Goals for the break and return:

- make sure the blog is for fun and if there happens to be a call to action- cool ,if not that's groovy - we're here makin' the world less doomscrolly where we can.

- let some blog ideas and posts and new painting ideas turn up naturally or even just enjoy the break??? no pressure. stepping away from the slight rat wheel I've created for myself to simply prove to my brain that I can and that I'm in charge of this!!!

- get into a bit more video editing - it's a long process but I'd like to give my YouTube a lil more love right now. make some cool plans for the mailing list too... (and patreon ssh eeek)

- find a way to make things more analogue again/get a grip on social media/phone time - I have tried all the apps believe me (pls) so sometimes literally deleting it is the only way to get a bit of self control back.

Have an amazing December,
​I'll be back in Jan :)

Painting her encapsulated all the feelings of turning 30 for me. I'd had the photos taken in May and not done too much with them apart from keeping them for myself.
But I knew there was a painting in there somewhere.
King by Florence ATM kept popping up and it was everything I was feeling too at the time - "I am no mother, I am no bride - I am King." 
Not married, no kids - just as I am - trying to work out what that means every day through using painting to help.
Letting women be magnificent in their own right and feel their own power as an entity devoid of everything else that claims them.

I love the orange - its so bright and deep.
You can watch the making of video on my Instagram.
I started making more long form over at YouTube but this was before I decided to start doing that.

I hope you enjoy her.
She hangs in my living room in the corner amongst a monsterra that keeps threatening to take over the tv.

I painted Shedding from a reference taken by the wonderful Mon (@whatmonloves) whom I cannot WAIT to shoot with again soon.
Let me set the scene.
It was the hot sort of summery day that threatens to burst into rain simply for a moments peace. We had switched outfits from a bright yellow summer dress to this autumnal silk-style gown and the heavens opened. And I mean they went for it. So we danced in the rain and the water puddled into tiny lakes and ponds and the mud made its way up bare feet like earthen socks.
This motion was captured in a leaning back flick of wet hair into a sunbeam.
Because as soon as it started raining it stopped.
And the most incredible thing happened.
The water started to evaporate and this mist followed us for the rest of the shoot as the warmth of skin met with moisture. It was ethereal.
I'd been talking about surrender on and off with different people so much it felt like a theme. And there was something about that moment that felt so powerful. Surrendering to the elements. Accepting the storm. Basking in the vapour. 
Letting go of the year so far - breathing into the second half.

Forget me Not is the final piece in the Forest Collection. We'd gone reference shooting - Hannah and I - in the same forest as the one above. I was looking for interesting shapes amongst the woods - it was March - and there in proof that Hannah must love me because it was not a warm day.

The whole set is a elegy on death.
Dying flowers frozen in time.
Waiting and saying good bye.
The slow decay of nature and how sometimes we go inside ourselves to hibernate for a while - hoping people remember us when we're ready to return.

I wanted to mix the macabre with the beautiful.

This one reminds me of really old Disney background paintings from the films like the forest in sleeping beauty.  I went on a real journey with it. At one point I literally removed it's 'easel privileges' and started painting it on top of my trolley instead.

They are in a 3 because 3 is sacred and a good balance.

The 3 fates.
Maiden, mother, crone.
Birth, Life, Death.

Alone they do stand but together they create the forest.

I'll take this moment to thank Hannah for being the first model since I reset my business - she has always been there.

Some paintings will have ya.
I'd like to start by saying this painting is one I have re-painted over MANY times.
Her face eluded me so often I had to wait until the others were almost done to try again.
This is the first image that came to me when I was working with Harriet. I wanted to revisit Dale Abbey and I knew this would make such a striking picture.
The full narrative is on it's way and I am excited to share it.
We just have some refining to do so far.

My favourite part are the whisper like mysterious lines pulling forwards from the arch. I added them last of all.
They snake through like arms or branches and one almost stops her way - but she pushes forwards.

I keep turning around as I write this to see the original and the accompanying 3 and I am proud of their existence!
Shimmering, bold and rich with colour.
All from some sketches in a book of shapes I'd like to capture.

Harriet - thank you for braving bringing the sword!
Look what has been created!