The Christmas Card design for this year

The Christmas card design for this year - digital image from mixed media sources
Vivien Blackburn


You can't see it very well here - but that is a star shining through the trees.

I decided I'd better get a move on with the Christmas cards as I've hardly even thought about Christmas yet apart from a few presents bought online ....... and a few things bought for me while I was searching! oooops - I was supposed to be searching for presents for others

I'm still doing horribly long hours - yesterday involved leaving home at 7.30am and getting home at 10pm - teaching morning, afternoon and evening. :( and I'd rather be painting.

Do you make your own cards? for everyone? just for family and close friends? originals or prints of your own designs/work?

Comments

Shirley Anne Sherris said…
Hi
The card design is beautiful and lucky those who receive them.
I don't send my own work or even prints of it as I can't bear the thought of it being discarded afterwards as most would not appreciate what they are receiving all except my brother-in-law who does so he sometimes receives originals just for him.
Cheers
Shirley
2:46 pm
sharon young said…
Hi Vivien
Your work schedule sounds horrendous, how do you ever get time for 'play'?
Your xmas card is lovely, a very different approach, I must admit I haven't started properly on this year's card, but must do it this weekend or it'll be too late ....Again!
10:03 pm
Lindsay said…
Hope your schedule eases up soon. Sounds monstrous!
The card is beautiful.
12:42 pm
vivien said…
thanks Shirley, Sharon and Lindsay

I agree about being upset about original work being discarded! I only send originals to those I know will appreciate them.

I got collared to work this afternoon to cover an class instead of coming home :( but I am off until Tuesday now :) - big smile!
6:51 pm
Catnapping said…
stunning!
9:28 pm
kate said…
Your card is lovely - the colours are wonderful.

I'm glad you have a few days grace from teaching to do your own painting!
3:39 am
vivien said…
thanks Catnapping and Kate :)

your cards are gorgeous
3:30 pm
Suzanne McDermott said…
Look at those blues! Maxfield Parrish swoons. Lovely.
3:18 am
dinahmow said…
I'm afraid I fall into the rather snobbish category of not sending "good" cards to people I know will simply bin them. But if I don't do my own I buy charity cards.And for the
"chuck 'em out" people, I send half price cheapies and give the balance to a charity.
3:40 am
vivien said…
thanks Suzanne :D

and Dinah I don't think that sounds snobbish! pearls before swine??? a waste !!! :D
1:56 pm
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hedges silhouetted agains the snow, winter light: watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal pencils in Stillmand and Birn Beta Hardback sketchbook

Image
 Detail  I have always liked the calligraphic tangle of the hedges when they are sihouetted against the sky.   Recent snowfall meant even more opportunities with amazing light and the landscape simplified and hidden by the snow, throwing hedges into relief. Above is a detail of a double page sketch in the lovely Stillman and Birn Beta A4 hardback sketchbook.  This paper is so forgiving and the watercolour works beautifully with it.  It allowed me to work through wet washes with charcoal pencil - something that tears many papers, leaving holes.  Some of the hedge is paint, some tinted charcoal. First snow, more on the way, winter light: silhouetted hedges in watercolour and Derwent tinted charcoal in a Stillman and Birn A4 beta hardback sketchbook The earlier warm golden glow of the low sun is covered by clouds, threatening more snow to come.   The spiky calligraphic marks of the hedge and the underlying form of the bank, w...
Read more

The Eye, Urban/Rural exhibition

Image
Vivien Blackburn's work in the Urban/Rural show We've just hung a group show at the The Eye Project, Urban/Rural show.  If you want to come and see it it's on for a month - well worth seeing, 11 lovely artists and some fabulous work. Those large canvasses are 40 inches square. There are rural landscapes, flowerscapes, intriguing textile work including a large knitted building, abstracts .... something for everyone. It's in the gallery below the cafe in the Adult Education Centre at the top of Wellington street, Leicester, opposite Fenwicks.  Meet the Arttists day is Saturday 1st April 10-2.  Come and have a chat with us?
Read more

looking at non traditional composition and quiet vs busy areas in paintings

Image
Paul Klee I thought I'd look at non-traditional composition - where the rule of thirds isn't the key but the painting relies on different compositional methods. in response to an excellent series of posts on the various ways of looking at composition by Katherine (link at end). These alternative considerations or breaking of rules - but making it work - appeal to me more than too heavy a reliance on the rule of thirds. The painting above, by Paul Klee is a 'field' painting' - the composition is overall, the eye travels around enjoying the glowing colour that he creates by juxtaposing complementary colours, subtle greyed greens enhancing the oranges/reds/pinks. Most of the image is composed of the various greens, greeny browns and khakis, with accents of the warm colours. When working this way it's important that the balance is unequal and that the accent colours are placed carefully to keep the eye moving in the way the artist wants. A couple of the brighter...
Read more