Collage

Posted on January 28, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Collage, Design, Drawing, Paper, ScissorsLeave a comment

I did this a couple of years ago. A collage of the view outside the art group meeting hall. I did a small sketch and then drew out the tree on the back of wrapping paper. I built up layers of paper and glued them one on top of the other, starting with the background trees in a pale purple and two individual trees on top of that. I then did the chain link fence out of silver holographic paper. Finally I cut the tree out of a darker patterned Christmas paper. The blue peices of paper on either side are meant to represent curtains.

I think making things like collage is quite creative. My example is very simple but you can go into much more detail. All you need is a pencil, paper and a pair of scissors. Maybe something to do on a wet weekend?

Digital patterns

Posted on January 27, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Blog, Blogging, Design, Digital art, Drawing, Humour, Life, Memories, Reflections, WorkLeave a comment

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I’m a sucker for patterns. If I can’t think of any other art to do I will draw a pattern on my phone or tablet then play with it.

I do wonder where my ideas come from. I must be very visual. I never feel comfortable unless I’ve got something to look at. Minimalism is not for me.

I once had to live in a student residence while I was on placement somewhere. I had a room with a bed and a desk and chair. Blank walls. That dingey pale grey /blue /green that public buildings are painted. One kitchen between about 16 rooms and a toilet and shower block.

No home comforts and it was the start of November and I was based there for a months placement. I could only come home at weekends.

I went out and bought a couple of sheets of wrapping paper. A newspaper, a party bag made out of holographic shiny metallic paper. Also a few postcards and a sketch book.

By the end of the day I had 42 (honestly) pictures, photos, patterned paper, the beautiful wrapping paper all stuck up on the walls .. Then I felt much better… Its my visual brain you see…..

Pastel workshop

Posted on January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, art workshop, beer, Blending, brewing, Design, Drawing, Fun, Humour, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Orme Art group, Pastels14 Comments

I was going to have a quiet day today. But I got up and there was a bit of a disaster in our kitchen. My hubby had decided to brew some beer. But he had added some extra sugar to the brew. Then he has put the bung in upside down. Beer had turned into volcano. Half the brew was all over the kitchen. It had hit the ceiling, there were puddles of ale on the cupboard tops, it was all over the cooker. Basically half the kitchen has been inundated with beer….

After about an hour of cleaning up I decided to go to the pastel workshop with the Orme art group. Basically to escape! The workshop was run by Sandra Orme (no relation).

It’s difficult to describe what we learnt, it was complicated. I’ve added a few photos of the two pictures I did. First you lay down colours in soft pastel on fine toothed pastel paper. Once you have enough pastel on you blend them together, then build up layers using smaller more intricate marks, gradually blending and adding. Sometimes only lightly pressing on the pastel, other times blending more. The direction of the marks can make a difference to how it looks. You can use the edge of your hands, your palms, your fingers or blending tools (like a brush but with the bristles replaced with a rubber tip).

Im pleased with the results. I’m even thinking of getting them framed….

House sparrows

Posted on January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Birds, Blogging, Design, Digital art, House sparrows, Stained glass2 Comments

We saw some house sparrows in a hedge today “little brown jobbies” as I heard someone call them.

They were perched above us as I pulled the car into a car park. I wanted to get my phone to take a picture but its was on the back seat and the handle was caught in the rear door.

I carefully got out of the car, quietly shut my door and dragged my bag out. I got the phone, it was switched off! Help I had to switch it on and wait for it to warm up. Then a quick look. Four of the sparrows were still there…..

Camera on, click, click, click, (I took three incase of camera shake). Used the zoom option which pixelated them a bit but it was better than trying to creep towards them.

So when I got home I checked what I got. Not bad. I liked all the twigs and branches criss crossing and protecting the birds.

I decided to use the rainbow flood fill option in sketcher to make the sky more interesting. Like stained glass.

In the meantime I have a bad sore throat and feel rough.

I might not be around for a few days.

Bit of a makeover

Posted on January 22, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Blog, Blogging, Change, Changes, Computer, Design, Facebook, Fun, Instagram, Learning, Life, Painting, Reflections, Social media, Twitter2 Comments

Things are changing on planet Mallaband-Brown so you might notice a few tweaks here and there thanks to my friend Mike from @staffsdesign.

I wanted to update my social media and make it easier for people to follow me. Being an artist has made me a lot happier and nows the time to try and make it work.

I didn’t realise amalgamating all my Web pages and sites would be so complicated and I’m so pleased to have had someone to sort everything out.

This is also a test to see whether it posts to my new Facebook page.

You should be able to follow me on the Internet at @mallabandbrown !

Wacom bamboo tablet

Posted on January 21, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Design, Digital art, Digital drawing, Photoshop, Quantel paintbox, Wacom tabletLeave a comment

These are a set of drawings I found in my memories section on Facebook.

They were some of the first drawings I did on my Wacom Bamboo Tablet. I was drawing in photoshop.

I was trying different filters and tones (I only know because it was on captions underneath). This shows my enjoyment of morphing drawings. I like experimenting.

I was watching a programme about an Australian artist last night. (I can’t remember his name). He was recognised as one of their foremost abstract artists. At the end of his life he embraced digital art and there is a short section of film of him working with a technician who was using a quantel paintbox. This was the predecessor of photoshop. As I watched it I remembered using the same thing at a radiography conference. I was utterly amazed that it existed (this was in the early 1990’s.) I was enthralled by what you could draw. I guess that’s why I’m still drawing digitally now.

One line drawings.

Posted on January 20, 2019January 21, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Design, Digital drawings, Duplication, Layout, One line drawings, PatternLeave a comment

When I used to draw at Youdraw.com I would do one line drawings. Basically you kept your cursor moving on the drawing area and didn’t lift it until you finished… Thats what I’ve done here … But then duplicated it and flood filled it. Sometimes it’s nice to lose black lines.

I’m having a makeover on social media. I’m now @mallabandbrown on twitter… I will be using it more to post about paintings and other exploratory art that I’m planning over the next few months .

Pattern

Posted on January 17, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Artrage oils, Design, Digital art, Digital drawings, Drawing apps, Pattern, PatternsLeave a comment

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Colours, shapes and texture make up this pattern. Using digital apps can create images that would not be easy to create on paper or canvas. img_20190117_002155

Once you have done that you could use another app to duplicate and twist the images. I love patterns and continue to create images like this.

It’s really not hard to do and it would be good to see more art being created in this way. Be brave! Have a go! You might surprise yourself.

Changing things

Posted on January 16, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Design, Facebook, Instagram, Life, New logo, New pages, PatternLeave a comment

I’m having a bit of a reorganisation of my social media. My pages are a bit jumbled up and sometimes a bit confusing. If I’m going to try and make a living as an artist I need to try and organise things.

Hopefully this will all be done with the help of a friend. He’s called Mike and he runs a creative art business.

Basically I’ve got a few pages spread around the Internet but they are all slightly different, so when you look for me on Facebook I have 3 or 4 different pages but I only have one page on Instagram but I post anything and everything there.

I’m going to try using the “my story” section on Instagram and manage it so people will see pages like “inspirations” or “wip” (for work in progress) to Clutter things up less. The idea is to be more interconnected and be able to share more in a coherent way.

Wish me luck. X

Are your walls full?

Posted on January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 Posted in UncategorizedTagged Art, Chimney breast, Clutter?, Design, Life, Living, Painting, ReflectionsLeave a comment

Clutter or art. I have such a visual brain that I love to see things on my walls. But I know my way is not everyone’s way.

But I would argue that there is some wonderful, arresting, interesting and challenging art out there and as an artist I like to add to it.

So if you would like something painting or drawing get in touch. I would be so happy to create something for you.