Studio Notes no. 216
artist books, drawing, poetry & more
Hello Everyone, I hope you are well. It’s been a busy week, working through a disorientating heatwave. I am glad it is cooler and the temperatures will be more like ‘normal’ for a while.
Here’s a video of a small book I have just completed it. This is titled Landscapes: May 2026 - and is, as the title suggests, a book completed during this month, exploring ideas on what landscape might mean, in paint, collage, paper. I hope you enjoy this quick look-through.
I am sorry I rushed the first page and covered it with my fingers! So here’s a better look.
Yes, I will hope to make this into a monthly series - with a new book for June. And wouldn’t it be good to have a whole year of landscape books? We shall see… These are books I am making for myself, as reference to look back on. More considered than a random sketchbook, yet still very much ideas in flux.
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My work take can often become quietly chaotic as I work on several projects at a time, but I often find this way of working is fruitful, with one element working here and then this bit transferred to there, the shape of this working for that, and so on…..
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POSTCARD books
Over the years I have loved making small books using vintage postcards. I make them on and off, and have completed one recently for my own collection.
But I am now starting on a small series to offer for sale.
Here is a book I am working on at the moment. It is inspired by Blake’s ‘Songs of Innocence’ - or that is at least my starting point. I may not give it that borrowed title, I have yet to decide.
Here I have used a mix of elements including painted figures cut out as ‘paper dolls’, alongside monoprint figures on book paper, painted fabric and scrap paper.
I hope to have this book finished for my next shop update
SHOP NEWS
My next update will be this coming Wednesday at 7pm UK time - with preview from 4pm. I hope to have a mix of new artworks including tiny paintings, at least one book page artwork and more. I am continuing to offer free postage within the UK. Postage to elsewhere is kept as low as possible. There is a link to my shop at the end of these notes.
Last Wednesday I quietly launched my new lucky dip - I purposely only made mention of this in my Instagram stories beforehand, just to give this one a gentle start, and then added to my shop. I was not sure how many people might be interested, or might see it - but have been very happily surprised to receive a good number of orders. Many, many thanks.
So now I will tell you about this lucky dip here. I like to offer my artwork at modest prices and offering a lucky dip allows me the freedom to do just that. This new lucky dip is for a small drawing, one you might enjoy all by itself, or you could start a collection… The lucky dip is available now.
here is the info as seen in my shop:
A new lucky dip series!
You will receive ONE tiny drawing per order -
an original monochrome pencil work on cream artist paper
measuring approximately 8.5cm x 7.5cm
signed on front
how it works: I have a small tin of drawings and will be adding to the tin. Once the drawing is complete I package and wrap in tissue. When someone orders a drawing I then pick one from the tin not knowing which one it is!
the subject matter will vary, but all will be inspired by my interest in historical folk art, embroidery and antique illustration. The drawings are made intuitively, with a strong love of nature.
please allow me 7-10 days to have your order ready to send - I will always aim to send asap
the drawings shown here are examples only - I do not accept special requests
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Beyond the sketchbook - sculpture
Yes, I am continuing on with my ‘something’ sculpture pieces. Thinking about shape, evoking memories, hints, relics, colours, wear and tear and time….
I have had interesting discussions about these pieces with my daughter, we finds them intriguing enough to puzzle over with me.
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Poetry zine news - or, I might say: zine woes.
I mentioned a few weeks ago I was having printer issues. I like to print zines myself, to keep the cost low and to be in control of exactly how many are printed etc… But my printer is having issues with its paper feed mechanism, which means I have to fiddle about with every page being printed. Very time consuming and precarious. I am not going to buy a new printer. It’s just not viable for me to do the printing right now, and looking at this in a pragmatic way, I am putting the project on hold.
But this does not mean I can’t share the poems with you. It was never about producing a zine to make money - as they never do. It was about having the poems in your hands. But I’d rather share them here and so over the next several weeks I’ll do just that.
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New Writing
Three poems from my sequence ‘something & something else’. The sequence of poems is like a notebook of creative living and working, observations, walks around the churchyard. At the time of writing I was also dipping into reading metaphysical poets such as John Donne.
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Grief
Thomas Carew wrote:
griefe is a puddle, and reflects not cleare
and I think of this emptying
a small jar of painty water.
All that is gone and gone.
The paint, eaten.
Misstepped. Lovely gloom. **
Foxes
Foxes remain elusive,
or is it just that they aren’t to be seen?
They have scribbled and barked
their way from the picture,
red kings and queens,
forgetful of appearing
for our curiosity.
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Angry
The angry water is making
all wrong, unevenly hilarious.
I must stop but giddy motion
of flowers might still
be all and moon-like,
a recipe for bright haire and bone.
Yes, little reliques in
the afternoon, thank you,
John Donne for your
guardian angels trampling
their gold all over my pictures,
sketchbooks keeping miracles.
Incidentally, let’s put the kettle on
before it’s really too late.
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Crow jug with roses - a gouache painting in brown paper (sold) - this is another in an ongoing series. I’m painting a similar jug each time, with a slightly different crow and ever changing flowers. What flower will be next? More roses? We shall see….
Poetry Salon
I mentioned a while ago interest in hosting some kind of poetry workshop event. Then the idea for a poetry salon came to me, and as I explained to my paid subscribers a few weeks ago - the idea just clicked and felt right.
Rather than teaching, I would like to host open and informal discussions about writing and reading poetry. Why do we write, who do we write for, ways into poetry etc… I’ll be hosting these salons as monthly emails on the first Saturday of each month. An email will go out to all subscribers on this day and you are welcome to join in with discussions via the comments section. If you are a poet, interested in writing, or learning more about ways into reading - I hope you may find the poetry salons a good place to spend some time….
I look forward to sending the first email next Saturday!
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Many thanks for reading here and for your kind support. Please feel free to leave a comment here. I always look forward to hearing from you.
Ohhhhh! What a most beautiful post Cathy. Your small landscapes book is a total delight, and what a lovely project for every month.
So sorry to hear about your printer issues, and thank you so much for so generously sharing your poems here...I enjoyed all three. If pushed, it would be difficult to choose a favourite, but Foxes....by a whisker!
The yellow roses are incredibly beautiful, and Crow looks rightfully proud to have them in his vessel.
Poetry Salon is a great name....sooo much more poetic than workshop. I am looking forward to the monthly emails. I might even find myself joining in!
Thank you for sharing Cathy. I hope you and your loved ones have a lovely week.
Happy Full M○○N
xx
Cathy, I've been following your work and getting your newsletters for a good while now, and I just need to tell you how much you inspire my creativity. I love your folksy style and always look forward to seeing your weekly paintings and drawings! You shared sooooo many great ideas in this post/newsletter and I just wanted to say thank you for that. Our creative community is so encouraging and generous, and you're a wonderful example. Much love to you!