Hello 2026

Wishing you a happy and healthy new year with good vibes, peace and more sunshine. I am feeling very positive about 2026. I can't believe how far I have moved forward since my last studio news with big changes in my creative process and a series of work in the offing. I have to thank Sally-Anne Ashley for pushing me forward in a very gentle way via her course Creative Shift and her wonderful membership group "The Arthouse" where I am a guide. It is such creative place with a wealth of guided sessions alongside like minded artists. You can pop in and out of the virtual cafe for a quick chat or settle down to some quiet creativity of your own. Arthouse is now one year old and membership has reopened, if you join now you get a free month to find out if you like it. The link HERE does ask for your credit card details but payments will not be taken until you have had a chance to look around and you can cancel at any time.

Above is just some of my new work resulting from over 200 experiments with high flow acrylic paint to get the effect of watercolour without the need to frame it behind glass. My pot people each have characters of their own, some are partying, others chatting, waiting or maybe gazing into the distance. What stories can you see in these paintings? The bespoke frames are made by Paul @trescollstudio an artisan framer from Cornwall. he little blocks are 20cms square and 10cms deep so they can be hung on the wall or just arranged or stacked on a shelf. They will all be available for sale at my open studio in June along with similar work that is still in progress.

I am currently working through a Fibre Arts Take Two course with Donna Watson called The Way of Wabi Sabi Collage. Learning about the Japanese culture and adapting it to my practise has been interesting and challenging. My hope is that it will help me to simplify my work, I can so easily get cluttered. The philosphy is all about calm which is something I want to bring to my paintings. This collage is based on a design element called the bridge, I took it rather literally but am pleased with it.

This is one of 40 collages in a sketch book that will be on view in my studio during Art in June. Mary McCarten is joining me again with her beautiful glass and I am excited to welcome Samantha Nixon this year, a ceramicist from Edenbridge. Sam's colourful mugs, jugs and pots will be for sale at Longmeadow Studio and if you fancy having a go at some pottery look at her website www.handsonclay.co.uk for details of classes and taster sessions. More details on the open studios event will follow nearer the time.

February can feel like a very long month despite being the shortest but at least the days are getting longer. The clematis are in bud and the snowdrops up, I can see the signs of growth in my recently planted Amalanchier and Rowan trees. It won't be long before spring is in full flow and then I can return to some ecoprinting for a new project that has been brewing over the winter. Here are some little ink drawings to brighten up your day. They are in silver gilt frames and available now at £65 each. If you are interested you can always visit me by appointment for a look around my studio and garden. I shall also be a featured artist on the Visit Westerham FB page sometime in March so keep an eye out for that.

Hope to see you when the sun is shining.

Best Wishes JaneS.