Teenage literature and new work

This photo was taken by my boyfriend to include my two very tall sunflowers. The shorter one was actually larger, but with complete ingratitude for my tender care has decided to face daily into the neighbours garden.

Today I have a new Teenism to share. For the uninitiated a 'teenism' is when your otherwise literate teen just gets their words in a pickle:

Here we have the teen, fresh back from a trip to Holland with her father:

"I love Dutch cheese, especially Gandhi"

Me: "Do you mean Gouda?"

"Er yeah, probably..."


If you love teenisms and laughing at, I mean with, teenagers I can recommend Dawn French's first novel 'A tiny bit marvellous' . It's not normally the sort of book I read, and I bought it on a whim, but she has captured the 'facebook generation' to such perfection, it's hysterical. Unless you are the teenage daughter in the book, when it's probably "like SO unfair".

When not reading I have been frantically making new work for the various exhibitions I am participating in during October:


This is the second piece to go with the snowscene for 'Visions of Sudbury':

 And then there was a lino print for the Gainsborough's House Printmakers exhibition. Unusually for them it was a selected exhibition, and after my initial disappointment when I received an email saying both my works had been rejected, there came an hour later a phone call, saying they had made a mistake and one had got in!

This was the design, a linocut with collage. I made it in four colours with different collage materials for each, and the one that was accepted was a nice blue. I was unashamedly aiming it at the sort of people who love Ikea. Nothing wrong with a bit of Ikea of course. I was delighted to get into the exhibition because firstly I didn't know anyone on the selection committee (!) and secondly I only dabble in printmaking, and many of the other entrants do it full time to a shockingly high standard.


I also made another series of little prints, inspired by some nautical stamps I found in a local shop. 

This one was also made in four different colours, and is the first in a new venture for me. I am calling it A4 Art, as the mount is designed to fit directly into any standard A4 frame. It worked well despite the fact that it required some maths to figure out the sizing. Basic maths of course, but unlike the teen basic maths is about all I can do. We shall see if this idea is a help in increasing sales, I am hopeful they will do well.

Next week is all about finalising the Gallery 47 Exhibition I am running with my Saturday class, which is approaching rapidly!

 

Interviewed!

Just a quick link today. Last week I was interviewed by Hannah Robinson, illustrator for her blog. She was gracious and lovely, and for anyone who wants to read the answers I gave to her fun and interesting questions please click here.

It's a great read, the part where I relate wrestling that escaped tiger to the ground in Waitrose car park is especially good...