Cherries x 8

This weeks challenge on http://www.dailypaintworks.com/ is to take any object and paint it eight times,but not taking more than ten minutes each time. This was a fantastic challenge  especially for me because I could'nt go back and try to perfect each attempt.As you paint the brushstrokes have to be looser in order to finish quickly which allows for a fresher approach.

Apple Trio

I am finding that the goal posts are changing after every painting.As soon as I feel I have achieved something I try do better and sometimes this can be quite frustrating.Progress is not always in a straight line either,sometimes there are setbacks.I am so grateful for all the comments and words of support and encouragement  from some very lovely people.It makes the journey infinitely more enjoyable.

Tea and a Cupcake

Yes, this cupcake jumped out at me when I went to the bakery.Especially the transparent decoration on top looked like it could be a bit of a challenge.As I was painting there was an aroma of icing and vanilla, which prompted me to finish this so I could eat it  : ))  

On a serious note tomorrow there is going to be a massive demonstration in our town by the EDL,and I sincerely hope and pray that it goes by without anyone  getting hurt.The majority of people are peace loving and we all get along very well together.I have lived in Luton nearly all of my life and have friends from a wide range of cultures and appreciate and care about them all.Please God Bless this town tomorrow.

Jam and Croissant

I was having breakfast in town with a friend and I saw this little jar of strawberry jam and you know the rest.... : )
Its funny how ever since I started this blog I am constantly on the look out for my next subject,not in a conscious way.More in a way that things kind of jump out at me and I try not let the opportunity pass me by.

The catalyst that actually made me start painting in earnest was Jack Vettriano.He is an amazing Scottish artist who is very succesful  and I love his style.He was doing a book signing in London on the 30th of October and I was there.I asked him how many hours he spent painting a day,the answer was 10 to 12 hours!!

Hearts and a Flower 2

This is my second painting of this amazing rose I bought on Saturday.You would think second time around it would be easier,but it was much harder.A very popular and accomplished artist called Karin Jurick suggests that we should take one subject and do fifty or a hundred variations of it.This would indeed be a powerful learning excercise ,although it might send me loopy in the process ! I will have to give this idea some consideration and choose a subject that I could do that many times.Any suggestions?

"They don't make them like they used to"

Daily Paintworks is a group of daily painters who have organised a new challenge ,which is open to all artists.I have entered this weeks challenge and I have had a great time painting this beautiful classic car. I would say the greatest challenge was getting the far end of the car just right,where it kind of disappears into the distance.The website is www.dailypaintworks.com/Challenges. I am really looking forward to next weeks challenge and would like to thank Carol Marine and everyone else for setting this up.

Hearts and a Flower

Today I have decided to try something different .They say a change is as good as a rest and in this case its certainly true.I painted this rose without drawing it first,straight from the brush and it was certainly an excercise worth trying. The hearts I added just for fun and after all it is Valentines in two weeks.

Chocs 'n' Cherries

I saw these chocolates at the local store and my eyes lit up. I don't know why but my edible subjects taste especially good once I've completed the painting .  : )      The cherries were extra juicy and the chocolates were praline filled and amazing. Am I making you hungry?

Tea and Cherries

Its been such a busy day,but still without my daily painting its not complete.So I started this around nine and just finished it.I've painted this teacup before but I love the design so much I had to paint it again.As I was painting I was listening to The Floaters-Float On,I think that might have had an influence on the background.Its such a chilled out song I could just listen to it for ever...and ever...float on...float on....

Orange Threesome

I left this one a bit late to finish but I still want to post it,and its in keeping with the style that is emerging. I want to get away from the neat and tidy style and follow a more dramatic and spontaneous approach.

Glass and Grapes (Donated to Community Needs)

I've given Ann back all her wonderful treasures today.Its been a great challenge because I would not normally have picked such difficult subjects.With each challenge its a learning process that sometimes comes easy and sometimes comes incredibly hard.A wonderful artist called Yasha Sharma ,who has been commenting on my work recently,has given a list of websites that provide challenges for artist.I will certainly be joining some of them as soon as I have time.

Espresso and Biscotti

Today has been a grey,drizzly and dull  day.So has been my mood,we are allowed a few of those along the way.Anyway I'm back and painting again and its a good refuge.Cares and worries fall by the wayside to make way for colours and shapes and shadows.Wonderful!

Glass and Rose

I gave myself a holiday yesterday.Sometimes you can get painted out and need some space to feel that love  again.After a day I felt I could go into this wonderful occupation refreshed.Ann showed me this glass and laughing said "this will drive you mad"!.....It did! Believe me even three months ago I would not have even entertained the idea of trying to paint such a thing. I do feel I have  made a fair attempt.Roses are the most difficult flower to paint,but I think with practice I will improve.

Capuccino and Croissant

SOLD(Buyer donated money to Japanese Red Cross)

Ahhh..In the grand scheme of things what is a croissant?!! No big deal right? This croissant was a big deal.I almost gave up but being stubborn I persevered to the end. Its not perfect but at this stage and time of day I DON'T CARE. Well actually I do ,but it felt good saying that in capitals.  :  )
Oh by the way this mug is from a box full of ceramics and glassware lent to me by Ann.Thankyou so much.xx

Bird and Seeds

I have to say thankyou to my great friend Ann who has provided me with this beautiful ceramic bird.She has been so supportive and thoughtful,I want to say how much I appreciate her friendship.It was an absolute joy to paint.The pomegranate seeds were quite fun and surprisingly easy.

Green Vase and Pink Lady

I was all over the place today,and so I could only grab a few minutes here and there.Whether that has affected the quality of my painting I will leave you to judge my dear friends.This fabric has quite a busy design on it and I had to stop myself  from over doing it.I  bought this vase about two months ago , but it almost scared me because there's glass and then there's coloured glass....With glass especially ,every brushstroke needs to count otherwise you can lose the transparency very quickly.

Tea and a Clem

A friend of mine suggested I try painting a different type of hot drink and that was the plan,but the green tea did'nt quite work out.So it ended up as a very dark tea instead,its how I like it though with very little milk.I think I will need a bit of practice before I attempt that again.This mug was given to me about ten years ago and I hardly ever use it because I'm afraid of breaking it.Is it just me or are people generally feeling low?  Might be the winter dragging on.

Tea and a Bakewell

Man! How hard is it to differentiate between two dark objects!What was meant to take two hours took me three and I'm still not happy about the elipses.I do want to post it and may at a later date try to correct it.

Leafy Clem

This is another two hour challenge I set myself.I find that if I take longer I just end up making more mistakes.Ever heard of Edgar Degas?Whe he first started his paintings he kept going back to redo them even after selling them! He painted the most beautiful ballet scenes,he is one of my favourite artists.

After every painting I feel I could do better,but I suppose thats part of being human,always striving for that perfect painting.Ahh well......

Tea and a Biscuit 2

This teacup and saucer was given to me by a very dear friend of mine.She's had it in her family for over twenty years and thought it would make a good subject for a painting.It was actually quite fun to do.The shape of the teacup is quite unusual which makes it more interesting.The detail on the china was so tiny,but I loved every minute of it.Biscuits are my comfort food and since I've started painting them I see them in a whole different light.Its not just the taste anymore,its colour and textures and shapes,I could go on and.............

Scarf and Apples

I think you might have gathered that I love Granny Smiths,not only do they taste good,they have an especially shiny coating that just begs to be painted.My sister-in-law very kindly gave me some lovely pieces of material,they make fantastic additions to my compositions.The acrylic paper I am using now is working out better,it has a  finer texture and there is a shine to the painting. Painting everyday or as often as possible is giving me plenty of practice,and although art  in any medium is a life long learning process,the process itself is getting easier.

Apple Floral

I set myself the challenge of completing a painting in two hours.This is it.

Chilli Eggplants

Sometimes its hard to get past a painting.I hate to abandon one thats not working ,but can't start another one until I finish the one I'm struggling with.!!? Does that make sense?Maybe its a bit late in the day. Finally I had to change the background,although I think it worked out in the end.Phew...I found these really cute very small eggplants at my local grocers and could'nt resist painting them.Roasted eggplants with garlic and chillies...delicious!

Lunch at the park 2

Its a bit late in the day but I've just finished this painting and could'nt wait to post it.I wanted to keep it loose and I think I managed to do that.I went to see 127 hours with a friend today,its a great story of strength and a struggle for survival against the odds.I did find a certain part hard to watch,I won't say any more in case anyone has'nt seen it yet.I would definitely recommend it though.

Crisp and Sweet

I speak from experience when I say these apples were crisp and sweet.Yes I did have the flu and more besides..I was up at 1am painting these apples,I could'nt sleep and what better therapy than painting.

Cream Dream

We're dropping like flies with flu at the moment so don't be surprised if I go off the radar for a few days.What I really need is more china to paint.Maybe a trip to a few charity shops once this dreaded flu is over.Such a simple piece of cake but it was not a piece of cake!For some reason I really struggled with this.Well its done and a few lessons learnt on the way.

Hot Salsa

I finished this very late last night so I did'nt have time to post it.For a short time I made celebration cakes,but realised very quickly how physically demanding they are and had to give up due to tendonitis.But I still get pushed into making the odd one and thats what I spent the better part of the weekend doing.Plus there is man flu in the house!Anyway enough of the excuses,the tomato in this painting caught my eye because of the green in it.The onion and chillies I think complete the picture.

Plums and Apple

I hope everyone has a great new years eve tonight.Stay safe people and I wish you all a great New Year.I do feel my art is improving all the time.I find myself thinking in colours and compositions and light and shade even when I am not painting.Since November is the first time in my life that I have been able to put in a regular effort into painting and its been absolutely amazing.Today I spent three hours scanning my paintings and replacing the paintings I posted.Scanning is as close as one can get to the original painting,well with my photography skills anyway!So here's to a Fantastic New Year and better and better art.

Sugar Plums

SOLD

Holidays really are the worst time to keep up with a painting a day.At this rate its a painting every now and then!Maybe I should change the name of my blog?So,another plum painting with more glass.With anything anyone loves to do,I would say to you just enjoy the process and leave the results to God.I love to paint and thats it,the rest is out of my hands.I feel more relaxed already.

Plums Elevated

Another three days have gone by without painting,I suppose its that time of year.Everyone is on holiday,so many distractions.....Anyway I did mention that I would attempt painting glass,so here it is..

Three Clementines Sold

I hav'nt been able to paint or post for three days,I've had some more pressing issues.Anyway I'm back and this is my latest painting.Using fabric as background really seems to lift the subject and actually not that hard to do.I hope everyone has a great holiday and a wonderful New Year.

Hearts and a Tart

It was -7 last night! Summer seems so far away,but sitting down to a lovely cup of tea and a jam tart,what could be better? I've realised that the flash is causing a glare on my photos,so they may look a little washed out.I'm trying to work out the best way.Surprisingly the tart was easy to paint,cups are always difficult,its the elipses more than anything.

Chilly tomatoes 2

This painting was a real joy to do.It came together quickly and easily,which makes a change.These cherry tomatoes were a little more expensive than the usual ones I buy but they had a real deep red colour that just begged to be painted.They certainly taste sweeter as well,I guess you get what you pay for.

Purple Pansy

Yes, you guessed it,another little vase I picked up in a charity shop.I used to think clothes shopping was fun.Now I really enjoy looking through these shops for my next subject to paint,and also picture frames as well.The sun is so bright today,but we are expecting heavy snow by tomorrow,not something I'm looking forward to! I'm not sure who was the first person to start a painting a day but its such a brilliant idea and I am really enjoying myself.

Forgotten Hyacinth

Ever bought a hyacinth and left it in a corner?!Well it sure needs the light and will bend over backwards to get there.Such an amazing perfume these flowers have,honestly it is such a heady aroma .

Pumpkin trio

Autumn has been and gone,it really is my favourite season.I went to Camden market back in October and one stall holder had nothing but pumpkins of all shapes and sizes.I picked these three tiny ones,they looked so cute.I have kept them,I really can't cook them, they look too good.

Fruity (Donated to Community Needs)

This is one I painted a few weeks ago. Hopefully I should be back on track tomorrow.

Indulgence

What could be more indulgent than tea and a leaning tower of biscuits?!

Jelly bean soup

This one was fun to do,although the background was originally another scarf, but it was clashing with the colourful beans.So I opted for a simple background instead.

Blue vase 3

This is the third vase I bought as a set from the charity shop.   "Life is a great big canvas,and you should throw all the paint on it you can." Danny Kaye

Robin

"The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion.The more we care for the happiness of others,the greater is our own sense of well-being." Dalai Lama

Tea for one

Its still so cold all I can think of are things that keep me warm.With this painting I tried to tone down the colours to create more serenity,although some subjects benefit from more punchy colours. I have now put the previous two paintings on ebay,the category being acrylic painting and then the title of the painting.

Chilly tomatoes

It is so cold,the cherry tomatoes are trying to warm up next to the chilli.This one was fun to paint,but my biggest challenge is to paint glassware.Maybe in the next few days.

Twos company....

When you first look at an object it all seems one colour,so how do you define its shape? Sometimes with great difficulty.Have I achieved what I set out to do? I think so.

Apple solitaire SOLD



 "Knowledge of what is possible is the beginning of happiness" ,I love this quote by George Santayana.I loved painting this apple,art does'nt have to be panoramic scenes or anything spectacular,beauty can be found in the simplest of objects.

The Clem Special SOLD

I have  been posting for two weeks now and I am loving every minute of it.Each painting I do presents its own challenges,but each time I stick it out and finish,I feel I have taken a step up onto the next rung of the ladder.There is always something to learn and something to be grateful for.

Fig revealed SOLD

Figs are one of my favourite fruits and such beautiful colours.All you bloggers out there do you find that you keep wanting to look at the stats every so often to see how many people have been looking.Its so exciting,I hope the novelty does'nt wear off.After all its people that make this whole process of life interesting.We do need each other.

Only room for one

Apples are always a brilliant subject,and always available,remember Cezanne! Having a creative bug in you,I do believe we are born with,but what you do with this compulsion is your choice.I have spent most of my life wanting to paint,the circumstances,lack of confidence,so many issues can get in the way.If you don't find a way round these issues,a way to be selfish and do what you love, you can spend an awful lot of time being downright miserable.I truly feel a weight lifting,at last I am on my creative path.

Tea and a biscuit

I really enjoyed painting this,especially the biscuit,which was'nt as hard as I imagined it would be.Being commited to painting one a day I am constantly on the lookout for inspiration.So far its been easy because I always pick up interesting pieces from charity shops,little jugs,teacups and vases.Its all part of the fun of creating art.

Tea and a doughnut

I found this fantastic retro teacup and saucer in a charity shop in Harpenden.Teacups a simple subject!Don't be fooled.I spent hours trying to get this right,but I did'nt give up.Also I had a wonderful aroma coming off the doughnut,which only made things worse, because out of sheer frustration  it was all I could do not to pick it up and eat it!