I recently read The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, in it there is a mention of a map signed by the cartographer who added "drawn by desire of Lord Suffolk". I love that phrase and scribbled it in my sketchbook, it's top right of a page of sketches done while in Scotland. I added "so much better than commissioned by" - and it is! The sketches are a mixture of on the spot observations of the estuary at Cardoness, and quick scribblings done from photos - just referencing w

Where we grew up - my sisters and me - the family seat! Need I say more?! #home #house #family #artist #art #sketch #moiraraecarter #moirarae #moiracarter #moiracarter

With the new website up and running I thought it time to upgrade my business card. I thought I'd stick with the lobster as it's become my 'signature' image/avatar thingie. So what next? Well, it seems you can - and some people do - put everything on their business cards. I had a look on the internet and stood back in horror at some of the examples. After a minute of reflection - a quick google - I decided less is definitely more, and took my lead from from examples like these

Really?! So soon?! So why not wrap your presents with wee Scottie dogs in festive mood, bringing home the holly?! #art #artist #spoonflower #Spoonflower #TextileDesigner #moiraraecarter #moirarae #moiracarter #moiracarter

Light bulb moments can be so - well - illuminating! Just a quick browse of the internet can really inspire a girl. Take this carpet - yes, carpet - for instance, made from plastic cups and cutlery! I'm off to find more amazing stuff ...see you soon. #abstract #art #artist #sculpture #inspiration #moiracarter #moiracarter #moirarae #moiraraecarter

... it comes from a myriad of places and fires up the Muse to create all manner of wonderful stuff. So where does mine come from? Chance comments in conversation with a good friend, a great image at an exhibition, a wonderful piece of music - all of these and more. The most recent on my radar: a glorious conversation about seafood and a shared love of crab, which has resulted in a challenge to create a crab based design - watch this space - and an exhibition at Ruthin Craft C

A week in Scotland and thoughts naturally turn to the ubiquitous tartan, well it is everywhere! Several years ago - during a visit to Cardoness - I found myself truly taken by the urge to produce my own tartans based on the colours of the seasons in Scotland. The skies, the stone, the highlands and the heather. I created a collection of twelve, one for each month and I still love them all. #tartan #scotland #spoonflower #moirarae #art #artist #designer #illustrator #moiracart

What the dictionary says: Thinking characterized by the ability to use concepts and to make and understand generalizations, such as of the properties or pattern shared by a variety of specific items or events. Hmm ...what does this mean to an artist? Art is a purely visual medium in that you have to see it to understand it, maybe understand is too open, you have to see it and react to or form your own opinion about it. Whether you love it or you hate it or whether it simply d

Balance in nature, balance in art, the visual perception of what looks and feel right, sits right with your gut. I've always aimed to create balanced art work, work that contains an element of Yin and Yang. Aimed is the operative word here ...sometimes I feel I've achieved it and sometimes I fall short of this ideal and a wee bit of what I like to call 'Quality control' has to be resorted to. The ripping up of doodles and sometimes even worked up designs that just don't, real