The Time-Keeper's Sphere

Studio Nicola Fouché
12 minutes ago
5 min read

[April 2026]

Hand-drawn watercolour and fineliner pen illustration by artist Nicola Fouche of an imaginary world, with geometric circles, colourful, houses, cityscapes, ladders and trees — *Detail shot of the illustration "The Time-Keeper's Sphere V".*

Dear friends, family and fellow art lovers,

April was a hot, quiet month. Caught between boiling external temperatures, and a mind twisting and turning down the myriad, labyrinthine pathways of thought and (at times) pernicious thinking that so easily sprouts from solitude, isolation and stagnation, it was a month of ups and downs to say the least. I spent the time hiding away in my air-conditioned studio, finishing up a detailed illustration that I had started on a while back, moving around some things in the studio so that I could start painting again and then began the arduous task of awaking some acrylic paintings from hibernation (more on this in next month's newsletter).

Detail shots of the illustration "The Time-Keeper's Sphere V"

The illustrations that I have been working on recently are a continuation of my Wandering Worlds series (read more about them here). I have however decided to bundle the last few pieces from this series into a new body of work. They have become geometric and painstakingly detailed, and have made quite a jump from the floating worlds that came before them. This new body of work is called The Time-Keeper's Sphere, which is a nod to my love for science-fiction and fantasy novels and films.

"The Time-Keeper's Sphere II", watercolour paint and fine-liner pen on 100% cotton watercolour paper

42cm x 29.5cm

2025

I started playing around with these floating worlds the year before the pandemic started. This is a series that has gone through many transformations and evolutions over the past 7 years. These floating, wandering worlds provided, and still do provide, me with a space to play and experiment with more pictorial shapes, like houses and imaginary trees and otherworldly cityscapes and so on, and to experiment in greater detail with colours and textures. As the years progressed, the wandering worlds have become more and more detailed. In their most recent metamorphosis they have veered towards the realm of geometry, where measurements are precise and tools like drafting compasses and stainless steel rulers are of the utmost importance.

"The Time-Keeper's Sphere III", watercolour paint and fine-liner pen on 100% cotton watercolour paper

31cm x 31cm

2025

SOLD

I have little doubt that the geometric nature of these new illustrations have much to do with the decorative arts of South East Asia, especially the intricate tile designs that I have come across here. Living the kind of life that my husband and I have chosen certainly has its many challenges, but the vast diversity of visual stimuli which I am exposed to on a daily basis is definitely not one of them. Inspiration is a beautifully indirect thing. Everything I see, everything I feel, everything I experience, finds their way within me. Once inside they mix and recombine and sometimes lay hidden until the right artwork comes along for them to be drawn out and expressed in a completely new shape and form. This is what inspiration is to me, an internal alchemical process that almost always manages to ignite a sense of child-like delight and marvel within me. So even on the days when I am tired and home-sick and uncertain of the life choices that we have made, I only need to look at the work that I have produced over the past few years to be reminded of the gifts that come alongside the hardship.

"The Time-Keeper's Sphere IV", watercolour paint and fine-liner pen on 100% cotton watercolour paper

42cm x 29.5cm

2026

These imaginary worlds of mine have always been devoid of people, even though the presence of life and civilisation is evident. I don't know why this is, but I like to think that the beings who occupy these worlds prefer not to be seen (at least not by me), and quietly wait for me to step away from the drawing board before continuing with their lives.

If you have fallen in-love with one (or all😎) of these worlds and have decided that you must just have the original hanging in your home, then please let me know. I ship internationally with express courier and would be so happy for some of these new worlds to start finding their way into the new homes.

All my love,

Nicola

PS. If you are reading this in its blog form, please consider subscribing to my monthly newsletter. The content is the same, but it's delivered directly to your inbox.

PPS. As always, if you enjoyed my musings and know of anyone who might also enjoy my ramblings please forward my blog/newsletter to them, your support will be greatly appreciated. I would also love to hear from you. So any responses or comments or creative stories of your own that you might have and would like to share with me, please send me an email.

PPPS. I know it is a Brave New World when I need to start ending off my newsletters/blogs with the statement that this newsletter was fully written by me using my fallible human mind and fingers (hands?). I have never, and will never use AI to write it for me, as the writing of these newsletters serve as a kind of month-in-review, and that is invaluable. Same goes for my artwork and illustrations. All images, photographs, illustrations and artworks which you see in my newsletters were created by me, by hand in the real world, unless otherwise stated.

In Other News...

Fire • Colour • Light

On Enamelling and Becoming

A book on the art of enamelling by contemporary jewellery artist Nora Kovats

My friend, contemporary jewelry artist and enamelling magician, Nora Kovats, is publishing her first book in the upcoming months: Fire · Colour · Light - On Enamelling and Becoming. It is all about the artistic practice, process and felt-experience of enamelling. It will include essays by her as well as several other notable individuals offering perspectives on contemporary craft and art history. The book will be accompanied by beautiful photographs documenting her work and illustrating the enamelling process.

It promises to be a note-worthy and valuable addition to anyone who specialises in enameling or simply has a love for this delicate and bewitching age-old technique.

It is currently available for pre-order here.

Hi! My Name is Sam

An illustrated children's picture book

about the daily adventures of a dachshund puppy.

An illustrated children's book about a dachshund puppy called Sam written and illustrated by artist Nicola Fouche

"Sometimes I like to help Mommy in the garden... digging is awesome!"

Meet Sam, a curious 5-month old dachshund puppy who loves exploring her home and napping on the couch.

From eating Mummy and Daddy's shoes to making muddy messes, Sam's days are filled with silly, sweet and funny adventures.

Bursting with colourful illustrations and easy-to-read playful letters and words, Hi! My Name is Sam is the perfect read-aloud story for nursery and early readers.