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.