Opening up my shed and clearing a space amongst all the winter storage of junk to start screen printing again equates to the first day of spring for me.  My printing career is a very seasonal thing and it makes me so happy to kick off the process all over again.  Selecting designs, cutting stencils, preparing the screen, the colour etc etc.  Etching was my first love and even though I do love painting there is something about a print process that occupies my mind so beautifully and makes me a lot less anxious than painting does.  So, who knows what prints will appear from the shed this year but todays output is the beginnings of a bright pink bunny.  

I'm busy at the moment completing 20 greeting card designs ready for the printers.  The past couple of days have involved painting up some number cards and the painting here is for 2 - "Two little butterflies sitting on my hat".  Finished designs will be here soon (my deadline for the printer is end of next week...HELP!)and I am quite excited about the whole thing.

I am going Rococo crazy after watching  Waldemar Januszczak in his BBC4 programme Rococo: Travel,Pleasure,Madness.    The portraits of Gainsborough's daughters were amazing and I can't quite believe that after many years of looking at art that I have never really looked at those.  Next time I am in London I shall head to the National Gallery and soak it all up.  The above 7 will end up as a very tiny badge on the dress of a little character who is gracing one of my birthday cards.  I need to sort out the background - I was aiming for Pompadour Pink but it seems to have turned out a bit too purple.

I am now on Twitter so please do come and find me. 

I make quick notes and drawings in several different notebooks and sometimes I rediscover one that I haven't used for months and months.  I found this one while attempting to clear out the utility room and amongst lots of to do lists was this picture of my daughter totally absorbed in the joy of sucking juice up through a curly straw. 

A very happy New Year to one and all.  May 2014 bring exciting adventures and wonderful memories.  I have lots of ideas for illustrations and things I would like to try out.  This year is going to be the year of the layer.  I am going to start using the gouache with a bit more transparency and be braver with my layers and mixing of media.  I am also going to do lots more screen printing as that seems to have fallen by the wayside recently.  I am always excited at the beginning of a new year and eternally optimistic about the year ahead. Here goes...

It has been such a long time since I have been able to get on with some painting.  I started this months ago hoping to complete three other designs as well ready for Christmas cards.  Unfortunately that plan has gone out of the window and I think I will keep the designs tucked away for next year.  School seems to have taken over and I am there far more than I should be.  Trouble is I love it as much as I love illustrating but trying to find the balance is tricky.  Who knows what next year will bring.

This weekend I went to The Printhaus in Cardiff to learn about photo emulsion screen printing AT LAST!!  I have been wanting to do this for so long.  It was a brilliant weekend and I picked up lots of tips for my paper cut screens as well.  They run all sorts of courses and their website is well worth a look if you are interested in printmaking.