|
I Recently entered the competition held by the Stockport based Wraptious, who sell beautiful gifts and homewares created by independent artists. They provide a bespoke service to independent artists such as myself, allowing us to create sustainable quality products here in the UK, which we can then sell to lovely people such as yourselves. Twice a year they also run a competition open to anyone - So this year I decided to enter, these are the designs on a vegan suede cushions.
The competition is open until the 16th July 2025, and if you would like to support me you can vote for my work by liking or sharing using the link below. Thank you in advance!
0 Comments
I recently found out that there is such a thing as a Blue Lobster! Who knew that? I've been working on a few illustrations inspired by the Ocean, I mentioned this to someone who said she had once seen a blue lobster washed up on the shore. Although I appreciated that the Ocean is incredibly biodiverse, with coastal eco-systems supporting people, wildlife and the climate...I had never heard of a Blue Lobster!  With a deeper dive into researching the subject (sorry pun intended) I found out some surprising facts about our oceans...including that Blue Lobsters actually do exist. Apparently a rare sight with approximately only one in two million having this genetic abnormality which causes them to have an electric blue hue. If you spot one they are considered lucky, especially with Fishermen who consider catching one a good omen.  Here are five other facts that you may or may not know about our Oceans; 1. 70% of our planet is covered by Oceans, providing half of the Earth's oxygen. 2. According to UNESCO.org only 5% of our Seas have been explored and charted by humans, especially it's darkest depths, we know more about outer space than we do our seas. 3. 90% of goods used around the world are transported across the Ocean in over 200 million shipping containers a year! That fact by the WWF really made me pause for thought. 4. Another sad fact of human making - it is estimated that 60-95% of plastic pollution in our oceans comes from single use plastics - (source WWF) 5. On a more positive note 135,000 common eelgrass seeds were planted by 95 volunteers on three beaches in the Firth of Forth in 2024 to help restore its seagrass beds an important natural solution to help with climate crisis. On the listening front, whilst there is nothing like listening to waves on the shore, in the Studio... I did a little digging around to find a track that would be suitable inspiration...there is Led Zepplin's 'The Ocean'...too obvious? Yes, I thought so too. Then I got thinking about Haevn and 'The Sea' from their Eyes Closed album, however, my choice for this week has to be from 1991 'Closer to the Truth' by Tony Joe White - I just love this song, especially the line " And who's gonna tell the children, How the rivers used to flow crystal blue..." However small a change or habit we can make, I believe collectively it all helps to save our Oceans.
Thanks as always for reading this far. Introducing Sophie - a character for children...  With it's origins in the French language, and derived from the Greek Word Sophia, which is associated with the concept of wisdom and knowledge, Sophie seemed like a good name choice for this children's character. As I continue with my journey of creating artwork with watercolour paint, my knowledge of how the colours work, along with the nuances and questions of which paper, how much water, what brush to use... with no undo button in sight when something doesn't work is both exciting and frustrating, it's the happy accidents and texture of this medium that I love so much. Knowledge and wisdom are wonderful things, however, a good reminder that intuition or the feel of something is just as important came recently, as I was lucky enough to see the Pianist Brad Kella in concert, as he opened the show for Gary Barlow's Song Book Tour. If you don't know Brad he was on the Channel Four TV show, The Piano - I love that programme! Brad doesn't sing, he can't read music, but learning and composing by ear he knows how to create wonderful pieces. Check out one of his composition Levels here and let me know what you think, he has his debut album coming out next week and I for one can't wait to hear it and see how his career develops. So as I listen to Brad, I hope little Sophie makes you smile too, as always
Thanks for reading! |
Hello!In this space which has no ceilings, walls or doors... I would like to invite you in, and share with you some of my work and a few things of interest which help to inspire my illustrations, including music to the places and spaces we call home...
AuthorCatherine Hoggins |
RSS Feed