Sunday 29 November 2009

Here is Sometimes it Snows in April again, although the original was sold last month, there was quite a bit of interest in it at yesterday's craft fair.

Its back to the drawing board - or scraps of scribbled sketches, to do what I like best which is to make large (and hopefully impressive) paintings. I have to do two, that continue in style of Sometimes it Snows in April. Unfortunately I have only half the usual time I take to do one picture and I need to get two done as they will be going to Brussels Affordable Art Fair with New British Artists. Luckily I work well under pressure. I will work on them both simultaneously as it's always the starting that is difficult. Once you get past the staring at a large blank canvas that glares back, reflecting a vast bright white it's easier to build momentum and roll with it.

At the gym running, okay jogging- listening to music while watching 6 tv screens all at the same time - obviously. That is where my starting point came from, although random and quite by chance three weeks ago. 'Milk Mountain Monday's' came into my head as a possible title, (think it was also a Monday just like today) so I guess a mountain with a milk lake or waterfall would make a good starting point, and I will take it from there.

This is for my mum, who is always fascinated by the lumps of paint that get left behind when I paint. As you can see I'm not one for cleaning my paint pallet, paints and brushes. I like the shapes of gloopy towers of solid paint with their pure vivid colour.









Thank you very much to Sal for her support and encouragement in getting me and my work out there locally. It was great to get such a positive response and appreciation for the detail of my art work. The decorations proved popular too.

My friend Sal and me waiting for our big rush of sales.


Sally's good presentation skills dressed our stall.
Here are some photo's my decorations for the craft fair.


Dotty wooden hearts.
They look great hanging on doors, chest of draw, knobs, bed posts, curtain hooks- anywhere you like really.




Love / You hearts



Some Christmas decorations, mounted within my large carving from Thailand which has been made out of antique teak floor boards. I often use swirls of shapes from this.


Thursday 26 November 2009


My five year old daughter Daisy got her artwork onto cups and tea towels before me, I love them!

My good friend Sally told me that she was going to book us a table at a Christmas Craft Fair.
We thought that we would get some cups and tea towels made up. These are some of the designs I came up with. After a few weeks of sketching and painting I realise that although the ideas are nice, they don't say anything about my own work. I need to look more at my own paintings, to stay different as that what keeps it interesting.

And guess what we didn't get anything made up. After changing my mind too many times - Am I going to do the fair or not? What would we sell? We are now doing the Fair tomorrow! Selling paintings, signed limited edition prints and hand painted decorations.

Watch this space.......

Come and see us at Foxhills Christmas Craft Fair, 11-4pm

Trying for simplicity, although there seem to be apples and pears everywhere. After seeing a set of cups for £4 in Next, I have realised that there is no way I can compete.


I came up with this after looking at FiFi by Fiona Howard.



This is more of a doodle mix mash of flower power


Is there a little Kath Kidson in there?

I love Lisa Stickley's style, so I tried to adapt my own.


Something for a boy, I'm yet to come up with anything that works for boys
Here is a sneak preview of the 9 - 12"x12", they are yet to be named.












A painting for the Affordable art fair Battersea in October. Here is the before and after images, which make me laugh. I really like Dan Baldwin's work, he uses skulls and after noticing skulls in wall paper - Meg Mathews and scarves- Alexander McQueen I thought I could do them too. Unfortunately not! The drips even look a mess. After comments of , 'That has got to be the worst picture you have done,' and 'Is that for Halloween?' I think I need to stick with the bright quirky and fun! I kept the spray paint in.


Emma Hill, Itchycoo Love, Bird Dance: 30"x30"

I am continuing to develop my style, which still has the dots, (which I somehow don't seem to escape from) The abstract has been left behind for something more illustrative, naive and fun . I have found a quirky girl with a red dress who visits Itchycoo Park, where she visits an imaginary world of whimsy, colour and make believe. There is something for everyone, in a place beyond Alice's Wonderland.

At the moment the pictures are random snapshots of magical places and animal friends. One day I hope there will be a story that will link them together.

I am very pleased that they (she) proved popular on the New British Artists stand at The Affordable Art Fair in Battersea. Almost selling out, I have now just completed a new set of 9 that will be going to The Brussels Affordable Art Fair, also with New British Artists.


Emma Hill, Itchycoo Twilight Pony : 12"x12"

Emma Hill, Itchycoo Lion: 12"x12"


Emma Hill, Itchycoo Tiger: 12' x 12"



Emma Hill, Itchycoo Park: 12" x 12"
This is my first quirky girl in red.

I am continuing to develop my style, which still has the dots, (which I somehow don't seem to escape from) The abstract has been left behind for something more illustrative, naive and fun . I have found a quirky girl with a red dress who visits Itchycoo Park, where she visits an imaginary world of whimsy, colour and make believe. There is something for everyone, in a place beyond Alice's Wonderland.

At the moment the pictures are random snapshots of magical places and animal friends. One day I hope there will be a story that will link them together.
Emma Hill, Sometimes it Snows in April, 40"x30"
This is my favourite painting that I have done to date. Hopefully not for long as I have been asked to do another two similar.

So a bit what has happened with my art in the year in between then and now?

Itchycoo Park.




Emma Hill, Firecracker Jellies: 12"x12"
Trying a new colour pallet

Emma Hill, Jelly Sunrise : 16"x16"
More space!
Emma Hill, Meadow fine, Meadow bright: 16"x16"
As you can see the final image has been toned down.

The start of Meadow fine, Meadow bright. As you can see all crammed in again!


2nd Doodle - learning to free some space


1st doodle, which looks over the top with everything crammed in.

An attempt to move away from the abstract moving towards the illustrative.


Emma Hill, "Lucid Moonlight, Liquid Sun" 1m x 1m
This is my the first painting I did that made me realise that I had a direction to go somewhere with my painting.


Emma Hill, "Pink Sock Soda Pop" 1m x 1m
This is the second, which was inspired by a Paul Smith Ad that has a pink sock on a rug that has stripes on the side. It also looks like Mickey Mouse is visiting although this is purely by accident.



Emma Hill, "Trailer Park Eden" 1m x 1m
One of my favourites with a hint of a landscape behind



Emma Hill, "Falling Leaf Caresses" 1m x 70cm
This one is inspired by - dare I say it an Ikea rug!


Emma Hill, "Sticky Sublime" 1m x 70cm


Emma Hill, "Helterskelter Hurricane" 2m x 2m
Moving along the lines of noise


Emma Hill, "Subtropical Storm Chaser" 2.5m x1m
Chasing the sea into the eye of the storm

I started a blog a year ago, and didn't get very far. I am hoping maybe this time I will keep up with it! Above are some examples of my previous works.