The early stages of my painting of a corn flower. A work in progress.

Sometimes, a break from painting is as good as the feel of painting itself, and a break was much needed this summer.

Picking up a brush after a much needed break feels good. Sometimes life gets in the way of things. Health problems, other life pressures and not to mention a global pandemic of Covid that had quickly reached our local area. Everything just shut down.

Normally painting is a zen like process for me, but the worries of life infiltrated that process and I struggled to concentrate. So, I decided to take a break from creating new work in the studio and instead, focussed on our home and garden throughout the summer and autumn, all the while letting my shop tick over. For me it was the right thing to do.

 A selection of my hand painted floral clay hearts

Making air dried clay hearts is a wonderful creative pastime

Airdrying clay is widely available from craft and art stores. I’m experimenting at the moment with different brands, but primarily they all work out the same.  Here is a step by step of how I make my art decoration hearts.

 Art Doodle Sketch Welcoming in the New Year of 2020

Bringing in the new year of 2020 was a welcome hope for the future, not least because the entire Christmas period was a comatose blur under the influence of the dreaded flu bug!

All new years begin with hopes and dreams, and after the last year of sad loss and so many hospital visits that I’ve lost count, the hope of the sun shining on our lives is even greater.

 My paintings of algae and the inside of plants at Cynon Valley Museum, Aberdare, Wales

I’m delighted that four of my microscope paintings were selected to be in the Winter Exhibition 2019 in the Gallery at Cynon Valley Museum, Aberdare, South Wales

My table laid out with paintings, prints, cards and hearts at Nelson Craft Market
Nelson Village, South Wales held their first Craft Market for local small businesses at the Community Centre

Painting of the Window and Ceiling Arches of Pershore Abbey, Worcs.
Trust is the Theme for the 2019 DAC Touring Art Exhibition

I’m thrilled that my painting “The Window” has been selected to go on tour alongside other artists work for the themed “Trust” Art Exhibition this year of DAC, Disability Arts Cymru

The painting I decided to submit, “The Window” just seemed to jump out to be put forward because of the difficult times we have had this year, losing my lovely Mum In Law.  I painted this a few years back based on the internal architecture of Pershore Abbey near my parents’ home. I loved the arches and the way the light was falling between the pillars and coming through the window, so accentuated them to portray my own sense of what spirituality is, and the trust that through a “window” we carry on into a next life.

 Hand painted floral clay hearts
Making and painting clay hearts is so enjoyable

I’m really enjoying the physical aspect of making my own clay hearts. It gives me the freedom to choose my own shapes and sizes, and I can say that I’ve made them literally from start to finish. I’m using air dry clay and it has been a challenge to roll the clay smooth enough to make a good painting surface for detail work. I also wanted the hearts to be delicate and thin rather than thick and chunky, which posed a challenge to stop them curling at the edges while they were drying, so they were turned over regularly and kept from drying too quickly. When they are dry, even though they are thin, they are surprisingly tough.