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

Tuesday 2 December 2014

A Round the World Blog Hop


My latest work  Hand painted Silk Scarf Poppies steam fixed in the microwave and for sale on etsy here

Cath Stonard whose blog is stitchclothcolour invited me to follow on from her post.
http://stitchclothcolour.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/around-world-blog-post.html

It must be about 30 years ago that I met Cath. I was in awe of her watercolours and book illustrations. Years later we met up again at The Corner Gallery in Carshalton Beeches where we both show our work. Cath had moved on to working with textiles, quilting, embroidering, embellishing with the same creative energy and flair as I saw in her watercolours. I have just bought 2 of her works from the Corner Gallery.
We both started blogging at around the same time so I keep in touch with what she's making there and now through our Facebook pages too. As you will see if you hop on over to her blog she's full of new ideas and now working more in the direction of mixed media.

I have loved drawing and painting from an early age. I remember drawing on the wall paper behind the door when I was about 4 and then hoping my parents wouldn't notice, they did. From my teenage years I rummaged through the markets in the Midlands for dressmaking projects and have been a bit of a farbricaholic ever since. For years I have painted watercolours and then took up silk painting. It combines my love of painting and working with textiles.
Yesterday I painted 3 new silk scarves. One of them I sold online via my shop on  etsy, one of them is in the Corner Gallery and the other is shown at the top of this post.
I am also experimenting with marbling techniques on silk.


Much of the time I am dreaming up new ideas or collecting new art materials or techniques. I work on things in bursts and like to have a few juggling balls in the air, juggling between painting, writing and teaching watercolour and silk painting. When the classes are on holiday I might focus on creating a group of paintings for an exhibition and also have more time to go out collecting reference by looking, sketching, painting or taking photos.

This brings me on to the  bloggers that I would like to nominate, do hop on over to have a look at their blogs

I first met Helen when I went to her for lampwork lessons. I was fascinated by the process, admired her gorgeous beads and made some of my own which I wrote about here 
Her crafting began with tiara making and she now quilts, paper crafts and teaches these skills so do hop on over to her blog to find out more.

The next blogger to introduce is Stephanie Guy http://www.stephanieguy.co.uk/

I met Stephie online through Folksy, where we both have shops. Stephie paints and over the 2 or 3 years I have known her the paintings have got smaller and smaller. She is currently writing a series of articles for a magazine about how to paint little paintings for dolls' houses. Stephie's post will be in January.

I would also like to include Andrea Neidle whose blog is called My Life in Poems https://andreaneidle.wordpress.com/2014/11/24/my-favourite-blogs/

I met Andrea  on holiday a few years ago and we exchanged blog addresses. Her poems gently gather up into words some of the times in her life, sometimes celebratory, poignant or moving that resonate with some of the times in my life.
You may have heard her reading her poems on the radio.
Andrea nominated my blog for the Leibster Award.

7 comments:

Stephanie Guy Fine Art said...

A really interesting post Tessa, thanks! You reminded me that I too began my artistic career very early (aged 3) with a crayon on the wallpaper of my parents' house :D I also recall having a Donald Duck stamper confiscated when I was around 5 - my parents were less than impressed with my stampwork on the walls, window sills etc!

It was your silk paintings that inspired me to have a go at silk painting - pure joy! Sadly I haven't had chance to get my silk paints out at all this year...will have to remedy that very soon.

I've diarised my blog post for January so that I don't forget :)

Unknown said...

Wow Tessa, a very interesting post, and I'm looking forward to reading the blogs you have nominated. Thanks so much too for buying some of my work, I'm intrigued to know which pieces! I hope you get lots of new followers after this 'Around the world blog hop'

baahar said...

The blog with the tiny paintings is lovely :) Thanks for sharing!

Colours and Textures said...

Thanks for your comments.
Cath I bought 2 little postcard sized works with butterflies (moths?)
Stephie I hope you do get chance to get the silk paints out again. I am just picturing you with armed with a crayon and Donald Duck stamper :D wish I'd had a Donald Duck stamper!

Julia K Walton - Fire Horse Textiles said...

Nice to find out more about you and your work - beautiful scarf!

Stephanie Guy Fine Art said...

I am SHAMEFULLY late with continuing this blog hop, I'm so sorry! Am I correct in that I need to write a post and introduce 3 more bloggers?

Colours and Textures said...

2 or 3 bloggers would be fine, thanks.