30 Comments
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Marilee Reyes's avatar

You are fearless, Cathy Cullis. Which is exactly as a creative person needs to be. I suspect your mind is always thinking, "What can I do next?" and then you do it. Those sculptures are intriguing and belong on a wall, not in a box. Unless, of course, the box becomes part of the sculpture.

Cathy Cullis's avatar

You are very kind Marilee and I appreciate your encouragement and thoughtfulness. Yes, I am always engrossed in ideas and as I get older am less inclined to worry about ‘wasting time’ as I appreciate how important playfulness can be. Like many people I can only learn from doing.

Jeni Hankins's avatar

My heart feels so glad after I’ve read your studio notes. When the woman became a tree — oh! Thank you for taking the time to share your poems and artwork so often. You bring much needed joy and thoughtfulness.

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Jeni, very much appreciated!

Kim Nelson's avatar

The sitting room view -- art, a snug space, nature and the promising rainbow -- sublime.

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Kim, I appreciate your lovely comment

Janet's avatar

Your ‘somethings’ are really something! I do think they ask to be hung on a wall, joyously reaching out in every direction. Your poem is also quite aesthetic and atmospheric— it’s like a tiny conversation that occurs unexpectedly and lingers throughout the day. Thank you always for your generous and genuine sharing here. Very much looking forward to the zine! 💚

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you for your very kind support Janet, much appreciated. Yes, the poems are often about conversations, sometimes with the process of making or creative inner critics. I am looking forward to sharing the zine. Have a good week ahead

Helen Lawless Lee's avatar

Good morning Cathy, on this rather lovely Sunday morning.

Oh to transform into an old tree 🌳

Your 'somethings' are a playful delight, and I am so enjoying the greens.

I happily journeyed into your cottage garden as it progressed, and then...the poem 💚

I made a Cowslip flower essence yesterday, for the New M●●N. In the 25 years I've been making them, Cowslips were too scarce to take their flowers, but this year they have been abundant and I used just 8 little blossoms.

I hope you and your loved ones have a lovely week.

Thank you for sharing your work with us. xx

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Helen for such a thoughtful response to my notes today. I can only imagine how special the cowslip essence must be and how wisely you may use it. Thanks always x

Claire Une fille sans histoire's avatar

Having a « sitting room » is such a nice idea ! Thanks for sharing that ☺️

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Claire - it really is the best description for a quiet room with few distractions but plenty to see and do.

Becky's avatar

Absolutely love seeing the evolution of the paintings! The cottage garden is my favourite so far x

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Becky, that's so encouraging to know. Have a good week ahead

Pam Thompson's avatar

I love your work, Cathy. It is all so original and heart felt. I identify emotionally with it very much x

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Pam and very much appreciated x

Jessica Leigh Allen's avatar

Thank you for sharing your rainbow, you could have kept that treasure all to yourself and you were generous enough to share it with us--how lovely.

Also...have you ever seen American artist Andrew Wyeth's painting "Dryad?" Your lady-in-a-tree has reminded me of the painting, in which Andrew Wyeth painted out a figure he had placed inside the hollowed out center of a pin oak which had been hit by lightning. The figure was a young woman named Senna Moore, she met Wyeth at an event during which she was a server and she posed for him as a 'nymph of the tree' in 2000--later (in 2007), he decided he didn't like the look of the figure inside the tree, so he painted her out; her faint 'ghost' appears to this day. ♡

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Jessica. I will look for Andrew Wyeth's painting - yes I somehow feel I know this story of Dryad, but then again do I? I will go and look. I love ghosts in paintings - not the white sheet variety - but the echoes of past visions, attempts and ideas. X-rays of old paintings are absolutely fascinating to me. Thank you Jessica and have a good week ahead.

Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

I always read your articles in bed on Sunday morning; it feels like the start of the day. Thanks for sharing your progress—I’ve only used watercolours and oils so it’s interesting to see how much you can invisibly layer with gouache.

What a great picture of the rainbow!💕

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Many thanks Sheila and I appreciate your thoughtful response - I hope by showing more of my process it will reveal the qualities of gouache but also inspire others to paint in their own way and choice of media.

Shelagh Wilson's avatar

At the moment I'm in Cornwall and your painting is very similar to the green lushness and abundance of foliage I see in the valleys here. Just beautifully done.

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Many thanks Shelagh, Cornwall must be especially lovely at this time of year

Hazel Conway's avatar

A lovely garden.

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you for visiting Hazel.

Gaye's avatar

I always get a very calm feeling when looking at your paintings and find the llttle sculputures intriguing. Thank you

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Gaye, I am very pleased to know. Have a good week ahead.

ALISON ROSS's avatar

Really love ''Cottage Garden'' its so lovely !

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Thank you Alison and much appreciated!

ANTONY JAMES HUGHES's avatar

Trees explode with greens at this time of year, I especially love the early morning smell of hawthorn taking my dog for walkies. Enjoy the week ahead.🌳

Cathy Cullis's avatar

Yes, you can literally watch the leaves growing! Hawthorn is a very particular scent. Thanks for your comment and have a good week.