Spring on a Branch

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This is based loosely on a British bird called a chaffinch.The leaves just sprouting helped me to decide on the name.

Persistence

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Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning.
Quote by Dennis Waitley

Roses and Lily Vase

Roses and Lily Vase
8"x9" Oil on canvas
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The vase,or pitcher was no problem.The roses took hours!! You would think that painting a subject over and over would make it easier,maybe with certain subjects but roses are hard every time.

Single Rose II

A rose is the visible result of an infinitude of complicated goings on in the bosom of the earth and in the air above, and similarly a work of art is the product of strange activities in the human mind.
Quote by Clive Bell.

Single Rose II
5"x7" Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame.
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Dales

Dales
5"x7" Oil on stretched canvas
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

I started this painting from a photo and half way through I lost the photo.They say things happen for a reason,so I carried on and much of the detail has been left out simply because I have no choice.

Painting is a blind man's profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen.

Quote by Pablo Picasso.

Purple

I'm not sure what this flower is called but its purple..haha

Purple
5"x7" Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

I kind of relaxed and let this one happen,I'm not sure if thats a good thing or not ?? Anyway,its good to paint.

Bird II

Bird II
Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame
Available £20 plus post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

From cranes,geese, swans to these small birds ,I love painting them all.I love the poetic quality there is to birds,their ability to fly brings to mind how we can let our minds soar to whatever height we choose.

Red Pepper

My bluebells are out !!!
 They always bring back memories of a school trip when I was eight.We were taken to a bluebell wood and it was a delight for the senses,the heady fragrance and the colours were just mesmirizing.I am lucky to have such a memory.

Red Pepper
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7"
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

This pepper and dish looked like they were made for each other,I had to paint them. : )

Solitude

Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.

Solitude
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7"
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Quote by Edward Gibbon

Song

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

Song
5"x7",oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame.
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping.

Lou Holtz quote.

A Journey

"I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom."

A Journey
9"x12" ,Oil on stretched canvas.
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Les Brown

Update on Travelling Chicken Challenge

Nan Johnson of Art Is Not a Thing has set up a new blog to keep in touch with my travelling chicken http://travel-chicken.blogspot.co.uk/.

So far it has travelled from the UK to Illinois to East coast and now its on its way to California!!
Karla Uphoff and Nan Johnson have both painted beautiful versions of the chicken,so do check it out.

Unravelled

Unravelled
12"x9" Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame.
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These ranunculus have been slowly unravelling from their tight buds ,a bit like me over the years. Lol.

A Single Rose

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.

A Single Rose
Oil on canvas panel,5"x7" ready to frame.
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Leo Buscaglia

You Are What You Eat

You are what you eat
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7",no need to frame.
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This is what I keep reminding myself!!!

Pet Me

Pet Me
Oil on stretched canvas
No need to frame
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

This weeks DPW challenge is to paint someone or something lying down.I have been wanting to paint Toni our kitten since we got her,but I lacked the confidence to try.Yesterday I took the plunge and gave it my best,it was easier than I thought it would be.I often find that the more I'm afraid of a subject ,it usually is not so bad.Its all a matter of practice.

Spring Meadow

I can't believe its been nearly a week since my last painting!! Its been a week of mundane tasks,interruptions and a blankness where there should be inspiration.

Spring Meadow
Oil on canvas,ready to frame
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

I finally made myself start with something fairly straight forward,sometimes as you're driving past a scene just sticks in your mind .Even if you forget the details ,somehow you can fill the rest in.

I love the English weather in April,there's rain,hail,and sparkling sunshine.My pansies are doing so well I took something colourful pictures.

L'Amour

I've been taking a little break from painting in order to catch up with the less fulfilling tasks in life.I did find some time for sketching and hopefully today I will paint.
I was watching this pair in the garden and found them a worthy subject!

These flowers are a lovely deep purple and just starting to bloom,I think they're called nicotiana??

At One

This bird looks so peaceful and at one with nature.

He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.

At One
Oil on canvas panel ,10"x12"
Available £30 plus £10 post within UK,outside UK £15 shipping

Socrates

Cheeky

This little fellow flies around our garden sometimes and I wanted to capture his cheeky expression.

Cheeky
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7"
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I'm still finding my way around oils and it lends particularly well to this kind of brushwork,although acrylics with the use of a retarder(as my good friend Jean Nelson has said) would have the same effect.To make the best of both mediums is my ultimate goal,as I am already comfortable with acrylics I would not want to lose that.

We are Family

Onions come in all shapes,sizes, colours and flavours.I like to think that people around the world are all family too and that there is more good in the world than bad,otherwise it would all decend into chaos.

We Are Family
Oil on canvas panel,5"x7",ready to frame
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I am finding the artist community especially ,nurturing and supportive and I know without this support I would have found it much harder to keep going.
So, bless one and all.

The Travelling Chicken Challenge

Recently I got in touch with my good friend Karla from "Karla Uphoff Fine Art" and asked her if she would like to take up the challenge of painting a little ceramic chicken I bought and used in one of my compositions.She loved the idea and she has painted an amazing version.Do check it out on her blog.She in turn has offered it to one of her friends and now the little chicken is on its to the East Coast to  Nancie and her blog is called Art Is Not a Thing . I would like to add that Nan has come up with the perfect name for the challenge .

I hope this chicken travels a long way and brings together  many artists.

Nectar

“She is mine own,

And I as rich in having such a jewel

As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,

The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.”

Nectar
Oil on Stretched canvas,7"x5"
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

William Shakespeare quote.

More Sketches

I'm getting into the habit of carrying my sketch book with me everywhere I go.I was sitting in the car waiting for my husband  to have some dental treatment done( I hate waiting rooms) and I had a great time sketching.An hour flew by,although the people nearby did give me some funny looks.They might have thought I was on a stakeout or something!!

The Pink Candle After Henri Rousseau

The Pink Candle After Henri Rousseau
Oil on stretched canvas ,9"x12"
Can be hung as is or in a frame
Available £30 plus £10 post within UK,outside UK £15 shipping

Henri Rousseau was more famous for his rich jungle scenes with tigers and lush foliage ,but I find this still life attractive because of the colours and shapes and a mellow atmosphere.

Fruitful

Fruitful
5"x7" Oil on canvas panel
Ready to frame
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My love for oils is growing .