Greetings Cards

I've managed to sort out the cards for Stockwood Park and Wardown Park,so I will be delivering these tomorrow.Of course our kitten Tony has to be part of the action,and we love him for it.

A Shared Lunch

This sketch is from a photo I took in the park in autumn,and the hyacinths are still giving off a heady fragrance. I 've been wanting to paint the goose and pidgeons  but have not got around to it.One very positive benefit I noticed since I started blogging is that I am  never lacking inspiration.There never seems enough time for all I want to paint.It is a most happy state to be in. : )

Blooming II

We have the lovely fragrance of hyacinths in our living room.

Flowers leave some of their fragrance in the hand that bestows them."
- Chinese proverb

TipToe

"Tiptoe through the window
By the window, that is where I'll be
Come tiptoe through the tulips with me

Oh, tiptoe from the garden
By the garden of the willow tree
And tiptoe through the tulips with me

Knee deep in flowers we'll stray
We'll keep the showers away
And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight
Will you pardon me?
And tiptoe through the tulips with me"

Written by Al Dubin

Apple of My Eye

SOLD

"The flowers of the apple are perhaps the most beautiful of any tree's, so copious and so delicious to both sight and scent." -- Henry David Thoreau, Wild Apples

Blooming

Love is like the wild rose-briar; Friendship like the holly-tree. The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms, but which will bloom most constantly?
Emily Bronte

Fruit of the Vine

I had planned on painting the hyacinth bulb, which is now fully flowered ,but I've had such a tiring day that I decided to paint something less challenging.Although I had just as much fun doing these very sweet grapes.I'm still sketching happily in spare moments.

I wish you  joy in all your creative pursuits. : )

Hearts and Flower IV

"Beauty is not in the face; Beauty is a light in the heart."
~ Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931)

Red Rose III

"The heart has its  reasons that reason knows nothing of."

Blaise Pascal.

Hearts and Flowers II

I have been asked to design some more cards for Stockwood Park Museum and also some paintings with a Valentines theme for a local shop.I went out today and bought some red roses and this is the first.Although I might change my mind tomorrow and change it.

Emerging Hyacinth

Scatter seeds of kindness everywhere you go;
Scatter bits of courtesy - watch them grow and grow.
Gather buds of friendship, keep them till full-blown;
You will have more happiness than you have ever known. Amy R. Raabe

Summer Heat

This weeks challenge on DPW is to paint using "Tangerine Tango".Ever heard the song by Style Council...Long hot summer???? It always brings back wonderful memories of school art lessons spent in the fields.........

Lunch among the Daisies

Geese are one of my favourite subjects to paint and I'm lucky that we have a park about twenty minutes walk away.The lake is always full of ducks,geese,seagulls and even pidgeons.

Geese Sketch

Last week I was looking through http://adebanjialade.blogspot.com/ and I felt inspired to finally start sketching on a daily basis.I wrote a comment on his blog saying that he had inspired me to sketch and he replied that he would send me a sketch book and the type of markers that he uses!! He was as good as his word and sent me not only the sketch book and markers but also some drawings which he signed. It was such an amazing gift and I am now on the road to sketching at last!

Pink Tulips II

Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use.
- Earl Nightingale

Pink Tulips

Slowly getting back into the routine of things.I thought that by taking a break from painting I will come back refreshed and possibly paint better.Actually its been counterproductive and I really have to push myself to start anything.My lesson from this is to push through and keep painting and not to take long breaks!!

Two's Company

”Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” -- Picasso.

An apple a day II

 I have submitted another apple painting to web.mac.com/micheloosterhout/anappleaday/about.html.This is something I posted on the 17th of February 2011.

"May the dreams of your past be the reality of your future."

Fresh Start

In the past I've been able to control my sugar cravings for months and even years by completely giving up refined sugar.So I've made a fresh start and enjoying,guilt free sweet natural foods such as strawberries,raisins,dates,persimmon.Breakfast today was strawberries to start with and then porridge with raisins.
I've entered this for this weeks Paint your breakfast challenge on DailyPaintworks.

Three Figs on a Dish II

" Even if you stumble ,you're still moving forward."

Three Figs on a Dish

Yesterday I tried pastels and acrylics on the fireworks painting.I found that I did'nt like using them ,especially the feeling of powder on my fingers.I also found I did'nt have as much control with this medium as I do with acrylics.

Today I did a quick study in watercolour and its a whole different ball game!! I've had this set of watercolours for about fifteen years ,I did use it but did'nt really take to it as I have acrylics.I certainly will persevere with watercolours as there are some inspiring watercolour artists out there ,such as Kathy Los-Rathburn and Nora Mcphail whose style I absolutely love.I also love the  poetic florals by Sidmar.

Auld Lang Syne

To old frienships and new.Cheers,I could'nt have done it without you!

I've no idea why there are bands going across the scan I took,but the actual painting does'nt have them.This is the first time I've had a problem using the scanner.I will try again tomorrow and see if I can fix it.

A New Beginning!!

Boy!! Am I glad to close the door on 2011. My wish for myself and everyone is that 2012 is the best yet,and we achieve everything we set out to do and enjoy ourselves in the process.Along the way I want to extend a hand to those less fortunate,sometimes all is needed is a kind word,some encouragement,if my finances allow I will also try to help in that way too.Sometimes the chasm between the haves and the have nots is too wide.If I have good fortune I know I would want to share it.Success would taste that much sweeter for it.

I begin this year with Cezanne's Ginger Jar and Fruit.Its not an exact copy,I've left  out some of the detail in the background but overall its one of my favourites and I always meant to have a go painting it.