Self-portrait in progress

May 1, 2013July 7, 2013 | Anna Cull

Anna Cull Work in progress

Here is a little something I’ve been experimenting with as a way of making use of an old (vintage 1970s), much loved and sadly threadbare tea towel.

Work in progress #1 – using gel medium as a glue, I covered a piece of artboard with the teatowel to make a linen canvas — Work in progress #1 – using gel medium as a glue, I made a linen canvas by covering an artboard with the tea towel (I have enough fabric left over to make another canvas)

Work in progress #2 – I began painting with acrylics thinned with polymer medium and used a photo of myself as a child for reference — Work in progress #2 – I began painting with acrylics thinned with polymer medium and used an old photo of myself as a reference

Work in progress#3 – I continued to build up the layers with thicker, more opaque acrylics to unify the different elements — Work in progress #3 – I continued to build up the layers with thicker, more opaque acrylics to unify the different elements

I’ll post the finished painting tomorrow.

Bagirl photo shoot

April 24, 2013July 7, 2013 | Anna Cull

Meet Sandra Fleck a.k.a. bagirl, maker of bags (and other things). I wrote a post last year about designing Sandra’s logo, business cards and product tags and have finally persuaded her to start a WordPress blog. I only had about an hour and a half for the photo shoot ― and believe me, that’s not very long ― but we still managed to get some good shots. We must remember to put the tags on the bags next time!

Here’s a sneaky preview of what Sandra will be posting over the coming weeks. She has a real flair for thinking outside the box. To find out more and to read the stories behind the bags, visit my bagirl world.

Sandra Fleck bags — © Sandra Fleck, 2013

Jacobean style

July 16, 2012June 24, 2020 | Anna Cull

Sandra’s logo and floral design — I must admit, I was having so much fun designing it that the project kind of got away on me. The brief was to design a product tag (and logo) that Sandra could attach to the bags she makes (and having designed the tag, it seemed a shame not to design a business card too). I gave Sandra a choice of bordeaux red or olive green… and green was the winner on the day.

Sandra’s Jacobean pattern – watercolour on paper, 190 x 270 mm, 2012.

Sandra requested a Jacobean-style pattern and this is what I came up with. It took quite a bit of experimentation with my watercolour paints to make the texture look embroidered. I’ve never used watercolour without pen and ink before (strange though that may sound) and I really enjoyed the challenge. We’re both very happy with the results.

Update: you can now visit Sandra’s blog at my bagirl world.

More from a book without boundaries

May 16, 2012September 15, 2013 | Anna Cull

A few more pages from my experimental “I Dream Of…” book.

Book without boundaries, selected pages – mixed media, 2010.

The van and the hummingbird are prints made by drawing on perspex with watercolour crayon. The images were then transferred to damp paper. The patterned backgrounds used throughout the book are scanned fabrics (scarves, dresses, shirts) which have been laser printed and transferred to paper using acetone. The photo squares of yours truly are acetone prints with watercolour washes.

As I said in my previous post, it’s far from perfect but it is exactly what I set out to make.

Book without boundaries

May 15, 2012September 15, 2013 | Anna Cull

A lifetime ago, in 2010, I made a little book for the Design & Arts College Foundation course. The brief was to create a book — any kind of book, any topic, any size or shape.

I decided to put together something personal and explore some of the things I dream of…

Book without boundaries, selected pages – mixed media, 2010.

I really went to town experimenting with ink, watercolour, ephemera, scanned fabrics and printing techniques. It isn’t polished, it’s far from perfect and it is exactly what I set out to make.

Note: you can see more from my book without boundaries here.