Winter hedges

I love the tangled texture of the geometrically cut hedges in the winter. And some ice landscapes from last year ...

Website now Live!

I have not worked out how to do it yet but will put a quick link to the website from here. But thanks to some tireless workers it is up and visable to the world now!

www.nancynicholson.co.uk

Theo Jansen

I get very excited when I look at the creative genius of this man, how he has taken an idea and spun it into pure magic, a world of his own making ... Theo Jansen and also this little film of his creatures.

Todays image ...

Wonderfully crackly and scratchy dresses...read it, wear it!

And some newspaper rings I made last year, for some dear friends.

Nick Georgiou

Nick Georgiou is an urban sculptor I discovered at the weekend while researching for my inset day on Feb 8th. Something I am sure we can adapt for a school project.

Best drawing

This picture is in one of my mothers old teaching books,and has inspired me for years. The freedom drawing like this gives children is very liberating for them, and extends the drawing process into using the whole body. A wholly different experience. One which would be good for children and adults alike.

Here is a photo I have had in my insiration folder for a long time. Kept it to draw from one day but not got around to it yet ... a man from the Marsh maybe? I met such a man yesterday, out walking with stick and rucksack. Though he also have waves of windswept hair he was huge giant of a man, happy to engage in excited and enthusiastic conversation about the landscape and the walks around Smallhythe ...

Charles Keeping

Weird wonderful illustrations by Charles Keeping for the book The God Beneath the Sea, by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen. They do remind me of the marsh somehow, though they speak of water too, but the reeds the winds and the water certainly ...

bending reeds looking towards the marsh ...

I think this is burdock, great dry old bones of plants along the path, hell for dogs and owners alike, hours spent removing or cutting from matted coats. A very efficient seed dispersal method.

Marsh reeds 1.1.11

A New Years Day walking out on the misty marsh, with swans reluctantly launching themselves from their grazing as we passed and filling the still air with a deep rhythmic fluting sound as they flew in unison around us. This walk is one I do frequently, either alone or with friends, and yesterday went with Lucy and Sophie, branching out to a new path which took us into a different part of the landscape and much further than usual. A different perspective on something familiar ...

I am aware that all around me there are new resolutions being made and that this is also an attempt at a fresh start, but it will be an online diary and visual record of the year as well as a record of the new business venture I am launching this year. Having been dreaming of doing this for many years to enable me to generate enough income to concentrate on more serious work, I have now got a range of push out cards ready to sell! Also more products in the pipeline. I have had a difficult year, recovering from breast cancer, but now ready and in good health once again, full of enthusiasm to start this new venture