Lillies in Lime Vase

This is something I painted just before I started this blog and completely forgot about.Its much larger than I'm used to and it makes me feel like  working large again.Pink and Turquoise are two of my favourite colours but was it overkill in this painting??

Strawberry Split

I bought these strawberries yesterday from the supermarket,they just looked so good I could'nt pass this opportunity up to paint them.This dish is something I picked up from a charity shop last winter but the pattern looked so difficult I put off using it.It proved quite  a challenge but thats what you need sometimes,to keep pushing yourself.

Grove Farm Sunflower

For this weeks DPW challenge we have to paint something autumnal using a bright ground colour and allow some of it to show through,I painted a magenta ground . I did my "relax and and let the painting emerge" and I must say I have alot more fun doing it this way.Not worrying too much and just having fun,with some music in the background....Brian Ferry "More than this."

This weeks challenge was set by Ann Feldman.

Grove Farm Carrots

There is a local farm that allows people to pick their own fruit and vegetables.Its a great day out for the family and teaches kids many lessons about local produce and the value of seasonal produce.At the moment raspberries,onions,cauliflower,cabbage,leeks,sunflowers,parsnips,tomatoes,cucumbers,beetroots and carrots are in season.The shapes and colours are so interesting because their not mass produced like in the supermarkets.I now have plenty to keep me busy painting,and they taste good too !

Rescued Rose 2

I should call this blog "keeping myself entertained when i can't sleep" ! Its now 4am and I've been awake for the last two hours.Tonight though, or this morning I thought I would paint instead of trying to sleep.I think I should practice painting roses more often as I find them the hardest and most frustrating.If it were'nt for all the fantastic comments on the previous post I might have given up on this thorny subject for a while.

Rescued Rose

Its one of those days where although I'm not entirely happy with the way I've painted this rose but I am sure glad to be painting again.This rose broke from a bouquet but I could'nt throw it away because its a waste of such beauty and should have its day.

Chili Surprise

At last!! It feels like its been a month since I last painted.This weeks challenge..The Limited Brushstroke Challenge set by Dailypaintworks seemed like a good way to get back into painting again.The challenge set by Nancy Colella is to estimate how many brushstrokes are needed for a simple composition of your choice, and then count as you go along how many it actually takes.Trying to keep to the minimum is the challenge!! Its quite hard but a very valuable exercise.

Wedding Cake

I've had a busy three days with a cake for a wedding and flowers.Hopefully I should have recovered enough to paint tomorrow! I had to make sugar flowers,pipe a design onto the cake and also the bride wanted diamontes in the centre of each rose.

Turning Chilly Again

I was given these cute little chilly plants last week and have been puzzling over how to paint them.So I just relaxed and said to myself to let the painting emerge.I'm not sure if I've succeeded but it was fun anyway.

The weather is turning autumnal,I've felt the cold all day.

Feels Like Heaven

I was listening to the song by Fiction Factory "Feels like Heaven" while I was painting this and had the greatest time.I feel blessed to have something I enjoy so much.

Everything is not Black and White

This is my entry for this weeks dailypaintworks challenge.The idea is to paint without colour and to use only four values.I think I managed it most of the time and it was a real eye opener ,because getting the values right is essential for the success of a compostion.

Puddle Duck

It is a sombre day ,its been raining on and off ,so I decided to paint something lighthearted.These colourful birds always lift my spirits.

Fields under Lavender Sky

I make it a habit to keep my camera with me everywhere I go.Yesterday we were doing our weekly cash and carry shopping for our work and there's some lovely countryside on the opposite side.I started off this blog mainly painting still life ,but as time goes on I am finding myself drawn more and more towards landscapes.

Memories of Spring

"Autumn arrives in early morning,but spring at the close of a winter day"

Quote by  Elizabeth Bowen.

Spring Onions on a Dish

This is the first time I've ever painted spring onions and I must say it was more difficult than I imagined.

I forgot to mention that I have entered Picnic in the Park for the Help the Children of Africa Challenge.www.dailypaintworks.com  are running a fundraising auction and they have already raised nearly eighteen hundred dollars.

Stockwood Park Gardens 3

I feel much happier today,this was very relaxing and more in keeping with how I like to paint now.

As of tomorrow I plan to lose twenty eight pounds of weight in order to be healthier and fitter.It does'nt really matter how long it takes so long as I move forward. I think I will post my weight loss weekly,which will give me the incentive to keep on track.Wish me luck everyone!

Flowers and Cream Jug

Yesterday I spent the better part of the day scraping the weeds from in between each brick in my front garden.I know I could use weed killer but I don't like to use chemicals so its the hard way.If anyone knows of an environmentally friendly way PLEASE tell me.
Anyway  my front garden is now spotless and ready for silver birch leaves to fall anytime from now!!

I struggled so much with this painting,I think because I hav'nt been painting for nearly a week and also its larger as well.I'm so used to painting small that its hard to adjust.My apologies for the photo,I'm so used to scanning the smaller paintings at anytime day or night that I forgot I need daylight.