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.

Picnic in the Park

I was in the park about six weeks ago and I saw this happy little group of mums and tots,I went over and asked if I could take a few pictures.They were so kind when I explained that I wanted to do a painting of them.I had  a great time painting this scene using some of the brushstrokes from this weeks challenge.

Stockwood Park Gardens 2

This is my entry for this weeks DPW challenge set by Mary Douglas.I loved this challenge and it is really worth doing,painting this way has opened my eyes to a different type of brushstroke that enriches any painting.Although I do need to practice to improve this method.

Bowl of Aubergines

Best laid plans and all that!! I have been trying to paint early in the day but in the last few days that has not been possible.Still  at least I got to paint today and I feel much better for it.

The 7 Links Project

I got a lovely surprise yesterday from a great artist friend of mine called Yasha Sharma http://www.yashasvision.blogspot.com .She has tagged me in the 7 Links Project which has been started "To unite bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again."
 
The seven categories:
Your most beautiful post
Your most popular post
Your most controversial post

Your most helpful post
A post whose success surprised you
A post you feel did'nt get the attention it deserved
The post you are most proud of


The blog owner is asked to to link a top post in each category and then tag 7 other bloggers so that the chain continues.


Here are my choices

1.My most beautiful post: I love the colours in this and the movement of the asparagus fascinated me as they drank up the water.

2.My most popular post:This post has recieved the most pageviews.Its an entry to one of the dailypaintworks challenges to paint a red rose.

3.My most controversial post: This was also an entry on one of the dailypaintworks challenges to paint this lady sitting on some steps texting away on her phone.Its controversial I think because I called it "Get A Life." I really do think that we all need to spend less time on the phone.

4.My most helpful post: I called this Nevertheless because I think too much food is thrown away and I included a recipe using the green shoots from this onion.

5.A post whose success surprised me:This because I used a palette knife and felt I did'nt have enough control of the paint.I think the result came out good but its that feeling of letting go..I should do it more often!

6.A post I did'nt feel get the attention it deserved: I spent absolutely hours on this! Yellow is a transparent colour and I could'nt get the right shade until finally I painted  it over in white and then yellow on top.I really like the composition too.

7.The post I am most proud of: I am proud of this because of so many factors....I like how I managed to get the transparency of the glass,the colours I chose,the money raised went to Japan,someone liked it enough to buy it....I could go on.....

Seven bloggers I would like to tag are:
1.Karla Uphoff
2. Maria Baluis
3.Elizabeth Frazier
4.Giselle McMenamin
5.Anita Badami
6.Linda Nickles
7.Karen Stitt

Blushing Pear

I bought this dish about four months ago but I could'nt work out how to use it until today.You know when a light bulb goes on and a composition comes to together in your mind....the rest is history as they say.

Lakeside Geese

This is  by far my favourite subject at the moment.They look so peaceful and I feel the same when I paint them.For the last few months I've been trying to paint everyday and not managing to do so.My routine is to finish off all the work that needs doing and then paint at the end of the day.Now I have decided to paint as early in the day as possible because every day I don't paint is a day wasted.

Greetings Cards

I've recently had some of my paintings printed onto greetings cards and they are now in the two museum shops in Luton.I had a meeting with the retail manager and she loved my work.She said that they are trying to promote local arts and crafts so my cards were a welcome addition to their shops.I am also looking into holding an exhibition of my work in the exhibition hall at Stockwood Park.

These are big steps for me because it means exposing my work to my local community but its also exciting.

Aubergine Trio

This was hard!!

Tea and Comfort

I've redone the background because I was'nt overly thrilled with it.It felt like the biscuits were blending into the background.I've also tried out pastels for the first time, as a medium to enhance acrylics.Its given the edges a softer effect which I rather like.

Tea and Comfort

This is my entry for this weeks DailyPaintworks Challenge to paint your favourite teacup or mug.This challenge was set by Karla Uphoff.This is going back a bit  to my previous style ,but nevertheless it was still fun to do.

Parkland

"To laugh often and much: to win the respect of  intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics  and to endure the betrayal of false friends.To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child,a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."

Quote by  Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Cone Flowers

"Flowers are those little colourful beacons of the sun from which we get sunshine when dark,somber skies blanket our thoughts."
Quote by Dodinsky.

Stockwood Park Gardens

There are so many landscaped gardens at this park that any artist is spoilt for choice.This one was rather complicated and there are alot of details I have left out ,which is something that does'nt come easy to me but I am learning....I think.

Backgarden Sunset 3

Most evenings I have the camera ready,if there is a spectacular sunset I run out to the back garden and take some pictures.

"I remember a hundred lovely lakes,and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees.The trail has strung upon it,as upon a thread of silk,opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets."

A quote by Hamlin Garland

Sunflower Trio

I painted these sunflowers to "There's nothing like this" by Omar which always relaxes me and I hope has had a positive effect on my painting as well. : )

Lakeside Ablutions

At Wardown park lake there is a large water fountain that shoots up a single column of water, and that reflection is what I tried to capture in this painting.It was early morning and the geese were  peacefully preening their feathers.The roots in the foreground are of the willow  and are said to be three times the height of these trees.
I'm finding standing to paint so much easier and even quicker.Also the larger paintbrushes allow for a more freestyle of painting.
I'm keeping up with the Charles Sovek lessons,about one a day,only I won't be posting them as it is a bit time consuming.

Nevertheless 3

This rose has been sitting very patiently and going yellow at the edges ,but nevertheless has beauty that is still to be captured.After the line drawing which is itself a very basic lesson although very valuable, I find myself feeling more expressive so I really had fun with this one.

I have decided to send  my spice jar(which I posted on the 8th of July) to any of my followers who want it.In return I would ask  that they paint it and post it on their blog and then offer it to one of their followers.At some point it would be nice to have the jar back so(I'm making this up as I go along so bear with me)say after  a year from when I send it.Jean Nelson did say she wanted it ,so I will offer it to her first.I'll keep you posted. : )

Gesture versus Contour

This is the first lesson on Charles's Lessons from the easel.There are two ways of drawing ; one is gesture which gives the drawing energy and movement,the other is contour which is a straight forward line drawing without expression.I feel so much happier starting these exercises because it gives me direction and already I'm seeing the value of expression.
Thanks again Maria.

Tick Tock

This is my entry for this weeks The Nature's Arrangement Challenge on the DailyPaintworks.I kept to the time limit,used the paintbrushes stated and also the colours allowed.I found the colour restriction the most difficult because it was hard to mix the right greens and especially getting the right colours for the brick wall.

Historical Garden at Stockwood

I can't believe its been a week since I last posted! This has been an incredibly difficult week but with a high as well.Charles Dickens said it so well...."It was the best of times it was the worst of times."
Todays painting I did with quite a few changes,I used a bigger brush,I stood up and painted ,held the brush at the tip instead of like a pen.I'm not sure if all these changes have had a positive effect just yet,with any thing its .....practice,practice,practice.Another thing i resolve to do is follow Charles Soveks lessons ,which Maria Baluis very kindly suggested.
I've posted both the photo I used and my painting so that you can decide whether I have actually succeeded in simplifying this scene.

Stockwood Park Discovery Centre

Three years ago Stockwood Park underwent refurbishment and also new buildings which house a museum shop,coffee bar and exhibition areas.The exhibits here are of great historical significance to the area,not to mention beautifully sculptured gardens.
I'm trying to keep details to a minimum and concentrate more on shapes and values.I would love some feedback....constructive critisicm would be good otherwise I feel its an uphill battle.This scene I felt would be a good exercise in painting all those different shapes.

Owl Sentry at Stockwood Park

There are a few parks dotted around Luton but Stockwood and Wardown stand out as the biggest and best.This wooden owl is near the entrance to Stockwood and looks stern as if to ward off anyone who does'nt treat the park with the respect it deserves.

Narcissistic Pair

This is my entry for this weeks DailyPaintWorks challenge set by Abbey Ryan.I copied one of Caravaggio's paintings of Narcissus a while ago and this reminds me a little  of that.

Strawberries and Spice

My lovely friend Tracy bought this spice jar for me,and I've finally plucked up the courage to paint it.The brown spidery looking things next to the strawberries are called star anise and they are lovely added to basmati rice or my personal favourite in a cup of green tea.If you have a cold its especially good for warding off infections.Just pop one in your tea and enjoy the aniseed flavour.

Brush With Strawberries

This is my entry for this weeks challenge on the DailyPaintworks which is to "paint what you paint with".I bought some beautiful English strawberries and liked the idea of combining the two.

Nevertheless 2

In spite of these lilies being past their best they are still beautiful and still fragrant.Although whether I have done them justice is another matter. : )

"Very whitely still The liliesof our lives may reassure Their blossoms from their roots,accessible Alone to heavenly dews that drop no fewer;Growing straight out of mans reach,on the hill.God only,who made us rich,can make us poor."
Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote

Jean's Challenge

I've been meaning to paint this challenge set by Jean Nelson on The DailyPaintworks for the last week.It was fun and very relaxing,I am finding that I enjoy landscapes more, perhaps because I keep the details to a minimum.

Goose and Goslings

SOLD

It was a rainy day when I took this picture ,the geese had come off the lake and onto the grass where this puddle was.This one hissed at me when I tried to get a little closer.