A spring sale on Folksy of little treasures - sea shells on the seashore

 

Spring sale until the end of April at Folksy  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Spring is slow in coming and I am dreaming of warmer, sunny, summer days so I thought I would have a little sale over in my Folksy store. These little treasures have been collected over the years from beaches visited or observed in aquariums and as museum specimens. They look lovely as collections or on their own - maybe as a gallery wall with your own collected treasures.

I am offering them with 40% off the usual retail price until the end of April - P&P depends on how far they have to travel to your part of the world. In the past many have crossed oceans to find new homes sometimes on the coast and some further inland. It is always fun for me to see where they will wash up next.

Spring sale until the end of April at Folksy  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Spring sale until the end of April at Folksy  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Spring sale until the end of April at Folksy  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

 

Spring sale until the end of April at Folksy  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Spring sale until the end of April at Folksy  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Spring sale until the end of April at Folksy  ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Sea worn textures shaped by the tide

 

Sea worn and sun bleached   ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

We are experiencing a heatwave here in the UK. I find hot summer days a trial at the best of times without it going to extremes so I'm not looking forward to the weekend and early part of next week. Instead of heading to the beach I will be inside with my collections revisiting inspirations already found. 

Arranging my beach findings, photographing and playing digitally with them always inspires new colour combinations, marks, textures etc, It is something to take time over and meditate on, to recognise connections and I don't get frustrated with paint or ink drying too quickly ;o) although a sketchbook will probably be pulled out for a play at some point. So that is where I will be for a while, looking at pretty things and refilling the well. I hope you enjoy the sunshine if that is your thing and if not enjoy the shade like me. Best wishes.

Mussels from Knoll Bay sketchbook page and acrylic painting

Mussels from Knoll Bay   watercolour A6 sketchbook   ©2022 Lisa Le Quelenec

An old sketchbook page from 2016.... I was really drawn to the shapes left by the barnacles on the top shell and the unusual strip markings on the lower. I have gathered shells like these from Shell Bay to Barton-on-sea and they are quite different as you move along the coast but I had never seen a striped one like this before. The shell above shows scars in it's surface from barnacles.

skip to 2022 and a new mini painting.... available in my Folksy Store.

Mussel shell with Barnacles   acrylic on linen board 10x10cm   ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

These shells were collected between 2016 -2018 in Spring ....

These shells were collected between 2020 in Spring ....

Both sets were collected at the same beach. The difference is quite marked in their colouring with this years being much paler and also shimmery. I can't think of any reason except maybe different pollution levels being a possibility to cause this. Does anyone know? Or have any ideas? I am going to make a note to go to the same beach next Spring and see if there is any difference again. It is puzzling me...

Beach Treasures in mixed media

Beach Treasures   etching and mixed media    ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Following on from the etchings in last weeks post I couldn't resist playing with a set in coloured pencil. I have scanned them and made the available as cards and reproduction prints on Redbubble .

Beach treasures   etching and coloured pencil   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Beach treasures etchings and process

Sketches and preliminary sketchbook work for the Beach Treasures etching ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

I had begun to plan my most ambitious etching project to date some time ago. As always it started in my sketchbook and was a kind of continuation of the watercolour beach treasures collections to begin with I wasn't sure if the compositions were going to be in watercolour or print. I had even gotten as far as thinking about colour when I decided to go the etching route.

Concept sketch for Beach Treasures etching plates ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Refining the shapes and drawing for each plate took some time as I wanted to get the spacing and balance perfect for each individual plate and for it to work just as well as a triptych. Once that was done I was ready to make the plates and could easily transfer each outline onto the prepared zinc. Carefully I added in the hatching to render the form of the objects. There is a lovely parallel between the hardness of the shells and pebbles and the delicate marks they have and recreating it on a hard metal plate.

Once completed the plates are bathed in acid for the drawing to be eaten away giving a 'tooth' for the ink to settle in and imprint on the paper. After carefully cleaning away the rest of the ground (the substance used as a barrier to keep the acid from eating away at the metal where you don't want a mark) the plate is ready for inking.

The plates all ready for printing - Beach treasures ©2018LisaLeQueleenc

I have proofed the plates individually (made test prints) in both black and blue/black ink and am happy with the results. It really does pay for me to spend time in the preparation before starting the plate making.

The proof prints are both available mounted as you can see here at Seaside Studios UK on Etsy. Prints of individual plates are available on both Etsy and in my Folksy store.

Beach treasures I, II & III   original etchings, first artists proof prints mounted to 30x50cm   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Beach treasures I, II & III   original etchings, second artists proof prints mounted to 30x50cm   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Beach Treasures I, II & III   etchings 6.5x13.5cm   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Well travelled pebbles in watercolour

I had hoped to be able to share the next round of collagraph prints but I am in between stages waiting for ink to dry still. Unable to continue with them I have returned to watercolour and whilst the medium dictates a completely different result from the prints the theme is the same.

Well Travelled   17x17cm watercolour   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Well Travelled II   17x17cm watercolour   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Replicating some of the marks and textures that I had made in the prints with watercolour and a little gouache has made some interesting areas. I also used more granulating pigments in the mixes especially the new love of my life Daniel Smith's Sodolite Genuine. I can see I will be getting through the tube rather quickly.

Well Travelled II (detail)   17x17cm watercolour   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Not a bad way to spend time waiting for ink to dry.......

Hag stones - watercolour and collage

Hag stone sketch ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Hag stones - stones with naturally occuring holes - are plentiful on the local beaches. Traditional folklore states that they are protection from witchcraft, can protect against disease and by looking through the hole you can see the fairy folk. Dorset fishermen used to tie them onto their boats for luck. I'm not so sure about that but I do find the spaces fascinating and when drawing them I am not sure if I am drawing the stone or the spaces inbetween. This little nugget was a sketch from the summer probably made in a couple of minutes and then forgotten about just as quickly. Until now....


 I started by cutting shapes from pre-painted and printed papers looking from patterns, marks and textures similar to the stones that I have collected. Then I began to play with arranging them on a plain white backing. Four little stacks resulted that are giving me lots of ideas for further work.

Four Pebble collages   approx 20x5cm mixed media   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Pebbles - watercolour studies

Pebble studies in watercolour   21x15cm approx   ©LisaLeQuelenec2017

There is something very comforting about a pebble warmed by the sun and held in the hand. I seem to collect pockets full of pebbles from all the different places I visit; picked for their colour, texture, pattern or weight. Quite often holding particular pebbles can transport me back to the landscape from where it came. Some of them appear to depict complete little landscapes within their markings. I have a bowl of them on my drawing table along with all the other bits and bobs picked up on my walks. The above watercolour studies are a few favourites recently gathered locally. The one below reminded me of an early O'Keefe watercolour.

Pebble study in watercolour   21x15cm approx   ©LisaLeQuelenec2017

I think I feel a new project coming on.....

Pine cones - it started with some sketches....

Pine cone sketches   pencil ink and watercolour   ©2017Lisa Le Quelenec

...and quickly got out of hand... but in a good way. I love the structure of pine cones, such a challenge to get 'right'. There is a park I visit with my little one that guarantees we will come home with at least a few we are both as bad as each other with our little collections and we added quite a few more this summer.

Sketches and doodles turned into...

Pine cone stages   watercolour on A4 paper   ©2017Lisa Le Quelenec

There are two paintings available to buy here at Seaside Studios UK.


But then that turned into....

From sketch to drypoint plate to prints   ©2017Lisa LeQuelenec

and now I have these....

Trio   artist proof 1 drypoint print 19x10cm   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Trio   artist proof 2 drypoint print image size19x10cm   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Trio   3/20 drypoint print image size19x10cm   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Trio   drypoint prints image size 19x10cm   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Which are also available at Seaside Studios UK and at Seaside Studios Uk on Folksy.


I do get myself in a pickle sometimes :o)

Three seaweed studies in watercolour

Three Seaweeds    each 30x21cm approx watercolour on paper   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

The latest additions to my 'Little Treasures' series to add to the shells, feathers and other nature finds.

I love the colours, shapes and variety of seaweeds. These are painted from sketches that I did in Jersey and are seaweeds found in the rockpools there. Next time I must remember to collect some samples in jars for studying. I have collected them in the past and pressed them in sketchbook pages but they dry out and become brittle so quickly and it does make a change to paint from living samples. I really wanted to catch the sense of how they flow in the water in these studies.

These three seaweed studies are available at Seaside Studios UK on Etsy

Observational studies in watercolours - beach finds

Watercolour studies of beach treasures ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Beach treasures collection IV  watercolour on paper 20x24cm approx   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

No.4 has turned into a bit of a trial to photograph! Too much white and pale tones has made it difficult for the camera which just wants to emphasise the contrasts and not the subtleties. Hey ho...the picture above was taken at night using a desk lamp for light and is much closer to the painting.

I loved the marbling texture of the little piece of driftwood. It looks like a piece of old root that has been polished by the sea to a really smooth texture.




I seem to be finding lots of striped things at the moment; bits of pottery, striped pebbles and striped grain on driftwood.

Stripes from the shore sketchbook page ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Beach treasure; Collections III

Beach collections III   watercolour on paper 20x24cm approx   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

I had hoped to have no. IV ready as well but it is quite pale and hasn't been easy to scan so will need a bit more work. I have been rather enjoying these and the concentration on tiny details.

No.III is also available at RedBubble. 

Beach treasure; Collections I & II

Beach collections II   watercolour on paper 20x24cm approx   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

I was playing with some of my beach finds looking at the colours, textures and shapes. I thought rather than painting them in isolation as I usually do I would put them into an arrangement for a group portait. These are the first two -  there will be more. It's interesting to build a relationship in the colours, textures shapes and the linear rhythms. I enjoyed including the sea china, glass and pebbles which are given context with the shells and feathers, otherwise they just read as abstract shapes and colours.

As I write this I am thinking that this may be another avenue to explore on another day it would be interesting for me to return to abstraction after so long...... So many possibilities and so little time especially now that school is out and there is a little one to have adventures with. More trips to the beach! Yippeee!

Beach treasures collection I   watercolour on paper 20x24cm approx   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Both of these images are available as reproduction prints, stationery and greetings cards on Redbubble/lisalequelenec.

Four watercolour feathers

Four feather studies   21x30cm each approx   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

I am pondering the recent acrylic paintings and to help give myself a little distance from them have been painting some new watercolour feather studies. These four are available in my Etsy store Seaside Studios UK .  Sometimes it is good to completely change tack and look again with fresh eyes at a later date.

A trip to Jersey

Snaps from a quick break in Jersey   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

There is nothing like taking a break from a big project and coming back refreshed. A quick trip to Jersey has done this for me and now I am ready for the home run of finishing up the loose ends. I can't wait to share this one with you.

I have competition for finding treasure on the beach now as someone has started his own collection ;o)  . New wellies were put to the test as we explored the rockpools at Green Island finding shrimp, crabs, a blenny and tickling sea anenomes. Holes were dug, castles built and destroyed; shells, stones, seaglass and seaweed collected - that was just me.... I didn't do any sketching at all and only opened a sketchbook to press some seaweed inbetween the pages. As a result I have a lovely damp, beach smelling sketchbook - ah well inspiration takes many forms....

Now back to work.

Pine cone - a drypoint

Pine cone   drypoint etching print   ©2016Lisa Le Quelenec

I have been working on a set of new monoprints of winter birch trees and am impatiently waiting for the ink to dry so I can work into them and experiment with combining other media. My fingers are itching to get going but It will be another few days yet....

In the meantime here is a small drypoint pine cone that I finished last year and have just put for sale in my Etsy store SeasidestudiosUK.

I am so lucky to be so close to the sea and near the New Forest - it really is the best of both worlds.

Sea green - chambered nautilus

Sea Green   12.5x14cm   mixed media on paper   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec 

Sea glass greens - always favourite colours to me. These spirals seem to be on my mind a lot these days.

Colour inspiration below; the pebble is the most beautiful soft, chalky mint green/grey. It has been sitting on my desk for months and I have been feasting my eyes on it.

Sea glass, pebble & china shard all gathered from the shore in Jersey  ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

More treasures from the ocean...

Ocean treasures   3 21x30cm approx. each   ©2016Lisa Le Quelenec

I enjoyed doing the previous posts paintings so much that I carried on with some more....just on a little bit bigger scale. It felt nice to stretch.

Little sea treasures

Sea treasures   3 15x21cm (approx.) watercolour on paper   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

A few more little treasures just added to the Etsy shop Seaside Studios UK. - warmer colours for a change....

Starfish   15x21cm watercolour on paper   ©2016LisaLeQuelenec

I love painting the details on starfish and playing with the colour and tone.

Ammonite spiral solar etching

Ammonite   solar etching   14.5x20.5cm   ©2016Lisa Le Quelenec

This what I had been intending to print when I stumbled across the seahorse plate from the previous post...These prints are from a second solar etching plate that I made on the Printmaking Course at Arts University Bournemouth. (For an explanation of the process visit this post Sea urchin - solar etching.) I had decided to do another ammonite plate to be able to compare and contrast the technique and outcome with a small zinc ammonite plate I had etched in the traditional way. (Variations are shown here.)

After experimenting with the inking up and printing of both types of plate I think the outcomes are hard to distinguish between. Maybe the difference would become apparent when printing large editions with one plate wearing down quicker than another. My research hasn't come up with an answer to that, only that both types of plate are very hard wearing. I have enjoyed both processes and can see the advantage of solar etching for my circumstances in not having to use the acid bath to make plates. Whether I can make it work for me using sunlight and not having to have a light box to expose the drawing onto the plate remains to be seen, more experiments to come over summer methinks.

Ammonite   solar etching   14.5x20.5cm   ©2016Lisa Le Quelenec

Both of the above prints are available in my Etsy store Seasidestudiosuk.