Chrysanthemum

Yeeay!!!! 31 paintings complete today!!

For next month, God willing, I have bought myself some mixed bouquets and will be working on larger and more stylised flower paintings and try to use different colour palettes. Its early days, but I am excited and looking forward to some more experimentation.

For todays painting I have dug out an old clip on lamp, at the brilliant reminder of a friend, and found that it is so much easier to work out the lights and darks. When I first started painting I did use a lamp regularly and looking back find some of those paintings much stronger. It just goes to show that we can lose our way sometimes and I am grateful to have people around me who help me find my way again.
Thank you so much for all your comments this past month, your encouragement makes all the difference. xxx

Chrysanthemum

Apple and Plums

I've been struggling with a mixed flower bouquet, I've scraped it three times and then put it to one side for another day. Instead this was blissfully simple, however I will return to my bouquet tomorrow for a challenge is to be relished.

Apple and Plums
 

Part of the Journey

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

Greg Anderson

 

Part of the Journey
oil on oil paper
14"x 12"

 

Within

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

Buddha

Within
oil on oil paper
8"x8"

End of the Day

The work is done and time to gather at home.

End of the Day
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Carefree

With this painting I set off to not put every detail in and also not to fill in all the background. I think it has a touch of carefreeness about it.

Carefree
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Spread your Wings

“I have come to accept the feeling of not knowing where I am going. And I have trained myself to love it. Because it is only when we are suspended in mid-air with no landing in sight, that we force our wings to unravel and alas begin our flight. And as we fly, we still may not know where we are going to. But the miracle is in the unfolding of the wings. You may not know where you're going, but you know that so long as you spread your wings, the winds will carry you.”
― C. JoyBell C.

Spread Your Wings
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Happy Sunday

This is my idea of a happy Sunday, beautiful tulips in front of me, all day to paint and a palette of gorgeous paints. Of course my music is playing too.... Harlem Shuffle by Bob and Earl, this is the fast version, the dancing is spectacular!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-BVJtCxtBY

Happy Sunday
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Experiment in Colour II

I'm feeling that experimentation is the key for this year, depending on how brave I can be. :  )

Experiment in Colour II
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Trust II

Trust II
Oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.

Joel Osteen

Trust

Trust
oil on oil paper
 

Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.

Natalie Goldberg

Fruit

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.

Khalil Gibran

Fruit
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"
 

Peace

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

Jimi Hendrix

Peace
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Daffodils IV

Its been very spirit lifting painting these fragrant, cheerful flowers, but I think this fourth version is enough for now.

Daffodils IV
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Daffodils III

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Confucius

 

 

Daffodils III
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

 

Daffodils II

It snowed for all of five minutes and then melted. I won't be getting my outdoor easel out of mothballs just yet. Lol

Daffodils II
oil on oil paper
8" x 10"
 

Daffodils

He that has two cakes of bread,  let him sell one of them for some flowers
of the Narcissus,
for bread is food for the body,
but Narcissus is food of the soul. 

~ Mohammed (c. 570-632 AD)

 

Daffodils
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

 

Growth

Growth
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” Kurt Vonnegut




Orange Rose

I would like to dedicate this painting to David Bowie, he died today after a long illness. May he rest in peace. This is my favourite song by him called Sound and Vision.

Orange Rose
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoDamvrfUbQ

Family

I believe the world is one big family, and we need to help each other.

Jet Li

 

 

 

Family
oil on oil paper
8" x10"




 

 

Fields and Forest

I always assumed that abstracts would be easier than realism, that is not the case. Painting abstracts is so  challenging that I am hooked, for now anyway. :  )

Fields and Forest
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Bloom

And like a colorful bloom of temporary lights in the sky, you will shine.”
― Chad Sugg

Bloom
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Nectar

Nectar
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Work without hope draws nectar in a sieve, And hope without an object cannot live.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Poinsettia III

I have found that the more I explore a particular subject the freer I get. Anyone who has seen Billy Elliot will understand when I say its like electricity, whatever it is you create, be it dance, music, or a painting.

 

Poinsettia III
oil on  oil paper
8"x 10"

 

Poinsettia II

Its so great to get back into the swing of things. Thank you all so much for your encouragement!!

Poinsettia II
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"
 

Poinsettia

As soon as these beautiful, vibrant plants appear in the shops I buy one. They don't usually last very long, but this one seems to be hanging on.

Poinsettia
oil on oil paper
8"x 10

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone, I hope you are all enjoying the holidays and have seen the New Year in with health, good fortune and peace.

 My heart goes out to the flood victims here in the UK, they have suffered terribly over the last few months and in the last few days. I hope that with the help of the authorities and the kindness of strangers they get their homes and their lives back soon.

Its a steely grey day today and rain has just begun to fall at three in the afternoon. I've painted this landscape with colours that speak to me of a quiet new years day.

 I have set myself a challenge of posting a painting everyday for the rest of the year. A tough challenge indeed, but I have been finding excuses galore not to paint this past year and I feel I need to pull myself up.

Happy New Year!
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"