Not Enough Daylight!

I've managed to finish this little painting, but couldn't take a decent photo, the light is very grey, its been raining most of the day. I love the rain though so I'm not complaining.   :  )

Buds and Rose
oil on canvas 8"x 8"

Value Sketches

Hi everyone, I've really missed blogging these last few weeks and actually this year I have posted less and less. I am still painting as much as ever, maybe more so, its just been so hectic. Especially these last few months. On the 29th of October I took part in a day long workshop in Urban Landscape run by Adebanji Alade. It was very intense and I absolutely loved every minute of it, Adebanji is such a gifted artist and has such a passion which comes through in his teaching. I was so wrapped up in the day that I took very few pictures, but if you look on Adebanji's facbook you will see all the details.
https://www.facebook.com/adebanji.alade?fref=hovercard

 He taught us that doing a value sketch before beginning a painting goes a long way towards creating a successful painting. Over the years I have always meant to sketch more, but after a few drawings I go back to just painting straight away. I vow to sketch more as it really does make such a difference. Value sketches help to work out the design of the painting and see if there is enough contrast and balance between values.

The more I paint the more I feel I have so much to learn, but blogging has meant so many positive benefits , I feel is essential to my growth as an artist. the very practice of painting and posting, receiving encouragement from artists and keeping in touch with what everyone else is doing is so important. Painting is such a solitary occupation and most times blogging is the only social means of communication with other artists.

Summer Meadow III

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.

Quote by John Milton

For me painting fills me with gratitude, the end result is a painting, but the process is the journey and oh, what a marvellous journey it is. 

Summer Meadow III
oil on oil paper 14cmc20cm

Summer Meadow

Summer Meadow II
Oil on oil paper 20cmx 14cm

This is a most welcome change from my usual fruit and flowers.
I think I might stay with this subject for a while.  :  )

I hope  my fellow artists are well, I really enjoy looking at all your paintings. As always, thank you for  your comments and I wish you all many hours of happy painting.xxx

Summer Meadow
Oil on oil paper 20cmx14cm

 

Within Reach

" Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand."

Quote by Mother Theresa

Within Reach
Oil on canvas board 4"x 4"

Peach Roses in Vintage Vase

I love picking up vases from charity shops and this one, I think was actually used to keep celery in.
These roses were a bargain and have separate petals of pink and peach, they're so beautiful I can't stop looking at them.

Peach Roses in Vintage Vase
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x 8"

Blessings

Hi everyone, I know its been so long since I posted last. I have been very busy with many things, but the highlight has been my trip to the South of France. I am very lucky to have a wonderful friend who invited me to stay in her house and we spent the most amazing four days visiting places like Grimaldi Castle, Renoir's house, Matisse's Chapel, the famous La Colombe d'or in the village of St Paul de Vence.
The highlight for me has to be Renoir's house, seeing his studio with his easel was truly emotional. Although having said that, eating in La Colombe d'or was out of this world, being surrounded by original paintings by Matisse, Picasso, Andre' Derain, Bonnard, Chagall and many more is an experience I will never forget. Sitting down with great company and surrounded by master paintings, I felt full before even eating.

French Light
Oil on canvas board

I managed to paint one evening, things I found inside my friends house, because there was simply too much to see and too little time to go out to paint. I have taken many photos and hopefully I will have plenty of reference to work from. I won't bore you with too many of my holiday photos but here a select few.

Tana's Pansies
Oil on canvas board 8"x 8"

Heart of the French Riviera

Heart of the French Riviera

An art installation on the top of Grimaldi Castle in Cagnes-sur-Mer

A Picasso inside La Colombe d'or

Everything Will Be Ok

These veggies are from our local pick your own farm. I was arranging them on the worktop and the leafy arm seemed to fall naturally around the onion as if to say "don't worry, everything will be ok."
Sometimes that's all we need.

Everything Will Be Ok
Oil on canvas board 5"x 7"

Larger Than Life

What is it to be "larger than life" ?
  Sometimes a title comes to my mind before I paint and other times, like this painting I looked at it and felt that the sunflower wants to come out of the canvas and be more than it is. When I paint I feel larger than life. How does painting make you feel?

Larger Than Life
Oil on box canvas
8"x 8"

Sunflowers in Bluebird Vase

Still enjoying these gorgeous sunflowers.

Sunflowers in Bluebird Vase
Oil on box canvas 8"x 8"

Fig I and II

Figs are in season again, such a beautiful fruit.

Fig II
Oil on canvas board 4"x 4"

Fig
Oil on canvas board 4"x 4"
 

You Are My Sunshine

You are my Sunshine
Oil on wrapped canvas
7"x 5"

September is my favourite month,  there is that slight chill in the air that promises Autumn and it

never disappoints.




You are my sunshine II
Oil on wrapped canvas
7"x5"



New Artist Fair

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and enjoying getting back into painting after the long summer. I know many have taken up the 30 day challenge with Lesley, good luck, its a fantastic challenge.

The New Artist Fair was this weekend and I can't tell you how exhausted I am. My friend and I took my paintings up on Friday and spent a good two hours hanging them. There was an evening preview but we came back early because of work and family. We went back on Sunday and stayed for four hours, it was fun meeting all the other artists and visitors. I am very excited to tell you that I have an offer from a bricks and mortar gallery in Maidstone to sell my work!!!!

As of last week I am also represented by Advocate Art which is an artists agency who got in touch with me ( it makes a great change from chasing people ), so a lot has been happening and its all good.





Hopefully I will get back into painting today. :  )

Our cat Pisho and my paintings all packed

Two hours of hanging!!

The Old Truman Brewery
outside the venue

What I love about London, the contrast between old and new
St Pancras and Kings Cross train stations

 

Apple and Flowers

To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage.

Quote by Georgia O'Keeffe

Apple and Flowers
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"

Deepest Blue

Deepest Blue II
Oil on wrapped canvas 7"x 5"
 

Its not often you get something for nothing so I was very happy to pick up these beautiful roses from our local mini supermarket for free. They were a little past their best but cutting the stems fairly short revives them and gives them a new lease of life.

I am really enjoying painting two versions of the same subject side by side.
I don't know why the colours are so sharp but you can see that the middle photo is more true to the original colours.

 

Deepest Blue
oil on wrapped canvas 7"x 5"
SOLD

Zen Sheep

Sheep have such a wonderful way of looking so calm and collected as if they are meditating.

Zen Sheep
oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

Zen Sheep II
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Pear and Grapes I and II / Pink Rose and Fruit

I was up two hours before work and really enjoyed a quiet house to paint, I think this could become a habit. I also found a few hours this evening, so its been a productive day.

Pear and Grapes I
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
 

Pink Roses and Fruit
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"
SOLD

Pear and Grapes
oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Decadent Rose II

My second painting for today.

Decadent Rose II
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"

Decadent Rose

With all the sun we've been getting the roses are just so decadent and laden with scent.

Decadent Rose
oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"

Pear and Plums

I have about three weeks painting time and as is the way with life, I find myself with less and less free time. So I've decided to paint two at a time.

Pear and Plums
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Pear and Plums
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Pear and Plums

The group exhibition is from the 5th to the 7th of September, its the New Artist Fair and its going to be held at The Old Truman Brewery.  http://www.newartistfair.com/sept-2014-summer-exhibition.html

All the artists taking part are now listed including yours truly. I am so looking forward to it, I love London, my spirits lift as soon as I get on the train heading there. The architecture and general vibes I find are very artist friendly.

Feeling Woolly

You know that feeling when you just don't feel sharp. What I need is a fresh Autumn morning with a  slight chill in the air, to walk in and think about how to move forward.

I used a photo taken by Kathleen Walker from Paint My Photo.
http://paintmyphoto.ning.com/photo/sheep-grazing

Feeling Woolly
oil on canvas board 4"x4"

Cherry Love

I have found from experience that when I am in a ditch where my painting is concerned, sometimes a simple fruit painting goes a long way towards digging myself out.

Cherry Love
Oil on canvas board 4"x4"
SOLD

Singular

I am going to be part of an exhibition that showcases sixty emerging artists, its at a top London venue and I now have a month to prepare for it!!! More details to follow.

Singular
oil on canvas board 8"x8"

Wealth

Wealth comes in all shapes and forms. Having a beautiful bunch of dark pink roses in a jar with all the equipment, and the time and energy to paint them is for me wealth indeed.

Wealth
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"
SOLD

Beach Days

This is a commission for a lifeboat man.

Beach Days
Oil on wrapped canvas 12"x9"
commission

 Incidentally the painting I donated to the lifeboat station last year was auctioned and raised over £150 for a new lifejacket.

The Beautiful Journey

The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.”
― Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience




The Beautiful Journey
Oil on wrapped canvas
8"x8"

For The Love of Roses

For The Love of Roses
Oil on wrapped canvas 16"x16"
commission

This is a commission for a buyer that wanted a larger version of a painting that has already sold.
Painting four times my usual size as been quite hard, but I'm glad of the experience, and of course the money means I can carry on painting. :  )

We've just had a summer shower,  the plants and garden are sparkling.

Vintage Roses

These were a present from a good friend, their colours are softer and speak of times gone by.

Vintage Roses
Oil on wrapped canvas 8"x8"