Red Roses in a Jar

Red Roses in a Jar
Oil on canvas board,12"x10"
SOLD

 Yes,I'm back torturing myself with painting roses again!!

Figs II

Figs II
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

These figs were given to us by a neighbour ,they are so different in colour,shape and taste from the shop bought ones,really sweet and irresistable.

Pot Of Gold

I have no time or energy for painting today,but I could'nt resist posting this picture I took at about 5.45pm today.

I wish for all my blogging friends a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow,may you all find abundance ,health and happiness.

Chicken Licken III

Serenity
Acrylic on watercolour paper
Available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

I loved  reading all the replies to my question about favourite artists ! My question for today is tell me about your favourite painting that you have created.Provide a link if you can and I would love to know why its your favourite.My favourite is this swan painting,it makes me feel proud to have created it,the colours are in harmony and the light on the water.Most of the time I am very critical of my own work so it makes a refreshing change to be proud of a painting.

Chicken Licken III
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

Todays painting is another from a collection of chicken photos.

Onion Blues

Onion Blues
Oil on canvas board
Available,please contact me on
SOLD

I'm so enjoying these colourful onions and this one was a challenge but I think I got there in the end.

Figs

I would love  to know from my blogging friends who is their most favourite artist ,either present or past and why.

Figs
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

I began admiring Jack Vettriano and still do love his work,but my present favourite is Donna Walker.I always look out for her work on DPW,her simplified landscapes are almost abstract.Having a recognised style is something we all strive for and her work really stands out.At the craft show back in June I met an artist and he gave me a valuable piece of advice.He said that in order to succeed an artist has to stand out.I've realised that achieving that is not an overnight task,but a work in progress.I suppose the key is not to give up,keep trying and the best of all, enjoy every brushstroke

Fig

Fig
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

My aim since I started this blog has been to be more loose with my brushwork and to use more paint.Its been a slow process but a very enjoyable process with only myself doing the pushing.I do feel ,especially with the last few paintings that I am succeeding in my goal.Just moving paint around on the canvas and liking the results is total bliss.

Sprouting Onion

Sprouting Onion
Oil on canvas board,7"x5"
SOLD

Groceries everywhere are selling bowls of fruit and veg for a pound,some fresh some not so fresh.My first concern apart from dinner is what can I paint.I saw this bowl of onions and they had the most amazing colours,pinks,purples,yellow ochre...

Flowers in a Jar

Flowers in a Jar
Oil on canvas board,12"x10"
Available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

I love the simplicity of glass jars and the light captured inside them.

Zen Apple

Zen Apple
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
Available,please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

Is there anything more peaceful than painting an apple,it makes me feel truly zen like. : )

Glad To Be Painting

Glad To Be Painting
Oil on canvas board,7"x5"
Available,please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

I bought these gladioli and freesias at a reduced price and they are fading fast.Hopefully I will be able to paint a few more before they are done.

African Violet

Thankyou so much guys for all your comments,I love recieving each and every one of them.
We as women are performing a juggling act with our lives,our  families ,trying to do our best for everyone and at the same time desperately trying to make time to feed our souls too.

I am not complaining,I love my life,God is good .I  have to work hard for a living but there are opportunities to make things better and the will to keep working at it is in my hands.

Red and Shiny

These are great apples to paint,they look so beautiful displayed at the front of the grocery shop.

Red and shiny
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

There is a definite freshness in the air,glorious Autumn is on its way.I always feel a sense of excitement,the colours are so inspirational.

White Nectarines

White Nectarines
Oil on canvas board
SOLD

These peaches are gorgeous,they have a heavenly aroma and the sweetest taste.Painting them was a joy,and I used more paint than I usually do.Its something I always set out to do but don't always succeed.It is all about practice,practice ,.....

Late Summer

Late Summer
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
Available,contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

Strawberries are always irresistable to paint ,if I buy a punnet of them and don't paint them I feel quite grouchy! Grapes are a different story,green are the hardest ,black are the best,they have lovely highlights.Am I boring anyone??

Strawberry in Dish

Strawberry in Dish
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

It has been the most glorious late summers day.The sun has shone all day and I've managed to dry loads of washing and catch up on some painting too.This one was easier than I anticipated ,its those elipses that usually take so long to get right, but its definitely getting easier.

Wild Ones VI

Wild Ones VI
Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame 12"x9"
SOLD

This, I think will be the last of the wild flower paintings for this year.These flowers have been a joy to paint ,the process has really opened my eyes to all the beauty that is normally taken for granted.

Perseverance

Perseverance
Oil on stretched canvas,9"x12"
SOLD

This composition became a stumbling block and it took a few days to get past it.I absolutely cannot abandon a painting so I end up struggling and wasting many days in the process.I am so glad to have finished this and I can move on.

Solitude

Solitude
Oil on stretched canvas,12"x9"
SOLD

Part of being an artist is solitude,working away at whatever is our latest piece of art.That peaceful space is something I have always enjoyed.I remember as a child spending time by our local pond making little dishes out of the wet clay,and coming home covered in mud and clay,much to my mum's dismay! Great times indeed.

Plum trio

Plum Trio
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

These plums have the most gorgeous colours and just begged to be painted.

Wild Ones V

This painting is the fifth in my wild flowers series.

Wild Ones V
Oil on canvas board,5"x7".

Wild Ones V
Watercolour 5"x7"

Autumn begins in just over three weeks and I can see the signs already.Leaves are changing colour and the silver birch on our road are dropping their  seeds all over the place,most of them it seems in my house! Still they are beautiful trees and I enjoy them at every stage.I always look forward to autumn,the crisp fresh air,the colours and a feeling of potential.

Chicken Licken II

Painting birds of any description is a real pleasure.These hens belong to some friends of ours and they are treated like beloved pets.This one struck a pose for me so how could I not paint her.

Chicken Licken II
Oil on canvas, 5"x7"
SOLD

Chicken Licken II
Watercolour on watercolour paper 5"x7"
Available

My confidence is building,I don't feel such a fraud when anyone calls me an artist.I don't look around to see where the artist is! I have hope in my heart that one day I will be a full time artist and make a living out of this occupation that is the most wonderful of obsessions.

Pidgeon

I love pidgeons,I love their iridescent colours.Each bird is different and they are fascinating to watch.Even better they are fantastic to paint.I painted them in both oils  and watercolour with a drypoint pen.

Pidgeon
Oil on canvas board,5"x7"
SOLD

Hen and Poppy

Hen and Poppy
5"x7" Watercolour on paper.

Again I find myself pushed  for time so something simple and quick.

Wild Snapdragon

Wild Snapdragon
Oil on canvas board 7"x5
SOLD

These snapdragons are growing so beautifully, and freely in between the paving in my front garden.I have a particular passion for wild flowers,I'm sure you've noticed!!

Orange and Blue

Orange and Blue
Oil on stretched canvas 12"x9"
SOLD

Painting flowers in glass jars is something i am having alot of fun with at the moment.

I'm wondering where my travelling chicken is at the moment.It always gives me a buzz to hear news of its travel.

Cherries

Cherries
5"x7" Oil on canvas board
SOLD

I'm feeling much better now that I've started to paint regularly again.These cherries were a delight to paint.

Wild Ones IV

Wild Ones III
12"x9" Oil on stretched canvas
SOLD

When ever I'm out I  find myself drawn to all the gorgoeus wild flowers that are gracing this beautiful country.These courageous,brightly coloured flowers will grow anywhere...roadsides,balconies,building sites,in between paving.Surprisingly they have the most heady fragrances too and I can't get enough of them.

Sweet and Simple

Hi everyone,i hope you are all well and enjoying summer.

Thankyou so much for all your comments,I really appreciate it when someone takes time out to do that,it makes my day!

Ever since my long break after the craft show in June its been quite hard to get back into the habit of painting daily.There are always distractions and plenty of work of course,and yet none of that is an excuse.I've been so incredibly busy in the past and still found time to do a small painting,so I am pushing myself to get back to this very important habit that has finally set me on the road to becoming a serious artist.

Sparrow
5"x7" Acrylic on stretched canvas
Available

This little bird is something simple  and quick just to ease me back into daily painting.

Chicken Licken

Chicken Licken
Oil on canvas board 5"x7"
Sold

I just used to love the classic fairytales and childrens stories ,I could'nt get enough of them.What made them really special was the illustrations,they set off fireworks in my head because I found them so beautiful.

This painting is from photos of three hens that belong to friends of ours.If anyone would like to use the photos I will email them to you,or your welcome to copy them.

Single Pink Rose

Single Pink Rose
Oil on canvas board
5"x7"
Available

This is the last rose of this bunch i bought a week ago.I've managed to keep this one going by cutting the stem really short,it seems to revive cut flowers for another day or two.

Pink Roses in Lime Jug

Pink Roses in Lime Jug
Oil on stretched canvas
Sold.

I left this one a bit late and the roses have faded,so I decided to carry on and do a more impressionistic version.I still find it hard to let go so there is still more control and the brushwork could be much looser,but I will let it be for a few days and then see how I feel.

A huge thankyou to everyone who has commented on the previous post and all the others.Your comments tell me when i am heading in the right direction and give me motivation to keep painting.
Bless you All. xx

Pink Roses in Glass Jar

SOLD

I can't see beyond roses at the moment,at least until this bunch fade anyway.

I hope you all have a great weekend and find joy in life and painting.

Rose in a Glass Jar

SOLD

It does'nt matter how many times I paint roses I don't get tired or bored.However they don't come easy and each time it feels like I could do better.So ,I keep trying.....

Wild Ones III

Wild Ones III
7"x5" Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame
SOLD.

Snapdragons,dandelions,clover and a few I don't know the names for are all happily growing wild in my garden,without any help from me.Its just as well ,I am a hopeless gardener anyway!

Wild Ones II

SOLD

Its taking me a bit of time to get used to posting everyday again.One thing I have noticed is I want to take more time over each painting than before.Not necessarily more brushstrokes but thinking about each mark I make and trying to make them count.


I found  these flowers growing wild in between the paving and I felt I wanted to give them as much importance as any cultivated flower.

Cherries

Cherries
5"x7" Acrylic on stretched canvas.
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping.

With this little painting I tried my best to loosen up and leave the rough edges.There is definitely freedom in doing that.What I've decided to do is paint in oils if I have time during the day(so I can take a good photo in daylight),if I don't get time until the evening then I will paint in acrylics so I can scan the painting.Also keeping both mediums going I think will keep me on my toes .

Pom and Plum

Hi everyone!!  I can't believe so much time has gone by without posting and in fact no small paintings at all in that time.As soon as I decided to take time off  I was pulled in so many directions my head has'nt stopped spinning.I had one large commission ,a 30"x40" canvas of a basket of fruit,and a smaller single rose painting.I completed those two weeks ago,the family absolutely love them, and in between our usual work I had cakes and centrepieces for weddings as well.

I missed blogging,but I believe everything happens for a reason and the time has been well spent.I feel refreshed and ready to carry on with my small paintings and I am so looking forward to catching up with what everyone has been doing.
I know our American friends have been suffering with heatwaves recently,I hope its cooler now.

I planned to try out new techniques but I did'nt get any time at all,now I hope I will make time for some exploration.
Todays small painting has been a joy to paint,its like coming home.

Pom and Plum
5"x7" Oil on stretched canvas.
SOLD.

I wish you all well and joy in your lives and your work,in fact everything I would wish for myself.xxx