Leap of Faith

Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing. Believe in yourself. And believe that there is a loving Source - a Sower of Dreams - just waiting to be asked to help you make your dreams come true.

Sarah Ban Breathnach

 

 

Leap of Faith
Oil on paper

I wish everyone a healthy and prosperous New Year, keep painting everyone.xxx

Hope

Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.'

 

Quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

Hope
Oil on paper

 

Stargazer Lilies

I have so many photos to work from, I vow to use them more as fresh flowers are a pleasure, but not cheap. This painting is from a photo I took about three years ago.

I heard this song by Ben Howard today and I felt goose bumps, that guitar is out of this world!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYR6A47DK-Q

Stargazer Lilies
Oil on oil paper.

Peaceful Slumber

Our Sleeping Cat
charcoal on cartridge paper

It never ceases to amaze me how many hours cats sleep.

Goose and goslings Sketch

Goose and Gosling sketch
black biro and tombow marker

Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.

Bradley Whitford

White Rose in Blue Glass

Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build.

 

Quote by Robert Collier

White Rose in Blue Vase
oil on oil paper

Mixed Feelings

Its that time of year when you start to look back and try to understand what kind of year its been. There have been downs and ups, I'm sure everyone has those. What is the best thing that has happened to you this year?

This bouquet is still going strong and I couldn't resist having another go at it, its funny though, it never gets easier, which is fine by me because I love a challenge.

Oasis

For me painting is my oasis, that time of the day when no matter how tired I am or stressed I enter a cool, refreshing zone.

Oasis
oil on oil paper

Pheasant Sketch

The last time I worked in charcoal was when I was at school, I had forgotten how much I love this medium.

Charcoal on cartridge paper

Persistence

Persistence
oil on oil paper
 

As promised its been a beautiful sunny day, just perfect for taking photos (in the shade of course).
We've been ferrying our son to a couple of interviews, one in Milton Keynes and one in Hemel Hempstead. He has a 2, 1 degree in Economics and Finance, he's been applying for two years for jobs with no luck. Its wearing him down and its getting harder  to scrape him off the floor and boost his confidence time and time again. I would like to ask the universe for a job for our son, he's a fast learner, he has a heart of gold, the type that will carry an old ladies shopping home to their door.

Persistance

Persistence
Oil on oil paper

 

If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.

Milton Berle

I ran out of daylight but I finished the painting so hopefully I will have a good photo tomorrow.

 

Anticipation

I now have a picture after many days of grey light. Instead of taking a photo in good daylight I scanned this painting once it was dry and adjusted the colours  as near to the painting as possible.

value sketch

Anticipation
oil on wrapped canvas 8"x 8"

Not Enough Daylight!

I've managed to finish this little painting, but couldn't take a decent photo, the light is very grey, its been raining most of the day. I love the rain though so I'm not complaining.   :  )

Buds and Rose
oil on canvas 8"x 8"

Value Sketches

Hi everyone, I've really missed blogging these last few weeks and actually this year I have posted less and less. I am still painting as much as ever, maybe more so, its just been so hectic. Especially these last few months. On the 29th of October I took part in a day long workshop in Urban Landscape run by Adebanji Alade. It was very intense and I absolutely loved every minute of it, Adebanji is such a gifted artist and has such a passion which comes through in his teaching. I was so wrapped up in the day that I took very few pictures, but if you look on Adebanji's facbook you will see all the details.
https://www.facebook.com/adebanji.alade?fref=hovercard

 He taught us that doing a value sketch before beginning a painting goes a long way towards creating a successful painting. Over the years I have always meant to sketch more, but after a few drawings I go back to just painting straight away. I vow to sketch more as it really does make such a difference. Value sketches help to work out the design of the painting and see if there is enough contrast and balance between values.

The more I paint the more I feel I have so much to learn, but blogging has meant so many positive benefits , I feel is essential to my growth as an artist. the very practice of painting and posting, receiving encouragement from artists and keeping in touch with what everyone else is doing is so important. Painting is such a solitary occupation and most times blogging is the only social means of communication with other artists.

Summer Meadow III

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.

Quote by John Milton

For me painting fills me with gratitude, the end result is a painting, but the process is the journey and oh, what a marvellous journey it is. 

Summer Meadow III
oil on oil paper 14cmc20cm

Summer Meadow

Summer Meadow II
Oil on oil paper 20cmx 14cm

This is a most welcome change from my usual fruit and flowers.
I think I might stay with this subject for a while.  :  )

I hope  my fellow artists are well, I really enjoy looking at all your paintings. As always, thank you for  your comments and I wish you all many hours of happy painting.xxx

Summer Meadow
Oil on oil paper 20cmx14cm

 

Within Reach

" Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand."

Quote by Mother Theresa

Within Reach
Oil on canvas board 4"x 4"

Peach Roses in Vintage Vase

I love picking up vases from charity shops and this one, I think was actually used to keep celery in.
These roses were a bargain and have separate petals of pink and peach, they're so beautiful I can't stop looking at them.

Peach Roses in Vintage Vase
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x 8"

Blessings

Hi everyone, I know its been so long since I posted last. I have been very busy with many things, but the highlight has been my trip to the South of France. I am very lucky to have a wonderful friend who invited me to stay in her house and we spent the most amazing four days visiting places like Grimaldi Castle, Renoir's house, Matisse's Chapel, the famous La Colombe d'or in the village of St Paul de Vence.
The highlight for me has to be Renoir's house, seeing his studio with his easel was truly emotional. Although having said that, eating in La Colombe d'or was out of this world, being surrounded by original paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Andre' Derain, Bonnard, Chagall and many more is an experience I will never forget. Sitting down with great company and surrounded by master paintings, I felt full before even eating.

French Light
Oil on canvas board

I managed to paint one evening, things I found inside my friends house, because there was simply too much to see and too little time to go out to paint. I have taken many photos and hopefully I will have plenty of reference to work from. I won't bore you with too many of my holiday photos but here a select few.

Tana's Pansies
Oil on canvas board 8"x 8"

Heart of the French Riviera

Heart of the French Riviera

An art installation on the top of Grimaldi Castle in Cagnes-sur-Mer

A Picasso inside La Colombe d'or

Everything Will Be Ok

These veggies are from our local pick your own farm. I was arranging them on the worktop and the leafy arm seemed to fall naturally around the onion as if to say "don't worry, everything will be ok."
Sometimes that's all we need.

Everything Will Be Ok
Oil on canvas board 5"x 7"

Larger Than Life

What is it to be "larger than life" ?
  Sometimes a title comes to my mind before I paint and other times, like this painting I looked at it and felt that the sunflower wants to come out of the canvas and be more than it is. When I paint I feel larger than life. How does painting make you feel?

Larger Than Life
Oil on box canvas
8"x 8"

Sunflowers in Bluebird Vase

Still enjoying these gorgeous sunflowers.

Sunflowers in Bluebird Vase
Oil on box canvas 8"x 8"

Fig I and II

Figs are in season again, such a beautiful fruit.

Fig II
Oil on canvas board 4"x 4"

Fig
Oil on canvas board 4"x 4"
 

You Are My Sunshine

You are my Sunshine
Oil on wrapped canvas
7"x 5"

September is my favourite month,  there is that slight chill in the air that promises Autumn and it

never disappoints.




You are my sunshine II
Oil on wrapped canvas
7"x5"



New Artist Fair

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying getting back into painting after the long summer. I know many have taken up the 30 day challenge with Lesley, good luck, its a fantastic challenge.

The New Artist Fair was this weekend and I can't tell you how exhausted I am. My friend and I took my paintings up on Friday and spent a good two hours hanging them. There was an evening preview but we came back early because of work and family. We went back on Sunday and stayed for four hours, it was fun meeting all the other artists and visitors. I am very excited to tell you that I have an offer from a bricks and mortar gallery in Maidstone to sell my work!!!!

As of last week I am also represented by Advocate Art which is an artists agency who got in touch with me ( it makes a great change from chasing people ), so a lot has been happening and its all good.





Hopefully I will get back into painting today. :  )

Our cat Pisho and my paintings all packed

Two hours of hanging!!

The Old Truman Brewery
outside the venue

What I love about London, the contrast between old and new
St Pancras and Kings Cross train stations

 

Apple and Flowers

To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage.

Quote by Georgia O'Keeffe

Apple and Flowers
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"

Deepest Blue

Deepest Blue II
Oil on wrapped canvas 7"x 5"
 

Its not often you get something for nothing so I was very happy to pick up these beautiful roses from our local mini supermarket for free. They were a little past their best but cutting the stems fairly short revives them and gives them a new lease of life.

I am really enjoying painting two versions of the same subject side by side.
I don't know why the colours are so sharp but you can see that the middle photo is more true to the original colours.

 

Deepest Blue
oil on wrapped canvas 7"x 5"
SOLD

Zen Sheep

Sheep have such a wonderful way of looking so calm and collected as if they are meditating.

Zen Sheep
oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

Zen Sheep II
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Pear and Grapes I and II / Pink Rose and Fruit

I was up two hours before work and really enjoyed a quiet house to paint, I think this could become a habit. I also found a few hours this evening, so its been a productive day.

Pear and Grapes I
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
 

Pink Roses and Fruit
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"
SOLD

Pear and Grapes
oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Decadent Rose II

My second painting for today.

Decadent Rose II
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"

Decadent Rose

With all the sun we've been getting the roses are just so decadent and laden with scent.

Decadent Rose
oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"

Pear and Plums

I have about three weeks painting time and as is the way with life, I find myself with less and less free time. So I've decided to paint two at a time.

Pear and Plums
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Pear and Plums
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Pear and Plums

The group exhibition is from the 5th to the 7th of September, its the New Artist Fair and its going to be held at The Old Truman Brewery.  http://www.newartistfair.com/sept-2014-summer-exhibition.html

All the artists taking part are now listed including yours truly. I am so looking forward to it, I love London, my spirits lift as soon as I get on the train heading there. The architecture and general vibes I find are very artist friendly.