 Who would have thought that citizens of the free world would be in a Government lock-down and the daily reporting of near to a thousand deaths a day (and more in some instances), would be the daily reality; it seems more like a script for some movie, but here in 2020 with the Covid19 Pandemic this as you are probably aware is sadly, very much the reality.
So in these unprecedented times of stress and anxiety as we try to adjust to a different type of reality, it might seem a bit frivolous to discuss or be thinking about Art...as an artist it is something that I have run back and forth in my mind, is it appropriate to still be sending out artwork or talking about design? But then I came across two items which resonated, one was a social media post, where the post suggested to all those people who think that Art is irrelevant, for them to consider living through lock-down without music, books, poetry, movies and comforts of home ...for behind, all of these things lies the work of an artist/designer in one form or another....the second item was in a newsletter that I received this morning from artist agent Jennifer Nelson where she writes " Art is a magical thing. It allows us to connect without words; without even being close to one another. Art connects people around the world " and I thought Yes! this is so true, you only have to think of the people in Italy who came out onto their balconies to sing, bringing light into the darkness, and not only was this experienced at a local level, we too in the global community were able to witness this emotional yet uplifting event - so whilst it may not always be immediately obvious - art really does matter and can have such a positive impact on our lives. It's that sense of community, that is also important. You may have heard of the Association of Illustrators, the UK's professional body for Illustrators, who since the early 70's have championed the rights of illustrators, campaigning to enhance, protect and support the profession of Illustration and the rights of artists; offering advice and resources to it's members from around the world, and never more so than at this current time - if you are an artist / illustrator looking for a little guidance on how this affects you there is some useful information relating to Covid 19 and Illustrators here. Or if you are in the market to commission an illustrator or license some artwork, you can check out lots of illustrators work on their site including that of yours truly! It's important to note that the AOI are not an agent but a place to see great illustration / artwork in all it's forms and glory...
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 Spring is in the air - Hopefully! ...Spring is such a lovely season full of hope for the year ahead. The lighter nights and longer days, uplifting our spirits with glimpses of sunshine through bare leaved trees. After the snowdrops, the spring flowers such as crocus, daffodils and hyacinth begin to poke their heads through the earth to see what's going on in the world...This floral collage illustration that I created is inspired by those beautiful bulbs.... Who knew you could have Spring in a teacup!Whilst cut flowers are lovely, a quick and easy way to bring a little glow of Spring into your home, is by planting spring bulbs in teacups, if you are super organised this could be done in late Autumn ready for Spring. However, fear not if you're like me and you're coming late to the tea party, you can use plants that are already starting to become established bought from your local market or garden centre. So while brightening up your home, it also helps up-cycle those bone china cups that Aunt Maud gave you! They make lovely simple gifts... to help cheer up someone's window sill... A few helpful tips to help you create your very own Spring in a Teacup...Some of the bulbs which you might want to consider that look great in containers are;
You can use just one type of flower or if you have space mix and match two or three...You don't have to stick to tea cups either, get creative and find uses to upcycle other containers such as old serving dishes, tins, whatever takes your fancy - just remember to make sure that they don't leak first!... This short video that I found on You tube may give you some useful tips on how to get started, check it out here. Til next time... Bye for Now!
 Shopping small but thinking big...As we get closer to one of the biggest shopping days of the year with Black Friday, I would like to encourage you to try shopping small - from independent businesses rather than the big hitters of the high street. It may seem strange at first opening that small little door and being greeted with a smiley face....but thinking big, it really does make a difference both to the high street, helping to keep a diverse range of interesting shops in Towns and Cities, which helps things such as tourism, as well as supporting the wider economy - including the artist - designer like myself who make our living from getting sales from these inspiring Independent shopkeepers... Introducing Botanic in Walgate, York - Latest stockistIn these unique shops you will often find a wealth of high quality and unusual goods that the bigger stores just don't have..along with a knowledge and passion for the product that they are selling. Take one of my latest stockists - Botanic in York for example...A wonderful urban jungle in North Yorkshire which has quickly become a go to place for all types of plants from lush tropical leaves, succulents and cacti , Not only does the lovely Emma have a great range of plants, Botanic also stocks botanical inspired gifts and cards - great at this time of year for buying for the gardener or plant lover in your life.... So from the Independent Shopkeeper and Me - Thank you! for shopping small....
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Hello!In this space which has no ceilings, walls or doors... I would like to invite you in, and share with you, personal work, current trends and inspiration from every day life...
AuthorCatherine Hoggins 
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