Beaching can be a state of mind. For the past few years I’ve found that having a beach bag available for when relaxing in the garden can help transport oneself to the relaxation enjoyed whilst relaxing on holiday.
Creating outdoors
Months of lovely warm, sunny weather for most of lockdown have been ideal for garden beaching. I used the pretty colours of Inktense and my travel industry know how to illustrate the contents of a beaching, at home, bag.
Detail…
Thanks so much for being here and taking the time to look at my work. If you need bespoke illustrations to support a change for good project, please get in touch.
I’ve created some garden sign designs of ice-cream and ice lolly nostalgic summertime themes.
Ice-Cream painted sign. The wonderful, iconic 99 ice-cream, here in a tasty wafer cone, with chocolate at the end. 😋 Poster design to enhance the garden shed. Adding some fun summer icons.
The second design, with the same colour palette, again in acrylic paints was themed on the Fab ice lolly.
Nice weather meant it was possible to get outside and paint.
Have a Fab day! Fab ice lolly themed poster art. Enjoyed painting this piece. Please scroll sideways to see the work. Research was fun, and tasty 😋. The fab lolly is a product which is still going strong after more than 50 years!
G is for Gloves – an essential piece of ski kit as cold hands cam spoil the day. I love it when fresh snowflakes fall on my gloves and remain there whilst their intricacy can be observed. I’ve noticed this most often when on a chairlift in snowy conditions.
I created these snowflakes using free motion embroidery and secondly with icing sugar.
Mittens are great alternatives to gloves for children, and for extremely cold conditions. Good quality ski mittens have separate fingers spaces inside, to add to their warmth.
Key ski items also starting with the letter G are Gondola, for non skiers, this is not the Venetian boat but one of the popular ski lift types, and also Goggles.
Goggles are as fundamental as gloves for well-being and comfort for cold temperatures and snowy days on the mountains.
This illustration is for Gondola, Goggles and Gloves. There’s also one other thing that starts with a G, to be spotted.
Watch this space for the letter H illustrations and if you’ve not seen them previously you can see the previous illustrations at these links….
It’s been a tumultuous and busy past couple of weeks for most of the planet. I’m determined to keep sharing uplifting work, both new illustrations and ones from my back catalogue when they are relevant.
The situation has moved fast and already has provided reflections on gratitude, for what may have previously have been undervalued, and the situation its is a reset of perspective of who is, and what is important.
Sending heaps of kindness and wellness to all those who are unwell or suffering.
I’ve been busy adapting our home for lockdown, had to make heart wrenching strategic business decisions, as well as finding tech solutions to replace face to face demonstrations. I’ve managed so squeeze some time in for illustration, which is therapeutic and can hopefully brighten someone’s day. This art from my heart follows…
I’ve been finding the terms used such as self-isolating and social distancing as having very negative connotations, and wondered whether putting a more positive slant on staying at home might make this feel more enjoyable and therefore sustainable. Here’s an example of this work, I’ll be developing these ideas and responding the World Health Organisation (@who) Creative Brief to communicate the key messages.
Wear Your Wings – Copyright Kim
Home and family are everything. Despite the restrictions we must nurture our minds, bodies and relationships all from within our home. Thankfully technology can bridge between those we love but do not live with. Our families have come together for some great multi-generation live video calls which have been a great distraction and really made us laugh.
It’s snowing here. But it’s cosy, safe and warm in our home. Enjoy the home comforts. #stayhomesavelives
Here are a round up of the posts from my Instagram, to uplift and reassure.
This is for all those suffering with fear and anxiety. You are not alone. These feelings are understandable in this situation, so try to go easy on yourself. Comfort yourself with reassurance that you are safe and you are loved.
If there is someone that you feel would also like to see this please share. Spread the love. 💕 #stayhomestaysafe
There can be great joy in nature and this lovely season. Flashback to this watercolour painting from last year created as a book cover design.
The bright flowers are blooming to herald Spring, the birds are singing, daffodils shine bright. The sun radiates low into the rooms to warm away winter. Beautiful weather last week made the first days of lockdown easier as the garden is springing to life and the birds are full of energy and song.
Stunning spectrums that I spotted in our kitchen, cast by a refractive book cover being hit by the sun’s rays.
Have Courage, Hold On. We are stronger than this thing. #alonetogether
I sprayed this positive quote from Audrey Hepburn in our garden, as a reminder, and for a little spray painting therapy.
Relaxing retreating in reading at the end of the day.
Watercolour and digital. You might recognise this scene from my chalet picture. Worked with a work in progress scan digitally to create this piece with a work in progress scan digitally to create this piece. #stayhomesavelives
Enjoy the Great Indoors. Whether you choose to scale your stairs for a work out, adventure to far flung places on Netflix or enjoy some Eastern philosophy on your yoga mat, wishing you a lovely day. #stayhomestaysafe
Created this house in watercolours on wet then developed this further to create the composition at the top of this post…
And finally: Only Tweet the good. Trying to only share positive and factual content. The birds are so active around our home, their beautiful song so clear in the stillness.
Thanks for being here. Stay safe, stay home and if there’s somebody who you feel would like to see my work please share the blog with them.
Here are my latest illustrations and paintings. So loving creating at the moment.
The next task in #illustrationworkshop is a book cover. I thought that as I’m intending to create a book that I should use this prompt in this way.
A family gathering is always a lovely creative opportunity.
Summer Party themed illustration – developing the flower painting and trying out words and other items with the new paints and techniques.
Spot illustration for a magazine article about holiday/summer book recommendations.
Painted in watercolours and the elements brought together in @pixelmatorapp on my #iPhone
I like how this has come together and creating the woman for the glass.
Lovely time painting on location @renishawhallg with my little buddy. There are so many delightful flowers to choose from, some aren’t really in a place to stop and paint.
I’m pleased with how the floral art is developing and enjoying the paints.
I was pleased with this painting as it was a significant development on my previous painting on location at Renishaw. I like the energy and looseness of this piece though.
It’s this kind of work that o like to hold in mind and rest my subconscious on whilst trying to go back to sleep.
We’re getting the Folksy shop ready for the busy festive shopping time so if you’d like an original artwork for your loved one you can buy them here.
The tennis club needed a certificate, so keeping consistent with the illustrations I have done for club posters, social media posts and children’s colouring sheets I drew the club trophies, some are almost 100 years old, and a banner to start the build up to centenary celebrations, to create a certificate template.
I’m developing the drawing stage for my my next illustrations, I’ll share them when completed, but if you’d like to see the process and stages then pop over to my Instagram.
Thanks for spending time here, hope you’ve enjoyed it.
I’ve really enjoyed creating in August. The month started off with the Helen Dardik workshop in Rotterdam which was beautiful and inspiring. The month and art has flourished from there.
I created an illustrated map, an instructional illustration for #PortfolioClub, an illustrated Recipe prompted by Flow Magazine’s book 50 Ways To Draw Your Beautiful Ordinary Life. I also created a party invitation book cover and stitched/painted self portrait.
I added new items to my Folksy shop as we start to get ready for the busy festive period.
To learn more about this latest work follow these links❤️
I was delighted to see that @Helendardik was holding a workshop on this side of the Atlantic. So immediately booked on the course in Rotterdam.
Helen furnished the beautiful Rotterdam studio with boundless beautiful bouquets. Wonderful teaching with a lovely group of creative people.
I had seen and followed Helen’s work. Always wondering how she achieved the effects with paint, to create her stunning pieces. I was keen to learn from Helen.
Lovely to meet Helen. I felt like I’d stepped into Instagram. I learned so much and had a truly lovely day. .
I continue to explore the techniques, and materials, here are my favourite pieces so far….
Continuing my bird work. 😊
When I accidentally dropped a huge blog of opera pink on my brand new sheet of paper this snail character emerged.
Sweet flower in the garden
Tulip repeat pattern assembled in #pixelmator
Love all life – response to the horrific mass shootings in the US that day.
Cornflower Blues
Flowers, butterflies and balloons
Self portrait following this style. Created in stitch and paint to represent my favourite mediums
Love how the pinks pop against the blues.
Summer Party themed painting
Even being blue can be beautiful
Helen has a workshop planned in Canada in September. I highly recommend her workshops, more info at her website
Tiny lavender bouquet brought by bluebird, delivering relaxation and sweet slumbers.
Textile illustration using hand and machine stitch with appliqué.
First sketched as part of the #illustrationworkshop process before being made in paper, then fabric.
Inspired by the lavender at #dawnirelandtextileartist group
Poppy stages embroidery inspired by our morning walk.
Saw this pretty poppy on our walk yesterday morning so I decided that it would be my subject for an appliqué embroidery. It’s not quite finished, a little hand sewing to follow, please pop back to see the completed work.
Created at @dawnirelandtextileartist workshop at #stitchedupandfleeced
Early work by Kim 
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