A selection of Jo's latest work. These paintings are made on wood en board with acrylics and graphite and inspired by the Wiltshire landscape.

Its been quite a while since I wrote this blog.

Since Christmas I have written an illustrated a 'dummy' children's book, which I have sent to Walker. The story finds a home for the little fox character I was playing with before Christmas. It was also inspired by the snow we had in January. Keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully when all has calmed down after Bologna, Walker will get to look at it.

Most recently I have been working on my exhibition which is being held the first weekend in May. With two of my very talented artist friends, I am showing work inspired by the Wiltshire landscape.

Liney, Julie and I walk our dogs most mornings on the edge of Salisbury plain. It is a very beautiful and interesting piece of land, full of ridges, steps and undulations. While we walk, talk and take in the landscape, we are frequently interupted by various blasts and booms from the army training ground that is Salisbury plain. When the red flag is flying we know that we will be subject to these haunting and eerie sounds, so familiar yet so incongruous in these tranquil surroundings. My exhibition therefore, will be called Red Flag. In some of the paintings there is a sense of absence, or a hint at presence. Some areas of the paintings are reminiscent of no-man's land, they seem baron and barbed. The paintings incorporate maps of the locality, the red triangles of the 'danger zone' visable. This landscape, above West Lavington, is truly like a living map where the contour lines appear and mold the hills. My paintings incorporate these lines. I also wanted to link my work in with Julie and Liney's. As Textile designers, their works for the exhibition involve printing using organic forms, experimenting, playing with and delighting in the accidents that happen with the process of making their images. Areas of my paintings are like a tapestry, with the many lines appearing almost as stitches. The paintings are also fragmented. I wanted to give them a fragile and broken feel. The main piece appears as four-or it could be five (I'm still working on it)panels, placed together like a series of photographs making up a panoramic view. Although the images appear to join to create this view, there is also a play on scale, which make them not quite fit.

I guess all of these elements together represent a battle, a war and of an uncertain world. I do not really seek to make a political statement about the on-going wars in the Middle-East, but just an acknowledge those involved in them, be it our troupes or the innocent civilians of these countries. When you hear the sounds of war everyday when you're walking your dogs, it makes you think...... This aside, I think the paintings can be appreciated just as landscape paintings about my home. There will be drawings and prints for sale, as well as original paintings.

Another little fox

Been working on some fox characters recently. Got no story to go with them as yet! I love foxes, although they get a bad press. Heard the hunt going through yesterday, which I found little upsetting. Its hard to believe they are just following a scent....

The roughs for The Walk seem to be going well, really enjoying working on it.

two little fox cubs

Another study for The Walk.

Study for The Walk, a series based on a walk where I live with my daughter. Here she is walking in one of the fields.

Putting together a series covering all the seasons, looking at nature etc.

Not written anything on here for ages.

Have now got my website up and running, the address is www.joloringfisher.com.

Also I have a couple of items for sale on Folksy-the link is on this page.

Other than that, I'm continuing to work on my story called The Walk, and have been out in the wind and rain taking photos this morning, some of which I will post on here.

Beach finds. Compressed charcoal and pencil.

Here is an example of some of my black and white work. This image is made in compressed charcoal and was for an editorial brief for my degree.

Children's Books I love and inspired by

Wonder Bear by Tao Nyeu; While You Are Sleeping, Beegu, Slow Loris by Alexis Deacon; Miki by Stephen Mackey; The Dancing Tiger Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher; The 108th Sheep by Ayano Imai; Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak; The Shy Pony by Margriet Heymans; Catherine and the Lion by Clare Jarrett; Tim All Alone by Edward Ardizzone; The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle; Augustus and his Smile by Catherine Rayner; The Root Children by Sibylle Von Olfers; Wolf, Button, Pinocchio by Sara Fanelli; Brave Bitsy and the Bear illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke; Ginger by Charlotte Voake; The Bremen Town Musicians, Little Hobbin, The Wizard of Oz', Alice in Wonderland Illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger; The Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmanns; The Moomin books by Tove Jansson; The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers; And if the Moon could Talk and others by Georg Hallensleben; The Red Tree by Shaun Tan.

Illustration for New Fairy Tales' A Most Ordinary Boy.

Mother and baby dragon from New Fairy Tales' A Most Ordinary Boy. First dragon's I have painted! Image appears un-cropped.

This is one of the images for the New Fairy Tales story A Most Ordinary Boy. Image here is uncropped.

The new edition of New Fairy Tales, www.newfairytales.co.uk is out now. My work is featured in it illustrating A Most Ordinary Boy. Its exciting to see my work in print.

Currently working on a dummy for Ivy-Beatrice and the Field of Poppies. I'll add some roughs on here soon.

2000.  Detail from an image produced for degree brief. Photo montage and acrylics.

2000, photo montage and acrylics

Wind Turbine, 2001. Photo montage and acrylic