Mindful of the up and coming exhibition at the Hangar Gallery and the need to have artwork that locals would find of interest I am returning to collage. I have a lot of good prints to use as a basis for building up an image. I am also keen to use stitching in the pictures as interest in its own right, but also as texture and a way of ensuring coherency throughout the work. 

Returning to projects based on East Lothian I am looking again at the detailed drawings and prints based on Garleton Hill. At the moment I am working on a painting based on the rhythms of the land. Colour is very important now, as is the illusion of movement and depth. I would also like to use stitch where appropriate to highlight movement. 

Great excitement this week as I potentially have my first sale over seas. After hanging in Le Cafe Bleu for weeks and weeks, the painting of Old Edinburgh is hopefully going to be bought by an American couple. I am in the midst of sorting out postage details. It looks like the good old postal service is the best and safest option. Now I need to look into videos as to how best protect the painting on its voyage.

Today I managed to get work hung in the shop for the first time. The shop is open at weekends and once we are further into the year, I have been told that there will be a rota for volunteers to man it during the week. There is a mix of work in the shop - some very talented folk. I put in two prints from a series of five plus a new collage. The three works were placed next to Fiona Lambert's up cycled furniture. 

I am being inspired by the work of my studio buddy Redesigns and am working through years and years of collected material in my shed at home. Up-cycle, re-use, re-invent - all good. It is my intention to create work from all the collage material, oil paints etc along with empty picture frames before I start on replacing stuff. The shed is too full as it is.

I also want to act as fundraiser for ARC and create work small and light enough to go on an auction or sale page attached to the Facebook page of Cassie the Romanian Rescue Dog. I have started a series of small portraits of dogs that have been or continue to be in Florentina's care. They are backed onto foam board which in turn is covered by material or paper and hung with a simple ribbon. 

The year 2014 brought lots of changes. Behind me are six years of full-time study - ahead of me are years as a fully-fledged artist!

October to December of last year, I reconnected with Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre and joined a group of artists who gather one evening a week to work together. Having done nothing - no drawing nor painting since June, I prioritised drawing. I looked again at the objects that so inspired me for my Degree Show and worked on producing images that could be used for future paintings. 

I would also like to revisit collage painting. I enjoyed making my own collage material along with found material to interpret images. I would also like to work with oils again on small paintings, like the tile paintings I created around forms and shadows in the garden.

This week I have taken studio space at Cockenzie House and  Gardens. Together with the PACC, these two centres provide excellent opportunities for not only producing work but hopefully being able to exhibit and be part of future projects. 

In May I will be exhibiting at the Hangar Gallery so will be looking to produce new work that combines the painting techniques I acquired by the end of my degree with new subject matter. 

As a family, we adopted a rescue dog from Romania last year through an organisation called Animal Rescue Crew. I hope to be able to use my paintings in some way to help highlight and promote the brilliant work they do whilst contributing to much needed funds. Cassie will be coming with me to work. She has her own corner and if this photo is anything to go by is well happy to be part of the routine.

All told, a busy and exciting time ahead!