The Mall Gallery in London. <a href="http://www.leeminiaturecollection.com/rms18.html">The exhibition is now online and you can view it here</a></div>
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I was thrilled to be awarded full membership (RMS) and received this wonderful news "Due to the exceptional quality and consistency of your work the President and Council members are delighted to grant you full membership".</div>
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Also included was a separate exhibition of portrait miniatures from The Granville Family Tree. I was commissioned to paint four miniatures, see below no 2,3, 9 and 10.</div>
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This was quite a difficult challenge for me, especially trying to capture the detail on the lace and embroidery details on the ladies dress. Each miniature was a copy of a much larger original painting and we were given a small copy for reference. As you can imagine these paintings have been disseminated over the centuries, it was the desire of present Mr Granville to have a way of exhibiting the family collection as a whole. The commission was carried out by various members of the society over several years and was a huge undertaking.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60hohYlImU7m7iuH6wDhPzhFgb4sYpdPIsOtC004mgiglAiAZ6L4z66RvycCrMLDYutHuZvhNBGlHYeR2_x3KNbFruknR_mbQLfNxca1EqrCl8nQElvV1kz5uUYWp9PrEnC0kdCzMbSE/s1600/Granville+Collection.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="685" data-original-width="1000" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60hohYlImU7m7iuH6wDhPzhFgb4sYpdPIsOtC004mgiglAiAZ6L4z66RvycCrMLDYutHuZvhNBGlHYeR2_x3KNbFruknR_mbQLfNxca1EqrCl8nQElvV1kz5uUYWp9PrEnC0kdCzMbSE/s320/Granville+Collection.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was a great pleasure to be invited to a champagne reception hosted by Mr Granville and it was fun to meet the many family members and to hear their stories and memories of the original full sized paintings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4ptdF4C5MyoUXimFDO4bSD2OahmnhSN1IXGsUqVSlEjShKAMdS2ApHjCtu2qGA5LjEu5GJ4gGreKo12Of-0cFpsOdK0CAuDLpvi78Kwkz10x1cnuc1ei7bFg2PYm1dCT6C3T1PCgLYk/s1600/MY+sir+granville+print.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4ptdF4C5MyoUXimFDO4bSD2OahmnhSN1IXGsUqVSlEjShKAMdS2ApHjCtu2qGA5LjEu5GJ4gGreKo12Of-0cFpsOdK0CAuDLpvi78Kwkz10x1cnuc1ei7bFg2PYm1dCT6C3T1PCgLYk/s320/MY+sir+granville+print.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7djZKr1109JsasTStZh_J95Xj1yTxafFWdwfFi4aPPsOnq1r-p6FNPlzWJjz6W43-f_4XxdjZ8Dc4GxyUN-exA4v1LkNjkbqD-md5jbCamQR9n-2Bwsu-cPEa8wZbL6SXGuDKOOhVz0U/s1600/Mrs+Granville+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1127" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7djZKr1109JsasTStZh_J95Xj1yTxafFWdwfFi4aPPsOnq1r-p6FNPlzWJjz6W43-f_4XxdjZ8Dc4GxyUN-exA4v1LkNjkbqD-md5jbCamQR9n-2Bwsu-cPEa8wZbL6SXGuDKOOhVz0U/s320/Mrs+Granville+2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Despite the obvious difficulties I really enjoyed the challenge, sometimes it is good to work outside your comfort zone. It was a mixture of relief and pride to hear that all four paintings met with approval.</div>
<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-7743982975134584932018-11-07T07:51:00.000-08:002018-11-07T07:51:46.028-08:00Autumn on the Welsh border<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhkYN1K4AtKAjf-lxHu0T8gtatRJCHUMfzDXWPcbUmAzIpSkifAxN-fSLoh5pYAcH-WCEoLRNRggVR5K7_HgTFWF5EmMT3SBrGNLRXCdp-s2pqYPgI5dDkoKQtOCh0aauHDXMRoRBcV8/s1600/Hafod+Orchard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhkYN1K4AtKAjf-lxHu0T8gtatRJCHUMfzDXWPcbUmAzIpSkifAxN-fSLoh5pYAcH-WCEoLRNRggVR5K7_HgTFWF5EmMT3SBrGNLRXCdp-s2pqYPgI5dDkoKQtOCh0aauHDXMRoRBcV8/s320/Hafod+Orchard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been busy painting new miniatures for submission into this year Royal Miniature Society show. As an associate member I am allowed to submit six miniatures. The sheep painting was inspired by an apple picking excursion to the home of a friend who has a beautiful orchard and farm on the Shropshire/Wales border.</div>
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The tiny water colour painting called "Hare Hill" was painted a few months ago.</div>
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The sheep painting was also painted in watercolour and has a gold leaf border.</div>
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As you can see my submissions this year vary in size, the rabbit and hare paintings are 3ins by 2.5 inches. The largest miniature features an owl and a pussycat and is entitled "They sailed away". It measures 4.5 ins by 4 ins. The portrait of my granddaughter is not for sale.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5zpvjEIfCF54Wn0nwLkB5v9Ofk39pi7BhXcX1djFo76rJpimg9ncYddMiuUWebFYfSi4ld_Pgmdn6a4QTHOamrmgk_g8s24h3iN8yy8ClkOML2DCMasaavbyeiRiUnc3o5e5akg_DUA/s1600/they+sailed+away+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5zpvjEIfCF54Wn0nwLkB5v9Ofk39pi7BhXcX1djFo76rJpimg9ncYddMiuUWebFYfSi4ld_Pgmdn6a4QTHOamrmgk_g8s24h3iN8yy8ClkOML2DCMasaavbyeiRiUnc3o5e5akg_DUA/s320/they+sailed+away+.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
If you are in London from 28th November until Sunday 9th December you are welcome to visit the exhibition at The Mall Galleries in London. If you are unable to visit the exhibition will be online and paintings and sculptures will be for available sale. Further details are available on the <a href="http://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk/">RMS website.</a><br />
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-33342203765337711412018-08-22T12:05:00.000-07:002018-08-22T12:05:38.791-07:00new work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckagFQgF84rj3KqMa8bORJZ0e7QHHGKy4pjpKiTE1X3f_zlDqIO-VlU2cCjDbeJKFzbZJDuWydIJ4XlXt6l1IjnpTk1VojpHEL2bqWDJDaH190q66KIU2QVg873EJwNiMk2ubVja3mpg/s1600/Etsy+shop+low+res+badger+pen+and+ink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="864" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhckagFQgF84rj3KqMa8bORJZ0e7QHHGKy4pjpKiTE1X3f_zlDqIO-VlU2cCjDbeJKFzbZJDuWydIJ4XlXt6l1IjnpTk1VojpHEL2bqWDJDaH190q66KIU2QVg873EJwNiMk2ubVja3mpg/s320/Etsy+shop+low+res+badger+pen+and+ink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been taking time out from painting my miniatures to do some black and white line drawings,</div>
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This study of a badger shows one of our native wild animals in its natural woodland setting. There are still a handful of these majestic creatures living in the countryside around my home, sadly they are being culled because they are being blamed for spreading bovine TB. </div>
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There is something very calming and meditative about drawing in pen and ink; the play of positive and negative spaces together with the decorative nature of the work, helps to calm and still the mind.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsFnNwXIPBACGnSTx_NAWffOSIsf9RfZO17g_LnoGRqNkfXmPj6_J3mBfDaag2_aDFZXQyf_hiYFHo5yQACP4o6n-m53x82eWj8oPeZ-TcF1eB-31-yOWAUYqYdK5RZm2WT1DTtRuLMI/s1600/wip+badger+low+res+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1008" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsFnNwXIPBACGnSTx_NAWffOSIsf9RfZO17g_LnoGRqNkfXmPj6_J3mBfDaag2_aDFZXQyf_hiYFHo5yQACP4o6n-m53x82eWj8oPeZ-TcF1eB-31-yOWAUYqYdK5RZm2WT1DTtRuLMI/s320/wip+badger+low+res+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-33078601042856123622018-05-28T09:51:00.002-07:002021-11-02T09:15:05.882-07:00May sunshine and flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaeVxnzW5UY_esaeO8nny45rV_45TK1gMS-VSYs1A1sq2500j_2yRpxBhGQf8IHIB8oOt5RMDNZOCxq_2nAe8xXWnecvbQlMzwumrMVAJKAc9IArca_zHza5U1ds1EW6AVq-vkAHP7as/s1600/lupin.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqaeVxnzW5UY_esaeO8nny45rV_45TK1gMS-VSYs1A1sq2500j_2yRpxBhGQf8IHIB8oOt5RMDNZOCxq_2nAe8xXWnecvbQlMzwumrMVAJKAc9IArca_zHza5U1ds1EW6AVq-vkAHP7as/s320/lupin.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">After a long and dreary winter and a delayed spring, it seems that summer has taken us all by surprise. Now the days are long and lazy, the older I get the more I want to slow down and take time to smell the roses. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">This year I decided to introduce some lupins into my garden, after being inspired by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I have been careful to include some organic slug deterrents which I hope will be wildlife friendly but keep the slugs away. They are made from woollen pellets and are said to make an itchy and scratchy hostile environment for slugs and snails... we shall see!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Work has been focussed on creating images for Victoria Magazine, this month the theme was France and so I enjoyed painting summer garden images.</span> You can find a new print of the garden cat in my Etsy shop Acornmoon, link in my sidebar.<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3px5piCr_3nhLIj0t8lOHousi_OaxNIB3PyD_-7W5M1HcKzz7i2bZ3Xt4hdBn9lYyWxmGc6rR9WHQleWiUrVFpzPaGeorsg1wLIdSGV1OdDpQsxhPgdCizhek8uiM9oXaqH9x_a9klU/s1600/walk.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3px5piCr_3nhLIj0t8lOHousi_OaxNIB3PyD_-7W5M1HcKzz7i2bZ3Xt4hdBn9lYyWxmGc6rR9WHQleWiUrVFpzPaGeorsg1wLIdSGV1OdDpQsxhPgdCizhek8uiM9oXaqH9x_a9klU/s320/walk.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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It has been a time for long country walks, wild flower spotting and listening to bird song. The bluebells have been spectacular this year.<br />
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I even managed to complete a new miniature portrait of our granddaughter. Watercolour on Kelmscott vellum. It was a labour of love!<br />
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Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-30999428657457322892018-03-30T04:21:00.000-07:002018-03-30T04:21:01.867-07:00Easter Blessings from Oxford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4HDpWcID_FdhiIRqhmvobcZYKYisbARDyBDBO0gEXbvSka48pxhVT2nAgffqGjZw-DLDT4437-eXRz8_b-6RTplIucmeI-1Yb91b8oC32weQfqEMQ26jjtpAbf7D1l2UqtAAQQy2V2k/s1600/Easter+egg+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4HDpWcID_FdhiIRqhmvobcZYKYisbARDyBDBO0gEXbvSka48pxhVT2nAgffqGjZw-DLDT4437-eXRz8_b-6RTplIucmeI-1Yb91b8oC32weQfqEMQ26jjtpAbf7D1l2UqtAAQQy2V2k/s320/Easter+egg+.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We visited Oxford recently to attend The Fine Press Book Fair. Although the event was out of town we had a few days to enjoy the city. The weather was cold but bright and there was definitely a touch of spring in the air.<br />
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We saw a Palm Sunday procession complete with donkey,</div>
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we admired the well kept gardens,</div>
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and found time to visit Pitt Rivers Museum where we found this display of decorated eggs.</div>
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Wherever you are I wish you all a Blessed Easter.</div>
<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-6349066485729079272018-03-18T10:43:00.000-07:002018-03-20T06:05:41.928-07:00Not Quite Spring!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As you will already know, those of us living in these parts of Britain have been in the grip of the most cruel and bitterly cold easterly winds. These have brought snow and chaos and I wish they would go back to where they came from. Having said that, if you are wrapped up against the cold, there has been much beauty to behold in frozen icicles and pure white drifts of snow. I think we feel so bitter about it is because it really ought to be spring! A time to rejoice in the "springtime, the only pretty ring time, where birds do sing hey ding a ling ling...., "</div>
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Victoria magazine has been focusing on Wordsworth and his daffodils and I have had the great pleasure in supplying some of my artwork.<br />
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The botanical study in watercolour of daffodils is available as a print in my Etsy shop should you wish visit please follow this link to <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/122721845">Acornmoon on Etsy</a><br />
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Until this snow takes its leave I wish you farewell. If you are visiting from colder climates I am sure you will be laughing at our feeble attempts to cope with what to you may seem a mere dusting of snow. Who was it who said "there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes"?<br />
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-70673712402911474402018-01-15T06:52:00.000-08:002018-01-15T06:52:16.129-08:00Welcome 2018!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello and welcome to my blog 2018! My exciting news is that I am artist-in-residence to Victoria magazine and I am thrilled to bits. You can read more about it <a href="https://www.victoriamag.com/introducing-2018-writer-residence-artist-residence/" target="_blank">here on the magazine's website</a></div>
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Years ago an art editor I worked with used to post copies of Victoria to me and later I subscribed; it then went out of print for a time but is now back in circulation, this time with Hoffman Media. Victoria is a bimonthly women's lifestyle magazine celebrating all that is beautiful in life and promising a return to loveliness - an excellent sentiment wouldn't you agree? Below is one of the pages in the January/February edition featuring one of my prints. You can find this print and much more in my Etsy shop <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon">Acornmoon.</a></div>
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The year so far has been cold, grey and miserable and at times it has been difficult to find inspiration. Apart from a few snowy days and some amazing sunsets, I am feeling ready to say goodbye to winter. This time of year is always difficult and I am reminded of personal losses, especially that of my parents and siblings. Enough of that, life moves on and so do I.</div>
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In my garden today I found these tiny snowdrops bravely daring the cold January rain. Roll on spring!</div>
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-54650226772069212072017-12-22T11:22:00.002-08:002017-12-22T11:24:00.719-08:00A very Merry Christmas to you and yours.Wishing you all a Blessed and Peaceful Christmas, I leave you with some images of a new miniature I have been working on, inspired by Medieval manuscripts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uSXtcHeNS1OTYwBUOlXk7ZqlLi9VBpi4v-KzrGz5hASxxZAgt13ZSGYGtZ8bxw0IAaPe92EpXBxE-iBnUZPu7Qb8NfqUU9-dEtcAPWt2oIuFA6jBnAhBpuJaEuz48e1d88Ak19Z11ZY/s1600/R+is+for+robin+blog+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uSXtcHeNS1OTYwBUOlXk7ZqlLi9VBpi4v-KzrGz5hASxxZAgt13ZSGYGtZ8bxw0IAaPe92EpXBxE-iBnUZPu7Qb8NfqUU9-dEtcAPWt2oIuFA6jBnAhBpuJaEuz48e1d88Ak19Z11ZY/s320/R+is+for+robin+blog+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The design is first worked in pencil</div>
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It is transferred onto a tea stained ground, the letter has been gilded with 24ct gold leaf.</div>
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-15083659125720864112017-10-03T04:35:00.002-07:002021-11-02T09:18:32.154-07:00Royal Miniature Society Exhibition 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I took part once again in this year's RMS annual exhibition at the Mall Gallery in London. This was my fourth time to exhibit with the Society and as an Associate Member I was allowed to enter six paintings.<br />
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Anyone can enter their miniature paintings or pieces of sculpture, the details of entry can be found on the <a href="http://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk/" target="_blank">Society's website.</a> All entries have to be approved by the committee and it is always an anxious time waiting to see if your work has been accepted. You can enter up to five pieces as a non member, if you have all five pieces accepted in two consecutive years you can become a candidate. If the committee approves you can then become elected as an Associate Member. After a further three years you can apply to become a full member but this is by no means automatic. The Society also has members who are friends, people who may not be artists but who support the Society in other ways.<br />
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Many of the entries arrive in boxes by post, others are handed in by person, all of which involves a huge undertaking. Before I became a member I don't think I realised just how much work is involved in making the exhibition possible. Artworks have to be unwrapped, listed, judged and exhibited and all of this work is carried out by the members themselves who give up their time and energies to make it all happen. This year we helped at "hand in" day, unpacking precious artworks amidst mountains of bubble wrap, being careful not to miss any of the tiny entries in the process. It was both fun and enlightening to take part behind the scenes.<br />
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I was delighted to have sold four paintings at the exhibition, see below. All are watercolour; the owl has some additional gilding around the border in gold leaf.<br />
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The little portrait is our grandson; this is the first time I have entered a portrait. This was painted on vellum, another new departure from my familiar watercolour paper. <span style="text-align: center;">Although the exhibition is now closed you can still see the exhibition and some of the <a href="http://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk/awards.html" target="_blank">award winning paintings on the society's website</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The most coveted prize is The Gold Memorial Bowl which was won this year by an artist called <a href="https://www.raoofhaghighi.com/" target="_blank">Raoof Haghighi</a> for his stunning portrait "Linda". I think I am correct in believing that this was the artist's very first and only entry to the exhibition which makes it a truly remarkable achievement. Many congratulations Raoof and to all the other award winners. <a href="http://www.royal-miniature-society.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">If you are interested in learning more about the society please click this link.</a></span><br />
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-13109191834138423072017-07-21T12:07:00.000-07:002017-07-21T12:14:40.817-07:00Pattern and Friendship<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ravilious and Co The Pattern of Friendship</td></tr>
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It has taken a while to return to my long neglected blog so if you are still out there, thanks for visiting, I hope it was worth the wait!<br />
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To tell you the truth I have been rather down in the dumps, who wouldn't be with all the recent events happening in our world? As always it is family, good friends and art which have lifted my spirits and I was lucky enough to win this wonderful book over on <a href="http://dovegreyreader.typepad.com/" target="_blank">Dovegreyreader's blog.</a> If you love books and quilting this well established blog is well worth a visit.<br />
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Ravilious and Co - The Pattern of Friendship by Andy Friend is published by Thames and Hudson. Not only does the gorgeous book feature Ravilious's wonderful wood engravings and artworks but many decorative patterns created by himself and his circle of friends. Numerous designs created for Curwen are featured, some of which I have <a href="http://acornmoon.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/curwen-patterned-papers.html" target="_blank">featured previously on this blog.</a> I am particularly fond of the work of Enid Marx who was a distinguished designer of textiles and also a gifted artist and illustrator.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patterned Paper bindings</td></tr>
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I recently took part in a workshop run by the Society of Bookbinders and we had the opportunity to put to good use an assortment of patterned papers. The top two on the photograph feature my own designs, these easy to make stub bindings are simple but surprisingly useful. The bottom left is a coptic bound book; here I used a beautiful Florentine paper given to me by a dear friend. The bottom right uses another paper, also given to me by another kindred spirit. What lovely friends I have!<br />
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Ravilious and Enid Marx often created patterns which started life as wood engravings, some were inspired by artists of their day. In these two pieces I have started by making doodles on a piece of scraperboard, or scratchboard as my American friends would call it. I have then played around with repeat patterns to create two different designs, the top one has a tile repeat which reminds me of a kaleidoscope I used to love to play with as a child.<br />
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Before I go I should mention an exhibition I took part in - The Annual Hillard Society of Miniature Paintings, in Wells, Somerset. The exhibition is now closed but <a href="http://www.hilliardsociety.org/exhibition.html" target="_blank">you can visit it online here-</a> Wells is a beautiful place to visit and was the birth place of the miniature artist Hilliard, hence the name. The exhibition takes place once a year in the Town Hall, it is always enjoyable and a good opportunity to make new friends in the miniature art world, both artists and collectors. There are also demonstrations by members who are always willing to share their knowledge.<br />
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I have been busy with new commissions, I loved working on this miniature version of an old Tudor portrait of a noble woman wearing the most exquisite patterned lace. I painted it in watercolour on a surface called polymin, this is a man made ivory substitute and the very devil to paint on! It does however have a lovely translucent quality and I have since learnt that it helps to dust with talcum powder first and then coat with a thin wash. (The painting is very small, three and a half inches across.)<br />
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6674567779162810399.post-38986960774019161492017-06-04T14:15:00.001-07:002017-06-04T14:33:58.137-07:00Long live Manchester<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have no words to express my heartbreak and pride in our city of Manchester. A place so entwined in my life, a city of industry, hard work and creativity. The place I went to as a child for shopping trips, for new "rig outs" and visits to cinemas, theatres and restaurants. As a teenager, Manchester was all about discotheques and bright lights and the place I met the love of my life. Manchester, the place I studied art and lived for five years. Later, the place to visit family and friends, the city to take our children and now grandchildren to football matches, libraries, theatres, restaurants, street markets, festivals, galleries and shops.<br />
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Now Manchester is slowly coming to terms with the horror of an appalling and cowardly terrorist attack that has devastated so many young lives and families.<br />
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The bee has always been the symbol of the city and like the bee the people are slowly but surely working together and finding ways to rebuild their shattered lives with courage and tenacity. I am proud to say I stand by Manchester.<br />
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<br />Acornmoonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14982884920388966786noreply@blogger.com