The Blackbird Sings

Mitsuko + Minako

I'm a little behind in posting this but here are two new Japanese Birds - both have sold already but I thought you'd like to see them anyway! I'm looking forward to working on more of these soon and they'll be in the shop when they're ready.

Minako Bird will actually be going to live in Japan. So far, of the six birds I've made in this series, two have sold to customers in Japan, two to the United States, one to France, and one will be staying in the UK. They're flying all over the place!

In other news, I've spent the past five days working constantly on the new studio. There was a lot to do and it's been hard work (with some frayed tempers here and there and a few mishaps) but the end is now in sight. With any luck, we'll be putting the furntiure back in the room tonight or tomorrow and then I'll be sharing some photos with you.

Mitsuko Bird

© Natasha Newton 2012

(SOLD)

Minako Bird

© Natasha Newton 2012

(SOLD)

I'd actually like to have a go at making some larger paintings of these birds, and I have more ideas for using them in paintings on canvas too. Watch this space!

New canvas paintings.....finally!

Until this week, ever since I came back from my last trip to Paris - I think it was about 6 weeks ago? - I've been spending my time either redecorating my rooms or working on small paintings on paper and painted stones at the kitchen table. Quite a few of these have been commissions and some are new ideas I've been developing - several of which have ended up in The Blackbird Sings shop. I haven't shown you everything on the blog due to lack of time, but if you follow along on Twitter or Flickr you may have seen most of them.

Anyway, the upshot is that I haven't actually been behind the easel for WEEKS. This is unheard of and it seems really weird - I've missed it so much. But over the past week I managed to make my way back to start work on some new canvas and wood panel paintings for upcoming gallery shows. It feels so good to work on a slightly larger scale again (even though these pieces are still quite small at the moment), and I'd forgotten just how much I enjoy working on canvas.

So I wanted to share the first couple of pieces with you - they're from the 'In The Air' series which I hadn't added to since the first three sold at Snape Maltings Gallery last year. [By the way, that link goes straight through to the page for my upcoming solo show at the gallery this October - if you'd like an invitation to the Private View, please let me know!]

They will be going to another gallery in a different part of England, but I have one more painting to photograph and add, and when I post that I'll give you the details.

In The Air 4 + 5

Original painting in acrylic on linen. 8x8"

© Natasha Newton 2012

I'm so excited to share more of the new work with you over the next few weeks - not to mention my new rooms! When they're finally sorted, I'll be taking plenty of photos for the blog. The studio is due to be started properly in about a week from now - I've gradually been clearing it out and sorting / throwing away a lot of stuff in preparation for the actual painting part. Despite the muddle I'm currently living in, I feel more organised by the day. It's a good feeling to edit the possessions you have every now and again, and get rid of anything you don't really need so that you can properly organise the things you do want to keep. I've also been buying several lovely new bits and pieces for the rooms, so you'll see those soon.

All in all, I'm busier than ever but it's all good.

And P.S. When the studio space is finally finished I will no longer have to work on the smaller artworks at the kitchen table any more. Hallelujah! (Or however you spell that).

Lovely Birdie Birds

So, I made some new birds. Do you want to see them? Of course you do!

If you don't:

a. What are you doing here in the first place, given the title of this blog, and indeed the title of the blog post?

and

b. You can always close your eyes.

The first little critter is Fujiko Bird, the fourth and latest painting from my new Japanese Birds series, and the only one available to buy right now as the other three have all sold. Yay for Japanese Bird lovers, and thank you. There will be more Japanese Birds because I LOVE making them.

Fujiko Bird

© Natasha Newton 2012

More images, details etc. can be found here: www.theblackbirdsings.etsy.com

Do you see that hot pink in there? Expect more of that. It's one of my new favourite colours when mixed with black, white and greys.

And this feathered friend was a commission for someone. He has already caught the eye of someone else too and....oooh, I can't tell you anymore at the moment. You'll have to wait.

Snow Song

© Natasha Newton 2012 (SOLD)

I've also been working on a lot of paintings for galleries as well as commissioned pieces (alongside the redecorating-the-studio-and-bedroom saga - photos coming soon!) so things have been a bit busy at The Blackbird Sings HQ this past month. You'll forgive me for my erratic / infrequent blogging recently, won't you? I promise you, there's lots of nice stuff to come...

The new United series and Abstract Seedpods

A few years ago, before I was a regular user of this new-fangled device called the internet, I used to paint quite a lot of abstracts. They started off as bright, highly textured, acrylic on canvas pieces (which someone once told me would make good fabric designs, but that's beside the point...) and evolved over time into more muted, subtle, stone-coloured organic shapes with just a hint of texture. I worked on these alongside my more representational work, but for some reason I stopped painting abstracts a while ago. I'm not really sure why - I suppose my inspirations, artistic taste and style just changed over time - and I would also say that although I wasn't producing 'abstract paintings' as such for a while, a lot of my pieces often contain abstract elements anyway.

Just recently I've felt the desire to make abstract paintings again. It feels as if it's the right time. So I grabbed my sketchbook the other night before bed (if you follow me on Instagram - username natashanewton - you will have seen a quick snapshot of my doodles) and quickly jotted down several ideas I'd had during the day for a new series of abstract pieces. I've now started on the series - it's called 'United', and you can see the first painting below (there are currently more in progress). I've also been thinking about a new idea for the painted stones - I wanted to move away a little from the designs I've been doing for the past year or so. I won't be making as many painted stones this year as I'll be concentrating on larger paintings over the next few months, but you'll see just a few popping up here and there when I have time. I'm now enthused about making them again after coming up with the new monochrome Abstract Seedpod designs...

Abstract Seedpods 1

© Natasha Newton 2012

The new seedpod stones and the abstract painting are both available in the shop.

United 1

© Natasha Newton 2012

P.S. The two rooms (bedroom and studio) are coming along well - I'll update the blog soon with some new photos!

* NEW * Above + Below series

In between prepping, sanding and painting the bedroom, I have actually been working on some new art. I recently launched the new Japanese Birds series (both of which have sold, but there are more on the way!) and the other day I came up with an idea for combining my star chart / constellation paintings with my tree stumps / nature inspired work. The series is called Above + Below and it's about the connection between the Earth and the stars above us. The eagle-eyed among you may notice some new colours creeping into my work. Expect more of that in the months ahead.

Above + Below 2

© Natasha Newton 2012

Above + Below 1

© Natasha Newton 2012

You can find out more about these pieces - and buy them - here: www.theblackbirdsings.etsy.com

Ok, back to the decorating...