The Artist’s Table

As some of you may know, I spend a great deal of my time painting outdoors on the patio area of my studio. I love to be outside and I love seeing everyone walking by, greeting those who pop in and conversing with locals and tourists alike. I also love and appreciate the fact that the surroundings at the studio are so beautiful.

Here is a glimpse at part of my studio patio,

And under an olive tree and under this painting is my favorite table,

My work tables reside outside all season and I paint non stop, (almost!), and to my surprise this Autumn, I discovered a small masterpiece developing in front of my eyes. My well worn favorite work table has become a small work of art. This has taken a couple of years mind you. I was enjoying a coffee break with a regular visitor, so my table was unusually bare,  and it suddenly dawned on me how many different images I could see on the once pristeen white surface.

A vase of flowers,

A metallic landscape,

Can you see what I see in this one! I cannot tell you how ridiculously excited this made me.

I drew a tiny fish on cellophane and moved it all over the table,

Note the small piece of sticky tape in this photo, generally used to hold fabric in place, it gives you a good idea of how small the area is that I was photographing.

Endless possibilities for printing some great postcards for the studio!

So many more photographs, I just love them!

Searching for Inspiration.

Here on Santorini, it really isn’t very hard to find sources of incredible inspiration. With Christmas and New Year, school holidays and all that they entail, I have hardly had time to be in my studio. All returns to relative calm tomorrow as schools return and we can seriously start putting in place our plans for 2011.

This is my spot for inspiration, right out the front of my door. My spot on the wall, high above the sea, no tourists, no noise, and a perfect day…….

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When you look at this next picture, you can almost feel the sea moving.

 

 

Christmas delights…

Rain, thunder and lightening, it’s all happening. Inside our humble cave in Oia there is a touch of Christmas. I love the Christmas tree, it has been a huge part of our family life.
We have collected ornaments for many, many years as a reminder of holidays and Christmases past. Each one has it’s own story……..

A touch of Venice. Apples from Chang Mai and bell’s from Hexham,

Byzantine designs from  Athens, Pinocchio’s from San Gimignano, a glass house from Lucerne, oh and ballerina shoes for number one daughter, a gaudy bling ball from Marylebone and the little green mitten is the most recent addition  from the most impossibly beautiful shop in Amersham, England called Suchases, www.suchases.com

but back to the tree,

Hand beaded eggs from moi, trains from Sydney and birds from London,

Our beautiful hand-blown glass  Pinnochio from Belaggio,

angels from children who grew up too fast. both poorly photographed before
I put them on the tree!

But, back at the studio……(I think that will become my favorite line!), here is what I have been painting  for some clients in England and Germany.

A Diva Christmas Apron…it will impress the guests! and…

a Christmas sack for the boy who would like everything!

I am very excited about the many projects I have on at the moment,  I also can not wait for you to meet my studio kitten….so next time!  keep warm, or cool depending on where you are!

And by the way, there have been amazing storms here tonight, still rumbling as I write, which Michael has braved the elements to record, he may post some photos of it on his blog. Till next time : )

 

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So, after a few false starts I am FINALLY starting my long awaited blog..long awaited by me mainly!  My name is Allison, if you don’t know already from reading the “about page”, I am a textile artist with several other creative interests.  I have the immense pleasure of living and working ( doesnt feel like work) on Santorini, a spectacular Island in the Cyclades of Greece. My purpose for this blog primarily, is to keep a record of my work, but also to share a part of my life, my beautiful studio, share my passion with others for all things truly handmade, all things colorful and beautiful, local art and fashion, (cant wait to share some outrageous fashion paraded daily by the thousands of tourist who drop in on our island daily in summer), and maybe some secrets about this island, with all who visit here. That should be enough!

This is also a creative journey for me…I had a long break from creative art, and am reveling in the re-awakening of a long lost passion. I hope to make friends, have great discussions and join the blogging community with gusto.

What to do for my first photo, well it seems appropriate to show you a little of my abode. This time of year, our island is slowly emptying, by Friday the population will be at its lowest for the year, as there are few, if any, tourists and the locals will be off in pursuit of warmth or visiting extended family….maybe both, maybe not! The weather changed a few days ago, from being a beautiful consistent 23-24 degrees daily for weeks on end, to a freezing 3 degrees yesterday with a little flurry of snow.

so firstly,

How the Aegean looks 90% of the time, this was taken from the ferry on the way home after a short trip two weeks ago.

Getting darker early, but wonderfully so….from home the sunset show continues.

And here we are in winter, we are very high up……….and tucked away in our caves with the rain and wind drumming on our doors and windows.

So, done at last, my first post! Next I will  show you glimpses of my studio, my work and the Christmas spirit here on our Island…till then !