Tessa Spanton SWA Artist, tutor, writer



TESSA SPANTON SWA ARTIST, WRITER AND TUTOR

Welcome to my blog.
This is where I write about some of the things that inspire my work,
news of exhibitions and works in progress

Thursday 30 August 2012

florum 2012



Orchid cattalya (c) Tessa Spanton

I am delighted to have seven silk paintings at this years florum exhibition.
Five of them are of orchids and two are of roses. the image above is one of the ones chosen to go on the poster advertising the exhibition. It is one of a pair, they are both hybrids that I saw in Maderia. Another is a lady's slipper orchid that I brought back from Madeira. The florist called it sapotilha which is Portuguese for slipper or ballet shoe. The Latin name is Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum which means hairy or furry slipper.
Details of the exhibition are below and there is more information on the website here
The exhibition this year is paying tribute to Elizabeth Smail who died earlier this year. She was the founder and inspiration behind florum. click here

florum
"beautiful plants by skilful artists"

8th - 15th SEPTEMBER
10.00 - 5.00 daily 

SEVENOAKS WILDLIFE RESERVE
Bradbourne Vale Road Sevenoaks TN13 3DH
The Reserve is off the main A25 and is well signposted.
Follow the track past the Riding Stables and bear left when it divides.
Continue as far as the Wildlife Centre where there is ample free parking.
 

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Poppies with Tissue Paper, Leisure Painter Magazine

I am writing a series of articles with step by step demonstrations for Leisure Painter magazine.
The first one is in the September issue which comes out on August 17th.

The series is called Watercolour Plus. In the first one I have show some ideas to do for techniques that can be combined with watercolour. The other image below shows a poppy done for the step by step demo and combines a number of techniques including the use of tissue paper for the lovely delicate creased petals of an oriental poppy.

 I may have prints or cards of this image for sale in my etsy and folksy shops. If you are interested you could contact me via either shop (see sidebar on right)

Watch this space to see what I have planned to do with Polyfilla in the following issue.




above image (c) used with permission of the editor Ingrid Lyon

                                                   
                    Oriental Poppy c) Tessa Spanton