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Writer's pictureJoy Stephanie

End of Summer... what's next?

(geli print done from a few dry grasses and seed heads found on the Welsh Coast)


This summer has been marked by both ordinary and extraordinary moments. Amongst those I have been able to keep the creativity going.


Our garden has been consistently providing us with summer vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, and carrots. Additionally, we have some upcoming crops, and we are looking forward to harvesting winter vegetables such as turnips, kale, and pak choy!


My garden serves as a canvas for my creativity. It gives me little life lessons which can be readily translated into the creative process - I gain knowledge through trial and error, discovering what is successful, what isn't, and what I will repeat. Witnessing a small seed transform into a large cabbage, nutritious greens, or the belated blooming of Cosmos flowers brings me immense delight.



Geli printing remains a wonderful source of creativity. I even convinced my husband to try his hand at creating geli prints inspired by the seaside during our holiday. Our muse was the seaweed and grasses we found. The beauty of this technique is that it doesn't require advanced drawing skills - I often tell people, "You're simply curating the incredible shapes already present in nature, so the artwork naturally showcases stunning forms and colors with minimal effort from us!"


Working in this medium, the main challenge I encounter is the constant influx of inspirational shapes and small pieces of work from experimentation, which can lead to feeling overloaded or overwhelmed. I frequently come across ideas that I believe would be perfect for a print or greeting card, but due to time constraints, I have to prioritize and focus on specific projects by making lists.


Collage plays a significant role in my sketchbook work as well. At the beginning of the year, I participated in art journaling workshops with Christian artists where we drew inspiration from different Bible verses. I incorporated my extra geli prints or those that didn't meet the standards for standalone pieces into other artworks like journaling.


I have reserved a space for an exhibition at the library in Oswestry, my local town, for the entire month of December. You might consider doing the same in your town. The rental fee for the space is quite affordable, and they only take a 20% commission on any sales I make.




Visiting the Welsh coast reignited my passion for rocks! The colors and shapes on the beach are truly captivating. I plan to use many of the photos I took for a black and white ink process with geli printing this autumn.


Above: My beloved kite - it's un-breakable and so easy to fly! It serves as inspiration for my upcoming Children's Book.


Below is a video showcasing my sketchbook creations over the past few months, including art journaling, holiday sketches, and sources of inspiration. This will provide you with insights on how to begin your own Art Journal.









In this earlier blog post, I discuss the topic of color and explain how I plan to utilize my color swatches to determine the palette for my upcoming sunset painting projects.












This little bundle of birds is a new Postcard range that I was asked to stock in one of my favorite independent Gift Shops in Shrewsbury #WriteHere










#creativity #wonder.... Keep going in your creative journey!




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