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MY TOP TIPS FOR COLOUR PENCILS
19 October, 2021
This month I have a useful little piece for you to read at the Painters Online blog. I've put five of my Top Tips together for you. Not all of them will be obvious ones either!
From pressure testing, to blender pens and mark-making.
Click on the link below to read my Top Five Colour Pencils Tips.
WORKING IN REVERSE WORKSHOP
15 October, 2021
This was great fun and hugely rewarding.
Running my first workshop at the Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf in London for these six intrepid artists was a huge hit, and something that I am really proud of.
Having never been to a workshop, or run one, I was relying on my planning skills and dusting off some management techniques I haven't needed in a while. I really enjoyed seeing how differently each and every artist worked and took on board the information.
I'm doing it again on the 24th, this time in colour, if you feel like joining me.
Book using the link below.
THE GALLERY EXPERIENCE
13 August, 2021
I have three of my colour pencil florals in the UKCPS 20th Anniversary Gala Exhibition, being held at the Bargehouse in London. Here's my candid review of the space, and the artwork.
The originals in the show cover a wide variety of subjects in an even more diverse array of styles. While realism is the predominant format, there are some nice abstracts and a couple of interesting individuals making some lovely marks with colour pencils.
I was proud to show my three entries, however I felt that my best work was squashed into a very poorly lit corner and I watched the majority of visitors missed that corner of the room entirely. It's not the organisers fault, there were 10 rooms full of pictures (over 250 in total) I think it was my fault. I should have framed it bigger, and I would have been afforded more wall space as a result.
All the winners were huge! A big lesson for me - A3 is not big when in a room full of A3 pieces. If I'm to get noticed I'm going to have to change my approach.
The Best in Show, 'Coralling a Lightening Bolt' by Tracy Frein is a stunning piece of work on drafting film with (I think) just a black pencil. Reserve Best in Show was another win for David Sandell, one of the best portrait artists in the UK, I feel.
BRIGHT AND VIBRANT COLOUR ON BLACK PAPER
WORKSHOP
29 September, 2021
Have you ever wondered how artists make such bright and contrasty images on black paper?
If yes, then come along to my workshops in London and learn how to make your images pop!
You'll learn some of my secrets, and have a chance to practice with some of the best white pencils for this style of work.
Book now, seats are selling. 10 people only. You'll have fun, and it will be relaxed and friendly (and Covid safe).
3 ENTRIES SELECTED FOR TOP LONDON EXHIBITION
18 August, 2021
I am thrilled and proud to announce that three of my recent botanical pieces have been juried into the UK Coloured Pencil Society 2021 Annual Exhibition, which is being held at the Bargehouse, Oxo Tower Wharf in London.
If you are in the area, or if you fancy a trip out, please do come say hi. I'll be around for most of the event and I would love to meet you, talk about my work, or any of the other amazing colour pencil artwork on the walls.
Don't be shy, come say hi!
The exhibition runs from 14th to 24th October. 11am till 6pm and its free to enter!
THE BARGEHOUSE
OXO TOWER WHARF, LONDON
16 August, 2021
This week I took a trip up to London to see the venue for the UKCPS 2021 Open Exhibition. This year is their 20th Anniversary and they've gone big and bold, and very industrial with the Bargehouse.
Inside, the walls may be bare brick, and the floors scuffed concrete, but I can see the vision. I got very excited at the prospect of seeing hundreds of colour pencil artworks on view in the capital in such an iconic space and brilliant location.
Set aside your preconceived ideas about how an art exhibition should look, because this is not it!
The free to enter exhibition is on from 14th to 24th October from 11 to 6pm daily.
The Bargehouse is less than 15minutes walk from Waterloo.
CHRISTMAS COMMISSIONS ARE FULL
July 10, 2021
Wow, thank you all so much for your business. The past 12 months has been incredibly difficult, as an artist, to bring in work, so to be this busy up to, and through Christmas means the world to me. It really does xxx
I am staying open for commissions in the new year, from February, but please be aware that my prices will increase by 10% in January, so if you are thinking of something for the new year, get in now to save.
BACKLIT SNOWDROPS - DERWENT BLOG
17 May, 2021
I've only done an actual painting underpainting once before, so here's a little step-by-step on how to create these gloriously backlit spring snowdrops.
I used Derwent Inktense to create the black background, and the underlayers for the colour, and Derwent Procolour pencils over the top.
Click on the link to see the mini-tutorial.
PROUDLY WORKING WITH DERWENT ART
08 May, 2021
It's official! I am thrilled to have been invited to become an Artist Ambassador for this fantastic brand.
You know that feeling when you find a brand that just seems to gel with the way you work? Well, that's me and Derwent. I have been using their pastel pencils and pencils since I was in my teens, cramming for art exams and preparing my university portfolio. I still have some of those original pencils in my collection.
Though my collection may now be ten times the size, the vast majority of it is Derwent already. I love their products, and I am so excited to have the opportunity to work my way through their entire range of pencils, paints, papers and accessories :-D
DERWENT BLOG - LIGHTFAST REVIEW ON FILM
23 April, 2021
I was honoured to be asked back to the Derwent Blog to give my review of their Lightfast pencils on drafting film.
Click the link below to find out what I thought.
TURNING THE TIDE - DERWENT BLOG
12 February, 2021
Derwent Art kindly sent me their Inktense Studio Pan set to try out. 24 colours of intense saturation and brilliant layerability...is that a word...it is now!
The scene is right out of my comfort zone, but I was so pleased with the outcome. If I can do it, anyone can!
Have a read of my step-by-step on the blog and do let me know if you give the pans a go yourself. You won't regret it.
SAA PAINT MAGAZINE ARTICLE
'ARTISTIC DISTRACTIONS'
March 1, 2021
It was definitely a tough year in 2020, and I have been reading a little about how art has been so popular and helping people get through it. I wrote this little '5 things' article as a way to show some of the ways I use art in my life. In particular, how I took my drawing supplies into hospital with me and drew the 'Fallen' piece, as I sat with my husband while he underwent chemotherapy.
It was such a great stress reliever, and I wanted to share that, and other ideas with everyone. There's nothing new in what I'm saying, you all probably know about colouring books, and sketch prompts etc, but its a fun little read.
Not a member of the SAA? Click the link to join and enjoy the benefits of this fabulous society.
DERWENT ART BLOG
December 1, 2020
For December, I was lucky enough to be asked to contribute a 'how I made this' to the official Derwent Blog.
Although I had already finished the piece, and didn't have the right photographs of my work in progress to make a full tutorial, I did have enough to show the main elements and talk about how I created this 'seasonally scented' piece, which was drawn with Derwent Lightfast pencils.
The Blog is still there. Follow the link below.
FALLEN WINS TOP ART PRIZE
SAA ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2020
AMATEUR LANDSCAPES AND WOODLAND CATEGORY
September 10, 2020
I was so very surprised, and happy to receive an email this week informing me that my autumnal coloured pencil artwork has won the category prize in this year's SAA Artist of the Year Competition.
There were almost five thousand entries (not all to this category) and I've been and had a look and marvelled at so many beautiful creations. You should take a look too.
https://community.saa.co.uk/challenges/artists-of-the-year-2020/
This piece was really challenging. It was started, and finished, on a wobbly hospital table where my pencils rolled around, and where my husband was having his chemo. I am so grateful to the nurses who looked after us for all those months in 2019.
The original is one of my absolute favourites and hangs in my hall gallery at home.
FLYING SAUCERS WIN UKCPS PRIZE
Aug 1, 2020
I am thrilled to announce that my Flying Saucers Invasion drawing has won the UK Coloured Pencil Society (UKCPS) Monthly Theme Competition for August.
If you are a member on their Facebook Page you will see this (or a cropped version at least) as their Group Banner for the whole of August.
I also win bragging rights, and get the pleasure of choosing the next winner for the September banner.
In other UKCPS related news, I put together the Society's article in the September edition of Ann Kullberg's Color Magazine. Go check it out and see what the Society (and I) have been getting up to!
INTERVIEW WITH CARRIE LEWIS - CP MAGIC MAGAZINE
June 1, 2020
So I guess I'm famous now, right?!
My first interview, where I talk about how I got started after leaving work in 2017, my working environment, and my plans for the future.
Also, there is a short tutorial on how to draw my red octopus on black paper. It is my first attempt at a tutorial, so please forgive me the lack of helpful hints. I will do better next time.
Click on the picture link to take you to the magazine.
OM NOM NOM WINS
UKCPS BEST PICTURE AWARD
INSIDE THE LINES EXHIBITION 2019
December 01, 2019
I am shocked and thrilled to have been awarded this year's Best Picture prize for my drawing "Om nom nom". The judges awarded this for, "challenge of the subject matter and impressive technical competence."
This drawing represents a year of progress and improvement for me, and the award is a wonderful and uplifting conclusion that I could never have predicted. I am so honored to have been chosen from the long list of fantastic entries.
You can see the full exhibition on the UKCPS website
https://ukcps.org.uk/index.php/online-2019-gallery
I won bragging rights, and £200, which I have spent already.