Helen Barrett An Artist Revealed

Hello A.R.Tees great to see you again it has been a while. We have a new artist we would love to share with all you lovely people.

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This is Helen Barrett from St Agnes another Cornish maid. Helen when we spoke to her said that she that she had always done arts and crafts as a hobby but it wasn't until she started setting up her own brand Lil Rippersz that she started to build up her confidence to create the image that she desired. Helen had had work created by other artist and designers to start with but these designs where not the vision she had and started to create her own to fulfill her dreamed brand.

Lil Rippersz was inspired by her four year old son.  This is what she said.

"He’s such an active, fun kid that I wanted to make clothes to suit that. I was fed up with the pink princess and blue hero type clothes that you get for kids and really wanted something that is unisex and parents would like to buy because they would wear it themselves. My son skateboards and has a bmx too, so we spend plenty of time down the skate park. Seeing all the kids down there gave me loads of inspiration."

Helen also tells us about other inspirations she has.

"I really love street art and my favorite place to see this is in Bristol. I love to go up there and walk around to see what art I can find. There is always something new that I find. I also love to go to south bank in London and see the artwork at the skate park there. Again, its constantly changing and is always so inspiring"

Helen uses a mixed medium format when working with original drawing starting with pencils and paper sketches which she builds up with pen. She then transfers this to her Ipad pro, using pro create which she said she had taught herself stating she isn't great with technology. So if you ever find yourself reading these blogs and think to yourself well I could never do this all it takes is a little time and passion and you also could complete your dreams and start your own company. We all start somewhere whatever journey you may be on.  Where you work alone like Helen or work In better in groups just get out there and create. Helen likes to work alone as she needs a quiet space away from her loud four year old her husband and the three dogs. If you think your life may be too chaotic  here is proof that even someone with a busy life style can still make their dreams come true, just keep at it.

Helen is also self taught coming from what she said is a very artistic family which has given her the creativity and inspiration she has needed. Starting as a hobby which grew staying home as a full time mother. She took this time away from work into and turned her hobby into a productive form of income whilst staying at home and looking after her son.




If you like Helen Barrett's work please visit her website or go to her face book page and give her a like on her social media sites to keep updated on Lil Ripperz

https://www.lilripperz.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/lilripperzapparel/

Jasmine Rebecca Foster An Artist Revealed

Hello again everyone. We hope you are well and excited to hear all about our lasted edition to An Artist Revealed with Jasmine Rebecca Foster.

Jasmine was born 21.02.85 from Carlyon Bay in the South West of Cornwall. Like always we start off with the basic questions. When asking Jasmine how she first discovered she wanted to be an artist she told us.

“One of my first memories from primary school was of colouring in alphabet letters quietly in the corner whilst my classmates fought over who was going to be in charge in the play kitchen. This may also explain why my skills in the kitchen have never really progressed. Luckily my ability to colour within the lines has! I received my first set of watercolour paints at aged eight and have been trying to master them ever since!

Not only is she very talented she has a funny side. Jasmine is not to be over looked as an artist she is inspired most when she is outdoors travelling whilst listening to music. In this transcendent space she finds she can connect with who she is and what she is trying to convey through her work.

We here from most the artist we have spoken to that whenever they are away from technology and just observe the natural world ideas and inspirations start to flow. Jasmine is no different in this respect. What makes her different is how she absorbs her surroundings. With fairy tales, fantasy, science fiction programs and films, books she is able to translate ideas and stories of her own onto paper.

We ask how Jasmine likes to work and in what format.

“I love to mix very detailed sketches with the fluidity of watercolours and ink. I think this must reflect my personality… on one hand I am very careful, measured and considered in what I do in life and the other side of me is very wishy washy and dreamy! It is a delicate balance between the two mediums and often the result is determined by which part of my brain is more dominant that day! I have recently started to work on a few acrylic pieces on canvas, and it seems such a luxury to be able to build colour and layers, when watercolour can be so unforgiving.”

Jasmine Foster also said to us team working isn’t her strong point. She needs time away from outside influences so she can stay in here little bubble to make things that from an authentic part of her.  However she has a few friends that write beautiful stories and she works with them on illustrative ideas.

Jasmine studied for her degree in one of the best Universities for Art which is of course University College Falmouth in the South west of Cornwall. She graduated in 2007 after finishing her degree in Illustration Jasmine took a part time job as an illustrator for two years before taking the leap to full time self employed artist.

“Tell us about yourself. I.e. your favourite artist, books you look at. Any magazines you are interested in or any others.”

“I love the work of artist Marc Chagall, for his beautiful colours and the romantic, dreaminess of his imagery.

Illustrator Edmund Dulac also created the most beautiful scenes in his work, I feel especially influenced by his blue, star-lit scenes right now. I love the old fairytale books illustrated by Arthur Rackham and the colourful compositions that French illustrator Rébecca Dautremer creates.

I was quite obsessed with Brian Froud and all his conceptual art for films during university and my all time favourite film is still Labyrinth! I currently subscribe to Faerie magazine, I like to read a page or two before bed because it completely removes me from the ‘real world’, which is nice :)”

Click Image to go to Jasmine's Website.

Click Image to go to Jasmine's Website.

So there you have it another talented artist revealed for you guys to have a look through her work please check out her work and visit her website. We hope the information leads you on your own journey of discovery. 

Natalie Toms an Artist Revealed

Hello everyone hope you are all having a great day.

Back with the artist reveals today we have a Natalie Toms another southwest artist just like us from our home ground Cornwall. Natalie is from St Austell was born on the 12th of January 1989 she had a lot to say when answering her questions for A.R.Tees.  Sometimes when you ask an artist when they discovered they wanted to be an artist they don’t always have a straight forward answer and who can blame them, not everyone knows.

When we asked Natalie she couldn’t really pinpoint any specific time period but she knew she had always been passionate about drawing.  We loved her first answer because after all who doesn’t love to draw their favourite cartoon or games characters. I know we did when we were kids and I bet you did too.  As she grew her art grew too. It is always interesting to us how as we develop as people our ideas and styles change with us. Natalie told us after the cartoon drawings she started drawing more realistic and detailed styled work of animals, book characters even mythical creatures.

So her inspirations what were they and what makes her tick. Here is what she said.

“I have an affinity for the relationships between nature and those living in it, as well as our curious human emotions, objects and imaginings. I find my home county of Cornwall very inspiring, and the beautiful flora and fauna that call it home.”

I am just going to say we agree with this county being an inspiration we might be somewhat bias though. It is our home land after all. If you have never been to Cornwall we recommend you take a visit at least once.

Natalie is another example how every artist you will ever meet is different from all the rest you cannot put every artist under one label and think you understand what art truly is. We asked her how she works so we could get a little bit more of an insight in what makes her art work so great.

“I tend to gather around me various reference images, including my own photographs where possible, before I begin. I start by clipping my paper (usually cold press watercolour) to a drawing board, picking up a B or 2B pencil and using the various reference images around me, I create a pose of the subject matter that I've chosen to draw. I sketch out as accurately as I can and with as much detail as I require before taking to my page with a pen. I use either a set of black Staedtler pigment fine liner or a range of Faber-Castell PITT artist pens. My style is quite pointillist, in that I build up detail and shading within my work using small dots. I am yet to create a piece of art that goes beyond an A3 page, as the level of time-consuming detail is quite immense.”

So now you know a little bit more about how she gets that lovely style to grab your eye! Here is a quick slide show of her work. ENJOY!!!

Click image for slide show.

Natalie then tells us she mostly prefers to work alone. However she enjoys discussing artwork with other artists and crafts people but she loves to hide away by her desk, put some music on and sketch until the early hours of the dawn. Something mystical about that we feel. She says it is the best way to focus no distractions or maybe that is how she makes the magic happen who knows.

Not everyone needs to go to college or art school or even university to be an artist. If you are reading this and thinking I need to do these things you don’t if you have been and done it fantastic but it isn’t how every artist gets to where they need to be.  

When asking Natalie Toms about her education or if she was self taught we had a heart warming story sometimes it can be hard in life to do all the things you need to do. She studied in art through school and then moved on to A levels at college. Natalie realised while she was in college that maybe she should have taken graphics alongside fine art but she did how ever take up graphics/ illustration as an AS level in Truro College some time later. Natalie goes on to tell us she regrets not taking graphics from the start she felt she had let herself down and didn’t achieve the grades she desired.

“I let myself down at college and didn't achieve any grade close to what I was capable of. At first, I progressed onto the Art Foundation diploma at Truro college but I didn't make it onto the Pathway Stage; when asked whether I wanted to study this course part-time over two years or leave the course and apply again next year, I chose to leave college and get a job instead. About two or three years later, I found myself wanting to prove to myself I could now complete the Foundation course. My granddad had passed away at the time and left my sister and me some money. I chose to use that money to pay for the one-year ART Foundation diploma and this time, study closer to home at St. Austell College. I succeeded in finishing my course with the highest grade possible: a Level 4: distinction. Since then I have been working harder and harder on my art to get where I am today.”

Our last question, tell us about yourself. I.e. your favourite artist, books you look at. Any magazines you are interested in or any others invokes this response.

“I find myself inspired by the works of many artists, and those who inspire my work have changed a lot over the years. I greatly admire the work of Leonardo da Vinci and the magic in the work of the artists Arthur Rackham and Alan Lee. Shaun Tan is also another remarkable illustrator. At times when I feel in need of inspiration the most, I usually head out into the woodland around Cornwall and gather natural ephemera, take photographs, and take in the views and the fresh air; upon my return to my house, I am always ready to create something new.”

Natalie works at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. This is where you can find her. She also takes on commissions and is applying to join craft fairs in Cornwall for the coming seasons but she mostly does her art work from home.

 

So there you have it another insight into another wonderful artist Natalie Toms.

If you liked her work then you can visit her facebook page.

facebook.com/natalieillustrates

For commission emails:

natalie.toms@hotmail.com

Stuart McGhee An Artist Revealed

Hello everyone

We hope you are having a fantastic day. We have another artist reveal today his name is Stuart McGhee he was born in 1976 from Greenock Scotland currently living in the southwest of England in Plymouth.

Like a lot of artist Stuart is a bit reserved when asking him questions he gets straight to the point no need to dilly-dally so let us fill you in on this wonderful cartoonist.

When we asked Mr McGhee how he first got into drawing his awesome cartoons he told us he had always been able to draw from a young age but it wasn’t until he was 30 that he realised he wanted to become an artist. So whatever age you are and you decide you want to become an artist, JUST DO IT!  Mr McGhee told us he gets his inspiration from everything around him from Television programmes, Movies to games and comic books.

We asked like the artist in other reviews what formats he works in and if he likes to work alone or in a team this is what he said.

“I have just taught myself to draw directly onto Photoshop.  Previous to that I used to work with paper and ink then scan it onto Photoshop to colour.”

“I have never really worked as a team, so I think I prefer to work alone.”

We understand it is nice to work alone sometimes. No distractions all the time you need to focus to create works of wonder like these.

Click the image for a quick slide show.

Mr McGhee runs his art business from his online site and we know that he has worked with people getting his art work into some illustrated books. Mr McGhee also sells his work at conventions he didn't tell us this in his review so we did a little digging. We hope you don’t mind Stuart but we wanted to show of how talented you are.

So was he self taught or did he study we hear you ask. Well it is a bit of both Stuart McGhee told us he could always draw and had some bad advice the first time he tried to go to art college/University so he didn't go when he finished secondary education. He fell into administration work after school and it wasn't until he was 30 that he realised that he would like to use his talent and try to make something of it. He told us he enrolled at Plymouth College of Art for three years, where he felt like they took his talents and moulded it into something useful.

Our last question to him, tell us about you. I.e. your favourite artist, books you look at. Any magazines you are interested in or any others.

“I am a cartoonist and I prefer to draw cartoons as it suites the way I work.  I have been inspired by the great artists such as Salvador Dali and Heronimous Bosch and other great cartoonists such as Matt Groening from the Simpsons fame.  I have always enjoyed comic books/graphic novels especially Marvel.”

So there you have it another artist revealed we hope you enjoyed reading please do have a look at Mr McGhee’s amazing cartoon illustrations.

Click here and take you journey to the Stuart McGhee's website.

Click here and take you journey to the Stuart McGhee's website.

 

Contact details available for commissions.

e-mail: info@stuartmcghee.com 

Or find him on facebook @ www.facebook.com/stuartmcgheeillustration

 

Truro Art Festival

Angels Recommend went on a little trip this week to check out Truro Art Festival.

Ten Days of art, culture and music events for all starting from the 27th of March to the 5th of April. Unlucky for us we could not find out much about this event online so when we turned up on April the first wondering what we was going to find.  Oh no bad luck strikes we couldn't find all that much happening on the 1st had we missed it was it over ? 

We moved down to lemon Quay where things should of been kicking off. It was like walking into a Town Market. Then we found the brochure. Typical lucked out it was Truro Farmers Market. Not much art to be found. How ever there was an empty Yut with a spine in it and a person doing yoga. Turned out there was well being day on in there so the hunt for the mystery art continued. 

There were some issues with this festival. Finding information first off was rather hard then tracking down where the art was hiding in the festival was also a little bit off putting. They had spent out money on illustrating a lovely map but didn't label it clearly. It was like a (Where is Wolly book )  Lovely illustration just no information on the map to say what building was which unless turning the book upside down and linking the right image to the number and then finding it on the map.

( we would post a picture of this map to show you but due to copyright regulations we are not aloud. ) 

I am not going to say the festival was a total bust because we were only down for one day and that day we had travelled down when we read the Truro Festival booklet there didn't seem to be much happening on the 1st of April. We just lucked out on the day.

However we did manage to find some interesting guys doing illustrations in the local library.

Thomas G. J. Shape, Jake Rowlinson and another guy that goes by the name Anger The Bees!

Thomas had said to use that it was an open project where people could sign up to draw a few pages each of an illustrated comic. We thought this was a nice Idea and a ideal way to show off the local art talent. He had also said anyone could get involved with this project and not just artist. 

I was thinking to my self it would of been a good idea if they had also done and illustrated colouring book which they then could have printed and sold at the end of the 10 day festival. 

Unfortunately they had not been funded any money to do such things as Tom explain to us. Hats off to these guys for turning up and drawing some illustrations in their free time.  

Check these guys out.  

http://angerthebees.co.uk/

jakerowlinson.blogspot.co.uk

Click image for slide show.