Black Friday sale on Etsy

© www.chrischapmanphotography.co.uk

(photo shows William Todd-Jones, Nick Baker, Mark Coreth and me)

I'd like to say a big 'Thankyou' to all the people who passed the Ice Bear message on. The night, and the auction, was a resounding success. It was brilliant to hear three speakers who are so knowledgeable and passionate about their subject, and we all had a great time. I can't wait to see the real sculpture!
The 'Spirit of the Ice Bear' print goes to Cat ofDarkling Woods.
I got so caught up in the momentum of the Ice Bear yesterday that I forgot to tell you the other news! It's sale time!
I'm taking part in the Etsy-wide Black Friday sale, and I have to say, I'm offering my best deal yet. Free shipping worldwide on everything, AND Buy one print, get another free. The sale has already begun, and runs until the end of Monday 30th November. There is still plenty of time to send things all around the world and beat the christmas rush, so, if there is something that you have been wanting for a while - now is the time to get it! Visit my Etsy Shop

The Spirit of the Ice Bear

"Ice Bear Spirit"
11 x 7 1/2 inches
Original Watercolour painting

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This blog goes days and days without a post from me, and then TWO in one day! Stick with me, it's worth it I promise you!
Here is the finished painting, which I've been working my socks off to get completed today. I've framed it, and it goes up for auction tomorrow night, at the Fire and Ice fundraiser at Castle Drogo. This is in aid of the Ice Bear Project, the brainchild of sculptor Mark Coreth, who aims to raise awareness of the effects of climate change by bringing his truly amazing ice sculpture of a polar bear to Trafalgar Square, London and Nytorv square, Copenhagen. Over the course of several days this imposing bear will melt leaving nothing but a bronze skeleton and a puddle of water. Each hand that touches the bear melts a little bit more of the ice, giving a stark message about the effect each and every one of us has on the fate of the Arctic.

If you wish to put in a bid for this painting, please email the ice bear team here: kesella@icebearproject.org


And please, I'm asking a favour here, if you have time, and love what Mark is doing, please pass this message on! Time is short, the auction is tomorrow night, and the first bear arrives in Trafalgar Square on the 8th of December. We aim to raise as much money as possible tomorrow night, so please tweet this, blog this or pass on this facebook link.
Many, many thanks!

You are welcome to use these images in passing the message on (but please respect the rest of my artwork and images - all are copyrighted!)

If you like to let me know in the comments section of this post, I will send a print of this painting to one 'passer - on' drawn at random on Saturday morning 9 o'clock UK time. So hurry along - only 24 hours :)

Of Bears and other Beasts

Fairytales are everywhere I turn at the moment. There is wild magic in the air, the raging winds which buffet my little house make us want to curl up and retreat into imaginary worlds. We lit the fire, and watched a film - The Secret of Moonacre, which I somehow overlooked when it was released at the cinema. It was a beautiful, enchanting tale of the dangers of pride, redeemed by the ultimate act of self- sacrifice. It had my daughters and I mesmerised!( and it made us cry a tiny bit!)

See the trailer here

And this song - Beasts by Slow Moving Millie, is the perfect song for a night of fairytales.
(Yes, it's THAT song from the Virgin advert)

I have been re- reading East of the Sun and West of the Moon, and reminding myself how much I am in love with Kay Nielsen's illustrations. His polar bear is hauntingly beautiful.

There are polar bears everywhere I turn at the moment. Tomorrow night we are attending the Fire and Ice Dinner, at Castle Drogo, which is fundraising for the Ice Bear Project. It promises to be a great evening, in a spectacular setting, with talks from Mark Coreth( sculptor), Nick Baker (wildlife expert and TV presenter) and arctic explorer Pen Haddow. There are still a few tickets left if anybody wants to come!

And here is a glance at the rough sketches for my latest project.
More on this later ;)

Christmas Crow and a ballad of the seas.

"Yuletide Wreath"
SOLD
Ok, I managed to finish the second card design! Believe it or not this took nearly two days. It's working title was ' Christmas Knocker' which made my husband and I snigger, and has unfortunately stuck, as silly names do.
Can you tell it's Friday night and I have had two glasses of wine?
This is also for sale - it is fractionally larger than the last one - 5 x 7 inches, and costs £60. I know that seems terribly expensive, but it still barely covers the cost of two days work.
Postage is £3 to the UK and Europe, £5 elsewhere. Do drop me an email if you want it. It will also be available as a christmas card in a couple of weeks time.
I will also be reprinting last year's cards: 'The Longest Night' and 'Red and the Robin'

While in my painting frenzy today, I was listening to a favourite album, and an especial favourite song at the moment. It is 'The Mariner's Revenge ' by The Decemberists.

Ideas were bursting forth for an animation to this song. My New Years resolution is going to be to try my hand at Stop Motion Animation. Maybe something a little less ambitious than an 8 minute song for my first go! It led me to google the song and see if any one else had already animated it, and it turns out that several people have done so. My favourite was this lego version here, which amused me greatly. ( Not nearly as funny as Eddie Izzard's 'Death Star Canteen' which has me in tears on the floor every time I watch it, but still, you can't beat a good bit of Lego.

Speaking of music, you may have noticed that my Playlists have been missing for a while. This is because licensing laws mean that Playlist no longer works in the UK, but I have been trying out other options and think I have found one that will work. As before, it is not on autoplay, so you have to click on the icon to start it playing. It's a fairly Folky/ bluesy mix at the moment.

A Midwinter Hare

"Midwinter Hare"
SOLD
I have been working like a woman possessed for the last couple of days, trying to get my christmas card designs finished. This little hare on a frosty midwinter night is the first of them. It is a watercolour on very heavy paper and measures approximately 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches. The cards should be in stock in a couple of weeks time, but in the meantime I am selling this original painting. I will add it to my Etsy shop on Sunday, but thought I would offer my readers a sneak preview and first chance . I need the princely sum of Forty Five English pounds for it. Please email me if you want to buy it.
Thankyou :)