Art

Nat Maks' Suminagashi wall prints

Nat Maks' wallpapers, murals and prints are hand-printed using the Suminagashi technique.

The process involves a medley of colours being placed on water, which then start to expand on its surface. The colours move on the water in an organic way and when a dynamic pattern has been formed, Nat makes a print by placing and moving paper on the water so it picks up the colour pattern. This technique means each piece is unique. 'There are no pattern repeats - we create individual rolls of paintings,' she explains.

Mad about the earth: the exuberant art of Joëlle Kem Lika

Joelle Kem Lika is an artist whose work is life affirming, and that's in no small part down to her love of vibrant colour. And what drives her, she says, is her wish to encourage people to prize the natural world.

'I draw my inspiration entirely from nature,' she says, 'and I want to defend our planet by means of my paintings. I try to capture the strength of life -  the force of the sea, the vibrancy of life in the ocean, the delight to be had from flowers, skies, sunsets.'

Today we love: Nick's Bespoke Maps

Is there a corner of the country, or indeed the world, that's special to you? Or one that fascinates you, historically or geographically? Nick's Bespoke Maps offers a service of drawing ink maps of places specified by you. So far he's drawn Yorkshire, areas of France and recent commissions incude mapping the Amalfi coast. 

Making mosaics with recycled materials: Katy Galbraith

eco friendly mosaic maker Katy Galbraith uses old bits of crockery and glass to make her beautiful works of art. She says making mosaics is a lot like doing jigsaw puzzles

Oil painting exhibition

The ROI annual show at Mall Galleries offers a chance to beaded by the skill of contemporary artists - and may even inspire you to get painting. See landscapes, still life and portraits in oil, with a number of paintings depicting urban life and scenes from the capital. Works are priced from £500, so anyone looking to invest in an original work make a beeline for the show.

Lampshades by artists

Lampshades = old fashioned = bad. If that's your view, well, it's time to reconsider because too many a room could do with an injection of personality and an easy way to do this is with a colourful lampshade.

Denimu: the art of jeans

Denim artist Ian Berry is having a major exhibition of his work at the Catto Gallery in London's Hampstead. Berry uses eco-friendly old denim jeans to make his art.

bluebellgray: flowers to the people

bluebellgray is something of a phenomenon if speed of success is a measure. Because this 13-strong Glasgow-based textiles and homewares company started its journey just eight years ago as a one-woman show; on  Fi Douglas’s kitchen table to be precise, as she painted some floral designs.

Ron Lawson paintings at Strathearn Gallery, Crieff

The art of eco: environmentally-friendly art and artists

There's an assumption that art is beyond reproach because it's culture and culture is good for the mind and the soul. But the business of painting has long been up to its neck in toxic pigments, solvents and formaldehyde, and artists haven't always scored highly when it comes to minimising waste.

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