My Mother, My Muse

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I write this blog, after a four year battle with cancer my mother passed away peacefully on the 11th May surrounded by her family at St Luke's Hospice. Throughout my mothers painful battle she never stopped encouraging me to follow my dreams, explore my creativity and believe that I could be all that I want to be. 

When I look back over the years I was amazed at how much art work I have created where my mother has been my muse, my inspiration, my motivation and driving force. She has collected bottle tops, cartons, saved her crosswords, modelled for me and collected inspirational images for years - often clogging up her tiny flat all for the sake of art! Never once questioning my motive, just trusting in my judgement.

 One of my earliest memories is of going to a second hand market and being given 50p to purchase some cloth to make something out off.

So it is with this blog that I want to say thank you mum, for being you, for always believing in me and hopefully instilling in me all that you hoped and dreamed of for me, God Bless and sleep tight, love you x

Here are just a few of the many pieces inspired by my mother.

1 up 1 down, M.A Installation

Live, Life, Here M.A Installation

Live Life Here, M.A Installation

What is a Mother, M.A Installation

 Mums Ops, Paper Myths 

My Brave Mum's Survival, Paper Myths

Kinafters and Kinshafters, Paper Myths

Love will see you through, Frottage drawing

Mother Miro, Newspaper, carrier bags and acrylic paint

Detail, My Cup Runneth Over. Newspaper and acrylic paint

My Cup Runneth Over. News paper and acrylic paint

Every Twist and Turn. News paper and acrylic paint

Aerial View, Mothers Mask. Radio Therapy mask, prescriptions, felt, embroidery thread

Side View, Mothers Mask. Radio Therapy mask, prescriptions, felt, embroidery thread

Mothers Mask. Radio Therapy mask, prescriptions, felt, embroidery thread

Side View, Mothers Mask. Radio Therapy mask, prescriptions, felt, embroidery thread

Autumn. Water Soluble Crayon on Paper

Miss you x

Work of Art Private View

The WOA Gallery on Hampton Court Road Westcliff is an upcoming art gallery owned by Rob Masters.  WOA stands for Work Of Art, but also can stand for the sound you make when you walk into the gallery space. 

Every space contains a treat for the viewer's eyes, with each wall being utilised in the gallery  to promote and showcase works by local artists. With an eclectic mix of works that boasts photography, oil painting, mixed media, jewellery, pottery, typography, printing and abstract art - a visit to the gallery is a must for any art enthusiast.

The Work of Art Gallery on Hampton Court Road Westcliff

 Here are some of the pieces of work that caught my eye...

"Wait" by Sharon Stone, I love the raw emotion in this stunning oil painting

Lisa Horner works in typography and illustration. These pieces are made by digitally scanning in hamma bead letters

Donna Phelps works in mixed media, exploring the combination of different materials to express her visual concepts

Sandra Clarke creates organic natural form prints using a range of techniques including lino printing.

Amazing jewellery by Celeste Cook

Bird 3 by Matt Spink, I just loved the colour and texture in this painting, glorious

The WOA Gallery is open Monday to Saturday every week. To find out more about the gallery, the artists or to enquire about exhibiting at the gallery check out the WOA website www.welovewoa.co.uk or contact Rob Masters at welovewoa@gmail.com or call -07817264420

Love Series

Since January I have been enjoying working in my own studio. I cannot explain how peaceful and happy I feel in my space, creating planning and teaching.
Now that I am all settled in, over the past few days I have been working on a series of drawings ready for an up coming exhibition. I thought I would give you a sneak preview of a few of the drawings.

"I'm Yours" Water Soluble Crayon on paper

"Singing Heart" Water Soluble Crayon on paper

"Love Ice-Cream" Water Soluble Crayon on paper

Framed and mounted drawing

Original drawings will be available priced at £95:00 framed, prints available £45 or £60 framed. For more information contact Lisa at lisamart@hotmail.co.uk

Comments book break through

This may sound a little shallow (which I do not mean to be) but every week I check the comments book in the BEA gallery to see if anyone has left a comment about my work - I know that I am not the only one that does this!!!!!

So this is just a short and sweet blog to say I finally had comments left about my work in the comments book at the BEA Gallery Yeah! Thank you lovely people.

Lovely comments in the BEA  Gallery book

Little b. little d - table cloth

Barleylands Art Trail 2012

This blog showcases some of the stunning work which can currently be viewed as part of the Barley Lands Art Trail. Following the success of last year’s event, this time the art trail has been extended to run for a whole month, allowing more people to have the opportunity to view the local talent of Essex, both professional and amateur. Now in its third year, galleries and workshops within the Barleylands Craft Village have again opened their doors to local artists to display their work.

The trail was formed two years ago by a voluntary committee with the aim of creating opportunities and links between local artists, business and community whilst promoting the profile of all three.

The Barleylands Craft Village is the perfect venue for such an event of this kind as it is home of more than fifty studio shops working with a whole host of materials including paint, canvas, paper, clay, glass and steel to produce an array of unique products. Take the opportunity to visit soon and view some great art and very creative product.

In the mean time here is a sneaky preview to wet your appetite....

Official opening of the Barleylands Art Trail 2012

Graham Collins, Illustrator in Studio 52 (image to follow)

Martin Dyer, Visual Artist in Studio 30

Richard Argent, Visual Artist in Studio 19

Donna Phelps, Visual Artist in Studio 33-35

Liz O’Brien, Visual Artist in Studio 42

Caroline Weidman, Sculptor in Studio 44

Denise Gannon, Textile Artist in Studio 48

Lisa Smith, Visual Artist in Studio 28

Steve Burdett, Visual Artist in Studio 15

Danielle Clements, Sculptor in Studio 41

Jennie Clements, Fantasy Art in Studio 41

The trail blazers, reviewing this years Art Trail

Willerby, Visual Artist in Studio 43 (image to follow)

Paul Magner, Photographer in Studio 50

Sandra Bonner, Photography in Studio 24

Mandy Davis, Painter in Studio 20

Pearce Hall, Visual Artist in Studio 18

Janet Stout, Visual Artist in Studio 40

Jan Simon, Jeweller in Studio 43

Robert J Railton, Visual Artist in the Courtyard Tea rooms

If you would like to see the works mentioned in this blog and much more, why not visit Barleylands Craft Village, Barleylands Road, Billericay, Essex CM11 2UD. To find out more details go to www.barleylands.co.uk