In late 2019, Artswords, a Literature Development Project linked to Swindon Libraries, put out a call for short written works for an anthology titled Swindon Writing. Writers in Swindon rose to the challenge, and, in December 2020, the first edition of Swindon Writing was published.

Following the success of that book, Artswords is now seeking submissions for the second edition. This time, Artswords is also looking for artworks relating to Swindon to be published alongside the writing.

Ideally, the artworks should illustrate an aspect of Swindon. They can be in any medium and genre, including landscape, still life, cartoon, pattern, or a photograph of a sculpture or textile.

Artswords is also looking for an artwork or design to be used specifically for the cover of Swindon Writing.

Artists whose work is used will receive full credit and can submit an artist statement to be published alongside their work.

Profits from the sale of the second edition of Swindon Writing will be used to fund the activities of Artswords in Swindon.

We are looking for a variety of artistic styles and especially encourage themes that convey a strong sense of Swindon.

Entrance is free. There is no submission or publication fee.

Copyright remains with the artist. Artswords reserves the right to use any successful submission in the second edition of Swindon Writing and any publicity material relating to it, but the artist may also publish the work themselves or submit it elsewhere.

All work must be original work by the artist, plagiarized or copied content is not acceptable.

Artists may submit one or two pieces

All submissions should be accompanied by an artist statement of no more than 300 words. This should include details about the artist along with an explanation of the artwork and how it might relate to Swindon. It may also include links to websites or methods of contacting the artist.

Submissions must be in the form of a high resolution (300 dpi or higher) image. Do not send original artworks.

The book is likely to be printed as A5 size and portrait format. Landscape orientation images may be accepted but will not be eligible to be used on the front cover.

There is no age limit, however, submissions from under 18s must be accompanied by permission from the parent or guardian for the work and the artist’s name to be published.

The submission deadline is 31 December 2021.

Submit your finished pieces by or before then to swindonwritingproject@outlook.com

The editors are Katie Sullivan, Zoe Thomas, and Matt Holland. It is they who will choose successful submissions for the next edition of Swindon Writing.

If you have any questions, please send them to swindonwritingproject@outlook.com.

The post Call for illustrations for the second edition of Swindon Writing appeared first on Thomzo Designs.

In late 2019, Artswords, a Literature Development Project linked to Swindon Libraries, put out a call for short written works for an anthology titled Swindon Writing.

Writers in Swindon rose to the challenge, and, in December 2020, the first edition of Swindon Writing was published.

Following the success of that book, Artswords is now seeking submissions for the second edition from anyone living in or near Swindon or with a significant connection to the town.

Whether you are a powerful poet, a novice novelist, a promising playwright, a confident composer, or a bashful beginner, we welcome your work. Any piece of writing or illustration will be considered.

Each author may submit one or two pieces of no more than 1,000 words in each. Every word counts.

There is no fee for submission or publication.

Profits from the sale of the second edition of Swindon Writing will be used to fund the activities of Artswords in Swindon.

Each author may submit one or two pieces of no more than 1,000 words in each.

The editors are looking for interesting, insightful, entertaining, and thought-provoking work.

Any genre will be considered – including poetry, prose fiction or prose fact in the shape of short story, play, essay, memoir, or dialogue, and cartoons too – from anyone living in or near Swindon or with a significant connection to the town.

Whether you are a powerful poet, a novice novelist, a promising playwright, a confident composer, or a bashful beginner, we welcome your work.

Shorter pieces are encouraged as the quality of your words is more important than the quantity.

All work must be by the author. Plagiarized or copied content will not be accepted.

Illustrations are welcomed.

There is no age limit but submissions from under 18s must be accompanied by permission from the parent or guardian for the work and the author’s name to be published.

There is no fee for submission or publication.

Submission is no guarantee of inclusion in the next edition of Swindon Writing. That decision rests with the editors.

Copyright remains with the author. Artswords reserves the right to use any successful submission in the second edition of Swindon Writing and any publicity material relating to it, but the author may also publish the work themselves or submit it elsewhere.

All submissions must be sent as Microsoft Word Documents. Any pictures/cartoons must be submitted as PDF document.  

The submission deadline is 31 December 2021.

Please send your finished pieces by or before then to swindonwritingproject@outlook.com.

The editors are Katie Sullivan, Zoe Thomas, and Matt Holland. It is they who will choose successful submissions for the next edition of Swindon Writing.

If you have any questions, please send them to swindonwritingproject@outlook.com.

The post Swindon Writing – call for submissions to the second edition appeared first on Thomzo Designs.

My Design Inspiration board is an eclectic mix of ideas that I’d love to try at some point. With images as varied as hot-air balloons to a Zebra’s eye to a photograph of Paddington Bear.

Hot air balloons

The hot-air balloon images inspired a series of textile works. I print the original digital design onto fabric and embroider details onto the image. Each piece becomes a unique artwork.

I tried refining the original image and produced this practice piece:

On this single balloon image, I embroidered the black lines of the ropes that hold the basket and the outlines of the separate sections of the balloon. I then padded the balloon lightly before mounting it on a wooden backing board.

I call this a practice piece because I feel it could have been better finished. The colours could have been more vivid and I’m not entirely happy about the way the padding worked. Printing onto a single piece of fabric, which was then padded, caused wrinkling of the fabric around the balloon. I considered various options to avoid the problem, including using applique to attach the padded balloon to the background, but this is a blog about finding inspiration not about quilting.

Keep practicing

I’m happy to share my practice work with you because I want you to understand that practice really does make perfect. You’re unlikely to go from the original inspiration to a finished article in one go. I drew dozens of images of balloons until I got to something that I liked. Sadly, I didn’t keep all of them but here is one page from one of my sketchbooks:

OK, don’t laugh, I’m not sharing this so that you can see just how bad I am at drawing. I’m sharing it with you so that you can see that there’s no shame in not getting it right first time. I was quite pleased with the large image on the left, but I then went on to explore the different shapes of balloons. Not the fancy ones, shaped like cartoon characters or corporate logos, but the ordinary ones that you regularly see floating in the sky above Bristol.

Have you noticed how paintings of early balloons are mostly spherical whereas modern-day balloons tend to be more tear-drop shaped? A detail I noticed, when I compared illustrations to photographs, is that the illustrations always showed the basket as far too large compared to the balloon itself. When I tried my own version, I realised that balloon is so big in proportion to the basket that, unless the picture was the size of a house, you wouldn’t be able to bring in any detail of the basket.

In subsequent pieces, I have appliqued the balloons onto a painted background, sometimes personalised by the addition of an embroidered name as in the image on the left.

Staying legal

Of course, you must always consider whether your inspirational images are protected by the copyright laws.

Some people believe that an image is only protected by copyright if it carries the © copyright symbol. In fact, in the UK, all artistic works (including photographs) are protected whether marked or not. Find out more at https://www.gov.uk/copyright.

Copying exactly another person’s work without their permission is a big NO. It’s also illegal to use their image directly in your own. Drawing inspiration from another’s work, and then creating something wholly unique, is fine.

The post Where does your inspiration come from? appeared first on Thomzo Designs.

But now I know that doodling is good
It helps to restore a positive mood
It’s relaxing, it’s fun, a time to play
To be creative in a calming way

From stress it provides a gentle release
No pressure to create a masterpiece
Starting afresh, no need to be anxious
No fear of ruining a pristine canvas

Don’t aim for perfection, just have a go
To practice the stroke, the line, the flow
To build connections between eye and hand
Small will do, doesn’t have to be grand

A pen or a pencil is your only requirement
A sheet of paper, a scrap or an oddment
You just don’t need expensive resources
But do come along to one of my courses

Classes available in the Swindon, Wiltshire area of South West England.

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