The rapture in the lonely shore

White Water, Green Sea a photograph by Jo Bradford

Photograph © Jo Bradford

There is pleasure in the pathless woods,

there is rapture in the lonely shore;

There is society where none intrudes,

by the deep sea, and music in its roar;

I love not man the less,

but nature more.

Author: Lord Byron 1788-1824

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Budding Blossom

Photograph © Jo Bradford

Budding Blossom by Jo Bradford

Another May new buds and flowers shall bring:

Ah! why has happiness no second Spring?

~ Charlotte Smith

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Sunny Days

Photograph © Jo Bradford

Midday Meadow by Jo Bradford

I am never happier than when the sun is out - what a beautiful day xx

Saatchi Gallery & Harper Collins Book Cover Design Competition

To The Sea by Joanne Bradford

Several months ago I responded to a call for submissions on the Saatchi Gallery Online and submitted a design for a book cover.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out today that my design made it to the shortlist.....

Here is the official blurb...

HarperCollins and Saatchi Online are delighted to unveil the shortlist of twenty covers for the hardback edition of The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal by Sean Dixon. This competition has thrown open the doors to everyone and the sheer numbers of entries and the range and quality has been impressive. We would like to thank everyone who has taken part and we hope that you will continue your journey in the wonderful world of the Lacuna Cabal when the book is published (1 July 2008).

To see the winner and the full short list click here..........

The Creek

The Creek by Jo Bradford
A 10 minute trip from my studio, this is a great place to escape for the afternoon in search of inspiration.

Spring has sprung!

Buy Singled Out by Jo Bradford

Evidence of Spring is all around now, there are flowers in the grass and in the trees, and the air has the sweet scent of blossom drifiting along it, hooray for Spring!

Big Blue Sea

Big Blue Sea by Jo Bradford

This is my newest listing to my Green Island Art shop - I took it on Sunday - I was in the dunes with my dog, enjoying the sun and these glimpses of the ocean through the long grass.

Immersion

Immersion by Jo Bradford

European friends - buy this here

American friends - buy this here

I love the Spring - the warm air and sunshine fills you with the desire to immerse yourself in the salty water and wash the winter blues away.

That's Delish Feature

I was featured on That's Delish today, it's a Conneticut based blog which features all kinds of interesting art, design, technological and cultural inspirations from around the globe.

Thanks to Caitlin for the mention!!

Life's a Beach

Photograph © Jo Bradford

Blue Beach Days by Jo Bradford

Europe buy this here

USA buy this here

Such a great place to hang out, walk the dog, go surfing, and people watch of course!

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Every time I see an adult on a bicycle.....

by Jo Bradford

"Every time I see an adult on a bicycle,

I no longer despair for the future of mankind"

H.G. Wells

Blue Afternoon

Buy Blue Afternoon by Jo Bradford

I take great comfort from the ocean - when all is not going to plan - I can step out of my front door, and take a walk along the cliffs. The sheer scale of the Atlantic Ocean puts it all in perspective.

Antiquated Avant-garde

Jump!! by Jo Bradford

See more about Jump! here

As the rest of the world rushes headlong into the digital revolution - I find that digital photography increasingly holds little meaning for me. Whilst in the early 2000's I wholly embraced the digitisation of photography for it's speed and simplicity, it is precisely that sterility and the lack of contact with the process that I am now feeling disenchanted with.

I find myself retreating further into the world of experimental photography and alternative processes. One of my favourite processes is the cyanotype method. I love that it allows one to reconnect with the process of capturing light on paper in its simplest form. The whole process of mixing up the powdered chemicals to create my own light sensitive emulsion, then painting it on to watercolour paper with a Japanese hake brush is very pleasing. But what I love most is that the print is made in sunlight, so I get to sit outside my studio in the sunshine during the exposure and reflect on anything and everything whilst I wait for the big yellow fellow to do his work.

A scientist friend of mine says that I am part of the antiquated avant-garde. I suppose cyanotypes and luminograms are pretty avant garde, culturally and artistically speaking. Meanwhile, I am more than happy to separate myself from a mainstream society burying itself in a avalanche of digital imagery, while I eschew the ease of the new, in favour of something more tactile and real.

A blue sky day!

Soaring High - Original Fine Art Photograph by Jo Bradford

See this picture here on Etsy

What a pleasure to wake up to blue skies and sunshine this morning - after such a long winter. I am glad that the sun has decided to grace us with her presence at last :)

Vintage Cameras

Her Name Is Iris by Jo Bradford (More info here)

I have a growing collection of vintage box cameras and all sorts of other antique camera paraphernalia which I like to play with. I pick up photography related junk on an almost weekly basis, it often gravitates to me by way of family members and acquaintances after they have cleared out their attic, or an old shed - and I am a happy recipient!!


I while away many happy hours in my studio restoring and adapting these treasures to apply to my creative process. And I always enjoy the puzzled looks I get from passers by when I go out in public with my strange contraptions to make new pictures.