This blog post features: a round up of the latest #draweverydayinmay2021 challenge, a recipe for wild garlic pesto, recent news and updates, an introduction to the new A-Z of Mindful Drawing Techniques online course, and a new product feature!
DRAW EVERY DAY IN MAY 2021!
The annual, free, online drawing challenge #draweverydayinmay2021 proved to be another hugely successful online event in the Still Point Sketching community this year! Over 200 people joined in from all over the world, each celebrating the theme of New Dawn, New Day, New Life with a new drawing every day in May. The thriving, international, online community cheered each other on throughout the month of May over in the Still Point Sketchers Facebook group culminating in a celebration their achievements in a live event on Zoom on the 1st June. A huge thank you to all who took part and contributed to the inspiring, creative spirit that is so present in the Still Point Sketching community.
I chose to draw a natural example of new life with stick and ink every day in May, here's one my 31 collection of drawings created throughout the month of May:
And some feedback from challenge participants, it's always so great to hear how the challenge benefits people and what the community gives to so many:
"Can’t express how wonderful it has been to be delighted daily with so many diverse and beautiful drawings."
"Thank you as always for bringing us together and creating this space for growth, inspiration and kindred sharing."
"I have so enjoyed this challenge, both from a personal point of view with the daily commitment to get on the paper, and feeling the benefits of regular practice, and from seeing everyone else's fantastic efforts, which have also been a good learning experience."
"This has been such a happy, friendly and supportive group. Many thanks to Marigold for organising the challenge, for all her tips and encouragement, and to all of you for sharing your creativity, and your lovely comments."
The free, weekly live Draw Together sessions are still happening on Fridays at 11am UK time over in the Still Point Sketchers online community on Facebook. All are welcome and do come along, especially if you need some encouragement to get on the page.
WILD GARLIC SEASON!
We had our first trip to Wales visiting my family since August 2020, and it just so happened to coincide with wild garlic season. The beautiful River Trannon runs through my parent's garden and every year in May, the banks are thick with wild garlic. So I've been experimenting with various recipes, some with more success than others! Since discovering that it actually freezes well (in blanched 100g nests laid out on a baking tray lined in parchment paper - see below), so far I've made: wild garlic pesto (punchy), wild garlic frittata (light and delicious), wild garlic aioli (disaster), wild garlic paneer (excellent) and wild garlic with cannellini beans (not bad at all). The biggest hit in our household was the pesto, which keeps well in the fridge and is great for that quick meal that you need to knock up but still needs to be nutritious. Be warned: the vampires certainly won't be a threat to you after a portion of spaghetti dressed in this pesto!
If you pick a big crop of wild garlic, freeze it in blanched 100g nests laid flat on a tray lined with parchment paper. Once frozen they can be put in a freezer bag.
Wild Garlic Pesto
300g blanched, freshly picked wild garlic leaves
100g grated parmesan
1 garlic clove
Half a lemon, zest and juice
50g toasted pine nuts lightly crushed
100ml olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp creme fraiche, double cream or greek yoghurt (optional)
Wild garlic flowers to serve (optional)
Finely grated parmesan to serve (optional)
Rinse the wild garlic leaves the blanch them for 30 seconds in a pan of boiling water.
Blitz all the ingredients except for the pine nuts and creme fraiche, cream or yoghurt in a food processor until well combined. Give it a shake and add a splash more oil if it gets too thick.
Stir in the pine nuts.
Serve tossed into spaghetti (I tend to go for 2tbsp of pesto per serving), sprinkled with wild garlic flowers, extra grating of parmesan with a nice crisp salad.
If you like your pesto creamy, heat the pesto in a small pan with the creme fraiche, cream or greek yoghurt and serve as above.
Will keep in a sterilised screw top jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
You could also mix it up with 50:50 wild garlic and young nettle tips or substitute the pine nuts with toasted walnuts or use ground nut oil instead of olive oil.
Foraging tips: always cross reference with a guidebook before eating foraged wild garlic. Make sure you pick sparingly with permission from the land owner. If it doesn't smell of garlic it probably isn't wild garlic. Pick each leaf individually rather than in bunches. Pick a few leaves from each plant then move on, don't pick them all from one plant. Avoid picking from patches that are next to roads, or paths where dogs may have been walked.
NEWS AND UPDATES!
What's been going on behind the scenes at Marigold the Maker HQ?
Well, our baby is now 30 weeks and all is well in the womb (except it often feels like there are a tiny pair of shoes on a constant wash cycle in there!)
I've nearly completed the first 6-Week Online Lino Printing evening course with the international design firm WATG as part of their employee wellbeing program. It's been a huge success, participants loved receiving the lino kits in the post - "I felt like I'd just received the best present ever!" and their first prints are really impressive. Here's an example of one print that will hopefully also be framed and hung in the office as part of a "staff gallery" area but has first been printed onto a set of five cards and envelopes:
To find out more about booking a corporate creative event such as this, get in touch via email marigold@marigoldthemaker.com.
I've also been working on an illustration commission for a branding company, the name of which has to remain secret at this stage but see below for a sneak preview of one of the images drawn in charcoal. It never ceases to be a joy and surprise that I actually get paid to do what I love doing the most: drawing!
To contact me about illustration commissions, email me at marigold@marigoldthemaker.com.
THE LAST TULIP
NEW PRODUCT ALERT!
The latest lino printed greetings card set - The Last Tulip - is now available to purchase from my online shop. It comes as a pack of 5 hand printed cards, on recycled biscuit coloured card with matching envelopes. Each set is packaged in a matching gift box. £10 for pack of 5 hand printed lino cut design cards.
THE A-Z OF MINDFUL DRAWING TECHNIQUES
INTRODUCING THE LATEST ONLINE COURSE!
I'm thrilled to be introducing you to my most recent online course - the A-Z of Mindful Drawing Techniques!
A self-paced online drawing course that encourages you to explore and develop an exciting repertoire of new drawing techniques and offers gentle guidance to help you find your still point on the page.
It’s ideal for:
Beginners who have been wanting to learn more about drawing for a while but need some encouragement to take that first step.
People who are curious to learn and experience more of the wider benefits that a regular drawing practice can lead to such as improved levels of creative confidence and wellbeing.
More experienced drawers out there who want to renew their passion for drawing that may have been dormant for a while, wish to expand their skills set and explore new techniques and give themselves permission to play on the page.
Features and benefits:
A-Z of drawing techniques and mindfulness – 30 individual lessons that offer guidance on developing a drawing practice that not only improves your drawing skills but also nourishes your soul.
Alphabetical but not chronological - allowing you the freedom to work through the 30 lessons systematically or an order that suits you.
Self-paced online course - allowing you to completed the lessons in short, regular bursts, or explore each lesson more deeply and complete the course over a longer period of time.
Unlimited access to all content* - so you can revisit each of the 30 lessons as many times as you need. *for a minimum of 6 months from date of purchase
4 free bonus lessons – for those who don’t want the learning experience to end!
Learn at home but not alone – access to the international online community of like-minded, creative people - The Still Point Sketchers – a supportive online community offering a safe, friendly and encouraging platform to share your outcomes, ask questions and receive the support and encouragement you need throughout the course and beyond!
INTRODUCTORY OFFER FOR LIMITED TIME ONLY-
SAVE £20 WHEN YOU SIGN UP BEFORE 1ST JULY 2021
£65 or pay 3 monthly instalments of £21.66.
Make the most of the discounted introductory offer – save £20 when you sign up before 1st July 2021!
And yes, you really can sign up even if you haven’t drawn for decades or you think you’re terrible at drawing. There’s no pressure to produce or share good drawings just encouragement to explore, experiment, have fun and learn more about how to access that still point that comes when you’re purely focused on the process of drawing and don’t give a hoot about the outcome.
That's it for this month's blog post! The next post will be the end of June with news and updates on my recent creations, new recipes, products and subscriber offers!
Happy making! Marigold
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