Fine Art Prints - what's it all about

I recently decided I wanted to make prints of my original art available to a worldwide audience in a way that did not take up a lot of my time. This was for a couple of reasons. First I like prints, I enjoy the process of creating them and I wanted to have my work available for a wider audience to enjoy. Second I have a mailing list and the majority of people on it are not UK based. Up to this point I have only sold my original art and fine art prints locally or within the UK. I didn’t really want all the hassle of postage etc so I thought prints created in different world locations would provide a method whereby everyone on my mailing list could access my work.

And so it began …

Why is it that no matter what I consider doing as an artist there are numerous opinions on the ‘right’ way to do it. If you read all the supposed pitfalls and conflicting opinions on practically every aspect of art from the, often self proclaimed, experts and gatekeepers you would never do anything at all.

For a recovering perfectionist like myself, who wants to do it right and do it well, it is exhausting.

One thing I have come to realise is that there is no right or wrong way and there is no one way. There is just each individuals way hopefully chosen after a reasonable amount of research and the desire to deliver a high quality, affordable product to the buyer.

There were two issues I wanted to address:-

1) How do I ensure a good quality print that will last a long time.

2) What are my options for creating a print shop on my website that once set up takes a minimal amount of my time and will produce a good product for the buyer.

1 – Getting a quality print.

The first thing to understand is that there are two types of ink - dye and pigment. From what I have read it appears that pigment inks are better from an archival point of view as prints created from them can last up to 200 years in darkened conditions and 80 years in daylight. Dye based inks are not seen as archival as they will begin to fade in less than the magic 100 year cut off point they need to surpass to qualify for the “archival” label. However dye based inks have improved substantially in recent years and the Epson claria inks used in my own home printer are said to create prints that can last up to 200 years without fading if stored in an album, and 98 years left on display. Dye based inks are said to give brighter colours and are favoured by photographers.

The second thing to understand is that the paper is as important as the ink. A pigment ink on a poor quality paper displayed in sunlight will fade while a high quality dye ink on acid free archival paper kept out of direct sunlight will last longer.

If you are an artist who wants to produce archival prints of your original art then you will be drawn to the industry standard – the Giclée print. Opting for Giclée allows you to print on a wider range of papers whether you are looking for a smooth, textured or heavyweight finish, in cool or warm tones, each option gives a different feel to your image.

On their website Redcliffe Imaging write :- ‘The term "giclee" is derived from the French for "spray" and was first coined by Jack Duganne, a printmaker, to represent an inkjet-based digital print used as fine art. To qualify for the title of a "fine art giclée print" it should be made on archival quality coated paper, and printed with pigment based archival inks, which are UV stable.’

Conversely there is a very interesting article on the Marrutt website which provides some discussion around the dye versus pigment inks debate. It states that not all Giclee prints are produced with pigment inks as many of the fine art reproduction houses print with Iris inkjet printers which use dye based inks. Therefore dye inks can be high quality and archival.

So from all of this information I have concluded that both inks can give long lasting high quality prints. The pigment inks can be described as archival and will last longer. The use of archival papers and not displaying prints in direct sunlight are important factors in ensuring any type of print achieves longevity. If the archival label and a wider choice of art papers are important to you go the pigment route. If you are happy with quality long lasting prints you can choose either method and open up the choice of the brighter colours dye based inks provide.

2) What are my options for creating a print shop on my website that once set up takes a minimal amount of my time and will produce a good product for the buyer.

I will keep this part short and sweet. I wanted a system where I could integrate the shop into my own website to provide a straightforward, streamlined user experience.

The answer seemed to be a print on demand provider, who would print the customers order and deliver it directly to them. I have discovered there are a multitude of these companies the majority of whom focus on products such as mugs and t shirts with wall art as an option. To ascertain the quality of the prints I watched numerous videos and read lots of articles before narrowing my choice to a few options. I then ordered samples from three companies. These were:-

1) Gelato which is a regular print on demand company who get excellent reviews about the quality of all their products including wall art.

2) Fine Art America (also have a linked company pixels.com). They are a large company who were set up with a focus on art prints but who also give the option to print on products. So their focus seemed more suited to what I wanted.

3) D.S.Colour Labs - quality printers in the UK who offer drop shipping ie they will deliver the print direct to the buyer.

Findings

Gelato prints were fine and their system would integrate to my website. I would have to set up a method of accepting payments and deal with any customer enquiries.

D.S.Colour Labs prints were excellent but they do not integrate with my website and the process would take a lot more work from myself to manage orders.

Fine Art America prints were excellent and they provided the integration I want. They also manage all the payments and address any customer enquiries or issues with delivery. This seems like an ideal match for me, so it is my choice for now.

On the issue of print quality as discussed at the beginning of this post. I found the following information from the Fine Art America website reassuring:-

‘Fine Art America is one of the largest, most-respected Giclée printing companies in the world with over 40 years of experience producing museum-quality prints. All of our art prints are produced on state-of-the-art, professional-grade Epson printers. We use acid-free papers and canvases with archival inks to guarantee that your art prints last a lifetime without fading or loss of colour’.

It made the decision to choose them as my print partner a simple one. So I am delighted to say my print shop is now live. I would love you to have a look and let me know what you think. Visit the shop by clicking the image below.

.

What's in a name

I have made the decision to change my art name from Art by NormaSue to Norma Slack Art.

I have become increasingly uncomfortable with Art by NormaSue over recent months. It feels like the right time to move on from a name that was chosen at the start of my art journey for very particular reasons. I am now in a different place in both my art and my life and the name felt like it was binding me to the past.

Anyone who has read the free extract from my book Thunder in my Soul will know that I came to art as a way of coping with grief and the loss of my eldest brother.

Sue was a pet name my father gave me as a child. I have no idea where it came from, but its use was adopted and continued beyond childhood by that same brother. So when it came to finding a name for this art practice, which had become a light in the midst of darkness, it felt important to acknowledge the link to his memory. Art by NormaSue was born.

Initially the name didn’t matter. I was creating for myself and my own wellbeing and I only shared my art to groups I was a part of online.

As my art developed and my desire to share it grew, I added instagram and facebook to my repertoire and the name began to spread out across social media. Then came the website and an online shop selling digital prints and products. Next the book and the decision to sell my prints and products locally. That led to business cards and local newspaper articles becoming part of the story.

Somehow I had become an artist, Art by NormaSue had become more than I had ever thought it would be.

As I got out and about and met more people I found myself either explaining that my name wasn’t NormaSue it was just Norma, or letting people call me NormaSue which felt very uncomfortable. I didn’t always want to explain the reason for the name, it wasn’t always appropriate in every given situation.

This past year has been a catalyst for change. I have taken part in three group exhibitions and one solo exhibition as Norma Slack. In these venues there was no need or requirement to share or explain my online art name. It felt good.

So today I have taken the first steps back to me.

I have changed my name on all my social media channels and the name at the head of my website now reads Norma Slack Art. I am finally claiming the role of artist for myself.

The website remains normasue.com and I don’t know when or if it will change. I can live with that. It is a little nod to the past, an act of remembrance and a recognition of all that has led me to this place.

It's A Wrap

My exhibition has now ended and it has been a very positive experience. There was a great launch event on the 2nd September which was attended by lots of very nice people including some of my family and friends. It was lovely to see their reaction to the work and for them to see in person what I have been doing over the past year.

I thought it would be nice for you to get a glimpse of the art in the gallery too. You can view a short video here

The music in the video is from Bensound.com, please note there are some flickering lights in part of the video.

Spy Pond Art Space was a perfect venue to showcase the work as it is located close to my area of inspiration - Murlough Nature Reserve and Beach. Another plus point was that John, the owner, and Úna who helped out at weekends were very supportive and enthusiastic about the work.

Seven pieces of art and most of the art bowls were sold during the exhibition. Everyone who visited was so positive and complimentary about the art and they left some wonderful comments.

Some of the comments left by visitors to the exhibition

Below you can see the pieces that sold

You can view the remaining pieces here

Now it’s time for me to take a breather and give some thought to what comes next.

Bringing A Body Of Work To Completion

I have been developing my body of work A Place of Retreat since October of last year and I am now into the final few weeks of bringing it to completion.

Last time I posted I was at the varnishing and finishing stage. Since then I have decided on frames, ordered them and framed each piece. It is amazing the difference a frame can make, it is like a full stop saying this piece has reached its conclusion.

The frames have arrived.

The panoramas needed a little extra sliver of wood to raise them slightly in the frame.

All of the wood panels are in float frames and the works on paper are behind glass. I have signed the back of each artwork and attached a label with a few sentences about that piece.

A Perfect Balance looking great in its frame.

Label on the back of the artwork.

Signatures are a tricky thing, the latest advice from some within the art world is not to sign the front as it can be distracting to the viewer. In contrast a lot of artists and buyers like to see a signature on the front. To those artists it says this is an original piece of art and I am proud to have created it.

I am somewhere in between these two views. I quite like a signature on the front. I usually initial the front and sign the back in full. However, for this most recent work I have been a little torn. Some I initialled on the front as usual but others I just signed the back. For those particular pieces I found myself agreeing with the no signing on the front group; the signature was distracting. I tried signing in different places to no avail. So I made the decision to change my normal procedure. I am not one for rules where I think they don’t work. It is more important to me that each piece is finished in a way that works best for it.

The panoramas required a little extra work to frame, but we got there in the end.

I also decided to design a catalogue for this project. In it I have a short introduction to my thoughts behind the work and a summary of the outcome at the end. All of the art pieces being shown at my exhibition will also be included in the catalogue.

Printing my catalogue design in page spreads allowed me to see how the finished product would look

Screenshot of my final design prior to pushing the order button, hope it looks as good in print.

That leads me onto the final piece of this project which was my wish to exhibit the work in a venue close to my area of inspiration. I struggled for a long time to find a suitable venue and was beginning to doubt if such a place existed exactly where I wanted it. Then out of the blue a friend mentioned how they had come across an art exhibition in a gallery just off the main street in the town I wanted to exhibit in. I immediately contacted the owner and sent him the images of my work. It was as if it was meant to be. He agreed to show the work in his gallery and my first solo exhibition will take place in September.

The venue will be the gallery within Spy Pond Photo Space which is located in the town of Newcastle, on the County Down Coast in Northern Ireland. It is about 3.5 miles from my area of inspiration - ‘Murlough Nature Reserve and Beach’. It really is the perfect conclusion to this particular part of my art journey.

Flyer for exhibition - front image

Flyer for exhibition - information from reverse

I will drop back in with an update on how the exhibition went and then it will be time for new adventures.

If you have any thoughts on signatures, frames or any other art topic please comment below or send me a message via my contact page.

Why We Need Variety in Life and Art

As I approach the final stages of the body of work which I have been focusing on for the past nine months the following quote comes to mind.

“Variety's the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavour.”

― William Cowper (poet)

I am finishing off quite a few of my mixed media boards for this particular series. This means I am tidying up the sides of the panels, sanding the backs ( they can get a little messy with paint) and deciding on what protective final coats I want for each one.

I don’t take these decisions lightly. I make my choices for each piece based on how I want it to look and feel. However, even though it is not prescriptive, this stage can become a little monotonous. It’s not the fun creative stage or the exciting starting stage but it is an important stage.

For that reason I want to give it my full attention, I don’t want to rush. I want each finished piece to be the best that I can make it

Of course there are all sorts of temptations which could distract me. At times I just feel the need to create something messy, or try a new technique or have a day out in nature while the sun is shining.

That’s when I remind myself that it is better to step away and allow myself a little of the variety I crave rather than pushing for the finish line so that I can start something new.

I have learnt from some great mentors the benefits of having variety within our art but more importantly I have come to appreciate the value of variety in our lives. I believe that is what keeps the artist in us motivated and inspired to create. As people it brings us joy and reminds us how wonderful life can be and how very blessed we are to be able to do the things we love. So when I feel myself losing focus or rushing a process I know it is time for me to seek out that variety. So over the last few weeks I have been doing just that.

We decided to head off to Cork in the south of Ireland in our caravan. I managed to visit a couple of art galleries which I always enjoy. I read two books and started a third, spent lots of time on the beautiful beaches and out in nature, had picnics and soaked up the sun, which we were lucky enough to have for the entire week.

Below are some images from our week away, bottom left Youghal beach, centre Bantry House and right colourful Kinsale.

Since returning home we have taken a day trip on the train to the seaside and spent quite a bit of time enjoying our garden.

The beach at Portrush on the north coast of Ireland.

As I ease back into studio life I am allowing myself a little variety there too. The recent sunshine led to some cyanotype prints from feathers gathered on my walks. I also experimented with cyanotypes on painted papers, some were more successful than others.

You can see some examples of my cyanotypes below

I had sold out of some of my older prints which are mounted onto cradle panels and coated in resin, so I took the time to create a few more which will hopefully be added to my shop soon. I am now planning some monotype art cards which I know I will enjoy making.

Prints mounted onto cradle panels and coated in resin.

Alongside these experiments and creations I am continuing to varnish and finish the boards in my current body of work. I am re energised and fully focused on the task ahead.

So if you are feeling little bored with your routine I encourage you to add a little variety into the mix, it really is the spice of life.

A Place of Retreat

A Place of Retreat is a body of work inspired by Murlough Beach and Nature Reserve. The area is visited by thousands of people every year all of whom experience some sense of solitude and sanctuary from the ‘real world’.

I began this project in October 2022 and have visited the area on numerous occasions since then. My aim has been to get a real sense of the place and capture images and memories to inspire and in some cases be included within the work.

Below you can see an example of this and the steps taken to get to the final piece. Top left is the original image, top right is the digitally adjusted image, bottom left is the part of the image I used within my art and bottom right is the completed work.

---

A retreat can be something that is organised by groups or by an individual. It can be as simple as a walk in nature with time to think or a much longer time away from our usual routine.

Retreat comes from the latin meaning to ‘draw back’ and there are a number of definitions to be found such as :-

1. An act of moving back or withdrawing.

2. A quiet or secluded place in which one can rest and relax.

3. A period or place of seclusion for the purposes of prayer or meditation.

Overall it seems that retreats aim to provide a safe sanctuary to allow a deeper physical and emotional withdrawal from the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Through the creation of this body of work I aim to explore these themes alongside the impact of nature on emotional well-being.

I will be sharing more about the project over the coming weeks.

An image of Murlough Beach

Monotype Printing Using the Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Monotype print

It took me a while to understand the differences between a monotype and a monoprint. I think this was because the terms are often confused and used interchangeably in some online video demonstrations.

After further research I discovered:-

A monoprint forms part of a series that has some variation in each print but which also has a constant repeated element such as a drypoint or collagraph.

A monotype is a one of a kind, often painterly image, created from a flat sheet of metal, glass or plastic which has had paint or ink applied to it.

I have previously enjoyed creating handprinted monotypes using acrylic paints and a gelliplate or acrylic sheet.

Examples below.

I love the unexpected results you often get using this method rather than painting directly onto the substrate and I was keen to see what printing inks and a printing press, in the form of my sizzix, could add to the process.

To create my monotype I painted with akua inks onto a small plastic plate in an abstract manner. I then placed the plate onto the sizzix, added a few leaves and using dampened Fabriano Unica 250 gsm paper, ran it through the press. You can see a video of the process here.

I like the outcome of these first prints and am looking forward to experimenting further with this technique.

First monotype out of the press

monotype with added collage

---

secoond monotype

second monotype with added collage

Comparing it to hand printing with acrylics, the most obvious difference is the extended working time the akua inks provide.

If the inks were the only variable I was testing it would of course be fairer to use the akua with hand printing.

As the sizzix does limit the sizes I can print at I will probably try this at some point in the future. For now I am just enjoying seeing what I can achieve with the sizzix.

Collagraph Printing Using a Sizzix Big Shot Plus

I am a big fan of collage, I may take a break from it now and then but it always seems to find its way back into my art.

So collagraphy, which is basically a form of printing from a collaged plate, seemed a natural next step in my creative process.

I have been creating some handprinted collagraphs recently, inspired by ideas within Sally Tyrie’s online course - Visual Narratives - Print, Paint, Stitch hosted by Fibre Arts Take Two

Handprinted collagraphs

---

Handprinting however has its restrictions as you can’t always get an even pressure across the plate and/or your pressure may not be strong enough to get a well defined print.

I don’t have easy access to a print studio or the funds to purchase a home printing press so a perusal online showed printmakers using craft die cutting machines to print with.

A favourite seems to be the Xcut Xpress which has adjustable rollers so pressure can be changed according to how thick your printing plate is. Unfortunately it is no longer in production. If you are lucky you might pick one up on eBay or a similar site.

I had no such luck so settled for what seemed the next best option for me - the Sizzix Big Shot Plus.

Sizzix Big Shot - getting ready to print

Unfortunately it doesn’t have an adjustable roller so I have to adjust the pressure manually by adding or taking away cards or sheets of paper to increase or decrease the pressure from the roller onto the plate.

On the upside it can print papers up to 8 inches wide and any length as long as you have a suitable board that will go through the press. Handprinted in the UK do an accessory pack for the Xcut Xpress which is also suitable to use with the Sizzix.

My Sizzix has been waiting patiently to be used for a few months now. I have been busy working an a new body of work and I wanted to create some collagraphy prints as part of that, so it was the perfect opportunity to try out the Sizzix.

It was also the perfect time to dip into Sally Hirst's online course - Complete Creative Collagraphy. She gives a clear explanation on setting up the Sizzix for printmaking, as well as very helpful in depth content on collagraphy.

I used akua intaglio inks and created a number of collagraphy plates to test the whole process from beginning to end.

collagraph and drypoint plates

Akua inks

Overall it was pretty successful, It took a few runs through the press before I came to recognise the ‘correct’ pressure for the prints.

You can see a video of me making my first print from the press here

Some of my first prints from the press

I will be recording my experiences with this method of printing here on my blog. You can sign up for my newsletter at the bottom of this page if you would like to be kept notified.

Exhibiting My Work

Towards the end of 2022 I was delighted to have three of my recent art pieces accepted into the Ripe exhibition organised and held by Arts Care Northern Ireland.

ArtsCareNI are a charitable organisation who do a lot of work with groups in community and health care settings to benefit participants health and wellbeing.

It was lovely to have my work hanging alongside so many talented artists and meet some of them at the exhibition launch.

The exhibition has recently come to an end and I was very pleased to have sold one of my pieces during the show.

Celebrating 2022

I can hardly believe we are coming to the end of 2022.

The past few years have been difficult for everyone, but despite the current cost of living issues here in the UK and around the world I feel more positive and optimistic than I have done in recent years.

It has been a year of growth for me as an artist and I am really enjoying the work I am currently making. Using my photography within my mixed media pieces feels like completing the circle back to where I started with digital art. It seems I am combining all of the things that I love.

To celebrate I have created a desktop calendar featuring some of my favourite pieces from this year. It is available in my shop for a limited time. View it here

Adapting To The Season

We have had some unusually hot days this summer, which means I have slowed down a little in the studio. I have taken the time to get out and about to the mountains and sea to gather lots of inspiration and images.

I like to be out early in the day, the image below was taken around 5 am. The light at that time is quite magical.

Murlough Nature Reserve, County Down

I’m not always capturing the usual scenic images, often I am looking for things I want to use as transfers in my art, such as these branches. A good contrast is important, this allows me to separate them from the background in a photo editing app as shown below.

Recently collage and image transfers have played a larger part in my work. With transfers I can incorporate my sketches and photographs into my art which is a process I really enjoy.

I will be continuing my explorations with collage and image transfer and will keep you updated on my findings.

In Praise of Perseverance

I am often reminded of the importance of just taking the next step in whatever we are doing, even when we don’t feel like it. With events in the world being as they are it has been difficult to feel motivated or inspired in any way. The answer for me has been to look at what small things I can do to help support those going through traumatic events and then focus on living the life I am lucky enough to have. Anything less is serving no one.

To find my way back to my creativity I turned to my sketchbook, collage and a daily drawing practice.

Like many people I have always thought I couldn't draw but sketching every day for the past 93 days has improved my skills and my confidence. I started in pencil and charcoal but with some of the more recent ones, as you can see in the image above, I have added a touch of colour with inktense pencils. These are great as they become permanent and produce lovely vibrant colours when water is added.

Working in a sketchbook is a great way to experiment and try new ideas without the pressure of producing a 'finished' work of art. In the images below you can see how I began experimenting with collage in my sketchbook which then led to two completed pieces. I have been making a few reels for instagram recently, one of them shows the construction of the second collage which you can view here

Creativity has been a priority for me this month. I think that is because I primarily make art for the sense of wellbeing it brings me. This seems more important than ever in the current climate. I hope you are finding some time for the things that bring you joy.

A Gift For You

The welcome sight of little pops of bluebells bringing colour to my garden inspired me to use one of my images from last year to make some wallpaper for my phone. Then I thought why keep it all to myself, so I decided to share it here for anyone who would like it.

It’s always nice to get a little gift, so having done this once I think I will do it regularly for my newsletter subscribers. I shall be auditioning some of my art pieces to see which work best. I’m thinking abstract collage for this month, which will, hopefully, go out to subscribers next week. If that sounds like something you would like you can get my newsletter here In it I share little snippets I think other art lovers will enjoy. It could be something interesting I have read about or found on the internet, some behind the scenes information from my studio and anything new I am working on. I like to keep it short and simple and aim to send a newsletter every six to eight weeks.

On a phone, tap on the bluebells below to open the image without text, then press and hold to save it to your camera roll.

In Search Of Balance

Have you ever chosen a word of the year? The idea behind it is to have a gentle positive reminder of something you want to focus on. You can use it to help guide your choices and decisions throughout the next twelve months. In 2021 my word was acceptance and it came in pretty useful considering how much our world and lives have changed during the pandemic. For 2022, in keeping with my aim to have a little more balance in my life, I have chosen space. I love creating art and learning new skills, so much so that I can end up neglecting relaxation and pretty much everything else. So this year there will be more time for walking, for exploring new places, for  friends, for reading, for thinking and maybe even for some gardening, but I can't promise that one. To help me I am using a diary and blocking out time to include all of these things. I'm also narrowing my focus onto a couple of creative projects for the year and if I'm tempted to add anything else I will think about whether I have the space to take it on.


As part of the process of finding balance I have started a morning meditation practice using the free app Insight Timer. It has so much content that it could in fact become overwhelming and defeat its own purpose. A fellow artist recommended Sarah Blondin's meditations so I have picked a couple of those to listen to and found them excellent. I have been doing quite short ones of 5 or 10 minutes, to see how I get on with this daily practice.

On the creative side of things I have been experimenting with colour palettes and a little figurative drawing. That may be a clue to what lies ahead for me this year. I have also recently launched my newsletter which will keep subscribers updated about my studio practice. my new collections and any special offers in my shop. If that interests you, you can sign up here

Murlough Beach

Welcome 2022

A new year always feels a little exciting, a new beginning, a fresh start, another chance to do all the things we’ve been meaning to do. In these early days of January when everything seems possible it’s important to be selective so we don’t overwhelm ourselves with more than we can actually fit into our lives. If we take on too much it is likely we will fall at the first hurdle and then the temptation is to give up and retreat back to the safety of what we have always done. I don’t make new year resolutions but I do like to think about what I would like to achieve over the next 12 months. Then I decide how much time I can commit to each task and put it in my dairy; however, I also allow myself some flexibility for as we all know life can get in the way of the best laid plans. But having things written down and the times set aside definitely increases the likelihood that I will actually do it.

Time to Reflect

Over the past year I have continued my explorations with mixed media. I have been incorporating textiles and stitch into my work which has been a great adventure. I have also been further developing my work with cyanotype, developing prints on textiles and then adding mono printing, colour and stitch. As always I have been learning and developing new skills and as I move forward into the new year I am beginning to reflect on all that this past year has brought both personally and within my art practice. I will be spending some time deciding how I want to move forward into 2022, ways I can combine all that I have learnt and how that will impact on my work next year. I wish you all a peaceful and happy festive season and let us hope next year will bring further advances that allow us to regain some of what has been lost to us in recent times.

Site Update

I have spent a couple of intense days updating my site and shop with new art pieces. I have added additional information to the ‘About Me’ section to give you some insight into the new direction my art has been taking. A couple of new galleries - Animals and Abstract have been created and in addition to that five new images have been added to Eclectic and one to Words.

I am currently experimenting with cyanotype, an alternative photographic process. I am enjoying working with this and will be adding a number of these images to my site very soon. In the meantime here are two examples of my cyanotype prints.

Cyanotype:- Feathers

Cyanotype:- Fern

Reflections

The start of a new year is always a time of reflection for me. I like to step back and review the previous year and plan for the one ahead. It doesn’t have to be set in stone but I like to have some direction in my life, something I am working towards. There is still room for spontaneity and plans can change but for me some sort of structure works.

Over the last couple of months I have been working in mixed media which I have really enjoyed. I have been using some of the hand painted papers I create during this process within my digital art. This blending of digital and non digital has been very rewarding. It feels like all the techniques I have been using and developing are coming together to create my latest work. I am excited about what this year will bring.

Mixed media abstract mounted on ArtBlok and coated in resin.

Introducing ArtBlok's

I have been working on creating these over the last few months and they have been proving very popular at my recent craft fairs. They are available in two sizes and are perfect for a shelf, mantlepiece or side table.

An art print is mounted onto a wooden block and then coated in resin.

I am so pleased with the result that I have already given some of them as gifts to friends and I am planning giving some others over the festive season. Can’t say much more as I don’t want to give away any secrets as to who the recipients may be.

My handmade ArtBlok’s are only available at my craft fairs. They are very unique and make perfect gifts. My next fair is in Lisburn on 7th December in front of the Linen Centre from 12 to 5. Hope to see you there.

10 New Art Pieces

I have been so busy creating new art pieces that I haven’t had time to upload them to my website - but that is being rectified today. I have added my latest 10 images, and I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

Since my last post I have exhibited at three craft fairs. I met lovely people at each one of them and I would like to thank those who took the time to stop and have a chat and those who purchased a piece of art or a copy of my book.

Norma at St Annes Cathedral in Belfast, a magnificent setting.

My next fair is in Lisburn on 7th December in front of the Linen Centre from 12 to 5. Hope to see you there.