Red

How the colour red affects mentally and physically:

Increases enthusiasm
Stimulates energy
Encourages action and confidence
A sense of protection from fears and anxiety

Source:More alive with Color by Leatrice Eiseman

Well,if you ever needed an excuse to buy that red dress.........

Oh by the way Karla Uphoff  is giving away one of her beautiful paintings in celebration of having her blog Life on the Flip Side for a year and also 100 posts.If you mention her blog she is adding ten entries so I'm hoping to win. : ))

Dragonfruit

How could I resist buying this to paint! Although the taste does not live up to its promise.
"Challenge is a dragon with a gift in its mouth....Tame the dragon and the gift is yours."
Quote by Noela Evans.

Purple and Turquoise 2

There's a new shop in town filled with decoration pieces and really cute little things like this bird.

My Inspiration

I thought I'd share with you how I began my daily paintings.Last year one of my favourite artists Jack Vettriano was doing a book signing at his gallery in London and I asked him how many hours he paints a day.....the answer was ten to twelve hours!!!! That answer was the kick I needed to finally commit to painting on a daily basis,although I still don't paint that many hours what with work and everything.

Jack Vettriano is a Scottish artist who is self taught and has a style that I love.

Purple and Turquoise

It does'nt matter what the subject is I am drawn to these two colours at the moment.I've had some fun with colour and just keeping everything lively.

Ladies First

I've had to rely on my park photos today as it was getting late in the day and I did'nt really have any idea what to paint.These drakes were acting like proper gents and letting the lady feed on the bread crumbs first.

Get a Life

This is my entry for this weeks www.dailypaintworks.com challenge which has been set by Linda Popple.I love the challenge and although I don't paint people very often its been great.

I decided to create a different background to the one in the photo just to emphasise that there is a beautiful world out there and people are oblivious to it all and too much time is spent on these useful but time consuming  gadgets.

Asparagus in a Glass

I've never cooked asparagus but I saw these at our local grocery store and they were reduced in price.I don't think like the normal housewife anymore,its all about what can I paint and will I be able to cook it after.These were'nt looking too fresh so I thought I would give them a drink and they started to bend and curl slightly.Fruit and veg never looked so interesting. : ))

Mustard and Bells

Both bluebells and mustard are growing in our garden at the moment.We cook mustard leaves in a similar way to spinach and are absolutely delicious.

Spring Blossom 2

Its good to be able to rely on photos when inspiration seems far away.

"Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter.Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom,but we hope it,we know it." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Serenity

This goose looked so chilled out when I took this picture.Its like he had not a care in the world or who was watching.I wish I could be like that more. : ))

Freesias in Purple Vase

I did'nt think these freesias would last another day so I wanted to paint them one more time.

"Love is the only flower that grows and blossoms without the aid of the seasons."

Duck a l'Orange

I had to paint this adorable duck again and at a friends suggestion with oranges. : )
Its a sunny 18C today  and I've got housework : (   ....oh well...how about another duck quote!

"Painting is sometimes like those recipes where you do all manner of elaborate things to a duck,and then end up putting it to one side and only using the skin."  Lucien Freud

Canard a' la Fraise

"Be like a duck.Calm on the surface,but always paddling like the dickens underneath."  Michael Cain

Fragrant Freesias

These flowers are so sweet smelling and I love them.

"Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed."  Walt Whitman

Spring Blossoms

Apparently its bad luck to bring blossoms into the house,so the only option was to take some pictures.

"Hopes are planted in friendships garden where dreams blossom into priceless treasures." Unknown.

Spring in the Park

Our local park is about twenty minutes walk away and yesterday I had a great time taking pictures of the birds in and around the lake.That short walk holds a lifetime of memories.....school,friends that used to live there and have moved away,carnivals every year....the list is endless.

Backgarden Sunset

Lately the sunsets have been spectacular and come evening time I have my camera ready.I used a combination of brushwork and palette knife and taking on board the lessons that Carol Marine has been giving through the dailypaintworks.Mainly not to overwork things which gives a more fresher look.

Ladies Who Lunch

This is my entry for http://www.dailypaintworks.com/ challenge.We have a choice of painting the picture on the website or any picture we choose.This is from a photo I took about five years ago at Woodside Animal Farm where we used take our kids regularly.Its full of all kinds of farm animals and some exotic ones too.I absolutely loved this challenge and I might even do a few more.

Tomato Fever

I took a photo of this composition last week and did'nt get to paint it till this morning,now all the chillies are red .I've been playing with the palette knife again and really enjoying the effects that it creates.it certainly gives texture and the colours appear brighter.

Daffs in Pasta Sauce Jar

Yes,this jar had pasta sauce in it and has been recycled  : )) I thought I was done with daffodils for this year but I'm very lucky to know a kind and generous florist, who gave me a huge bunch of these spring flowers.

Its such a beautiful day,19 degrees and winter seems far away.There are blossoms everywhere ,I really need to get out there and take some pictures.
I've picked up a palette knife for the first time and played around a little,its certainly a more random way of working  ,but fun.

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road" 2

I realised that I was'nt at all happy with yesterdays painting ,so I decided to leave that one alone and did another version.I certainly feel better about this attempt.

"A bend in the road is not the end of the road"

I tried to keep this as loose as possible and to make each brushstroke count.Parts of it I did achieve that ,but its so hard not to try to put in detail.Anyway I made myself stop.This is my second entry for this weeks http://www.dailypaintworks.com/  challenge.This was set by Carol and the brief was to paint from two photos and to edit details.

Clems in Blue Bowl

The weather was glorious today and too good to spend indoors ,but work not allowing, its been a long day.Still its a blessing to be able to find time to paint again.My friend Tracy found this beautiful glass bowl and I've been looking for the right composition to use with it.I think I found it.

Freedom's Road

This weeks challenge is a landscape from a photo of a road in Germany.Landscapes are not the norm for me but I certainly enjoyed having a go.

Poseur

Back in October I took some pictures at the park where we have a lake.There is quite a variety of birds and this particular goose actually did a little pose before moving on.I've tried to keep this quite loose and enjoyed myself in the process. : )

Strawberries and a Flower

I have no idea what type of flower this is but I think it seems to go well with the strawberries.I've started

spring cleaning and I am exhausted.........and then I could'nt work out what to paint and the composition.....and then THE BACKGROUND.This is what I have most trouble with and takes the longest to work out.By the way this is painting number 99!!

Grape Hyacinths in Glass Bottle

For the last two days I've been rushed off my feet with work .I've certainly missed my painting and the longer I leave  it the harder it is to get back in.Although I have been able to very thankfully finish another painting.These hyacinths are growing freely in our garden at the moment and go so well in this green tinted bottle.