Hummingbirds

 

I've recently been feeling a little fed up, waiting patiently for the sun to  rear it's head and be able to sit in the garden without jumpers and a coat to keep me warm.  It's May and day after day of rain and grey skies are now starting to take it's toll on my mood.....i need a little sunshine!
So, fed up with the grey skies, i decided to create some prints bursting with colour and pattern, to blow away the gloom. Layering several plates with vibrant colours to produce these tropical prints.  Incidentally, i also heard that it is Save our Butterflies week, but i fear the cold weather isn't helping much. Roll on summer! Amanda x

 

Breeze

Really excited to be exhibiting some prints at Breeze- North Rock Gallery's Summer Exhibtion in Lerwick, Shetland. More information can be found on their website http://www.northrockgallery.co.uk

Postcards from Japan

Recently, i was very kindly given some beautiful paper and a pack of postcards from Japan. I was inspired by  beautiful Japanese patterns and textiles to produce the large kimono print for the delicate handmade paper, but i also wanted to be able to produce a series of similar smaller prints for the postcards. I thought it would be nice to carve small individual lino panels and put them together like patchwork.  The result is a very small run of three different designs, all hand printed.

Pleased with the smaller prints, i then printed some larger design combinations on A4 paper. Better photos to come soon, when the sun comes out! Amanda x

Kimono

 Very often i make work in response to the materials i have to hand and that are available to me. Recently a friend of mine went to visit her family in Japan and i was so pleased when she decided to take a print of mine with her as a present for her mother. Knowing my slight obsession for paper, she very kindly gave me some beautiful hand made paper and postcards as a gift from her trip to Japan, and of course my head was whirling with ideas for a new print!

I set about designing and cutting a new lino block with a Japanese theme and decided to focus on the beautiful textiles and patterns of Japanese art. I love the quality that printing on hand made paper gives to a print, completely different to the mass produced paper i usually use, with added leaves and fibres, that add a wonderful natural feel to the pieces.

Little Bee

It's great to think Spring is well and truly here, the windows and doors have been open in the house, and of course the warmer weather brings other delights and visitors. A couple of weeks ago, the most beautiful bumble bee flew into the kitchen, had a little look around, then gently flew back out again. So in honour of spring, and the beautiful bee, here's a little print. Sometimes the small things can leave a lasting impression. Amanda x 

Eastern Open 2012

Sorry it's been a while since the last post, i hope you all had a lovely Easter?

 A couple of weeks ago, i went to the opening of this year's Eastern Open. I was really pleased to have a piece selected for the show, one of my St Paul's prints, but it was also a great opportunity to see other local artist's work on display. The exhibition contains work from artists living in the Eastern counties, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire and the exhibition itself takes place in the King's Lynn Arts Centre. 
It was lovely to see work by my friend Sarah Bays, (whose print was the first to sell!) and meet Laurie Rudling and see his wonderful collagraph pieces. One of the highlights for me was a stunning lino print montage by Claire Curtis, a striking print of Black Shuck, the notorious ghost of a demon black dog that reportedly roams East Anglia.
The exhibition runs from 31st March -19th May, Tues-Sat, 10am-5pm, King's Lynn Art Centre. http://www.kingslynnarts.co.uk/

The Rialto Poetry Magazine

On a more positive note, i have very exciting news about my "Betty the Hen" print. It was chosen to be on the cover of the latest edition of The Rialto poetry magazine. The Rialto is one of the UK's leading poetry magazines, and has a wonderful history of using print makers and illustrators for the cover, a wonderful mix of printmaking and poetry.
In the past such artists as Angie Lewin, Penny Bhadresa, Paula Rego, Graham Sutherland and Eric Ravilious have graced the cover, so I'm so thrilled to be in such wonderful company.

More information about the magazine and information on stockists, subscription and poetry submissions can be found on The Rialto website http://www.therialto.co.uk/pages/