Sunny Sunday

I was up early on this beautiful sunny Sunday to paint this.

Sunny Sunday
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

Daffodils and Clementine

Daffodils and Clementine
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

 “The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.” Lucian Freud

Pink on Blue

Happiness is not something readymade.  It comes from your own actions. –Dalai Lama

Pink on Blue
oil on canvas board 6"x6"

Opening Up a Little More

I actually painted this after the first daff painting but it needed some changes. I've been working on it today and I think its at a stage where I can call it finished.

An update on the John Singer Sergeant painting project started by Richard Robinson......the deadline was the end of last month, but I suppose if one painting is to be completed by eighty artists there are bound to be hitches, life can get in the way, with all the best of intentions. My piece is No.78, please check out the painting, I think all the pieces look amazing.


http://thecompleteartist.ning.com/page/group-painting

Opening Up A Little More
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Cheer Up

This composition kind of fell into place, mainly because the pear refused to stand!!

Cheer Up
Oil on canvas board 5"x7"
SOLD

Opening Up

Over the last three years I have come to love the work of so many artists. At the moment I am fascinated by the work of George Braque who was a 20th Century French artist. He was known for cubism, modern art, fauvism and analytic cubism. I particularly like his limited colour palette, especially in his still life paintings. A note to Karen d' Angeac Mihm,  I would love to paint one of Braque's still life paintings for this or next  months challenge, no pressure of course. :  )
http://paintingfromthemasters.blogspot.co.uk/

Opening Up
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Fruit and Rose

The sun is shining, its about 18C and I've just finished this painting. Oh, and its a Sunday, what could be better!!

Fruit and Rose
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
 

Plum Trio

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. –Confucius

This quote sums up how I feel at the moment....determined to keep going.



Plum Trio
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Roses Roses

Either you run the day, or the day runs you. –Jim Rohn

There have been so many days when there is no control, there is precious little spare time and if that is not made use of, then " the day runs you". So when I do paint it is a joy, a privilege, and I feel satisfied that I made use of the gift of time.

My obsession with roses is still in full force, I see a bunch of roses and I just want to take it home and lose myself in the colours and shapes.

Roses Roses
Oil on canvas board
8"x8"
SOLD

Carnations in Glass Vase

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,

And live like it’s heaven on earth.”― William W. Purkey



Carnations in Glass Vase
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

The Elephant in the Room

You know the situation....there is a subject that needs to be brought to the surface but you can't and you can't ignore it either. Its the elephant in the room. Lol. :  )

The Elephant in the Room
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
 

Irises in Glass III

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Irises in Glass III
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

Richard Robinsons Group Project of a John Singer Sergeant Painting

I am subscribed to Richard Robinsons blog and I received an email in January about an exciting new project where eighty artists were invited to take part in a group project of a famous painting. The places were filled up so quickly , I know many were disappointed . Each artist was given a slice of the painting Paul Helleu Sketching With His Wife to copy. All the pieces will be put together and possibly published in an international art magazine. Its taken me a number of tries but I have finally finished. It was the most hardest piece I have ever tried to paint but I'm glad that I could be part of it. All pieces are 10"x10" so that if at a later date Richard decided to bring them all together they would fit and could be auctioned off for charity.

Paul Helleu Sketching with his Wife After John Singer Sergeant
Oil on canvas paper 10"x10"

  http://thecompleteartist.ning.com/events/group-painting-project1

Cherry Oh Baby

One of my childhood songs I remember so well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X7WI8qPAeM

Cherry Oh Baby
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

Daffs and Green Apple

Daffs and Green Apple
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

 The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best
of everything they just make the most of everything that comes
along their way.

Pink Roses and Fruit

There is no must in art because art is free.
Wassily Kandinsky

Pink Roses and Fruit
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

Daffs and a Lemon

Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye.. it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.”  Edvard Munch

Daffs and a Lemon
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Irises in Glass

Irises in Glass
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

“I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living.” ~Robert Henri

Pink Lemonade

Thanks Ladies for all your comments recently. :  )

I've been saving this pretty bottle to paint and it seems to go very well with this rose and cherries.

Iris in Glass

Yesterdays quote, if I keep that to the forefront of my mind is really helping me to move forward.

Iris in Glass
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Two Roses and an Apple

“Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it.” Salvador Dali

Hi everyone, I hope you are all keeping warm this winter.

This quote by Salvador Dali sums up why I have been struggling this week. I started off painting the roses and then everything fell apart. I scraped this painting four times last week and then I just gave up. I couldn't put it to one side and start something else, it became a block until finally today I made myself carry on with it and finish without fear of failure. The only way I could move forward was to get it done. Now the cloud has lifted, I'm already thinking of what to paint next and I feel so much better.  :  )

Two Roses and an Apple
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Anticipation

I have finally managed to grow forsythia in my garden!!!  I am trying to get away from the literal, to add something of myself and how I feel. I feel joy at the anticipation of spring, the world waking up after a long sleep.

Anticipation
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Red Rose and Green Apple

“The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting.” Vincent Van Gogh

Red Rose and Green Apple
Oil on canvas board 8"x8" 

Scent and Sensibility III

This is the third and last painting of my friends scent bottle, out of the three I've enjoyed the last two more because they are more loosely painted than the first.
In retrospect maybe I shouldn't have placed the jar in the centre but I think it works.


Scent and Sensibility
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Scent and Sensibility II

Scent and Sensibility
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD
 

This scent bottle is still fascinating me, especially the stopper. I'm trying to cut down on the amount of colour, maybe a little goes a long way?? What do you think?

This classic by Creedence Clearwater Revival ...Suzy Q  has to be played very loud, I do get complaints from the family so I don't treat myself too often.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mxaA-bJ35s

Relaxation

Sometimes I just go with the flow.


Crawfish by Elvis Presley is what I was listening to while painting, its one of my favourites.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJxyb7khbjg

Relaxation
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD 

Scent and Sensiblity

This scent bottle is a present from a dear friend of mine, she even thought of the title. :  )

Scent and Sensibility
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"

 

Rhythm and Blues

I paint to music and  the rhythm is in my soul,

Rhythm and Blues
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
 

as is painting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1VsFjP0cTo 

I hope you enjoy this treat by Nelson Freitas

Flowers and Fruit

This is painted from a photo I took last year, I just like the simplicity of the single rose, the snapdragon stem and plum. I'm still working on simplifying brushwork and keeping the colours fresh.

Flowers and Fruit
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
Available on DPW Auctions

Inspiration

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.”
― Jack London

Inspiration
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Soul Food II

Same roses, a slightly different view.

Soul Food II
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
 

Shelly Among the Roses ( Photos)

I've been reorganising my painting space as I don't yet have a studio. I did however take a little break to have a little fun with our six month old rescue kitten Shelly. We've had her for three months, when we found her it was touch and go but has more than doubled in weight and is a fluff ball of fun.

Pink Roses in Lily Vase

Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.”
― Langston Hughes 

Pink Roses in Lily Vase
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

 

Soul Food

Painting roses  feeds my soul.

Soul Food
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD
 

Time to Think

Sometimes its good to just stand still and let the world move around you. Space to replenish your soul.

Time to Think
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
 

Attention Seekers

Well, here we are in 2014!! The last couple of days have been very wet and windy. Much as I wanted to post a new painting the light was terrible. Anyway, today is absolutely gorgeous, the sun is out and everything is sparkling. I've been for my daily walk, which I started a week ago, I really need to get some fresh air, even if its for thirty minutes.

Blue Bird Vase and Tulips
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Attention Seekers
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Affinity

I hope everyone is having a great time over the holidays, we are heading for 2014 and a chance to renew resolutions. I have tried to paint true to what I want to express, which is not an easy task. For this coming year I hope to keep learning, exploring different mediums and techniques.
My overriding feeling is painting is a part of me, if I'm not painting I'm dreaming about painting, and when I'm painting I feel I'm in an altered state where worries, doubts, all of the disappointments don't exist. From when I can remember I have had the compulsion to create something, I tried my hand at many arts and crafts growing up. Resources were limited, clothes and shoes were hard enough to come by let alone art materials. I remember sitting by a village pond making little dishes out of the natural red clay in the soil before I was five.I've made quilts out of old clothes, collages, printing, calligraphy, sculpture, knitting, and more recently, cake decorating, and flower arranging.
 When we came to the UK and seeing illustrated children's books for the first time was just the most amazing experience of my life. It  felt like fireworks going off in my head, from then I could not get enough of the fairy tales and later on the classics like Wuthering Heights and Great Expectations.

Selling paintings has been a new experience over the last two years, the money has helped me to continue on my artists journey, I have been able to pay for art supplies, the odd trips to London museums and galleries. Not only that its a huge compliment when you know your painting is wanted, it gives me quite a buzz knowing that my paintings are on display all over the world, from London, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, to France, Holland, Italy, India, and all over the USA.

I am so grateful to all my blogging friends, your encouragement has been the highlight of the last three years. I wish you all good health and prosperity, to continue and learn from each other.

Affinity
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
 

Tea and Roses

Tea and Roses
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

My orange roses are falling apart on my mantelpiece and a previous painting is on display. I really enjoyed painting this composition, I think all artists thrive on challenges, and this one was my challenge for today.


Tranquility

Tranquility
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

I would love to know what changes you would try to make regarding your art in the coming year.

All being well,  I would love to continue painting as often as possible and although I had every intention of trying different mediums I found that, because I am still a fairly newcomer to oils I couldn't tear myself away from them. Apart from roses and jars I painted some snow scenes and I think I had the most fun doing them. Since we are expecting a hundred days of snow I will have plenty of opportunity to do more!!


Cool in the Shade

A dear friend gave me three beautiful bunches of roses and I'm having fun painting my way through them.

Cool in the Shade
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
 

Divine Intervention

Sometimes you can push for a dream to come true for a long time and then the minute you give up it lands in your lap, from nowhere it seems.

Divine Intervention
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"

Roses By Night

I'm still working through my reserve of photos. I find that the camera picks up colours that normally you would not see, especially at night in artificial lighting, spots of odd colours like blue on the vase.

Roses By Night
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

 

Last night was the preview evening for LutonArt which is a yearly exhibition open to artists over three counties. This year I had all three of my paintings accepted and they were on display last night among all the other wonderful paintings. I have been struggling with an eye infection and did not take any photos but the exhibition is running until February so I will have plenty of time to post some photos.

Just Floating

Ducks always look so serene on the surface.

Just Floating
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
Available on DPW Auctions

Goosey Loosey

This hurrying goose reminds me of the fairy tale I loved to read.

Goosey Loosey
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
available on DPW Auction

Dreaming

This little tortoiseshell kitten is a new addition to our family. My husband found her searching for food in bins and as soon as he called her she was all over him. We've had her for about two months now and she is a fluff  ball of fun.  Our  two year old cat Toni was very put out to start with but gradually they are becoming fast friends.

Dreaming
Oil on canvas board 5"x7"
SOLD

Sun Seeker

Whenever I buy a bunch of flowers I usually take a whole load of photos as well so when I am stuck for inspiration I can usually find something. This sunflower brings back memories of what a glorious summer we had this year.

 Lately I've also been economising by painting on top of paintings that have failed. I scrape  the surface to get rid of any texture and then wipe with some liquin. I find this gives a better surface than a new canvas board, also some of the under painting can be left to show through to give a more richer effect. Underneath this painting is one I did of wildflowers last year, at the time it looked ok but only when you look back can you see the errors. I am my own worst critic and I think most artists are but with experience you just know when a painting has failed or succeeded in portraying what you want.

Sun Seeker
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Winter Woolly

This sheep looked so snug in its winter coat.

Winter Woolly
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
Available on DPW Auction
SOLD