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I have challenged myself this year to complete 25 prints and 50 mini paintings. For every print I do I am also painting two mini companion paintings in acrylic. I am interested to see whether the prints start to affect the paintings or the paintings start to influence the prints.

Newest at the top - it will read better if you start at the bottom (I didn't really think that through...)

9th August 2019:Blue Field Tracks

This was a slightly intimidating linocut to attempt as it has a lot of repetitive detail. I am very happy with how it has turned out. I'm not so happy with the paintings... I have at least two more prints I want to try. 

12th July 2019: Mini Lily Pond

This mini print was a demonstration piece for Handmade Oxford.

23rd June 2019: Mini Grasses and Parsley

This is another mini print demo piece from Bucks Art Weeks which I might not include in my 25 prints. I will see how I get on throughout the year...

19th June - 2nd July 2019: Sunset Ripples

Another mini print demo piece. This is based on my larger print Golden Sunset, Brackley Lake. I used the print as reference rather than the original photo which has made the mini print quite abstract. The mini print was then used as reference for the paintings which has made them even more abstract, also less well observed perhaps... Even so, I quite like this approach as a route towards abstraction.

8th - 16th June 2019: Windswept Clock

Instead of working on the print inspired by Fountain Ripples I started this piece as a demonstration at Claydon Gallery for Bucks Art Weeks and finished at the Green Dragon Eco Farm. I don't really want to include this piece in my challenge as I don't fancy painting dandelion clocks and also it doesn't really fit with my current body of work that well, but at this stage, I don't know that I will get all 25 prints complete in the year, so I will declare it for now! Paintings to follow - maybe.

4th - 16th June: Fountain Ripples inspired piece

Oxfordshire Artweeks and Bucks Art Weeks always take their toll on the creating and my challenge has got a bit out of sync. I decided to work on this piece inspired by Fountain Ripples from 2017 so completed the paintings for it, but then didn't get chance to start the print. Print to follow soon hopefully!
**Update** I completed the print for Lilies and Ripples on the 26th July and I'm very pleased with it. 

21th May 2019: Pinkbells

Another Evenley Wood inspired piece. And yes they really do have pink bluebells there. I completed this one during Oxfordshire Artweeks. I think these pieces demonstrate more than any others so far that my printing inks and my acrylic paint are quite different pigments. Also it is worth noting that I am completing the paintings away from my studio in different lighting which is affecting my colour mixes. Perhaps my photographs were taken in bad light too...

9th May 2019: Batsford Blossom and Batsford Blossom in Shade

These two prints seem to take me forever. They came with me as demonstration pieces to Court Barn, The Bucks Craft Guild and Bicester Village... Very happy with them though. I consider them a loose pair as they are of the same tree. Quite happy with the paintings too, particularly the second pair.

6th May 2019 I have fallen a little behind with my challenge I think... though I have two super (very nearly finished) prints and 4 mini paintings to share with you very soon! Watch this space...

3rd April 2019: Bluebell Path

This is a mini print, I seem to complete one of these every year! Actually happier with the paintings than the print to be honest!

19th March 2019: Woodland Snow

Inspired by Evenley Wood. I am really pleased with the light effect in the linocut and happy with how the paintings turned out too.

I am currently busy preparing my studio to welcome my Artweeks visitors. I'll be available every day between the 18th and the 27th May from 11am - 6pm. I hope you get chance to visit!

You can see more information about my Artweeks entry here. 

Also Bicester has an Art Trail this year and lots of venues participating so I'm looking forward to a great event. In particular don't miss the group exhibition at OYAP in Bicester, now home to BIcester Sculpture Group and lots of other participating artists including my Art Pals group :)