August's Spiral drawing

 

August's spiral shell drawing pencil and ink on paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Beachcombed Beauties - new on Spoonflower and July's spiral drawing

 

Beachcombed Beauties in mid blue fabric in & Wallpaper designed by LisaLeQuelenec available at Spoonflower

Based on this years spiral drawing project and washing up from my shore to yours, available at three different scales and in eight colourways a new repeat design at Spoonflower for fabric, wallpaper and soft furnishings and at RedBubble for gifts and home accessories my latest design - Beachcombed Beauties. 

Co-ordinating designs are available in each colour collection in my stores.

Beachcombed Beauties fabric & Wallpaper in Mid Blue designed by LisaLeQuelenec available at Spoonflower

 

Which colour is your favourite? I am rather liking the Midnight Blue.

Beachcombed Beauties fabric & Wallpaper designed by LisaLeQuelenec available at Spoonflower

A bit too late to be included but this is July's spiral drawing. The spiral of this cone shell is completely flat. I was really attracted to the contrast of the white with sepia markings that made it a joy to draw. This one may end up in it's own pattern at a later date at the moment I'm enjoying observing the shell from all angles whilst it sits on my desk.

Spiral for July   coloured pencil and ink   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

July's spiral  ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

June's Spiral drawing - unidentified shell

 

June's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

This shell had lots of lumps and bumps to navigate and textures too. The spines were satisfying to draw - some had received a bit of damage to their tips but I think it adds to its character. 

This year is running away fast. Can you believe that it is June already? It doesn't feel like I have done six spiral drawings already this year and yet here they are...

Detail of June's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Daringly Deco Scallops - new design available at Spoonflower & RedBubble

 

Daringly Deco Scallop  new design available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Daringly Deco Scallop  new design available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

New designs added to my Coastal Collections of fabric, wallpaper, home accessories & gifts at Spoonflower and RedBubble. The scallop design features a reworking of a watercolour painting and the undulations with it made a subtle nod to Art Deco. I really enjoy working on patterns and putting collections together but I find thinking of names very HARD! If you have any coastal themed suggestions I would really appreciate the help.

The second design, Wave Stripes, (can you see what I did there?) is among new co-ordinates for the collection. There are also plains, spots, pinstripes and ticking stripes available and lots more. I recently made some patchwork grids using a selection of the designs by colour too.

Wave Stripes  new design available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Daringly Deco Scallop   new design
available at Spoonflower & RedBubble
©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Spiral drawing for May - 3 for 1 shells

 

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I started but I couldn't stop! Three spirals for May as they are getting quite addictive. I'm chasing my tail still trying to catch up on projects that I feel should have been finished already. Sometimes things take longer than you think. I was hoping to be able to have the Ran's Daughters project finished and ready to share buy the end on April but it hasn't quite worked out that way. I am getting close though... even with distracting spiral drawings in the mix.

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

May's spiral drawing for 2025   pencil on toned sketchbook page   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

April's Spiral Drawing - Queen conch

 

March Spiral Drawing - pencil and ink on toned paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Sliding in at the end on the month with April's spiral drawing. This one was especially difficult to capture the spiral and descending order of size in the protrusions a couple of which were also bendy and different to the others. Isn't nature wonderful in all her perfect imperfections? She kept me on my toes anyway.

 

March spiral drawing - common winkle

 

March Spiral Drawing - pencil on toned paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

The common winkle is a lovely little thing that come in a variety of colours and shades. Yellows are my favourite and I can't resist picking them up. I do always check to make sure that no one is home before they head to my pocket. They look like little jewels in the rockpools and washed up on the shore. As you can see the child in me still sorts them into colours.

Common winkles ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I think I may have collected rather a lot over the years....

Common winkles ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Spirals for January and February

 

My drawing challenge for 2025....spirals! I did do the drawing below in January but failed to blog about it as I was so caught up with Ran and ginkgo patterns! I am using a mid-toned sketchbook that I have had for a long time but keep forgetting that I have. I think it will be nice to keep all of these drawings together. 

Wentletrap   pencil and ink on toned paper A4ish   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

A new to me shell, found at Christmas though not by me. This is a common wentletrap - I think - found in Jersey. It has been on my bucket list to find one of these for years. You can see how small it is next to the drawing maybe about 2.5cm... A tricky subject with it's prominent verticals climbing up the spiral. Fun to try to draw though.

Wentletrap   pencil and ink on toned paper A4ish   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

February's spiral was even trickier...I attempted this one a few times as I kept losing my place in the spiral markings as well as the spiral form.

Sundial Shell   pencil and ink on toned paper A4ish   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Sundial Shell   pencil and ink on toned paper A4ish   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Ran's net - a new project for 2025

 

I am slowly easing my way back into work trying to find my thread from before the holidays. I had been picking up from a project half started a long time ago back in the days of home school during the lockdowns... A project inspired by a Norse mythology book shared with my son.

One character captured my imagination, a Goddess named Ran (a personification of the ocean) who possessed a net which gathered sailors drowned at sea. She is both the cause and the consequence. I can't find many mentions of her in the texts that I have read and it is that most likely that elusiveness  which has intrigued me....

I have so many notes and post-its and scribbles and thumbnails that I think it is time to start collating my thoughts together.

Sketchbook Snippet - Ran's Net  watercolour and watersoluble pencils ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Sketchbook Snippet - Ran's Net  watercolour and watersoluble pencils ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Sketchbook Snippet - Ran's Net  watercolour and watersoluble pencils ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

I have been going back through my notes and experiments - firstly a very textured detail from a collagraph plate using tile adhesive and aluminium foil tape. This was just a small part that I kept as I loved the texture and colours so much. It's not much more than a snippet but I couldn't part with it.

Collagraph printing plate section   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Second, a section of a ghost print ( a second printing of a plate without adding extra ink) that I worked into with collage, watercolour and coloured pencil. I regularly make a ghost print as fodder for experimenting with new ideas. I like the idea of work continuing, evolving and a continuous thread connecting pieces and projects - many tides, one ocean.

Another connection for these details is the strong 'V' composition that I seem to regularly circle back to.

Detail from a print worked into with mixed media ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Piddock shell fragments ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but oh so beautiful fragments of piddock shells, inspiring textures and compositions.

Colour inspiration from beach finds ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful - Drawing project 2024 an overview

 

Broken But Still Beautiful 2024   pencil on paper ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

All together, 2024's drawing project, broken, seaworn, and stunningly beautiful models. The centre bottom drawing I changed to greyscale for the ensemble, I think I prefer the softer greys to it's original blues. 

For 2025's drawing project I think I am going to go with the theme of spirals so I am sure (well I know there will be) there will be some shells in there amongst the subjects - maybe some will be whole this time. As this month is racing along I think I will need to make a start very soon. I can't quite believe how quickly time has passed since my last post!

I haven't been resting on my laurels quite the whole time, lots of plans have been made and a new project started. Life has just been getting a little bit in the way but onwards and upwards and all that. Anyway, a very happy new year to you all I wish you a happy, healthy and creative 2025.

Broken But Still Beautiful I - January   mixed media drawing 30x21cm   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful II - February   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful III - March   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful IV - April   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful V - May   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful VI - June   pencil on 33x75cm paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful VII -July  pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful VIII - August   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful IX - September   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful X October   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful XI - November   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful XII - December   pencil on A4 paper   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Broken but Still Beautiful - November

 

Broken but still Beautiful November   pencil on paper A4ish   ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Better late than never! November's model is very worn with a couple of more recently broken edges, maybe walked on as she lay washed up on the sand. 

Only one more drawing to go for this project...

Broken but still Beautiful - October

 

Broken but Still Beautiful October   pencil on paper ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Very broken but ohhhh so beautiful. For October's drawing I chose a fragment. Sometimes when I find these they are very fine and delicate at the edges of the outer surface but reveal a more sturdy columella. The whole of this small one was a little more robust and so made it home in my pocket without further damage.

This is posting a little late - I am behind after a fun filled half term with birthday celebrations. I'm not sure how my son can be 11 already but here we are.

Sundial shell pattern collections

 

Sundial Collection in Teal swatches - fabric, wallpaper, home accessories and accessories available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Always a sucker for a spiral, I love these sundial shells. I love the bottom face as much as the more pronounced swirl on the top. The beautiful spiralling circles in this particular one called to me.

Sundial Shell front and back ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

This one little shell has inspired a whole collection of repeat patterns available as fabric, wallpaper and home accessories at Spoonflower and as clothing, accessories and home accessories in my RedBubble Store.

Of course no collection is complete without being available in a selection of colours. Whilst teal is my favourite there is also duck egg, chartreuse, and claret with forest green and navy being the latest versions of the designs. Co-ordinating pinstripes, plains and seigaiha wave/scale patterns are also within the collections. 

As I work more with pattern making I am discovering that I often reach for far richer and bolder colours that I would never use in my painting or printing. I am wondering if, as I continue, this may change. It is interesting to stand back and watch the creative paths converge and diverge, one often feeding the ideas of another.

Which colour is your favourite?

Sundial Collection in Duck Egg swatches - fabric, wallpaper, home accessories and accessories available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Sundial Collection in Chartreuse swatches - fabric, wallpaper, home accessories and accessories available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Sundial Collection in Forest Green swatches - fabric, wallpaper, home accessories and accessories available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Sundial Collection in Navy swatches - fabric, wallpaper, home accessories and accessories available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2024LisaLeQuelenec

Sundial Collection in Claret swatches - fabric, wallpaper, home accessories and accessories available at Spoonflower and RedBubble ©2024LisaLeQuelenec