#foragingforcolour

T E S T I N G . Because I make my own watercolours from natural, handmade pigments it takes some time to produce new work. . During this isolation period I am using the time to make and test new paints. I've got a few commissions to start and I want to make sure the colour is just right. Some paints exposed to the air and sunlight slightly change over time and others stay just as they are, I like to make sure I've tested as much as I can for this. . The different colours you can see in the photo, greens to blues, all come from the same copper oxide pigment. The only difference is some have been made with water, which change its properties and turn it dark green! I don't know about you...but I find it fascinating 🤷🏻‍♀️(still wishing school had made science more interesting) . Today I'll be testing two new blues I have made, one I levigated, which sort of worked, I was left with a wonderful blue ink too! . Stay safe everyone! . #naturalpigment #handmadepigment #foragingforcolour #scienceexperiment #elements #pigment #bluehues #testing #londonartist #artcollector #artforyourwalls #artcommissions #artcanhour (at North London) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-YzSiGH_oH/?igshid=1ka80b94mz9v0

B E A C H. C O M B I N G Our holiday is almost up. We’ve had the best time. I really needed some time away. I can only apologise for my holiday spam on my stories the past few weeks but I had to share how much I love this area of Scotland. It’s definitely my happy place. Here are some of my treasures I’ve found over the course of our holiday. Yesterday we had glorious sunshine and enjoyed a bit of beach combing. I collected a few extra things for family and other artists who I know will appreciate these little gems. I am always conscious of what I forage, how much I take and from where. It is important to respect your surroundings and the other wildlife that might need it. Have you ever done any beach combing? What’s your ultimate find? #beachcombing #foraging #foragingforcolour #responsiblecollecting #respectyourenvironment #scottishbeaches #explorescotland #getoutside #enjoynature #londonartistinscotland #scotland (at Dornoch) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTm3gQjI61O/?utm_medium=tumblr

O V E R B U R D E N Long post warning!! 😉 (when are they not with me?!) Back to my art….I think I have exhausted everyone’s generosity and patience with my attempt to put the art world to rights about experimenting with the limits of virtual exhibitions. Thank you to all of you that gave me so much inspiration and took time to give feedback on my last couple of posts! I have a few plans up my sleeve, watch this space! This painting is the newest piece I have been working on. It’s been a bit of a stop/start kind of painting. I have been adding layers and working into it over a little bit of time now. It is the first watercolour painting I have done onto a canvas (made especially for watercolours). I am slowly getting to grips with the difference in materials and the good thing about the canvas is that it allows much more time for the watercolour to dry and it’s also easier to add layers without damaging the paper or the paper buckling. This pigment is from a subscription I am signed up to with @wildpigmentproject called Ground Bright. Tilke works with pigment foragers, like me, who have a passion for sharing the beautiful colours, history and origins of our land. 22% of all subscriptions go to supporting land and cultural stewardship, chosen by that months contributor. It’s a great project so do check it out! (Link in @wildpigmentproject bio) I was surprised when I made this colour that it was this gorgeous, deep dark grey colour as it is made from a copper. Normally I associate copper with green, blues and reds but this time its grey! I love the uncertainty and variety of each pigment, they are always showing me something new. If you are interested to see how this piece comes along, do follow me if you don’t already, I will be sharing updates on my stories and posts. What do you think of this colour? #naturalpigments #naturescolour #londonartist #foragingforcolour #groundbright #arcticwildliferefuge #ninaelder #naturalpigments #wildpigments #pigmentsofplace #pigment #makepaint #azurite #malachite #artistspigments #historicalpigments #groundbright #minedpigments #copperore (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLbqXtJnxD5/?igshid=1qai4ns4v6x60

I B I Z A. R O C K S I had such fun foraging the amazing colours, earth and rocks Ibiza has to offer. I can't believe it's already been a week since being there. It was exciting to forage rocks I wasn't familiar with. Seeing colours that don't occur naturally in the UK. There was something special about searching for colour on a gorgeous, very hot, sunny morning last week that made me feel like I knew where I was, even though I'd only been there a day. That's one of the beauties of making my own paint. I feel like I see the land differently to most. Maybe I just pay attention to it more. I have a different view or a different connection. In that moment, walking around the local area, I was totally zoomed in on nature, colour and the earth. I felt so at home! I collected a few small samples and can't wait to see what they look like as watercolour! Thank you Holly and Andy for a gorgeous time in your spectacular villa, the beautiful @canosoibiza #ibizarocks #ibizapigment #ibizacolour #foragingforcolour #morningsun #ochre #naturalcolour #handmadewatercolour #earthpigments #newcommission #recky #samples #londonartist #artcollector #newartwork #takemebacktoibiza (at Sant Josep de sa Talaia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDVh5R9H6FR/?igshid=igfoo56a6nl

I S O L A T I O N. W A L K. 054 I've finally finished my latest painting Isolation Walk 054. This piece was created from my walk on May 15th 2020. I play around with the composition a little after doing a sketch of the route I took. The paint is foraged from my walks around London, merging both the walk and paint gives a sense of belonging to me. Can you remember what you were doing on May 15th? This is my way of keeping a diary of my days in lockdown. It's one of the biggest pieces I've made 56cm x 76cm unframed. If you swipe you'll see a bit more detail #isolationwalk #isolationart #londonartist #naturalpigment #foragingforcolour #londonpigment #dailydiary #handmadewatercolour #newartwork #opencall #jdmalatgallery #isolationmastered #paintingdots #artcollector #artforyourwalls (at London, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBbHLRFHeHm/?igshid=ubgb7fcexpnu

I S O L A T I O N . I was on one of my isolation walks last week and had a little idea to record all the walks during this time. I normally record my walks out in the countryside while I'm foraging in a tracking app and then use the walks to create my own maps. . I have found that recording the walks and creating art from them gives me back some control in this strange time and also helps me to find the positives right now. . The watercolour is made from London pigment found on my walks and the map details the journey itself. These three paintings are the start of a much bigger body of work to come. I'm excited to show you the progress. . What are you doing during all this to keep you upbeat? . #isolationwalks #isolationart #staypositive #foragingforcolour #mtartagency #londonartist #naturalpigments #artcollector #newartwork #bodyofwork #isolation #coronavirusart #covid19 (at North London) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-aR4jvHK8G/?igshid=1hjb1pcd03bm6

S U N L I G H T Some beautiful rays of sun shining into the studio today. Missy @pearlydoo had a few more walks than planned so I could top up on the Vitamin D. I've been painting solidly in the studio the last few weeks creating new work ready for the #fakenews exhibition. This piece is made from slate foraged in Isle of Mull . . #fakenews2020 #foragingforcolour #isleofmull #slategrey #urbanrichergreyer #handmadewatercolour #sunshine #wintersun #vitamind #londonartist #artcanhour #artofinstagram #womeninart (at Harringay) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9C4KFbHoiq/?igshid=94vxlffn1pc6

What could be nicer than slate grey and dusty pink together? I’ve really found my zen in Scotland, please don’t make me leave! . . . @secretlivesofcolour your pink series is inspiring my clothing palette it seems! #dustypink #slategrey #foragingforcolour #londonartistinscotland #makeink #naturalpigments #ilovescotland (at Ardtun) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6ivBkjHidn/?igshid=c3lr32b91x19