Sunday 29 December 2013

Review

I don't know about you, but however hard I try NOT to make New Year Resolutions, somehow the urge to make a fresh start and set myself some goals is too appealing to ignore. I suppose that the New Year is as good a time as any for me to look back at how far along my creative journey I have come in the last 12 months. This time last year I was in the thick of my C&G certificate and there was little time for thinking about anything else. It took me much longer than I anticipated to finish and then afterwards I went into a creative doldrums for a while.  However a resolve to make a few things for my Etsy shop got me back into making mode, and many of those have sold either on Etsy or in the Pop-Up shop in Dunstable. I also finished quilting my poppy prints both of which I have written about here. But I have been working away at various other projects which I will share with you now.
Way back in October I drew some Iris foetidissima seed pods from my garden. I have been playing with these pictures in various sketchbooks ever since.





Lots of potential in these shapes. Think I may start a garden/plant dedicated sketchbook. (Res. no.1)

Meanwhile on the sewing front I have added another spray of leaves to this small quilt

There is more to come. (Res. no. 2 )

For Christmas I bought myself a book on Gustav Klimt, I'm not sure why I didn't already have one. Whenever I wanted to look at his work I always had to go on the internet or look at an old calendar I had saved. I remember going to an exhibition of Egon Schiele's work when I was at college and learning something of Klimt at that time. The work of both men has always haunted me; Klimt's wonderful decoration and Schiele's bruised, raw, emaciated figures. I was trying out some of his bleeding colours in the last iris pod sketch above.  However it is Klimt's decorative work which captures   so many of our imaginations. I hadn't realised ( or remembered) that his father was a gold engraver, so no wonder he is so fascinated with using it in his work. I often search through prints of his work for examples of his motifs, so I have decided to keep a record of them in one of my hand made books, that way I have my own reference book.  I have made a start with squares. I have taken patterns from one or two paintings and elaborated on them.





It is a great opportunity to play with my gold paint and pens. Triangles next. (Res. no. 3)
It seems to take a couple of hours to put together a blog post these days (with interruptions) so now I must go for a short walk (Res no. 4)  and iron and perhaps do another page in my book.

Enjoy the last couple of days of 2013 and see you next year.
Jill





                                                         

12 comments:

Marigold Jam said...

You've not been idle then Jill! Lovely sketches and ideas and quilts - I am envious of your skills. I wonder how many of your resolutions you will manage to achieve. I must follow No 4 and get back to walking as I have hardly been anywhere these past couple of weeks. best wishes for 2014.

ju-north said...

Gosh you are busy and determined! Great wip here!

busybusybeejay said...

What an inspirational post.I love your work.How creative.A couple of years ago there was an amazing Klimt exhibition at Tate Liverpool.

She Who Doodles said...

I'm not familiar with Klimt, i will have to check him out. like your idea about a nature based journal, you capture the plants so well.

Anna said...

Fabulous work Jill, you are obviously in great creative mode!!

Gina said...

I love your Klimt sketchbook Jill. You produce such beautiful work.

Maggi said...

Lovely work done with the seed pods and such a good idea to keep a sketchbook of patterns. You really do seem to be in full flow which bodes well for 2014, resolutions or not.

Joanna said...

Those seed pods are gorgeous, I love how you developed the shape in your books. I am a huge fan of Klimt, and you have inspired me to explore and develop his style. Funnily enough, having been a fan of Frida Kahlo for many years I bought my first book about her a couple of weeks ago (I was supposed to be Christmas shopping for others but only managed to find treasures for me, me, me!!). Her history is fascinating.

Wishing you a very happy and healthy 2014.

LAC EMP 2020 said...

Lots to absorb and enjoy here Jill. I have a fabulous book about Schiele and it's so good to see someone else knows about him! He produced some intriguing landscapes full of pattern. He and Klimt both reward closer inspection and the sketchbook idea is a wonderful way to capture your pattern ideas. I'm steering clear of pronouncing my resolutions out loud this year but I have determined that 2014 is the year I will return to the pool and learn to swim properly! I've booked a lesson already so there's no way of backing out. At least I'll start the resolutions..... fingers crossed for both of us that we keep to them! Happy New Year to you and Mr T. xx

Thimble Fingers said...

Wonderful artwork - I especially love the seed pods, just beautiful and can't wait to see where they go from here. Wishing you a happy new year and lots of creativity.
Oh .. and I adore your poppy quilts, such a lot of quilting in them, but they are wonderful.

Julie said...

Wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year, Jill x

Linda Vincent said...

Your work always amazes me Jill....you have so many talents.
I absolutely LOVE the stitched leaves; they are fabulous! x