Spring Ducklings

Last night I decided to try more often to take each image and explore it in different mediums.It actually felt liberating and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Spring Ducklings
Biro and Tombo Marker

Spring Ducklings
Watercolours

Spring ducklings
Oil on canvas board,6"x6"
Available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

Living a Life

Living a Life
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

It feels to me that before I started painting i was waiting to live a life  and now I am actually living a life.Although I have so much to learn I am so glad I am on this journey.

Pepper and Aubergines

Ok ,guys I would love to know who is your favourite actor and why,is it looks? The way they act or both?
My favourite actor  of all time would be Burt Lancaster,he had passion ,there was that sparkle in his eyes that was mesmirizing. My favourite film

Pepper and Aubergines
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
Available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

 that starred Burt is The Train,its set in 1944 Paris and a train full of art treasures. I love that film and could watch it over and over again.

Spring Bouquet

I went shopping for groceries and also came back with this bouquet of hyacinths,tulips,some yellow spray that I can't name,daffodils, anemones and pink carnations.Hopefully i will be able to paint all the flowers eventually.I allow myself the luxury of flowers because I gave up buying the latest fashions long ago.Its all about what I can paint and my next painting. : )

Spring Bouquet
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Light

How light bounces of different surfaces is actually what painting is all about. Trying to capture the light is elusive but oh so fascinating.
I haven't been painting much these last few weeks,I think the long winter was dampening my spirits.I know that is really not an excuse.A dear friend and artist has said to me to keep my brushes wet and I think ultimately that practice of painting everyday is the best teacher so any time away from painting I regret very much unless its absolutely necessary. So I resolve to paint and post more regularly. I hope and wish that all my fellow artists out there also find joy in their art and find more time to paint.

Light
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
Availalbe please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

Whisper of Pink

The sun has been shining,the blossoms are finally coming out of hiding.Spring is here at last and it feels like the world is waking up from a long,cold sleep. A friend says its bad luck to pick blossoms from a tree and the trouble with hearing something like that is even if you try not to believe in it

Whisper of Pink
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

 there is always that doubt in your mind.So I will wait until I see some blossoms that have fallen off and paint them or take some photos.

Grazing

This is a scene from our local  farm.

Grazing
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD
 

With spring being so late I bought this radiator bed for our cat,she absolutely loves it and spends most of the day in it.

Toni keeping warm

Pink Rose in Purple Tinted Vase

I've been decluttering like mad and it feels so good to clear out yesterday to make room for tomorrow.


Pink Rose in Purple Tinted Vase
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

Awakening

I love watching the process of how a lily opens up to the world .

Awakening
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

The Thames at Westminster (After Monet)

What was I thinking when I chose this painting as this months challenge on Karen d'Angeac Mihm's paintingfromthemasters.blogspot.com/    

The Thames at Westminster (after Monet )
Oil on paper specially made for oils.


 

I picked this painting because I thought it would be easy!! This is my fourth attempt,and because time has nearly run out on this challenge I decided to go ahead and post it.

Baby Figs

I was so happy to find these at the local grocery,they are beautiful and very sweet.

Baby Figs
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
NFS

Pink and Blue

Pink and Blue
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

I bought this vase a few  years ago from a couple of ladies who were fundraising.They were also knitting babies clothes and blankets .I so admired them that day,their generosity of spirit and skill.

Yellow and Orange

Just out of interest guys, what was your favourite cartoon and why?

Yellow and Orange
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

Mine has to be Top Cat,I love TC with a passion.He was cool ,confident and a very smart cat and made me smile and laugh throughout my childhood.

Tulips in Blue Vase

Tulips in Blue Vase
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

Where is spring ??!! In the next 24 hours we have snow ,icy winds and heavy rain forecast.Thank goodness at least spring is in the shops.

Follow That Dream

I look at roses and I can't help myself ..I have to paint them.Each rose presents a different challenge that is irresistable.I have a simple trick to make them last as long as possible,I cut the stems shorter and shorter and this revives them and lengthens their life.

Follow That Dream
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

This particular rose was pointing forward as if to say ...follow that dream.Keep going my friends ,if art is in your soul,you have to paint,there is no question about it.

Orange Edges

Orange Edges
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” ~ Edgar Degas


These roses were part of my wedding anniversary present.  : )

Mags

Mags
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

This is a commission for a very nice lady who has already bought a  chicken painting from me.Mags was a beloved pet and it was my pleasure to paint her,although it was hard going.

Pink Edges III

Pink Edges III
Oil on canvas 4"x4"
SOLD

My dear artist friends....can you feel another question coming on???  I would love to know what music you listen to when you paint,if any. I love all sorts of music and today I heard this in the car...it just blew me away,I felt like I could be floating on a cloud listening to this........Alt-J - Something Good

Loop The Loop

Loop The Loop
Oil on canvas 4"x4"
available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

This pigeon is dreaming of an exciting flying manoeuvre!!  I guess we all have dreams. : )

Pink Edges II

The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes, and, ironically, the more real.Quote by Lucian Freud.

Pink Edges II
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Sunny Day

Sunny Day
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

Its snowing outside and although I do enjoy the beauty of snow I would love to have some warmth and sun.So this is my wishful thinking painting on Mother's Day.

Pink Edges

Pink Edges
Oil on canvas board,6"x6"
SOLD

“Art will remain the most astonishing activity of mankind born out of struggle between wisdom and madness, between dream and reality in our mind.” ~Magdalena Abakanowicz

Aubergines

Aubergines
Oil on canvas board 5"x7"
SOLD

I think I'm going through a purple phase. : )

Purple Tulips IV

I have no fear of making changes, destroying the image, etc., because the painting has a life of its own.
Jackson Pollock

Purple Tulips IV
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

March Sunset

For this month Karen D'Angeac Mihm  blog has very kindly let me choose the challenge .She has created this blog to help us learn ,its called Painting from the Masters.Check out Karen's ,Darla's and Rochelle's  versions of Cezannes apples which was last months challenge....amazing!!!
I chose Monet's The Thames at Westminster,I hope you all have a go .

March Sunset
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

My painting for today is this sunset from my backgarden.

Purple Tulips II

Purple Tulips II
8"x8"
SOLD

One of my very nice collectors asked me to paint another purple tulip painting as she missed the auction on DPW, its very similar but not exactly the same.This is the style that I enjoy painting in the most,very loose and with lots of artistic license. : )


Ever the economist, I now have a bunch of tulips still going strong and a whole lot of paint in various shades of purple already mixed and waiting to be used.


Thankyou so much for all your comments,I particularly loved everyones comments about their hopes and dreams.


Purple Tulips III
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD






 

L'Amour Dans La Niege II

L'Amour Dan La Niege II
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
NFS

He couldn't help admire her beauty ,she looked away overwhelmed by shyness or was she just being coy?

Mambo

Mambo
Oil on canvas board, 4"x4"
available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

These fascinating fruits look so delicate on the outside but their flavour is like a mambo on your tongue. : )

Small Pleasures

Small Pleasures
Oil on canvas board, 4"x4"
SOLD

Is'nt it wonderful...... fruit is not just to eat but to marvel at  and paint.

Hopes and Dreams

Hopes and Dreams

Oil on canvas board, 8"x8"

SOLD

I would love to know my dear artist friends, what are your hopes and dreams for your art ?

My hope is that I keep improving , my dream is to paint pictures that resonate with people and be able to earn a living as a fulltime  artist.

Simplicity

Simplicity
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

The simplicity of  flowers in a recycled food jar is something that fascinates me time and time again.The pure joy I feel when I am painting is hard to describe.
 If only life in general was as simple.

Rolling Hills of Bedfordshire

Rolling Hills of Bedfordshire
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

I'm trying to limit my colour palette to create more harmony,this I think is a good start.

Small Apple

Small Apple
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
Available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

Apples are a godsend ,when you're stuck for inspiration,or just not feeling upto painting anything complicated.

Towards the Light II

A library of wisdom, is more precious than all wealth, and all things that are desirable cannot be compared to it. Whoever therefore claims to be zealous of truth, of happiness, of wisdom or knowledge, must become a lover of books.

Towards the Light II
SOLD

Plato

Roses and A Strawberry

Red Roses and a Strawberry
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
Available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

It looks like I'm I'll be busy with roses for a few more days since I have a nice bunch of them. : )

Lily Vase and Bouquet

Lily Vase and Bouquet
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
Available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

It doesn't matter how many times I paint this vase or pitcher,I feel I can paint it again.

Serendipity

I've named this after one of my favourite films starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale.I could watch this film over and over again,it just goes to show what a hopeless romantic I am .....despite what I wrote yesterday. : )

Serendipity
Oil on canvas board, 8"x8"
SOLD


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bilXFudh_is&feature=player_detailpage

This music is from the film Serendipity and its by David Gray.......
 

Love's Token

Love's Token
Oil on canvas board, 6"x6"
SOLD

Its that time of year again!!! I must admit I am not a fan of Valentine's day.I grew up reading the most powerful love stories like Wuthering Heights and Onegin,but alas, is there such a thing as romance in real life???
 Of course, its the little things that matter in the end .

Towards the Light

Towards the Light
Oil on canvas board,8"x8"
SOLD

Moving towards light is a natural thing for plants,this one reminded me how I strive so hard to  be a better artist, it is such a joyful journey.

Mums and Plums

Mums and Plums
Oil on canvas,8"x8"
SOLD

I was feeling the colour purple today. So I searched around the house and found this delicately tinted purple glass vase,I already had some plums and these really cheerful looking chrysanthemums.The rest ,I wish I could say  was a piece of cake (although I have been indulging in some cake in between brushstrokes) but non the less I loved painting this.

Basket of Apples ( After Cezanne)

Karen d' Angeac Mihm has created a new blog  ...http://paintingfromthemasters.blogspot.co.uk/
I'm so happy about this blog because, much as I push myself to copy famous paintings i don't do it often enough and this is a perfect opportunity to take up the challenge every month...thankyou so much Karen!!
Artists can join in and paint the monthly challenge,for February Karen has chosen a painting from one of her favourite artists...Basket of Apples by Cezanne.

Basket of Apples ( after Cezanne)
Oil on oil painting paper.
6"x8.5"

I found this a real challenge but I did my best,although there are plenty of errors I feel I know Cezanne's process a little better.You can look at a painting but unless you copy it you don't really get the feel of how it was done.

Breathing Room

What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit.
Quote by John Updike.

Breathing Room
Oil on canvas board, 4"x4"
Available,please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

When I began to paint daily it was tough to maintain ,two years later it feels so different. When I pick up a brush or whatever tool I use it feels like I have been holding my breath and I can let go  and breath.


Thankyou so much guys for all your wonderful comments,I always appreciate them and love reading them.I was asked if I'm left handed...yes I am. : )

Winter Sun

Winter Sun
Oil on canvas board  8"x8"
SOLD

This is Blundell Park ,a square little park tucked away inside rows of houses.Its a great place to go for a little fresh air and quiet time.

Daffs and Plums

Daffs and Plums
Oil on canvas,6"x6"
NFS

A bunch of daffodils are a pound in the local shops ,how could I resist  . : )

Royal Mail in the Snow

Royal Mail in the Snow
Oil on canvas board
8"x8"
SOLD

This road is very familiar to me ,its a little hill and my friend lived there from when we were eight until her family moved away twelve years later.One day on our way to college I fell just next to that post box ,it had snowed and then iced over the night before.Its funny ,at that age it didn't even hurt .

We're still friends but living in different towns makes it a long distance friendship.Everytime I pass this road my heart feels a little pain ,I miss those times.

The Empty Bench

The Empty Bench
Oil on canvas board
8"x8"
available please contact me on
azraiqbal2000@hotmail.com

I looked at this bench and felt a sense of zen like calm.There was a stillness in the air and unblemished snow.......

L'Amour Dans la Niege

L'Amour Dans La Niege
Oil on canvas board,4"x4"
SOLD

In other words...Love in the snow