Swooping and circling - gull sketchbook page and monoprint

If you spend any time at the shore you will find yourself watching the gulls swooping, circling, gliding and diving. I feel I may just have some gull in my genes as I circle back to them in my work again and again. I am mulling over how to approach it this time around.

Sketchbook page - gull studies ©LisaLeQuelenec

Old sketchbook pages - looking back and moving forward - looking at shapes and trying ideas. At the end of a project I store all my reference materials, sketchbooks and experiments and notes in a folder. I often return to subjects when something new catches my eye or an idea for combinations or new connections are made. Sometimes just revisiting a folder strikes up new ideas on its own. It is good to have all the visual stimulus in one place waiting to be plundered again. 

 I think some monoprinting may be in order to think in ink.

Gliding   13x13cm monoprint   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec   


This monoprint is available in my Folksy store.

Coastal collection - home accessories, stationery and more

 

This is a project I have been working on for the past few months and I am so excited to share it with you today. Using my shell watercolour paintings I have created a series of designs in a selection of colourways to be reproduced on various home accessories, stationery and more on RedBubble. You can see the whole collection here.

coastal collection - available at RedBubble - ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

coastal collection - available at RedBubble - ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

coastal collection - available at RedBubble - ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

I have used RedBubble for a number of years for stock in my shops, also for sending gifts and have always been impressed with both the quality, speed and service. 

So many hours have gone into putting the collection together and it is really exciting for me to see it all come together. Is there a different colourway that you would like to see? Or maybe a different shell or creature? Do let me know what you think. 

Limpet portraits - acrylic on board

 

Limpet Portraits 1-4   acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

The four shells lying vertically in the photo above are the subjects of these first four portraits. When you closely observe and compare them you can see so many differences, each having it's own characteristics and subtleties. Hopefully you can see better in this photo below.

Limpet Shells photograph ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet Portrait 1   acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

I have been toying with the idea of using text within work for a while. The text in two of these paintings comes from notes I made about limpets from Wikipedia. During my research of these fascinating creatures I stumbled across a paper by Dr Louise Firth, Associate Professor of Marine Ecology at the University of Plymouth, titled What Have Limpets Ever Done for US? It is fascinating reading taking in thousands of years of cultural history all over the world as well as their importance within the ecosystem and many other threads besides. If you would like to delve into this fascinating read here is a link.

Limpets are extremely common in Jersey due to the island being surrounded by the perfect rocky habitat. As a child their common sight left me a little blind to collecting them and I rarely picked them up. However during the summer on a visit to La Hougue Bie Museum I learnt a little and saw how they were considered of such importance as to be placed within the Neolithic grave mound. During the Occupation when food was scarce they became an important source of food, supplementing meagre rations - not for the first time were they known as famine food (and not just in this location). The more I read, draw and paint these tough little critters the more respect I feel for them.

Limpet Portrait 2  acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet Portrait 3  acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet Portraits 4   acrylic on canvas board 15x15cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

All four portraits are available in my Folksy Store.

Sundown - oil on paper

 

Sundown II   oil on paper 13.5x13.5cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

There have been some very cold but beautifully clear evenings the last few days. The colours are so inspiring and seem even more vibrant after weeks of pale grey skies. These small paintings may be the precursor to some larger paintings later in the year. 

All three are available mounted in my Folksy store.

Sundown   oil on paper 13.5x13.5cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Sundown III   oil on paper 13.5x13.5cm   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpets and seaglass - watercolour

 

Limpet and seaglass  WIP watercolour 23x23cm approx  ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet and seaglass  WIP watercolour 23x23cm approx  ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

I'm not sure whether to continue painting at this point so added real shells and glass in various combinations to see where it might lead and try to nudge a decision.... I think part of the issue I have is that I am so unused to seeing my work on NOT paper as I usually use HOT PRESS and it has thrown me a bit... decisions...decisions....

Limpet and seaglass with real limpet shells and seaglass WIP watercolour 23x23cm approx  ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet shell spiral -drypoint varied edition

 

Limpets   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Inspiration found playing with beach finds led to a drypoint. A small edition all quite different but still the same.

Limpet Spiral   drypoint varied edition of 6    ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet Spiral   drypoint and metallic paint varied edition of 6    ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet Spiral detail   drypoint and metallic paint varied edition of 6    ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

Limpet Spiral   drypoint and metallic paint varied edition of 6    ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

The first and last prints are now available in my Folksy Store.

Happy New Year!

 

Well December ran away with me in a rollercoaster of child illnesses, Christmas preparations and travelling. 

The ferry over was a little bumpy with a 'bit of a swell' and as we came around by Corbiere on the journey to Jersey. I took advantage of the slow progress the ferry was making. I whipped out my sketchbook and little pouch of pencils AKA my emergency sketch kit and tried to capture the wind whipped sea and the lighthouse.

La Corbiere Lighthouse - ferry view detail   pencil sketch A6 sketchbook   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

The sketchbook is an A6 Stillman & Birn Nova with grey toned paper. The pencils are the tiny left over nubs that have been replaced for studio work, but as they are the most used colours and as they are only used for firing off quick notes and ideas they are adequate for short periods of use and my hands don't complain too much.

La Corbiere Lighthouse - ferry view and sketch kit   pencil sketch A6 sketchbook   ©2023LisaLeQuelenec

The weather continued to bluster and blow whilst we were there but beautiful beachy moments were there for capturing. Even better was the time spent with family making up for the Christmas's missed during lockdowns.

Toward Green Island - Jersey ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

 

Green Island - Jersey ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

Green Island - Jersey ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

And now.....back to work where I am sure lots of these inspiring views will be put to good use.

I hope everyone has enjoyed a break and is looking forward to a happy, healthy and successful (whatever that means to you) 2023. Best wishes.

Stormy seas in mixed media

 

Inspired by the recent weather.....one minute the sky is ominously black, the wind is howling and the downpours begin, wellies are a must to negotiate the puddles.....next minute blinding bright sunshine.
 

 

Racing Home    17x11.5cm mixed media    ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

 

All pictures are available in my Folksy Store.

 

 

Green Wave    17x11.5cm mixed media    ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

After the storm passed   17x11.5cm mixed media    ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

New Page Tab - Coastal & Quotes 2022

 

Heading to the beach ©LisaLeQuelenec2022

I have enjoyed building a collection again over the course of this year and as much as the planning and painting giving me lots to think about, the curating of the pieces - their running order and how they could be placed on walls has also been food for thought. I think I will work on another collection in this way next year, I already have a few ideas in mind, one is quite different to October's.... 

As these two photos show, if the weather the last couple of days is anything to go by there may not be quite so much time to research comfortably outside so there might be a bit more inspiration coming from things gathered and brought home. 

Anyway I hope you have enjoyed this collection of paintings and thank you for following along. All the paintings from October are available for sale in my Folksy store here.  To see the collection in its entirety I have made a separate page here on the blog, just click on the tab at the top.

And leaving pretty quick! ©LisaLeQuelenec2022

31 A Silent Delight - acrylic on board

 

A Silent Delight    20x20cm acrylic on board   ©2022LisaLeQuelenec

'The moon like a flower in heaven's bower,

With silent delight sits and smiles at the night.'

                                                                                                 William Blake

Available in my Folksy store