A unique voice

Since moving to Spain and changing from Graphic Design, where you meet the needs of a client/brief, to Fine Art, where you answer your own 'brief' it's been a steep learning curve for me.
Identifying what I'm good at and also what I'm trying to achieve/say through my art is still an ongoing process. It's very hard to shake that external client/brief training!
One thing I have found is that I have to release my trained instinct to create art that I think will have wide appeal, and go with what moves me.
For the last 7 years we've been building an earthship, an eco friendly home that we're eager to move into. We're at the final stages of the build - doing the wall and floor finishes - and it's here that I think I'm beginning to find my passion. In using the natural materials, from the quartz rock that is abundant on our land, to the mud, I've found that this love of creating beauty from natural, local elements is where a part of my passion lies.
I guess it's been with me for a while I just haven't found a way to incorporate it into the more classical media of art. I still love drawing. I also love fibre crafts such as knitting and sewing. So how to incorporate all these things into one cohesive style. My one true voice that I will be happy to explore for years to come?
Well, I'm working on it as you can see from the pics below.
Over the years I've collected hundreds of bits and pieces, from rusting metal, to old wood doors, to feathers, lace, fabrics, wools, all sorts of things that are filling up my studio and other areas of my home.
Maybe this year I will finally find a way to turn all these elements (or at least some!) into pieces of art that reflect my one true voice?

The above images show collages onto agave wood using prints of my own images and other elements, both natural, such as the inside of a chumbo leaf, and manmade, such as the lace.

This image shows print experiments onto wood and fabric. Not sure how they will progress, but it's all part of the process, the not knowing!

Copper Moon Kittens

Inspired by a few other Instagram artists I had a go at using copper metallic paint. As you probably already know if you've been to my web site cats are my fav animal, so they are the main subject for this painting which has a slight fantasy edge to it.

I started with a pencil sketch which I then worked into using charcoal and pastels. Then came the fun part with the metallic paint.  Would like to loosen the style up a bit so on the next one I may use watercolour or acrylic splashes. May also focus on the cats faces to simplify the composition.

Street Art by Louis Masai Michel

I found this street artist via his Instagram account and was blown away by his beautiful work. I love the way he creates beauty which has an important environmental message behind it.

My favourites are his hummingbird and bee paintings -

Check out his web site to see more

Little feather

Found this lovely little feather ages ago and decided to do a watercolour painting of it. 

First I laid down some general washes with a Chinese brush to create the different areas of colour. Then I started to work into them with the same brush, then a 00 brush. I love doing these little still life paintings, it's very therapeutic!