Do you remember back in October last year I wrote about the delights of treating myself to a little bit of visual loveliness ie buying myself a print from an artist? The artist in question is called Caroline, you can see her card above and get an idea of her style. It's very "me" don't you think?
This was the print I brought from her shop, it's called "Twisty-Twirly Town". Isn't it lovely? I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Bright and colourful little houses will forever twang at my heart strings, I am powerless to resist them.
Caroline's work is delightful. She works her magic with papers and glue, I think the correct arty term would be "Mixed Media Collage". It's a simplistic medium for sure, I mean a four year old can snip up bits of paper and stick them down, can't they? But do not be fooled. This work is intricate and time consuming and the designs are deceptively sophisticated. I just adore the way that dozens and dozens of weeny bits of paper can all come together to create such magic. It's beautifully clever.
This is how each of Caroline's artworks begins it's journey, with a simple line drawing to scale (roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper in this case). Coming up with the design in the first place is of course much more of a process, and often ideas brew for a good while before they get to this stage. Take the above design for example, would you like to know the story behind it?
Well when I first discovered Caroline's work, in amongst all the beautiful flowers and birds I discovered a houseboat, and it immediately made me think of my beloved Connievan. So I emailed Caroline and asked in my bestest, most persuasive email voice if she would ever consider working a caravan picture? I described my dream caravan to her, which included most important details such as a cute, roundy-retro shape, blue and white gingham curtains, strings of bunting and pots of flowers. Sweet Caroline, she listened to me go on, but as she was already busy with a new creation (a gypsy caravan), she kindly and politely told me that I would need to wait.
Ok. I can do waiting I said. And wait I did.
That was until the beginning of last week when I had a surprise email from Caroline, telling me that she was about to make a start on the retro caravan picture we had chatted over last year, did I remember? ReMEMber?? Why of course I remember! How ever could I forget? Will it have blue and white gingham curtains? And strings of bunting and flowers and birds? And pretty please could there be a red spotty jug of flowers somewhere??? Oh I was soooooo excited, I cannot tell you. Caroline emailed me the above sketch of her design and I felt like my heart had been grabbed and squeezed hard. Honestly, I couldn't quite believe how exciting it was to see the beginnings of my her new art work.
During the past week, Caroline and I kept up a daily banter by email, back and forth, sharing the journey of this sweet creation. She would send me email updates ("I'm planting flowers!") and some pictures of her Work in Progress. It was so much fun! Bless her, she even consulted me on various elements ("the curtains are going to be spotty and not checked, I hope this is ok, I would hate you to get upset by the curtains lol")
Some of the pictures she emailed me of work in progress just made me swoon. Look at the spotty jug of flowers, how incredible, how teeny tiny and adorable!
The spotty jug of flowers (which I had excitedly requested) was placed sweetly on the outside table, along with a cup of tea. Sigh.........perfect. Just perfect.
I began to try and imagine Caroline at work, how it must feel to be her, sat at a desk/table creating this work of art. I imagined her contentedly snipping and cutting and placing, surrounded by acres of colourful papers. I began to feel very curious and a little nosey. I wanted to see. So I asked......
......and this is what I discovered. A sweet, light working space.....
.......and a to-die-for stash of papers! Yum yum!!
I have to tell you that seeing these pictures and reading Carolines regular updates ("ughhhh I am completely brain dead - the concentration just exhausts me so much!!") made me remember the way it is when you create in this way. I know what it feels like to be so deeply involved with a piece of work, because I used to work in an almost identical way with fabric and stitch. It's both exhilarating and exhausting, especially towards the end when there seem to be a gazillion little decisions to make in order to pull it all together successfully.
With this piece of work, it was the wee Birds that were the finishing touch and proved hard to get right. Too much detail can sometimes kill a piece of work, as can the wrong colours. But Caroline is an experienced artist, and she chose to sleep on it and come back to the birds "with fresh eyes". Yes, yes, I remember that trick, it works wonders to sleep on it. Good plan.
So I had to wait an extra day to see the finished piece, the suspense was huge! I kind of felt that we'd been on this wonderful journey together, and now we were nearly at the summit and she was making me wait! Bah, how cruel!!!!! And yet of course I understood.
The pictures that arrived on Saturday, were so worth waiting for though.
Take a look..............................................................................
WOW. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't it just the most delightful image? So much fun and happiness and carefree delight in that picture, it captures the essence of caravan holidays in such a perfect way.
I wrote to Caroline to express my happiness, it was actually quite hard to find the words. I wanted to say what a privilege it had been to be taken along on this creative ride, how very much I had enjoyed the whole process. I wanted to say how it seemed to me that she had managed to look into my heart and capture everything I most love about trips away in Connievan :: experiencing the joy of outdoor living, yet feeling so cosy and at home at the same time. Of stars and birdsong and cups of tea and nature and cosy family times. Of fun and happiness. The picture says it all.
Shall I say a little Ta-dah at this point?
Ta-dah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A mixed media collage by Caroline Rose Art, entitled "Settle".
You can buy yourself a print of this fabulous collage in Caroline's shops, either Folksy or Etsy.
I hope you've enjoyed sharing this with me, I felt it was a story worth sharing. I love to celebrate creativity, it makes me so happy. It also makes me want to dash off with Connievan into the countryside, to string her with bunting flags, fill her little jam jar vase with wild flowers and settle down with a cup of tea to wait for the stars to peep out.
Happy Days.
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Edit to add :: thank you SO much for all your sweet words, it's been such a pleasure to find you enjoying this as much as I have. In case you missed it, Caroline left you all a message.....
"Thank you all so so so much for your lovely comments, I am so touched by all of your lovely words about my art. I had such a fun week with Lucy while working on this one and hopefully we will do it again soon!! If you don't see the print in my shop - just let me know - I am trying to keep on top of the sales but sometimes I lose track!!! xxxx"
Poor lass, she has been completely floored by the terrific response to her artwork, I really don't think she expected such a deluge of orders (although I did tell her she would be busy this week!) She is the most kind, sweet, modest lady and she asked me to let you know that she is doing her utmost to keep on top of everything and will get orders out as fast as possible. But please accept that there may be a very slight delay as she catches up with it all, I'm sure you understand. Thank you all so much!
x
The Arboretum headquarters is a farmhouse that was at first designed in 1731 and is a deal with to see. These provide interactive recreation and creative play to children. Invitation Amusement industry, covering entertainment, leisure, fitness and outdoor sports and so on.
Posted by: http://wiki.abuelkhair.net | October 11, 2013 at 12:39 PM
Lucy i found this painting on another blog and thought of you
http://www.lemondedesucrette.com/2012/03/30/a-bunch-of-houses/
Posted by: jennifer | April 13, 2012 at 07:22 PM
That seems like a lot of work to only charge that much money. I know that an artist does it for the love of the work, but you could charge more!
Posted by: Barbara Douyard | April 12, 2012 at 03:24 AM
oh lord, the above has been posted in the wrong place. a thousand pardons.
Posted by: jeannette | April 02, 2012 at 08:02 PM
hope you feel better soon.
in the meantime, two cyber prezzies.
http://psychologyofmedicine.blogspot.com/2012/01/on-being-ill-virginia-woolf-1926.html
http://www.artchive.com/artchive/A/avery/gaspe_pink_sky.jpg.html
Posted by: jeannette | April 02, 2012 at 08:01 PM
Fabulous and so special too.
Posted by: Julie | April 02, 2012 at 04:57 PM
Wow! What a wonderful inspiration for color and whimsy. Thank you for introducing me to her work.
Becky
Posted by: Becky | April 02, 2012 at 02:50 AM
Oh Lucy you must see this caravan
http://www.3akers.nl/stippen.html
Posted by: Rosemary Dennis | April 01, 2012 at 05:35 PM
never seen such an amazing colourful piece of art...so lively and hartwarming. I have stayed for a weekend in a van like this in Holland last year, but just going to this website and looking around will surely give you a pleasant vacation feeling. Go to http://www.3akers.nl and you will see this van in blue, green and pink!
And Lucy, after your little web-trip, come over to my blog see my little easteregg warmers in bright yellow, spring green and white. On the bottom of the post your english translation is waiting! See you soon!
Posted by: heidi | April 01, 2012 at 07:23 AM
My lovely print arrived fhis morning - it is lovely! Thanks Lucy, and Caroline Rose!!
Posted by: Rosemary Dennis | March 31, 2012 at 08:07 PM
oh wow, that is simply lovely lovely lovely! I would love to think i could make something similar for my daughters bedroom, I don't suppose Caroline shared any tips on what glue she used for such a project for a professional finish that keeps looking nice enough to hang up?!
Posted by: Sarah | March 30, 2012 at 03:43 PM
Hi Lucy, just thought I'd show you what this post inspired - I had so much fun doing it! Alice xx
http://justathought92.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/spontaneous-art/
Posted by: Alice | March 30, 2012 at 03:00 PM
Wow, wow, wow. That makes me want to pick up my papercraft again! Incredible :)
Posted by: Allyson | March 30, 2012 at 01:13 PM
Don't you get tired of all the sheeple? Can't you do any thing without everyone else wanting to do it to? Goodness me! The picture is nice and is personal to you but it isn't to me and not really expressing my own taste. I prefer to choose myself! That's what art is, not copying because you have no imagination of your own.
Posted by: Kate | March 30, 2012 at 12:08 PM
The collages are so lovely and colourful!
Lucy- I must say that I tracked back to your own textile collages - they are equally as lovely - perhaps time to get your fabric stash sorted ready for some more delightful creations...
Posted by: janet | March 29, 2012 at 05:37 PM
I find this blog, and I LOVE it !
Claire
Posted by: Claire | March 28, 2012 at 09:30 PM
It is very beautiful and it was lovely to share your journey
Posted by: pauline | March 28, 2012 at 06:52 PM
Wow Lucy!!!
I have just bought 2 prints & a card from the lovely Caroline! :-)
Thanks for sharing!
I've just come out of hospital, so these will cheer me up when they arrive.
Snuggling up on the sofa now, under my crochet blanket that was inspired by the one & only you!
Love to you & your littlies.
xxx
Posted by: Emma Roberts | March 28, 2012 at 03:32 PM
Super, I love all you make !
Posted by: Catherinebis | March 27, 2012 at 10:08 PM
That is stunning! So good to see the process too, to really appreciate the amount of work that has gone in to making such a beautiful piece :)
Posted by: Emma | March 27, 2012 at 09:03 PM
Love it. Going to try my own design. I just love papercrafts!
Posted by: Sonja Mizen | March 27, 2012 at 08:46 PM
So lovely- Congrats to Caroline for using her giftings so well!
Posted by: Jennie | March 27, 2012 at 08:34 PM
Hello
I love your blog
Is happy . I am writing a book that you like my character, née
Can someone help ?
Maybe I 'm happy with chit chat .
We also talk about this character ?
I would like to know about your personality
Right now I 'm believing I 'm a drawer and hope you will accept
you understand what I mean ?
Posted by: jighil | March 27, 2012 at 08:32 PM
It's beautiful!! I have a really bad case of the Wanties now....
Posted by: One-oh-four | March 27, 2012 at 08:31 PM
Hope you're on commission Luce!! What a wonderful result!
But seriously, lovely to see you mention your textiles work again - are you tempted to dig out your Bernina??!! Go on, you'd make an old friend very happy ...!!
Love, Katie B x x
Posted by: Katie B | March 27, 2012 at 08:06 PM