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| Acorn drawing - part way through colour pencil ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Acorn ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Acorn colour pencil and ink sketchbook page ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Plate and prints of Softly Soughing ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Another small drypoint etching, a little different, a little bit closer this time. I was attracted to the almost 'impossible' bend in this trunk. I wonder what made it grow this way. As you can see there is a bit more variety in the depth of marks that have been made in this aluminium plate.
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| Softly Soughing drypoint etching 8x7.5cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Then just because a third one for the series - 'Autumn'. Again this started as a little two minute sketch in a scrap paper accordion pocketbook. I keep meaning to have a go at taking the metal plate out with me and working directly, scratching the marks in situ. One day I will remember...
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| Autumn sketch and aluminium drypoint plate ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Autumn drypoint etching 8x15cm ©2026Lisa Le Quelenec |
I love this colour combination of Caligo's Yellow Ochre and Charbonnel's Soft Black. The black can be so delicate and smokey. Perfect for Autumn's forest mist I think.
Prints from both editions can be found in my Folksy Store.
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| Prints available at Seaside Studios UK at Folksy.com ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Saffron Susurrus drypoint 7.5x8cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
The start of a new series.....this print began with the thumbnail sketch below....
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| Birch tree thumbnail sketch ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Drypoint plate for Saffron Susurrus inked ready for the press ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
...and ran through the etching press...
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| Saffron Susurrus drypoint 7.5x8cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
...to make this print.....
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| Saffron Susurrus drypoints 7.5x8cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
....then I inked and printed some more. There will be an edition of ten with two artist proof test prints and each one is inked slightly differently because I am a human and not a machine ;o)
Prints are available in my Folksy store here.
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| ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Pocket book thumbnails - mostly birch trees ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
October feels like the month for trees and storms to me - this year has been hard for local trees as it has been so dry, many have looked stressed. The last few weeks have seen rain and a bit of a recovery and I am wondering what Autumn will bring. So far it is still warm and my garden has started flowering again so who knows.
The above thumbnails are taken from my pocket book and quickly sketched whilst out walking. They are around 4cm square mostly and no more than a quickly scribbled note. (Pocket book is a bit of a lofty name for what is essentially left over bits of paper folded into concertinas but it sounds much better than paper leftovers. Waste not want not, I can't let good paper go to waste.)
I am going to try to translate these notes along with the memories of familiarity of the places into some drypoint etchings. I hope I can keep the sketchiness and atmosphere of the thumbnails and not overwork the prints. I don't want to be too literal....we will see how that goes.
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| Coastal Collection Tea Towel Calendars 2027 available at Spoonflower ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
I am busy working away on my 2027 tea towel calendars designs for Spoonflower. I have updated my bestselling seahorse design from last year for 2027. I have a new design based on this year's Bold & Bright Collections (featuring more seahorses) and am just nearing the final stage of a new sea shell design (without seahorses ;o) ) based on the motifs from the Salt Water Shallows Collection. All the fabric, wallpaper and soft furnishings collections can be viewed on the link.
Measuring 40x61cm (16x24inch) in a cotton/linen mix with a thread count of 150, they have a folded hem and a hang tab on the reverse. They make a great gift for the hosts, hostesses, foodies and kitchen queens or a practical and useful gift for yourself.
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| Soft & Soothing Collection Tea Towel Calendars 2027 available at Spoonflower ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
If stationery is more your thing I also have all these designs at RedBubble available as cards, notebooks, stickers and magnets (useful for fridges and magnetic whiteboards).
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| Seahorse Navy 2027 Calendar Journal available from RedBubble ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Life is good but life is busy....what a summer! It has gone by in a flash - a very hot flash at that - those temperatures were high. I have done my drawings but didn't get around to posting them again so here are two for August and September. My blog posts seem to be turning up like busses don't they ;o)
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| Nasturtiums pencil and ink sketchbook ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
I grew nasturtiums this year in my veggie beds and found all the black fly went to the flowers and left the veggies alone so I will definitely be doing that again next year. This drawing was done before they arrived and inspired by the vivid colours I added a tiny amount of red.
Fern pencil and ink sketchbook ©2026LisaLeQuelenec
My drawing for September is another from my garden. I found this lovely specimen growing behind the water butt. It must have survived because of the shade cast and the leak the butt had sprung otherwise I think it would have burnt to a crisp.
I did find a couple more leaves that weren't in such good condition but they were perfect for inking up and taking some prints from. These lovely shapes will be something I come back to at a later date methinks.
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| fern prints in my nature sketchbook ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Charlie lino monoprint 25x15cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Charlie is a greyhound that I see regularly when I am walking my trusty studio assistant. He is quite the character, shy when spoken to directly, loving and sweet natured but rather vocal in his requests to play which for some is a little off putting. His long limbed elegance makes him an endearing model.
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| Jim lino monoprint 25x15cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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All three of these delightful doggos are available in my Folksy store .
I seem to be experiencing some gremlins within my blog. For reasons that remain a mystery this post didn't publish last month and I seem to be unable to comment on mine or anyone else's blog. I haven't the foggiest why but hope it resolves itself soon. Fingers crossed that this post publishes....
This is the missing drawing from June for my drawing a month project. The same model as March's drawing but this time a top view.
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| Pine cone top view sketchbook study in stages ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
My drawing for July is below. Dandelions begun in Spring but only recently completed. The meadows were full of lush grass and dandelions back then - a very different story to now as everything is burnt, dry and dusty with the rather repetitive heatwaves.
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| Dandelion study sketchbook page ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
How beautiful was this? I couldn't fail to be inspired...
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| Dog Walks I sketchbook pages ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Collage pages from my pocketbook, quick sketches from the dog walks. Prints to follow...
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| You can't stop the Tide I mixed media on paper 14x14cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| You can't stop the Tide II mixed media on paper 14x14cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| You can't stop the Tide III mixed media on paper 14x14cm ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
These three pieces started as collagraphs made a while back but there was something not quite finished about them so they were set aside. I recently discovered them again hidden in a folder and thought the time was right to revisit them. Adding mixed media to adjust tones and variating the spray splashing over the groyne has made a small sequence that I am much happier with. Over the years I must have spent hours watching and waiting for the perfect splash of sea spray and with these three pieces finished I feel the time was well spent, just like the time they spent waiting for their moment in the folder.
Available in my Folksy Store.
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| Mrs Willmott's Ghost sketchbook page coloured pencil and ink ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Eryngium giganteum, with the common name Miss Willmott's Ghost, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. The short-lived herbaceous perennial thistle is native to the Caucasus and Iran in Western Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
Named after Ellen Willmott (1858 - 1934) who liked to secretly scatter seed, maybe the first guerrilla gardener, she certainly seemed like a character with an interesting life and a passion for horticulture.
I love this plant for it's barely there colour, almost luminescent tones, which makes a strong contrast against other plants. The specimens that I have drawn here were grown in my garden last summer and have dried to a hint of cream in colour. I am looking forward to seeing it again this year.
Mrs Willmott's Ghost (detail) sketchbook page coloured pencil and ink ©2026LisaLeQuelenec
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| Bold and Bright - fabric, wallpaper & Soft Furnishings ©2026Lisa Le Quelenec |
Summer is on its way! The sun will be hot, the garden and beach accessories even hotter. Bold prints on crisp white in turquoise, magenta and sunshine yellow. Fabric, wallpaper and soft furnishings are available in my Spoonflower store.
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| Bold and Bright - fabric, wallpaper & Soft Furnishings ©2026Lisa Le Quelenec |
For stationery and accessories visit RedBubble ....how cute are the sundresses and totes?
My absolute favourite is the seahorse bedding in blue.
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| Bold and Bright - fabric, wallpaper & Soft Furnishings ©2026Lisa Le Quelenec |
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| Seahorse lino print cards available at Seaside Studios UK at Folksy.com ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Scallop lino print cards available at Seaside Studios UK at Folksy.com ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
The patterns were created using the linoprint cards that I made earlier in the year. They can be found in my Folksy store.
Roll on summer!
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| Honesty Silver Dollars Lunaria sketchbook drawing mixed media ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
April's drawing (I am so late posting!) is inspired by a stem of Honesty that blew across my path as I walked down to the fields. It was dull grey winter time and this little stem shone like it contained all the light of the day - so beautiful. It has been standing in a bottle for a few months waiting for its turn to be drawn. It isn't until you start to closely observe that you see just how many colours are contained within it's luminous discs, I'm not sure I have done it justice but it was an absolute joy to try.
Now I am not sure what happened to March's drawing because I did post it but it seems to have gotten lost as it is not here now. Anyway, I will include it here;
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| Pine cone Drawing stages sketchbook mixed media ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Pine cone mixed media in sketchbook ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Pine cone mixed media in sketchbook ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Process for some new monoprints surf and gulls ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Using the sketches from my circular sketchbook as a jumping point I spent a rather fun day making some monoprints. Not everything worked - and that is good as it means lessons are being learnt - but some did. So not only do I have some new prints for the Folksy store but I also have a pile of 'not quite there yet' prints to work into in mixed media which I am just as excited about. I am particularly excited about the prints made in the second pass with the circular mask removed. The resulting subtlety of the circular motif is something I think I can manipulate further.
Below are some of the pairs of initial prints with their second pass partners - I really like the second pass for the different sketchy marks and where there wasn't enough ink to transfer as I think it suits the subject in this case. I have lots more ideas to play with that will keep me busy.
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| Process for some new monoprints surf and gulls ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Process for some new monoprints surf and gulls ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
Some of my gull series are available at RedBubble in their different reproduction print formats. As framed prints which style of framing do you prefer?
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| Surf Spray Gull series available at RedBubble ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Circle sketchbook page watercolour and mixed media ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
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| Circle sketchbook page watercolour and mixed media ©2026LisaLeQuelenec |
