Project Lavender

During a recent trip to Spain my mind wandered back home. At the time the lavender would have been in full bloom, just about to be harvested. Usually we would see the harvest taking place but this year – the early hot weather had brought things forward.

I made a sketch which I shared on Facebook. The sketch was spotted by someone in my network who was about to be married. Lavender was the theme of the wedding and the person asked if the sketch was for sale. I said they could have it as a gift, I brought it home, mounted it and this lavender went on its journey.

Prior to going away I had made three lavender waves. Two were given away in my local area as free art drops, the third I took with us on holiday.

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I photographed ‘Third Wave’ in Parc Guell, Barcelona – someone in my network correctly guessed the location and this art work is now theirs.

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The final holiday related lavender art work is this one.

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I particularly enjoyed making this piece – it has a looseness to it which I sometimes struggle to achieve. Since returning home I’ve had it made into a greeting card, and you can see the original in a frame here.

Casting my lavender mind back a little further – I made a small sketch in May which became a free art drop, and which led to a larger (20″ x 16″) canvas. I’m not sure the latter is finished yet…

The Colour of Music

It’s the Wallington Music Festival this weekend, and my home town will be showing off its abundance of musical talent. Check out the festival Facebook page for details of all the acts, and when and where they are playing.

This week’s free art drop is a design to celebrate the festival. I’ve taken some of the colours from the festival design and applied them to my art. I’ve chosen colours which represent the local river, and lavender, and I have applied them in a way that creates a unique ‘fingerprint’ surface on the paint.

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If you are off to the festival this weekend, have an amazing time and keep an eye out for this free art drop which will be hidden somewhere around town.

Lavender Fields

The Carshalton Artists Open Studios starts in about a week and a half. Having never exhibited before, I’m excited and nervous. Thankfully I am channeling those feelings into creating a few more pieces to show.

This 50cm x 40cm canvas represents the lavender which in years gone by, was farmed all over the place around here. It is an important part of local history, and is still commercially grown in the area today.

Here’s a photograph of the early stages of the painting, and the complete version.

Update : I’ve decided to make this the Christmas 2017 free art drop.