Cake Mode

A few very sweet friends have been asking me why I hav'nt been posting in the last week.I've been in "cake mode" as Karen Boe phrased it.  : ) 
It was only a two tier cake and I used fresh flowers for decoration,I made this for our neighbours and we were also invited to the wedding so that kept me busy for a few days.Our daughter is involved with a charity called Community Needs and I was also helping out.I donated a few of my paintings ,so I was busy getting them framed and ready.I  donated the hire of my vases and silk flowers for their charity event on Sunday. I think they raised about £1200 for Africa.Alot of the work was carried out by local kids of all backgrounds,its given them skills and a huge boost to their confidence.Not to mention keeping them out of trouble.
 So I've had quite alot going on this past week,its all been good ,but I've also been doing some soul searching about which direction my art is going in.I think I'm on the right track ,but I also want to explore different mediums from next year and possibly  enrol for some short courses running in and around London.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a great time over the holidays and health and happiness for the New Year.Cheers and thankyou for all your kindness,support and wonderful comments over the past year.

Sweetness

My husband bought me these sweet sweet ,gorgeous fruits because he knows i  love them.

Love is....

I bought this little ceramic elf  a few weeks ago to paint and what better time than now.Remember the comic strip ??  This just reminded me of that.

Backgarden Sunset IV

I took a photo of this sunset back in spring and its been on my to do list.I must admit it was harder than the previous sunsets because of  those rays coming through,but I think the challenge was well worth it.

Poinsettia III

My poinsettia is shedding leaves at an alarming rate,so I'm trying to paint a few more before it disappears!


"A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament"

Oscar Wilde  quote.

Courage

When flowers open  into this world they  have no idea for how long they will bloom,will the sunshine,will they be admired for their beauty or ignored,cherished or not.Yet they bravely bloom for all they are worth........

Hearts and Flowers

This is something I painted over a year ago,my style has changed a bit since then,learnt a few lessons along the way.

Blushing Apple

You know how it is...you're in the kitchen cooking and something catches your eye.....

These apples are called Egremont Russet and they are heritage apples.I absolutely love the taste,very sweet with a hint of pear flavour.

Nevertheless IV

The lillies I bought  eleven days ago are now past their best but still beautiful.
I find with  flowers if you cut the stem really short it makes them last at least four days longer.

Self in the style of Matisse

This weeks DailyPaintworks challenge is to paint in the style of an artist we admire,and it was hosted by Gloria Zucaro.

I thoroughly enjoyed painting this because it was fun and has helped me to see things differently.

Luton Cricket Pavillion

This is where our son spends most Sundays playing cricket or football.It was a crisp early autumn day,the sky was so bright and free of clouds,just perfect for a photo.

Poinsettia 11

My present mood is taking me into  a direction that is opposite to my usual style.I have gotten looser over the last year but its hard to relinquish control normally.With this its more about emotions,I'm letting go of rules and allowing myself to make mistakes ,just to see where it will take me.As artists I don't think we ever stop searching for that perfect interpretation of our inner vision,in the process we find success at the most ,or at the least ,release from this constant need to express ourselves.

Fun

I had fun painting this,I'm not sure if its a success ,I'll leave that for you to decide.Today has been one of those steely grey days with a bite of frost.I felt like bringing some warmth and colour into the day.  : )

Apple and Toaster

This weeks DailyPaintworks challenge is to paint your toaster and reflections.Most of my toaster is white so  I chose to paint the top part.

A Walk in the Park

I painted this from a photo I took in Battersea Park.It was early autumn ,there was a slight chill in the air,the leaves were turning golden.It made me wish I had some plein air painting buddies.

Poinsettia

I buy a poinsettia every year and always try to keep it going for as long as possible,but they don't last very long.I wonder if anyone has any tips on keeping these colourful,festive plants going all year.

An apple a day

Maria Baluishttp://mariabaluis.blogspot.com/ mentioned two weeks ago on her blog that she was entering her toffee apple painting onto this website
http://web.mac.com/micheloosterhout/anappleaday/homepage.html

 Michel is collecting apple paintings or drawings,his goal is to collect 365. Anyone is welcome to join,so I now have this painting on the website.Its one I posted back in March, but consider it to be one of my best.

Lily

“Therefore, to be possessed with double pomp, To guard a title that was rich before, To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.”

William Shakespeare quote

Fresh Cream Cake

I've been super busy today and dinner is at my Mums so it does'nt look like I'm going to have time to paint.This is a cake I made last year.The best part is decorating with chocolate strands,strawberries,icing, sugar flowers and the edible glitter to finish off the look.

We All Have Wings

I'm borrowing a line from a song by Michael Hutchence from the group Inxs.The song is called" Never Tear Us Apart" ,Michael died when he was thirty seven and I think the world lost a huge talent and he is sorely missed.

This painting marks the end of my first year blogging.I've learnt so much and made some wonderful,kind and supportive friends.Before I started the daily paintings I spent more than half my life procrastinating,I did have small bursts of creativity ,but it never lasted.There were always good excuses too,and yet this past year has been filled with road blocks,frightening events and sadness too and yet I have kept on going.If there is something inside you that says paint then you can't ignore it,if you do it will make you miserable,so give in to this need to create,whatever it may be.

"We all have wings,but some of us don't know why." We are the lucky ones ,we know why .Onwards and upwards. : )

Best Shoes

Once again its nearly the end of this weeks challenge on DailyPaintworks.This weeks challenge was to paint shoes and I knew straight away which shoes to paint but because I picked a really difficult subject the trouble was starting it.As with any hard job ,once you start it should get easier .This though was difficult all the way through,and I'm not sure how well I 've done ,but its done.

Peacock

Today I decided to use what was in my head rather than something in front of me or from a photo.I have loved these majestic birds nearly all my life and as a child I did do quite a few paintings of them.My art  teacher  at school used to hang his favourite pieces of work near his desk and one of my peacock paintings stayed there for the entire year.It feels like I'm back at school after painting this!!

Nevertheless III

This sunflower was really past its best but nevertheless still has beauty and grace ,which I hope I have been able to capture,if only part of it.

Pink and Orange

I have a set of feather butterflies I bought to add to my flower arrangements and they come in blue which I've used before,but I also have pink,yellow,orange and a peachy colour.To me butterflies mean summer,sunshine,a clean environment otherwise such delicate creatures would not exist.

I'm beginning to realise that my mood does affect how I paint,like today I feel quite relaxed,I've been listening to David Bowie  Sound and Vision.Just enjoying the process of painting and not worrying too much about the outcome.

Miniature Disasters

Just as I started to paint this song was playing by KT Tunstall,I think someone was trying to tell me something!! Lol.

"I don't want to be second best,I don't want to stand in line,don't want to fall behind.................." These are some of the lyrics anyway,if you're a fan of KT then you might enjoy listening to this classic of hers.

Lillies on Blue

I'm having family round for dinner today so I'm not going to have time to paint.This is something I painted last year before I started this blog,which incidentally is coming up to a year!! Where has the time gone,this last year has been one of the hardest of my life and if I did'nt have this blog I would have struggled much more than I have.Keeping in touch with like minded artists who have been so supportive has been the saving of me.

Tea For Two

This weeks challenge for DailyPaintworks was a crowded cafe scene and I found it particularly hard.The main problem was what to include and what to take out and cropping.Today I was looking through some paintings by Matisse and felt inspired by his style.

Onion Family

So,I've licked my wounds,"put the stuffing back" and hope to come back stronger and more determined than ever.

Rejection

Wardown Museum holds an art exhibition  competition every year and it has been running since 1934.I entered two of my paintings on Sunday and today I recieved an email saying my paintings have been rejected.Its fair knocked the stuffing out of me.I feel  the  need to share my successes as well as my failures.

Stir Fry

I'm trying to get everyone to eat more veggies,not always an easy task! Especially when there are likes and dislikes.Still, painting them is definitely more relaxing than cooking and presenting them to a picky family.

Wrapped up in Layers

"The onion being eaten,yea though it be boyled,causeth head-ache,hurteth the eyes,and maketh man dimme sighted,dulleth the senses,ingendreth windinesse,and provoketh overmuche sleep,especially being eaten raw."

SOLD

John Gerard (Not a huge fan of onions,ha,ha)

Marriage Made in Heaven

 Lightly fry some onions and garlic,add chopped okra and pepper,cook for about five minutes.Season to taste and enjoy on naan bread or any toasted bread.

Lay Like Broccoli

Anyone remember Pretty Woman??

Unwrapped

These lovely fragrant lemons from Morocco were on sale at our local grocery ,some of them were wrapped in these lovely papers.Trying to paint the texture of paper and the pattern on it was hard but I'm always up for a challenge! : )

Jack'O'Lantern Club

This weeks challenge on DailyPaintworks  is to paint any pumpkin or the photo that is provided.I chose to paint the photo but add my own little twist with one of  the pumpkins winking.

Ashridge

As a member of Artists Network Bedfordshire I was invited to submit eight of my paintings to be displayed at Ashridge business college.It was home to  Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century,previously it was a monastery dating back to the 13th century.Driving up to Ashridge the countryside was breathtaking ,especially at this time of year.My first sight of the building was in bright sunlight and I can't tell you how awestruck I was by its beauty and majesty.I love history and architecture so this was an unexpected delight.My paintings were very well recieved by the organiser Elaine who started hanging them straightaway.This is an opportunity to show my work to an international audience and maybe to sell as well.
Even if I don't sell a single painting it is such an honour and pleasure to have my paintings hanging in such an amazing place.

Fickle Chili

The chili has now forgotten about the beautiful rose and is enamoured by the baby blue butterfly!!

Oh My Darling

This is my entry for this weeks DailyPaintworks challenge to paint an object in ten minutes.Its a challenge that has been repeated but I still think its worth doing again and again.It really does help to loosen up and be more free with the brushstrokes.

Admiration

"There are two artists in this world;those that work because the spirit is in them,and they cannot be silent if they would,and those that speak from a conscientious desire to make apparent to others the beauty that has awakened their own admiration."

Anna Katharine Green

I loved the shape of this chili,it looks like its bent over backwards to admire the rose.

Walk The Path

"March on.Do not tarry.To go forward is to move toward perfection.March on,and fear not the thorns,or the sharp stones on lifes path."
 Khalil Gibran

Butterfly and Clementine

Yesterday I went to the Affordable Art Fair in Battersea Park with a friend.It was a last minute dash to London ,we had'nt made any plans to go anywhere but I realised it was the last day and I wanted to see what kind of art is popular.It was a real eye opener,because despite the recession art was flying out of the doors.There was some amazing paintings,I did find that there was a trend towards contemporary art.All in all it was a great day ,the only downer was the journey as alot of the underground was shut and buses are so slow in comparison.

The butterfly is a set of feathered ones I bought to add to flower displays.

Buddies II

These rosebuds did'nt open, maybe they were picked too early,I don't know.Still I have enjoyed painting them as they are.

It is such a beautiful crisp Autumn day I had to take some photos.These flowers have been blooming the whole summer long and always welcomed me at my doorstep.

Along this avenue we have silver birch ,their so beautiful ,especially at this time of year.