the starry-eyed mermaid

Capturing Ballet: Continuous Line Art and Watercolour Techniques

Published on February 4, 2025July 15, 2025 by The Starry-eyed Mermaid2 Comments

Several years ago I created a series of artworks depicting male & female ballet dancers in motion.

I used a simple sketch, in a continuous line, then added a loose watercolour wash.

Here’s the artwork on my YouTube channel, ‘The Arty Poet on Prozac.

Remember 70s National Health Specs???

Published on January 25, 2025July 15, 2025 by The Starry-eyed MermaidLeave a comment

Can you remember the National Health specs of the Seventies? The ones the council estate kids had to wear? They were blue or pink translucent plastic affairs!! My sister had a blue pair.

Children weren’t so fashion conscious back then. We weren’t defined by the clothes we wore. Social media wasn’t a thing. We were out on the streets most of the time, not caring how we looked!

Creating Habanera: A Journey of Colour and Chaos

Published on October 10, 2024January 23, 2025 by The Starry-eyed MermaidLeave a comment

I had such a fabulous time creating this spunky artwork – Habanera – inspired by the opera Carmen. Lashings and lashings of acrylics were smoothed and teased over a 40″ x 30″ stretched canvas, using a palette knife. The red paint was particularly wonderful: thick, buttery, vibrant, unapologetic! Worthy of Carmen, herself!

There is a twist to this story. I brought the canvas back from the studio space. I carelessly abandoned it propped up against the bookcase in the living room. A few nights went by and I hadn’t bothered to move it. BIG MISTAKE!!! My autistic teen, known for Jurassic-level meltdowns, felt triggered. His arm reacted by hurling a heavy mug STRRAAAIIGGHHHTTTT through the canvas!!! OMG!! I have never felt pain like that in my adult life!! Ooops!! *Insert expletives! Hee hee!

All came good, in the end. I managed to carefully cut the canvas fabric from the frame. It had split into two halves, which made the most wonderful diptych! I had the two sections mounted onto backboards, and framed, so they hung level. They looked even better than the original canvas (in its entirety).

A local lady fell in love with the diptych, and hangs pride of place in her home! I was sad to part with it, to be honest, but to know someone else is loving it as much as I did, is reward enough!

Celebrating Canine Creativity: The 2021 Scunthorpe Exhibition

Published on September 23, 2024February 10, 2025 by The Starry-eyed MermaidLeave a comment

There was a wonderful exhibition at the 2021 Visual Arts Centre, in Scunthorpe, called ‘A Dog’s Life’. There were many artists exhibiting, and some incredible artwork. Sculptures, photography, paintings! The Arts Centre is a blessing, not only for the artists, but for the people of this town.

I was invited to display dog art and prints in the gallery shop. Very exciting! Here is some of my dog artwork (cropped to fit the collage!) I think ‘Snoop Doggy Dog’, ‘Slavver’ and ‘Gobby’ are my favourites!!

Top: Doolally, Iggy Flip. Bottom: Iggy Flop, Go!

Top: Prozac, Harry Bottom: Mikey, Zha Zha

Top: Slavver. Jim. Bottom: Bonkers Dog, Slobber

Top: Pegi-18, Snoop Doggy Dog. Bottom: Gobby, Scribble Dog

I would fully recommend a visit to this wonderful haven of creativity! The exhibitions are world-class. Truly the finest displays of contemporary art in the UK!

The 2021 Visual Arts Centre website

Graceful dancers by an artist with two left feet

Published on July 10, 2024July 10, 2024 by The Starry-eyed MermaidLeave a comment

I had a request by a lady for cards and prints of some of my watercolour dancers.

I thought I would share them with you. I am particularly fond of the male dancers, which were drawn in pencil using a continuous line technique, before a loose, watercolour wash was added.

I am the least graceful dancer you could ever imagine!!! A sort of deranged elephant after drinking 5 bottles of Prosecco!

Do you ever use the continuous line technique? Watercolour wash? Do you enjoy dance or ballet? Do you sketch dancers?

These images are available as cards or prints. Please use the contact page for sales enquiries.