So chuffed!! The Natural History Museum, in London are dedicating a Spotlight page to my work!!

The world's best museum has recognised my work by dedicating a Spotlight Page to it on their website, as well as selling my images on their Picture Library service. For me, the pinnacle of my world of natural history lies in the famous London Natural History Museum. I am so pleased that they like my work enough to give me my own space on their fantastic website. Click on the link for details...    http://piclib.nhm.ac.uk/cath-hodsman.asp

"White tailed Bumble Bee and Papaver orientalis". One of my watercolour studies that they have chosen for the Spotlight Page.





Art Courses for 2014

Me and lovely participants at a course I ran this Summer at Stratford Museum in the Park.


I am now well ahead of organising painting and sketching courses for 2014......Lots of variety of subject and medium. They are all set in fab venues......... from wetlands to beautiful historic gardens. If there is anything that you like the look of, please get in touch or give me a ring to have a chat. 

7th February 2014  -  9.00 a.m – 1.00 p.m - ” A Microscopy Taster Session…..” - A unique chance to see into the secret world of Lepidoptera and other Invertebrates. A joint venture between Butterfly Conservation and Cath. 50% of all course proceeds will be donated to Butterfly Conservation.

28th March 2014 - Centre for Science and Art, Stroud. "A Fascinating Insight into the Secret World of Bees" This microscopy sketching course is run by Cath, in association with The Society of Biology. It also pays homage to bees, but has a much more scientific approach. Students will be dissecting and preparing their own  bee specimens for sketching purposes. Learn more.....Society of Biology/Cath Hodsman Bee Sketching and Dissection Microscopy Course .......and for those who this is relevant to, this course is also worth 18 CPD points


25th April 2014 - "How to Paint a Butterfly" - WWT Slimbridge This water colour painting day is a unique and absorbing course aimed at both lovers of painting and of entomology, especially butterflies! You don't have to be an expert at either, but you need to be fascinated by both!

6th June 2014  - Painswick Rococo Gardens,   The course is called "Beautiful British Bees"  A painting and microscopy course. Click on the links for more information.

11th July 2014 - "How to paint Dragonflies" - WWT Slimbridge This water colour painting course will pay homage to one of the oldest and most mysterious insects - dragonflies and damselflies. Stunningly beautiful and awesome hunters, participants on this course will study this insect in all of its glorious detail and beauty, whilst producing an intricate and unique water colour painting. 

Friday 3rd October 2014. 9.00 - 4.00 -  "How to Paint Lepidoptera" A water colour painting day - A joint venture with Butterfly Conservation - 50% of all course proceeds to go to this great conservation group. This course is aimed at Lepidoptera experts who would like to learn how to pay homage to these wonderful insects through the medium of art.

Reflecting on my Summer activites and looking forward to new Arts/Insects events.......

I had such a busy Summer. My Artist-in-Residence at Slimbridge was so enjoyable, that Slimbridge and myself are keeping our connection going.

 

                             Insect Arts and Crafts Events for Children

 

 



We are planning more insect craft events for children for next Spring/Summer and also plan to run at least another two painting courses - The subject??.......... My beloved insects of course. I have just purchased a batch of new high powered microscopes and plan to use them for new microscopy courses in 2014........

I have used them in a limited way at events Slimbridge and also Stratford Museum in the Park, but for 2014, I will be running courses that are based around what participants can see through the microscopes. The anatomy and physiology of fab insects like bees and butterflies can be explained much more clearly with the support of the microscopes, making for a much more fascinating experience.......I can't wait to see the art that is produced as a result!! One date is already fixed for 2014. On the 6th June 2014, I am running a course at the famous Painswick Rococo Gardens called "Beautiful British Bees" .  I am also planning similar painting and microscopy courses at Nature in Art, as well as Slimbridge. Watch this space for dates.....

Artist-in-Residences

 

 

My relationship with Painswick Rococo Gardens begins with a spell as Artist-in-Residence from 10th - 16th February, during their ever popular snowdrop season. I am really looking forward to this. My theme for the week will be"New Beginnings" as the season wakes up after the winter and I plan to paint a collection of early emerging British butterflies and moths.....hoping for twenty in the study....that will keep me quiet!!

 

This is a watercolour study I did of an early emerging butterfly - the gorgeous Brimstone (one of my favourites) on one of its favourite food sources, Bluebells. Did you know that it is commonly believed that the term "Butterfly" comes form this wonderful butter-coloured butterfly??

 

Further Artist-in-Residences are planned at Nature in Art and others, still under negotiation. Watch here for date confirmation.......

                                                                   

                                          Conservation Events



 



So, lots planned for next year. I am also planning a couple of exhibitions and will be attending my usual conservation shows, such as the annual Butterfly Conservation AGM and Members' Day on the 16th November 2013.

 





A busy and enjoyable Summer at WWT, Slimbridge.

Phew, just over a month to go on my posting as Artist in Residence at WWT Slimbridge  http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge/news/2013/04/wwt-slimbridge-news/our-new-artist-in-residence-will-create-a-real-buzz/

I have had so much fun. I have met some lovely people.......those who work at Slimbridge, and visit Slimbridge - everyone has been fab.

                                                      ART FINISHED AT SLIMBRIDGE

Despite my many, many animated chats about all things arty and insecty with those who have popped by to visit. I have still managed to get some work done.......Microscopy art is my new thing and I have finished 2 pieces at Slimbridge.......

The first one is a study of the female worker honey bee (Apis mellifera) and the second, a study of insect proboscises. Really chuffed because the honey bee study is going in the Autumn British Beekeepers Association Magazine, as part of a feature on bee anatomy.

I have also completed a painting of a White Tailed Bumble Bee with a Papaver Orientalis

So I have finished some pieces that I am really pleased with........What else have I got up to????......


                                          PAINTING COURSES AT SLIMBRIDGE

Still have one to go, but the July painting course, " Butterflies, Beetles and Bees" was such great fun. The students were all lovely. We all spent a very relaxing day sharing insect and art experiences and stories and just being a little bit self indulgent. This is the photo of those hard working folks at their easels....

......and "wow" did they do some amazing work!!! I think I need to be worried about their worthy competition. Have a look at some of these great paintings.....

Cant wait 'til the next course, "Painting Pollinators" on the 30th August at Slimbridge, but not before I do my "Why are Insects Fab?" arts and crafts sessions with children at Slimbridge on the 5,6,7 and and 27, 28, and 29th August. Children will have lots of fun making their own bugs. We will be looking at my exotic insect specimens and also using magnification equipment to produce some fab insecty creations.....cant wait!!

                      ARTS DAY AT MUSUEM IN THE PARK, STRATFORD PARK-
                                    "Incredible Insects and Butterflies and Bees"

For those who can't make the dates at Slimbridge, there is a chance to come along and enter the secret and fascinating world of insects at The Musuem in the Park at Stratford Park. On Sunday 25th August, I will be based at the lovely Musuem in the Park. The morning will be dedicated to the children and kiddy insect art and the afternoon will be dedicated to adults and to producing something a little bit more scientific........   http://www.museuminthepark.org.uk/timetable.asp?qmonth=8&pid=24&pgid=527&menu=0 .......look forward to seeing you there!!....... 

Bloomsbury Publishing have asked me to do 2 painting articles for aspiring artists.

I have had such great fun doing an interview for Bloomsbury Publishing's website designed to help young aspiring artists and writers "Writers and Artists". http://www.writersandartists.co.uk/artists/advice/341/an-artists-toolkit/interviews-with-artists/
 
This was followed by two painting tutorials. I have just finished one and the other will be posted next week. The first is dedicated to my favourite subject.....insects!! This is the macro photo from my own images that I recreate in watercolours.....

....and this is the link to the tutorial......  http://www.writersandartists.co.uk/artists/advice/382/an-artists-toolkit/finding-inspiration/
I really hope that both the interview and the tutorials help to inspire and guide aspiring artists in their early years, especially when it can seem like nothing is going as you plan.

How my Microscope will enhance my One Day Insect Painting Courses at WWT Slimbridge

After my Microscopy day organised by Cirencester Beekeepers, I have so much renewed enthusiasm and new ideas for my art!!

I found the day so interesting and, for the first time ever, I was able to see, with ease, what I always struggle to see with my own eyes when I am painting.

The clarity and detail that my microscope picks up is amazing and I cant wait to use my new found equipment on my one-day insect painting courses at WWT Slimbridge. It will also be fab to use with the children on their activities' too. For more info of my Slimbridge work as Artist in Residence this Summer, click here http://www.cathhodsmanwildlifeartist.com/recent-exhibitions/

These is one image that I took with my normal camera.....still have to buy the special camera attachment that allows you to take much clearer images and keep them for prosperity, but this still gives an idea of the excellent detail and magnification so far..... This is a honey bee head. You can see one of the secondary eyes on the right hand side of the shot. Its antennae are in the centre.  To the left of the shot is the start of the bee's proboscis....it's a lovely honey- yellow colour!!

Honey Bee - Apis mellifera head through a microscope.




The world of Microscopy

Cant wait!! Have just signed up to go on a Microscopy Course, run by Cirencester Bee Keepers Assoc
http://www.cirencesterbeekeepers.org.uk/

As my style of art work concentrates on macro, this is going to be perfect for me. Since starting a beginners' beekeping course in February, I know so much more about bees, but that leaves me still hungry for more....So much so, in fact, that my husband is getting me a microscope for my birthday!!

Bees are such intelligent, organised, strong and beautiful creatures, that it will be great to see them in more spectacular detail. These are the type of images I am hoping to see.....

 

All images taken from the internet

 

 

This extra knowledge and understanding of, not just bees, but all insects, that I will gain from using microscopy in my work, will hopefully improve the accuracy of my painting.  

 

"Colour Wheel" painting just finished....

Phew!!!.......that was a slog. Have just finished my latest painting. Mainly watercolour, but with a bit of pencil and some loveley pearlescent liquid acrylic.

Set myself the challenge of seeing if I could make up a painting of insects from Britain, from every colour of the spectrum....I wanted to illustrate how colourful insects can be....literally every colour of the rainbow!

I trawled lots of different sources...my own specimens, my own photos, taken on my travels and also the occasional visit to a museum to look at their Victorian entomological collections....I also had help from one natural-hisory website, for one of the butterfly images.- thanks Roy and Marie!

The finished result is quite busy...but that is what I want. I want it to look like the insects are exploding off the page....like a "Catherine Wheel" firework.

The insects are arranged in a circular pattern and split into slices of "pie". Each piece of "pie" is dedicated to a different colour of the spectrum and features 4 insects......This is how the "blue" and "green" sections were built up....





....and this is the finished result......

 

 

The painting took ages to finish, because of the research and the number of insects.  When it is mounted and framed, I am hoping it will have a strong impact on the viewer....who will hopefully look at insects with a more appreciative eye......

 

Going to enter this one and a couple of others into the National Exhibiiton for Wildlife Art in the Summer ....so fingers crossed, as it will be my first attempt at entry...

http://www.newa-uk.com/pages/home.php

Buglife sell my prints on auction site to raise funds.

Buglife is the only organisation who supports conservation causes for invertebrates...and so are a group after my own heart!! http://www.buglife.org.uk/

 



As such, last year, I donated a collection of my insect prints to sell on their website. Each one sold for £70.00 each and all proceeds went to Buglife.

There are still a few left!!!!....... Buglife have now placed the remaining prints on the "Giving Lots" website. This is a great site where you can buy or bid for special items...and all of the proceeds go to charitable causes. If you care about invertebrates and want to support Buglife, please click below and bid/buy... http://www.givinglots.co.uk/charities/Buglife%20-%20The%20Invertebrate%20Conservation%20Trust

This is one of the prints still available to buy..."Having a Drink" 

 

I love supporting and working with Buglife.....They are a great team of people who all work so hard to help preserve our smallest, but most important life forms.....our invertebrates.

 

Buglife Members' Day and AGM 20th April 2013

 

My prints and greetings cards will be on sale at their Members' Day too and after that, a selection of my greetings cards will be sold on their website on a more permanent basis, to raise funds. 

 

 

I have joined the "Wildlife Art Company"!!

I am over the moon!!..... I have just joined, what I consider to be the mecca for my type of artwork......the Wildlife Art Company!!  http://www.wildlifeartcompany.com/cath_hodsman.php

 

 

Mark Cawardine, BBC Zoologist, the agency's founder identified an increasing demand for top quality wildlife and natural-history illustrations that were scientifically accurate, as well as beautiful, for organisations like Collins Field Guides, Natural History Museums, and so on. The Wildlife Art Company seeks to meet this demand.

 

The agency showcases work from 60 or so, wildlife artists from across the world. The work is incredibly diverse. You can view beautiful illustrations.............anything from fish to fossils...

 

 

 

When completed, I will have 15 images with WAC and I can't wait to see what challenges, being part of this fab group of international artists will bring. This is one of the images from my selection.....one of my favourite paintings and best sellers, "Beautiful British Bees"   http://www.cathhodsmanwildlifeartist.com/2012/12/british-bee-paintings/

 

 







My wild meadow project!

As a wildlife and natural history artist, I love wildlife gardening. Both my husband and myself believe that it is so is important in order to help maintain healthy ecosytems. It is also a fab way of attracting beautiful wildlife into the garden that make great painting subjects. It is a win-win situation for me!!........

We have an area in the garden that is largely redundant, so we are planning to plant a wildmeadow. We want it to look great and also to attract much more wildlife into the garden, especially insects, such as butterflies. This is the area in question. Work will start in march, with the purchase of wild flower seeds and plants and ground preparation.

If you have even a small area in your garden, it is a great project to consider for everyone who cares about preserving wildlife. At the moment we are at the research stage. I have found an amazing website that secialises in wildflower seeds and plugs. It gives useful info on what insects love them and when and how to plant them....a must for someone looking to do this for the first time. The wesbite is  Naturescape.co.uk

So far we have learn that to start with you need to include certain plants that supress the aggressive growth of grasses. These semi-parasitic plants grow on the roots of grasses stopping their rampant spread, and thereby allowing meadow flowers to get established. Such plants include "Eyebright", "Lousewort" and "Yellow Rattle". A couple of which are sold on Naturescape's website.
We have also learnt that with poor soil, which is what we have, it is best to plant perennial wildflowers, so we are on the hunt for those, that also provide nectar and look great too. Flowers, like the Oxeye Daisy and Rosebay Willowherb and Common Toadflax.

We have decided not to take the grass off, but inject holes into the lawn and insert seeds and also plant plugs. We know that we already have some lovely wild flowers in the lawn in this part of the garden. So, it will be a case of allowing them to grow to their full height and then to just keep an eye the rampant weeds, such as thistle and nettle....even though we will allow some to stay, as they provide foods for peacock butterly larvae and the thistles provide seeds for goldfinches.

The meadow will take a few years to become established, but it will be a real labour of love for myself and my husband.....watch this space!!!.......
 

A fab week as Artist in Residence at Nature in Art

 I had such a wonderful time as Artist in Residence at Nature in Art.

The studio is so light and so airy, with plenty of room to hang work and showcase other things, such as prints and greetings cards.....

I had such wonderful chats to lovely like-minded people, about wildlife, insects, conservation, art, photography...even the war!!

It is like one big family there. The Nature in Art team are so friendly and accommodating......I did think about staging a sit-in and refusing to leave!!

I met people of all ages. So lovely and refreshing to see that there are still so many people who genuinely care about, and are interested in, our natural world.......
In fact, I did so much chatting that I didn't get much painting done on my "Spectrum" project. This is it so far.......Pleased with how things are going on it and am hoping it should look effective when it is finished.....

Am already looking forward to my next AiR at Nature in Art. In the interim, will be working on an insect painting course that I hope to run there also. There was so much enthusiasm from people that I look forward spending more time with entomological/painting fans. Will keep you posted vis-a-vis dates.

For more information about this wonderful venue in Glos, click on this link.  http://www.nature-in-art.org.uk/

Artist in Residence at Nature in Art - 29th Jan - 4th Feb 2013

I am really looking forward to my AiR at the world famous Nature in Art  http://www.nature-in-art.org.uk/             

 

Nature in Art is the only place in the world that pays homage to wildlife and associated issues and nothing else, through the medium of art. It attracts artists from all over the world who have become experts and icons in wildlife conservation. People like Gary Hodges  http://www.garyhodges-wildlife-art.com/ , who does a huge amount to help the plight of wildlife, particularly African big cats.

 

I will be there from 29th Jan - 4th Feb 2013.

 

I have started a painting called "Spectrum". It will be arranged like a colour wheel and will illustrate the rich diversity in insect colour. Entomology is my special passion and I am driven to draw attention to the beauty that is all around us in the insect world, but is so often,  ignored or reviled. Hopefully by the end of my residency, it will be finished, ready for sale. I will also have a selection of my originals paintings, prints and greetings cards for sale. Please come along, I would love to see you......I don't bite!!

........Difficult to envisage it so far, but it's all in my head, and should look effective when finished.

 

Each photographic reference is one I have captured myself. Where I do have gaps in my records, I have a couple of wonderful friends, Roy and Marie, who will "lend" me images, if I am stuck. These fab people are wildlife experts in their own right and are totally dedicated to promoting the beauty of the natural world.

 

"Why are Insects Fab?" event 30th March & two week Art Exhibition 22nd March - 8th April 2013 at Cornium Museum, Cirencester

I am busy reviewing the dates I have booked for this year. Lots to look forward to....the Amateur Entomologists' Members' Day and AGM at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery http://www.amentsoc.org/events/listings/0619/, as well as my Artist in Residence positions at Nature in Art http://www.cathhodsmanwildlifeartist.com/2012/12/artist-in-residence-at-nature-in-art-glos/ and Slimbridge Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge/..... and so much more this year.

One of the events I am most looking forward to is my annual involvement with the Help a Hedgehog Hospital Charity  http://www.helpahedgehog.org/  These are a fab group of people who work tirelessley to support the well being/care/conservation/education of and about hedgehogs. Since the 1930's, hog numbers have declined by 95%. Without groups like HaHH, hogs would  now be facing potential extinction.

"Hugo" a print I did for HaHH to help raise funds 

Every year the HaHH hold an event at The Corinium Museum, http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=2457&tt=cotswold&eventStatus=list&eventAction=view&eventId=16244 to educate and excite children about hedgehogs.This year is slightly different. There will still be the usual craft/hog events, but I will aso be joining them on March 30th to run sessions called   "Why are Insects Fab? I will be teaching children how to appreciate insects in all of their colourful/diverse/fascinating glory. There will be exotic specimens to see and drawings/paintings to be done.



The event comes in the middle of my own two week art exhibition http://www.culture24.org.uk/sw000029?id=EVENT416236  at the Corinium Museum in "The Hare" Gallery. This runs from 22nd March - 8th April 2013. Samples of all of my work will be on show and a % of sales proceeds will go to the Museum and the HaHH charity. Last year, my best selling image was my hare. I have another Hare print for this year....let's hope it's as well received...

"Brown Hare#2" - detail. On sale at the exhibition





I am joining The Wildlife Art Company

I am very pleased to announce that I have been invited to join The Wildlife Art Company One of the 

world's most prestigious natural-history angencies http://www.wildlifeartcompany.com/wildlife_illustrations.php 





The Wildlife Art Company is a natural history network agency created to meet the high demand for top quality illustrations from the natural world. It was set up by Mark Carwardine - BBC zoologist and Rachel Ashton, a natural history editor. Together they have years of experience in the wildlife publishing industry.

 

The artists on their books are amongst the best and the most scientifically accurate illustrations in the  world at their art.

 

The website covers a huge variety of species of plants, invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles birds and  mammals. They also represent the artwork from the Collins field guides and The Natural History Museum, (London) Collection.

 

I am now in the process of registering a selection of images to appear on the website. I have chosen 15, mainly from my favourite animals - the insects!! See more details of my Insect studies on my Insect Gallery on my Website  I am really looking forward to seeing my name up there with the other artists. Cant wait to get started on any challenging insect commissions that may come my way too.

  

This is my watercolour painting of a female Southern Hawker. She landed on vegetation in my wildlife garden and my husband and myself were lucky enough to get some great shots as she sunned herself.......I love Southern Hawkers. They are amongst the UK's most inquisitive dragonflies. They will often fly close and "buzz" you to check you out......great stuff!!

 

I will keep you posted as to when my entry has been published......In the meantime, if you have any questions, queries about my art or conservation work, please email me on cathhodsman@talktalk.net





My latest project - Saving Scottish Wildcats;

There are only 35 true Scottish wildcats left in the wild. A group of dedicated individulas have set themselves the enormous task of raising money to set up a 7000 sq mile reserve on the West Highlands of Scotland to keep the last individuals safe. Safe from interbreeding from domestic cats, to keep the blood-line pure.


More details about this project can be found here.... http://www.phillarsen.plus.com/wildcat/Wildcat_Gallery/The_Artists.html

A wildlife artist called Phil Larsen has organised 40 artists, who have each drawn, sketched, painted or sculpted their version of a Scottish wildcat. The intention is to publicise the on-line gallery intensely to raise funds for this great cause.

This is my contribution to the project. I prefer working with graphite for my mammalian work.....I wanted him to look really intense - to capture the power of these wonderful animals....



To purchase this image, and help theis very British and worthy cause, either visit the on-line gallery or visit The Mammalian Gallery on my website.
 http://www.cathhodsmanwildlifeartist.com/gallery-4-mammals/