The three big projects of 2024 were the Whimsy exhibition, Screen printing lesson's and Animation.
They have absorbed a great deal of my grey matter this year. I started this year learning the art of screen printing, with the help of supremo Donna Peters from the Print Room studio. I learned the techniques needed to print ink onto fabric and paper. I found the process challenging but so rewarding when I got the prints I wanted.
The Whimsy exhibition was six months in planning and execution. I really wanted to put on a professional show. I made new illustrations, organised mounting and framing, lastly created digital and print promotion. The outlay was terrifying! The opening day made it all worthwhile. I was quiety proud of the range of artwork I had created over the last two years. I would like to give thanks to Wendy Nutt Silver Jewellery, Scalpel & Paper, Walford Mill, Frontpage print and Wimborne framers for their help.
Animation is one of my loves in art. I was influenced by Japan's Studio Ghibli. Their charming, humanist work is beautiful to watch. They practice traditional hand drawn Cel animation. A style much developed in Japan's post war film industry.
I'm currently in the story board process. I have two illustrations from my back catalogue I'm working from. I am working out a sequence much like a comic strip. In the next phase I'll be putting together script and sound effects. I definitely have a lot to learn. It's going to be a long process. I hope to have a short film ready for December 2025. Thank you for reading and have a happy Christmas.
Lots of love Barry