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Introducing colour

Hello

The online shop is on track for being updated in a few days time, the print above is included. I’ve been busy painting in ink and found a really good industrial grey paper which is part recycled part cotton which takes the ink really well.  These will be available to buy next month. I’ll post a few on instragram @obikodesign for you to take a look and see what you think.

I showed some of my new work to a friend and she mentioned she would like to see more colour in my work. Over the years I have used colour, but at the moment it seems monochrome has been my go to and has been for sometime. However I do like to change things up, so I’ll have a little colour dabble soon. I may even go for some bright hues. Let me know if you prefer to see a little more colour in my work.

It’s a scorcher of a day in Hastings and I’ve started to design Christmas cards, sometimes that’s just the way it is, funnily enough I feel cooler for doing so. I’ll be selling them in packs of 6 like the greeting cards, if there are any retailers reading this and would be interested in seeing the new designs, please send me an email.

July has seen much confusion over the relaxing of Covid rules. No one is really sure what they are or what to do about them. Government changes are frequent on mask wearing, travel and much more. School holidays have started and you can feel the unease of some people in public areas. I’m hoping we can get through the summer relatively unscathed. A little rant, but I do feel we are being led to think everything will be okay.

To finish on more of a positive note, let’s not forget the good news, on Sunday 11th July England made it to the European football final playing Italy and as many of you know lost the game on penalties. It was exciting and tense to watch, they played with such skill and dignity and as a football player myself, I can’t wait to watch more of this talented team play in the World Cup next year.

Until August keep well

 

 

Summertime

Summer is officially here, the garden is in full bloom, but the good weather seems to be lagging and the sea swims have been few. However, it’s been great seeing Hastings beginning to have a buzz about it again. July 19th should see the last of England’s Covid rules lifted, but I’m not exactly sure what that entails yet.

This month I’ve been working on a few new paintings and the creative thoughts have kept on flowing with many sketchbooks full to the brim.  I’m currently waiting on the greeting cards to arrive from the printers, I will then add these popular packs to the website along with the new artwork. I’ve just started to work on some postcard size canvas boards which I’m really enjoying, a textured surface makes me think more about what medium I’m going to use. I’ve also bought a metre of unprimed raw canvas, I’m not sure what I’m going to do with this yet, but just looking at this beautiful heavy fabric keeps me happy.

The top photo is of my studio desk, it looks out onto a beautiful silver birch tree where I watch it change throughout the seasons. I love this space and often have my breakfast here. I’ve also turned it into a disco, when I say this I mean I’ve cleared some boxes away so when the mood takes me I can dance to my updated tunes, very helpful when I feel in a bit of a slump.

I hope the month has been kind to you, until July keep well.