Peace in a Rose

A simple jam jar and a small pink rose and I find myself at peace.

Peace in a Rose
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

 

Hanging On II

This rose has been blooming in this vase for over two weeks, I've just been so busy with finishing off the final touches to the house. My family are all back from their travels, I feel truly blessed.
I did promise photos so here are a few.

Hanging On II
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

Peachy

Peach is definitely my colour this year.

Peachy
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Colours of Life

If you change the way you tell your own story, you can change the colour and create a life in technicolour.
Quote by Isabel Allende.

Colours of Life
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Happiness Shared

Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.

John Harrigan

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/flower_3.html#QMILr6jxT4m7e8CR.99

Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/flower_3.html#QMILr6jxT4m7e8CR.99

Happiness held is the seed;
Happiness shared is the flower.
Quote by John Harrigan.

Happiness Shared
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Pear and Bluebells

This little blue glass vase was a bargain buy from a charity shop, I fell in love with the colour. The bluebells are all over my garden, happily they grow without any input from me, since I am not exactly green fingered.

Pear and Bluebells
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Pink Rose in Jam Jar

This is one I painted a few months ago but completely forgot to post. It sold yesterday and is on its way to a buyer in Norfolk.

Pink Rose in Jam Jar
oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

At the moment I am busy putting furniture back, which is so much easier with the extra space created but de-cluttering. With the different colours on the walls I can now do the fun part....accessorizing. :  )

Grape Hyacinths in Warm Spring Sunshine

The weather has been stunning compared to this time last year, the sun is shining, the garden is full of spring flowers and even butterflies are gracing us with their presence.

Grape Hyacinths in Warm Spring Sunshine
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

Hanging On

This is my first painting after about two weeks, these roses were given as a present about two weeks ago and they've hung on almost as if they were waiting for me to record their life on canvas.
Most of the house is finished, just our bedroom and bathroom to go, its been tough but also quite liberating and therapeutic.

Hanging On
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Pink Tulips

A week later and I've finished painting downstairs, the walls and ceilings are done. I've chosen peach and a warm yellow, it makes a change from the duck egg blue we've had for the last four years. The colours are warm and welcoming and I am looking forward to accessorizing with throws and cushions. I'm on a tight budget so the furniture and carpets are staying put for now, its wonderful that I've had the energy, resources and time to give our home some TLC.
I painted these tulips nearly a week ago, I had thought to add to it a bit more, but I think its done.

Pink Tulips
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Pansies in the Morning

At the moment I am in the middle of redecorating, new colour scheme and complete spring clean. I've donated about twenty bags of clothes and books for charity and thrown out a whole lot of stuff that is no good to anyone. Its amazing how much we hoard and getting rid is great therapy, I feel lighter already and once all the decorating is done, I am hoping it will give my creativity a boost.

Pansies in the Morning
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
SOLD

The Sunflowers After George Braque

The Sunflowers After George Braque
Oil on paper made for oils
10"x8"

I painted this for  http://paintingfromthemasters.blogspot.co.uk/
This months challenge was my choice and very kindly posted by Karen d'Angeac Mihm.
I have left it a bit last minute but I can tell you I really enjoyed trying to copy this amazing, flamboyant masterpiece. I did rush some so its not accurate but maybe that's how he painted it, there is a wonderful looseness that I love and crave to be able to put in my work.



Memories

“It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone... but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.”

Kahlil Gibran


I had some quiet time to myself and found myself with a lot of memories.....




Memories
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Be Happy

“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.”
― Audrey Hepburn

        

Be Happy
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Patience is a Virtue

Its been over a week since my last post, I've been so busy with work that painting had to take a back seat. patience is indeed a virtue since I struggled to get the work done, but still could not make time.
I picked up my brushes last night and it felt sooo good! :  )

I also repainted this one, I felt the background did not help to make the daffodils stand out.

Daffodils and Clementine
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
 

Patience is a Virtue
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Warmth

The background is like a warm blanket wrapped around on a cold winter afternoon.

Warmth
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD
 

Sunny Sunday

I was up early on this beautiful sunny Sunday to paint this.

Sunny Sunday
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

Daffodils and Clementine

Daffodils and Clementine
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

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

Pink on Blue

Happiness is not something readymade.  It comes from your own actions. –Dalai Lama

Pink on Blue
oil on canvas board 6"x6"

Opening Up a Little More

I actually painted this after the first daff painting but it needed some changes. I've been working on it today and I think its at a stage where I can call it finished.

An update on the John Singer Sergeant painting project started by Richard Robinson......the deadline was the end of last month, but I suppose if one painting is to be completed by eighty artists there are bound to be hitches, life can get in the way, with all the best of intentions. My piece is No.78, please check out the painting, I think all the pieces look amazing.


http://thecompleteartist.ning.com/page/group-painting

Opening Up A Little More
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Cheer Up

This composition kind of fell into place, mainly because the pear refused to stand!!

Cheer Up
Oil on canvas board 5"x7"
SOLD

Opening Up

Over the last three years I have come to love the work of so many artists. At the moment I am fascinated by the work of George Braque who was a 20th Century French artist. He was known for cubism, modern art, fauvism and analytic cubism. I particularly like his limited colour palette, especially in his still life paintings. A note to Karen d' Angeac Mihm,  I would love to paint one of Braque's still life paintings for this or next  months challenge, no pressure of course. :  )
http://paintingfromthemasters.blogspot.co.uk/

Opening Up
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Fruit and Rose

The sun is shining, its about 18C and I've just finished this painting. Oh, and its a Sunday, what could be better!!

Fruit and Rose
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
 

Plum Trio

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. –Confucius

This quote sums up how I feel at the moment....determined to keep going.



Plum Trio
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Roses Roses

Either you run the day, or the day runs you. –Jim Rohn

There have been so many days when there is no control, there is precious little spare time and if that is not made use of, then " the day runs you". So when I do paint it is a joy, a privilege, and I feel satisfied that I made use of the gift of time.

My obsession with roses is still in full force, I see a bunch of roses and I just want to take it home and lose myself in the colours and shapes.

Roses Roses
Oil on canvas board
8"x8"
SOLD

Carnations in Glass Vase

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,

And live like it’s heaven on earth.”― William W. Purkey



Carnations in Glass Vase
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

The Elephant in the Room

You know the situation....there is a subject that needs to be brought to the surface but you can't and you can't ignore it either. Its the elephant in the room. Lol. :  )

The Elephant in the Room
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
 

Irises in Glass III

Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark in the hopeless swamps of the not-quite, the not-yet, and the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish in lonely frustration for the life you deserved and have never been able to reach. The world you desire can be won. It exists.. it is real.. it is possible.. it's yours.”
― Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Irises in Glass III
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

Richard Robinsons Group Project of a John Singer Sergeant Painting

I am subscribed to Richard Robinsons blog and I received an email in January about an exciting new project where eighty artists were invited to take part in a group project of a famous painting. The places were filled up so quickly , I know many were disappointed . Each artist was given a slice of the painting Paul Helleu Sketching With His Wife to copy. All the pieces will be put together and possibly published in an international art magazine. Its taken me a number of tries but I have finally finished. It was the most hardest piece I have ever tried to paint but I'm glad that I could be part of it. All pieces are 10"x10" so that if at a later date Richard decided to bring them all together they would fit and could be auctioned off for charity.

Paul Helleu Sketching with his Wife After John Singer Sergeant
Oil on canvas paper 10"x10"

  http://thecompleteartist.ning.com/events/group-painting-project1

Cherry Oh Baby

One of my childhood songs I remember so well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X7WI8qPAeM

Cherry Oh Baby
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

Daffs and Green Apple

Daffs and Green Apple
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

 The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best
of everything they just make the most of everything that comes
along their way.

Pink Roses and Fruit

There is no must in art because art is free.
Wassily Kandinsky

Pink Roses and Fruit
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"

Daffs and a Lemon

Nature is not only all that is visible to the eye.. it also includes the inner pictures of the soul.”  Edvard Munch

Daffs and a Lemon
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Irises in Glass

Irises in Glass
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

“I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living.” ~Robert Henri

Pink Lemonade

Thanks Ladies for all your comments recently. :  )

I've been saving this pretty bottle to paint and it seems to go very well with this rose and cherries.

Iris in Glass

Yesterdays quote, if I keep that to the forefront of my mind is really helping me to move forward.

Iris in Glass
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Two Roses and an Apple

“Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it.” Salvador Dali

Hi everyone, I hope you are all keeping warm this winter.

This quote by Salvador Dali sums up why I have been struggling this week. I started off painting the roses and then everything fell apart. I scraped this painting four times last week and then I just gave up. I couldn't put it to one side and start something else, it became a block until finally today I made myself carry on with it and finish without fear of failure. The only way I could move forward was to get it done. Now the cloud has lifted, I'm already thinking of what to paint next and I feel so much better.  :  )

Two Roses and an Apple
oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD

Anticipation

I have finally managed to grow forsythia in my garden!!!  I am trying to get away from the literal, to add something of myself and how I feel. I feel joy at the anticipation of spring, the world waking up after a long sleep.

Anticipation
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD

Red Rose and Green Apple

“The only time I feel alive is when I'm painting.” Vincent Van Gogh

Red Rose and Green Apple
Oil on canvas board 8"x8" 

Scent and Sensibility III

This is the third and last painting of my friends scent bottle, out of the three I've enjoyed the last two more because they are more loosely painted than the first.
In retrospect maybe I shouldn't have placed the jar in the centre but I think it works.


Scent and Sensibility
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Scent and Sensibility II

Scent and Sensibility
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
SOLD
 

This scent bottle is still fascinating me, especially the stopper. I'm trying to cut down on the amount of colour, maybe a little goes a long way?? What do you think?

This classic by Creedence Clearwater Revival ...Suzy Q  has to be played very loud, I do get complaints from the family so I don't treat myself too often.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mxaA-bJ35s

Relaxation

Sometimes I just go with the flow.


Crawfish by Elvis Presley is what I was listening to while painting, its one of my favourites.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJxyb7khbjg

Relaxation
Oil on canvas board 7"x5"
SOLD 

Scent and Sensiblity

This scent bottle is a present from a dear friend of mine, she even thought of the title. :  )

Scent and Sensibility
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"

 

Rhythm and Blues

I paint to music and  the rhythm is in my soul,

Rhythm and Blues
Oil on canvas board 6"x6"
 

as is painting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1VsFjP0cTo 

I hope you enjoy this treat by Nelson Freitas

Flowers and Fruit

This is painted from a photo I took last year, I just like the simplicity of the single rose, the snapdragon stem and plum. I'm still working on simplifying brushwork and keeping the colours fresh.

Flowers and Fruit
Oil on canvas board 8"x8"
Available on DPW Auctions