Rose Sketches

I did these sketches to compare the look between pencil and ink.

Pencil sketch

Ink and wash

Seagull Squabble

A scene that is a little closer to home, well, a couple of hours train ride away.

Seagull Squabble
Oil on oil paper
 

Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition

 I have been accepted into the RA Summer Exhibition, this, I believe is the 247th year its been running. The earliest artists to exhibit at the RA include Reynolds, Constable and Turner.
There were 12000 entries and about 1200 have been picked. https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2015
 It has been a dream of mine to have my work in this place so full of history. I received the email today, the first thing I did was tell my husband and then I ran  screaming through the whole house and garden!!!
There have been some disappointments over the years, but it has been so worth it to get to this point.
Thanks for all your encouragement my friends, especially to my friend Tracy who urged me to enter in the first place. xxx

Rush Hour in the Pouring Rain
Oil on oil paper
5"x7"

Lazy Days III

We've had hale, heavy rain, sparkling sunshine, pretty sunsets, I love how the British weather changes all the time. However I would also enjoy some time off to lie back and read a good art book with Alexander O'
Neal in the background. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbW313T9xRY

So if the universe is listening....... :  )

Lazy Days II

More wishful thinking.  :  )

With Alexander O'Neal playing in the background.....bliss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTSOKrJDEeo

Lazy Days II
oil on oil paper
8"x10"

Lazy Days

Maybe there is a little wishful thinking with this painting.
 I have been struggling with everything, it all seems a chore, physically I feel the most tired I have ever been. There is a but coming though, I can still paint, I can still feel the magic.  :  )

Lazy Days
Oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Little Bit of Good

Little Bit of Good
oil on oil paper

 

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ~Desmond Tutu

 

This quote is one of my favourites.

 For the last two weeks I have been cooking meals for our neighbour who is a retired mechanic. He went home to Ireland and came back with pneumonia, he was struggling to make meals for himself. I am happy to say that he is back on his feet, his breathing is normal and he looks great. I am grateful to be able to help him when he needed us the most, he has been a wonderful neighbour to us over the last sixteen years, and hopefully for a long time to come.

 

 

Trust

This one is drawn/painted from a photo given to me by a friend. I am really enjoying working with this medium, its fast and there is not as much control, which makes for surprises.

Trust
ink and wash on cartridge paper.

It'll All Come Out In The Wash

As I go through my painting process, the doubt always creeps in to some degree, but slowly I'm learning that trying is the only way through.

Chrysanthemum
ink and wash on cartridge paper.

Freedom

A kitten longing to be out.

Freedom
Oil on oil paper

Daisy Like

I thought this would be fairly straight forward, a simple flower, but it took several attempts to get it to this point.

Remember vinyl records? This song by Icehouse is still a firm favourite.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o9BCQP0cns

Daisy Like
Oil on oil paper
8"x10"

Life

“Life: composted lessons for our hearts to blossom into our souls.”
― Soul Dancer, Pay Me What I'm Worth

Every year I see these amazing blossoms and yearn to be able to capture their beauty and mostly I feel that I would not be able to do them justice. Today I had to listen to my heart and its need to paint blossoms however they turn out.

Thank you guys for all your wonderful comments, I feel truly blessed to be on this artists journey with you. xxx

Life
acrylics on watercolour paper

Homage to Pink

"I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart."

Quote by Vincent Van Gogh

Speed

I enjoyed painting horses so much I thought I would have another go at a horse composition.

I would like to thank everyone for your good wishes and name suggestions, we have finally decided on a name, well, my kids have, she is now called Minnie the Minx, this suits her character as she is very mischievous. :  )

Speed
Oil on oil paper
 

A Pair of Elephants

I haven't been posting or painting as much as I wanted to, I have an excuse though. About a month after we lost Pisho, a kitten turned up in our garden. She was starving and cold, it did not take long for her to settle into our home, but our older cat was not very happy!! She retreated to our bedroom and refused to come out, and then she became very ill after catching a virus from the kitten. It took two weeks of feeding her by syringe, day and night care to bring her back to good health. I was so afraid of losing another cat so soon after Pisho. Only in the last few days Tibby ( we all decided that  the name Toni did not suit her) has started eating downstairs and reclaiming her home as her own. The kitten is an absolute bundle of energy and is doing what kittens do. I did try to rehome her, but that didn't happen and I just could not leave her at an animal shelter, we had all bonded with her. Now, fingers crossed the worst is over and hopefully Tibby has a new friend. We haven't decided on a name, any suggestions?

I painted this today, something different

A Pair of Elephants
Oil on oil paper

New Kitten

Orange Rose

Painting is the silence of thought and the music of sight.”
― Orhan Pamuk, My Name is Red

Orange Rose
Oil on oil paper

The Best Days

I agree with this quote, the days I paint are the best days and nothing remotely to do with work.

The Best Days
Oil on oil paper

The days you work are the best days.

Georgia O'Keeffe

Taking Time

Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time.

Quote by Georgia O'Keeffe

 

This quote sums up the inspiration for this close up flower.

Taking Time
Oil on oil paper

Wild Horses

Not all who wonder are lost.

Quote by Tolkien.

Wild Horses
Oil on oil paper

Peacock

I've long had a fascination for peacocks. I painted a peacock in my art class at school and my teacher Mr Thompson hung it by his desk for a whole year, one of my proudest moments.

Peacock
Oil on oil paper

Prawn

I've been busy painting walls this past week. Its that time of year when its good to de clutter and make room for life. I painted the walls a peach colour this time last year, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but I'm so relieved to change it back to duck egg blue, of the palest variety.

I've been listening to The Spinners  I'll Be Around, love that voice, their style!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UvqWh7S8OY

Prawn
watercolour on heavy paper


 

Blue Crab

Another watercolour, I ended up painting six altogether.

Blue Crab
watercolour on heavy paper

Strength

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.

Charles Spurgeon

I found this quote today and felt comforted by it, because I worry about everything.

 

Strength
oil on oil paper

A Spring Day

One of the first joyful signs of spring, daffodils popping up everywhere!!

A Spring Day
oil on oil paper

Nothing Stays the Same

Painting flowers over the last few years has taught me that flowers are ever changing. From the bud stage to when they are wilting, each stage is so beautiful. The same could be said of life.

Nothing Stays the Same
Oil on oil paper

I've been listening to Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap....bliss


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxKjOOR9sPU

Seaweed

“A fragrant breeze wandered up from the quiet sea, trailed along the beach, and drifted back to the sea again, wondering where to go next. On a mad impulse it went up to the beach again. It drifted back to sea.”
― Douglas Adams, The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide : Five Complete Novels and One Story

Seaweed
Watercolour on heavy paper.

A Mothers Day Bouquet

My son bought me this bunch of flowers, a perfect opportunity to get back into painting after nearly a week off.

A Mothers Day Bouquet
Oil on oil paper

Light III

Still exploring the joys of abstract art. :  )

Light III
Oil on oil paper

Windswept

Sometimes life has a way of pulling you into directions that normally you would not have dreamed of.

Windswept
oil on oil paper

Light II

I'm going more with my feelings and this is helping me be more and more abstract.

Light II
oil on oil paper

Light

Light
Oil on oil paper

Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.

Rabindranath Tagore

Space

That short space of time when you just wake up and everything is alright with the world, and then you fully wake up.

Space
oil on oil paper

Spirit V

A rose representing life, part returns to earth and part travels onto the next life. 

I've been listening to Sade most of my adult life, love her songs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRl9Av95Uck

Spirit V
Oil on oil paper

Spirit IV

We have beautiful sunshine with blue skies today, but its cold and windy, well we can't have everything right??

Here's a better photo from last night. Still not abstract enough so I may keep going, but loving the experiment.

Spirit IV
Oil on oil paper

Spirit IV

I have realised its harder to let go of the real and recognisable than I thought it would be. I ran out of daylight so a better photo tomorrow, all being well.

Spirit II and III

I thought I'd try an experiment to  turn a realist  painting into an abstract. So far they still look like roses, lets see what the next one looks like.


I've been listening to Elvis a pocketful of rainbows, where would we be without music!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Itvu1XkDIY

Spirit II
 oil on oil paper

Spirit III
oil on oil paper
 

Spirit

I went out and bought roses for the first time since Pisho, I feel her everywhere, her spirit is with  me.

I've been listening to this beautiful song by James Bay.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqiH0ZSkM9I

Spirit

Hummingbird II

Every season has its beauty, but I find myself craving warmth and colour.

Hummingbird II
Oil on oil paper

Hummingbird

“I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.”
― Jean Cocteau

After two weeks I felt I had to paint and do something different.

Hummingbird

I Salute You

Thank you so much for all your comments my friends.
 I appreciate every word of comfort sent to me, and I salute all the brave people of this world who have loved and lost a dear one, be they a pet, friend or family.

I have vowed that every time I buy a bunch of flowers, one of the flowers will grace my Pisho's resting  place in our garden. I say my Pisho because I used to talk to her as I went about my work around the house and often I would ask her if she was my Pisho, I think she was because out of all the family members she was attached to me the most.

I painted these tulips about two weeks ago and forgot to post. Hopefully I will be able to pick up my brushes soon.

Red Tulips in Vase
Oil on oil paper

My Pisho

The four month old kitten my husband rescued about sixteen months ago died Friday night, killed by a car. She has been a huge part of our lives, my constant companion. I can honestly say that I have never felt so much pain. I see her everywhere, every corner of the house, the garden. She was fun loving and fearless, she fought the neighbourhood cats who were bigger than her. Our older cat is missing her too, they did not always see eye to eye, but were together.
When my husband brought her home she was a little scrap of a thing and clung to me for dear life. I fed her, groomed her, got her medication when she needed it, bought toys and played with her these long winter nights when it was too cold and wet to be out.
She has left a huge hole in my life, I can't get my head around the fact that she will never sit in my lap, follow me around the house, run up and down the garden, lay on my chest with her face so close to mine.

My Pisho

Soft Like Snow

Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.

Quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Soft Like Snow
oil on oil paper

Wheatfield in Winter II

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says "Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass

Wheatfield in Winter
Oil on oil paper

Wheat field in Winter

The snow didn't last long, but it was enough to make some hay, so to speak.  :  )

Wheatfield in Winter
oil on oil paper

Peaceful Quiet

Something about snow when it falls, it seems to cut out all the excess noise and a quiet descends upon the land. Or it might just be that people hesitate to travel as much so you don't get as much traffic noise. I prefer to think its the first. :  )

Well the long awaited snow has arrived, not a lot, but enough to take some photos and paint in the warmth of my home. I ran out of daylight and I do so love to post something most days so here's an early photo and hopefully a better one tomorrow.

Cheers my dear blogging friends for all your comments. xxx

Peaceful Quiet
 

Orange Roses and Irises

This is the last of this series, for now anyway. I will be taking plenty of photos as the roses and irises open and change colour so I can get back to them.

Orange Roses and Irises
Oil on oil paper

Orange Roses and Irises in a Different Vase

I'm still enamoured with this combination of colours. :  )

Orange Roses and Irises in a Different Vase
Oil on oil paper