Underwear art

Take one pair of laddered tights, a piece of paper and some inks and paints.........and look at the exciting effects you can produce!

These rainbow pictures were created with a pair of old tights (yes, seriously!).  I ripped the tights to create long ladders and holes of varying sizes (very satisfying process in itself!) and then fastened the fabric with sticky tape across a previously stretched, dampened sheet of heavy-weight watercolour paper.  Next, I  poured acrylic and watercolour inks and added brushloads of watercolours randomly across the paper as the fancy took me!  I then used a spray bottle to disperse the colours. The photos above were taken whilst  the pigments were still very wet.

When completely dry, I removed the tights and cut some of the paper strips and the remainder into smaller squares and rectangles.  Subtle patterns remained on the paper.

An interesting process!  One point to note: over-saturated areas created big pools of pigment that during the drying process contributed to the contracting of some the webs, so that they escaped their 'moorings' and as such were of no use at all in the experiment!   Of course, when dry, the colours were less intense, but nevertheless, the effects were intriguing -  I see nets, trees and beaches in there!   As with the oil pastels in my previous post I stuck the pieces into a sketch book.  Who knows, these squares and rectangles may find their way into my work one day.

So ,what better way to put those laddered tights and stockings to use?  I hope you might try it too - recyle and gain some colourful artwork!

Illustration Friday - Chicken

Evie's chook ©Caroline Soer 2011

I'm very fond of chickens and love to depict them. This gal was painted in watercolour as a present for a dear friend's birthday a few months back. I gave the chook a new outfit tonight by putting her through the digital mill !

Kj's Wishes and Dreams for the Holidays

I'm quickly typing this post before heading down to Singapore for a few days! Just wanted to let you know that my good friend kj of Options for a Better World blog is again raising funds for 'Wishes and Dreams for the Holidays' a fund she has set up for some needy youngsters she works with in the US. You can read more about this year's project on kj's blog.

Kj will soon be hosting an auction to raise funds on her blog . Let's raise some money!!! Please head on over to her ranch for details! I have donated a print of one of my watercolours and a necklace. Do you have something you can contribute? Let Kj know!!

Cherries ©Caroline Soer 2009

My print has been made from one of my original watercolour paintings - 'Cherries'. It has been printed on high quality Somerset enhanced 100% cotton paper with archival inks. Size approx 21 x15 cms. (Not mounted or framed). There will be no watermark on the print!

SOLD

And the necklace is a lovely spicy combination of handmade lampwork beads, black onyx, coral, Thai silver, tiny Swarovski crystals and glass beads.

It measures 18" / 46cms in length and is fastened with a sterling silver clasp. It would make a lovely gift for someone special or why not treat yourself and help someone in need at the same time?

SOLD.

Please hop over to kj's for more information about the auction. Any contribution is most welcome, auction items, bids or even a small donation - a link for this can be found on the side bar of kj's blog. Thank you - every little helps!

Illustration Friday

watercolour© Caroline Soer 2009

I'm showing another mouse for this week's word 'savour' - he's had an airing before but I'm short of time this week!

Illustration Friday

'Old-fashioned Remedy'

watercolour © Caroline Soer 2010

Here is my offering for this week's Illustration Friday theme of 'Old-fashioned'. Lavender is an old-fashioned cottage garden flower and has been used for centuries as a remedy for various ailments as well as for its fragrance. My little watercolour illustrates an old-fashioned remedy - you may have to click to enlarge if you'd like to read the writing on the label!

Dried Lavender

watercolour © Caroline Soer 2010

Just what you need to fill a little old-fashioned lavender sachet to pop into your underwear drawer!

Illustration Friday - Clumsy

'Clumsy' watercolour

A little watercolour and pencil piece this week for the IF theme, Clumsy! Click to enlarge.

Everything's coming up roses!

'Gather ye rosebuds'

This is a mixed media collage that I've been working on this week for Lynn's little travelling book. There's a whole post about the techniques I used over at the artysoulsisters blog, in case you'd like to find out what went into the making of this one, or click to enlarge and guess!

Another page for a travelling book

Blackbird feeding on berries

click to enlarge

I've been working on the travelling books pages again this week. They seem to be arriving all at once and now that I have three to do, I've got to get my skates on!! This painting is for Katie Jane's nature themed book. I tried another new technique this time; it's a watercolour painting with a difference! If you're interested - you can read about this on the Artysoulsisters blog.

Watercolour Amarylis for Ellie

I love books!! I spend hours in bookshops and spend far too much money in them!! I have a vast library of all kinds of art and craft books as well as fiction! Here is a very small part of the watercolour section in my bookcase in my studio! I'm constantly flipping through them for inspiration and a few months back re read one of these and followed the guidelines on how to paint Amarylis.

First I made a quick study- loose with a lot of flicked paint,

Then I painted another portrait more carefully.

I've decided to post them both for you to see, but mainly because I want to give one to Ellie, my Sister in Law! I hope these will cheer you up a little Ellie, let me know which one you like best and I will send you a print in the post! Lots of love, Caroline xx

Arty soul sisters - travelling books!

Arty Soul Sisters

artwork by Joss Ross (Soulbrush)

I've recently joined a group of like minded arty girls in a new project -the artysoulsisters! We're creating travelling art books and sending them across the miles to each other. We're 9 in total so that means 9 different creative visions in each book - thanks to Joss aka Soulbrush for gathering us all together!

'Purple Haze'
First page of my travelling art book

Front cover image

I've been working on my own book this week. Pop in to the artysoulsisters blog if you'd like to check out how I made these pages and see what everyone is up to!

Giveaway winner announcement!

It's very exciting here in the garden today - we're eagerly awaiting the draw for the little print of Mum's watercolour Cherries that we're giving away to celebrate 1 year of blogging! The contestants' names have all been put into the pot, given a good shake and as the guest of honour I've agreed to take time out of my busy schedule to pick a winner. OK, just making sure that my paws are spotlessly clean so that I can





extract that winning name...which is...


.....SOULBRUSH!!!

Yeah!!

Congratulations Joss, your print will be on its way to you on Monday!
Thanks to all who took part in the Giveaway - we really appreciate your support!

Illustration Friday - Magnify

Click to enlarge

I think you may need to magnify this to see the three little snails crawling here. This is a very small watercolour - the image was painted ATC size 2 .5 " x 3.5" and then I added the title and border digitally. When I work on such a small scale I often need to use a magnifying glass to paint the really minute details!

P.S. There's still time to enter my giveaway! See here for details.

Illustration Friday - Wrapped

'Wrapped'

This piece was a complete experiment - I was a bit stumped by the prompt this week and really wanted to try something different. I eventually decided to make an ink and plastic wrap (cling film, saran wrap, whatever you like to call it) print for this week's IF prompt of 'Wrapped'. I merrily washed on watercolours and dropped ink, sprayed with water and then manipulated a sheet of plastic wrap over the pools of colour on the paper. When dry I tried looking for something in the resulting print to link to the word 'wrapped'. Oh boy ... I started doing this on Sunday morning and discarded more than 20 different prints. Nothing, no matter how hard I looked, presented itself!

Until... Eureka! This afternoon I finally spotted something. Yep, there was a little shrouded figure and then another and look one more! I then began to work into them a little with Inktense pencils and acrylic ink to make them come to life - I really hope you can see them too!

It was fun to do - quite messy - my fingers are stained a rainbow!

Here's a close-up, but to see more clearly click on the images for a larger version.

Illustration Friday - Tango

Well, it's a bit of a stretch, but here's my version of Tango! I made lots of butterflies from Japanese paper for a project this weekend and these two fluttered over to my sketchbook and began a Tango around the watercolour roses!

Illustration Friday - Hollow

I had a hard time coming up with an idea for this week's word, 'hollow'!! In the end I decided to go with a hippo wallowing in a muddy hollow.

Do you remember the old Flanders and Swann song?

The Hippopotamus Song

A bold hippopotamus was standing one day
On the banks of the cool Shalimar
He gazed at the bottom as he peacefully lay
By the light of the evening star
Away on the hilltop sat combing her hair
His fair hippopotami maid
The hippopotamus was no ignoramus
And sang her this sweet serenade

Chorus:
Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud
The fair hippopotama he aimed to entice
From her seat on that hilltop above
As she hadn't got a ma to give her advice
Came tiptoeing down to her love
Like thunder the forest re-echoed the sound
Of the song that they sang when they met
His inamorata adjusted her garter
And lifted her voice in duet

Now more hippopotami began to convene
On the banks of that river so wide
I wonder now what am I to say of the scene
That ensued by the Shalimar side
They dived all at once with an ear-splitting sposh
Then rose to the surface again
A regular army of hippopotami
All singing this haunting refrain

Chorus

(Extra verse:)
The amorous hippopotamus whose love song we know
Is now married and father of ten,
He murmurs, "God rot 'em!" as he watches them grow,
And he longs to be single again!
He'll gambol no more on the banks of the Nile,
Which Naser is flooding next spring,
With hippopotamas in silken pyjamas
No more will he teach them to sing...

Chorus

Flanders & Swann

Here's it is sung by Rolf Harris! If you can bear it, do wait for the very last clip when the audience is clapping (or fast forward) - it's worth the agony!

A trip to Europe - Week 1 - the South of France

Window at Tourtour

We spent a few days in Provence at the beginning of June. The weather was wonderful and we enjoyed lazy hours relaxing in our friends' beautiful garden, wining and dining al fresco, as well as more energetic days exploring the beautiful countryside and browsing in colourful markets. I'm not sure what epitomises Provence for me most! It could be the spectacular, verdant landscape or the dazzling French Riviera or maybe it's the sweet smelling lavender or the crimson poppies - or is it the delicious rose wine, olives or herbs? Then again, it could be the fabrics ... it's all wonderful and I am smitten by this part of the world!

Let's start with a visit to St Tropez market.

First though, you'll need to buy a shady hat - it's very hot today!

And a shopping basket for all your goodies!

This stall sells delightful sea-themed paintings on wood and little carvings of birds - are you tempted?

Mmmm - the heavenly scent of dried lavender.


For Irene - A watercolour from my sketch book of fresh lavender from your garden! Click to enlarge if you like.
A lavender sachet to scent your linen.

Need a gift for a friend? How about some soap or honey perhaps? You can't go wrong with a container of that delicious melange of local herbs Herbes de Provence .

Luscious ripe tomatoes for lunch.




Pick up a selection of dried herbs and spices. The choice is amazing!

Don't forget some delicious black olives. Buy some to accompany the aperitifs this evening, or make your own Tapenade to spread on toast. It can also be used in other recipes for a burst of extra flavour - try the recipe further down the page!



In that case, you'll need some garlic then!


Sweet tooth? Try some Navettes - flavoured pastries in the shape of little boats.

Or delicious cherries - these were the last from our dessert one evening!


Deck the table with wonderful Provencal fabrics.


Marketing over, but you can't put your feet up just yet! Unpack the olives and garlic and whizz up a yummy Tapenade...

My recipe omits anchovies ( yuk!) but you can include a couple of rinsed fillets if you prefer!

125 g pitted black olives
2 garlic cloves, peeled
25 g capers, drained and rinsed
15 mls chopped fresh parsley
5 mls chopped fresh thyme
pinch of mustard powder
30 mls extra virgin olive oil
squeeze of lemon juice
freshly ground black pepper

Place all ingredients in blender and whizz till chopped finely. Place in airtight jar and store in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Use this for spreading on the base of this simply scrumptious potato and onion tart and serve with salad.

Recipe

225g pack of shortcrust pastry (You can make your own, of course, but I'm feeling lazy and anyway it's difficult to make good pastry in my hot kitchen in Malaysia!)
3 small potatoes (225 g), leave the skins on if possible
2 onions, sliced finely
60 mls extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
good sprinkle of Herbes de Provence
3 tbs home made Tapenade
30 mls capers, rinsed and drained
125 g Gruyere (or Cheddar) cheese, grated
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat baking sheet in oven (220 c). Roll out pastry to 30 cm round on lightly floured surface. Lift pastry onto another baking sheet and form a rim with the edge. Prick the base with a fork and line with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Place on heated baking sheet in oven and bake at 220 c for 10 mins. Remove paper and beans and return to oven for about 5 mins till pastry is crisp.
Meanwhile cook potatoes in boiling water 15 mins or so, then drain and refresh in cold water. Pat dry and cut into thin slices.
Heat oil and cook onions, garlic and herbs for 10 mins until softened and golden.
Spread Tapenade on base, top with potatoes, onions and capers. Scatter cheese, season and bake for 20-25 mins until cheese is golden brown. Serve with salad.

Enjoy!!

Ok, so we've pottered in the markets and cooked a meal. Next time we'll take Kas the Omani desert dog, out for a walk. Kas is living out her retirement in the south of France with her people and enjoys barking at passing overhead aeroplanes!! With her leading the way, we'll pass olive groves underscored with vibrant poppies, take in a beautiful lake and mountain gorge, as well as getting an arty fix in picturesque villages! Hope you'll join us!