Minnie Grooming Day 10

A very important part of a cats life.

Minnie Grooming
Day 10

Tibby in Anticipation Day 9

Tibby has heard Minnie coming into the room and has her back legs ready to make a run for it.

Tibby in Anticipation
Day 9

Minnie in the Heat Day 8

It's been super hot this last week and another blistering hot day to come before things cool down.
Both cats are looking like they are not enjoying this weather at all, I know how they feel!!

This song says it all, I want rain !!!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvBfHwUxHIk

Minnie in the Heat
Day 8

Minnie Waiting For Tibby

Minnie likes to lay in wait for Tibby,  then jump on her and chase her all over the house and garden.

Minnie Waiting For Tibby
Day 7

Minnie Looking Serious

This is Minnie sitting next to me as I sketch, what better company could I have.

Minnie Looking Serious
Day 6

Minnie and the Spider Day 5

I'm warming up to this new subject, its another wonderful learning curve!!

Minnie brings in all sorts, so far she has brought home a rat, a mouse, butterflies, moths, a starling, a wood pigeon and today a spider. It was already in bad shape when I saw her bring it in so there was no chance of rescue. Mostly I don't try to discourage her because if she was lost at least she would be able to feed herself.

Minnie and the Spider
Day 5

Minnie and Glasses of Water Day 4

Minnie loves to drink from glasses, she sits there and pretends that she's not interested., waiting for an opportunity. She clearly lives up to her name of Minx.

Minnie and Glasses of Water
Day 4

Tibby Hears the Doorbell Day 3

This is that split second between hearing a knock at the door and running for cover, stranger alert!!

Tibby Hears the Doorbell
Day 3

Tibby Enjoying Beef and Carrot

Our older cat Tibby is about six years old, she was rescued by our daughter. She is a gentle soul and mostly keeps herself to herself, doesn't like sitting on anyone's lap and runs for cover when someone knocks at the front door. Most evenings though she will come to me as I sit painting and want  to be petted and I enjoy that as much as she does.

Tibby Enjoying Beef and Carrot
Day 2

Minnie Watching a Puddle Day 1

I was feeling a little lost after finishing the challenge, but setting the next challenge beforehand has helped me to move on and start enjoying the new subjects. 

Today I was watering some pot plants and the puddles were a source of fascination for Minnie.

Minnie and the Puddle
Day 1

Clover and Bee Day 30 !!!

Yes!!! I've made it to day 30!!
I must say it hasn't always been easy, having to cook for a living I am finding it increasingly hard. Long hours on my feet, repetitive strain injury in my arms and shoulders together with the beginnings of fibromyalgia. There are days when I really struggle to get through the days work. What really keeps me going is the thought that one day all I will have to do is paint and nothing else.
In my mind and heart I am an artist and the love of being able to create is what keeps me going.

I chose clover and the bee as my last sketch, because for me they symbolise abundance and potential.
Together with the belief that there are more good people in this world than bad and for them all I wish each of you a living that  makes your heart and soul sing.

Clover and Bee
Day 30

Hedge Woundwort and Snail Day 29

This is a stunning little wildflower that is new to my garden, the flowers look like little orchids.

Hedge Woundwort and Snail
Day 29

WIld Snapdragon and Bee Day 28

These little wildflowers are growing happily in my garden and a haven for bees at the moment.

Another old but gold , Mary Wells My Guy. Love it !!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WT7nBGX5eU

Wild Snapdragon and Bee

Bell Flower and Beetle Day 27

I've learnt so much during this challenge, most of all to appreciate my garden and the precious life in it.

This song is a golden oldie and gets me dancing every time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0qW9P-uYfM

Bell Flower and Beetle
Day 27

Sow Thistle and Cabbage White Day 26

These cheerful little flowers grace nearly every roadside and wild places and my garden too.

Sow Thistle and Cabbage White
Day 26

Mexican Poppy and Sawfly Day 25

It feels good to be able to mark each day by a sketch.

Mexican Poppy and Sawfly
Day 25

Oxalis and Ladybird Day 24

These are such sweet little flowers with heart shaped leaves.

One of my favourite singers of all time Brian Ferry singing More than this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOnde5c7OG8

Oxalis and Ladybird
Day 24

Poppies and Wasp Day 23

It's funny how the more subjects I find to sketch the more I am appreciating my garden and all it has to offer, a bit like life.

Life is precious.

Poppies and Wasp
Day 23

Campanula and Green Beetle Day 22

I am shocked and saddened at what happened in London last night, again I ask  how is killing an answer to any problem??!!!

Life is precious.

Campanula and Green Beetle
Day 22

Rose and Butterfly Day 21

These little yellow roses have the sweetest scent and attract bees and butterflies like magnets.

Rose and Butterfly
Day 21

Poppy and Bee Day 20

Todays sketch is a poppy and a happy bee buzzing around it. I'm loving this challenge mainly because although I am very busy with work I have managed to find half an hour . It feels good to say I am creating something everyday.

Yellow Poppy and Bee
day 20

Pear Tree , Ladybird and Minnie Day 19

We have a small pear tree and as I was sketching I had Minnie watching so I had to include her, my adorable Minnie.

Another new song I absolutely love.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYr96YYEaZY

Pear Tree, Ladybird and Minnie
line and wash on cartridge paper

Dames Violet and Green fly Day 18

Dames Violet and Greenfly

These are quite tall plants with the sweetest little flowers and the greenfly are  quite at home on them.




Cow Parsley/ Grass and Black Beetle Day 17

It's been a busy day, only just managed to complete this sketch.

This is a song I heard on the radio and have been playing loud, its just so so good!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SVk3adkchY




Little Yellow Flowering Plant and Bluebottle Day 16

I've tried to find out the name of this little weed, but not much luck. Bluebottle flies are another delicacy for our little hunter Minnie the Minx.

Little Yellow Flowering Plant and Bluebottle
Day 16

Snapdragon and Cabbage White Day 15

These white snapdragons are growing at will every year wherever they feel like it. The cabbage white butterfly is our cat Minnie's favourite snack. I feel like putting up a sign saying beware to all butterflies , enter at your peril, but alas it won't do any good.

Snapdragon and Cabbage white
line and wash on cartridge paper
day 15

Sage and Bee Day 14

I had to resist writing sage and onion !!
This herb is also flowering at the moment and the bees can't get enough of it.

Sage and Bee
Day 14
line and wash on cartridge paper

Rosemary and Ant Day 13

My little rosemary bush is flowering with the most delicate of little flowers, they look like mini orchids. Ants are loving this fragrant plant too as they are all over it.

Rosemary and Ant  Day 13
line and wash on cartridge paper

Rhododendron and Insect Day 12

These rhododendron aren't strictly in my garden, they kind of hang over the fence in the most delightful way. I've tried to find out what this insect is called, but I can't so for now its just an insect.

Rhododendron and Insect
line and wash on cartridge paper.

African Daisy and Shield Bug Day 11

This is the other daisy plant I have, really hardy, flowers most of the summer. These green shield bugs are pretty common in my garden.

African Daisy and Shield Bug Day 11
line and wash on cartridge paper

Buttercups and Garden Chafer Beetle Day 10

This one is a quiet prayer for the people who died and are injured last night in Manchester.

 I will never understand how killing is an answer, life is to be celebrated and held precious.

Buttercups and Garden Chafer Beetle Day 10
line and wash on cartridge paper

Rose and Greenfly Day 9

This is the first rose to grow in my garden this year, I'm surprised its survived at all with the amount of greenfly munching on it.

Rose and Greenfly
line and wash on cartridge paper

Golden Corydalis Lutea and Ladybird Day 8

Todays sketch is this wildflower that pops up near the walls every year, I love the delicate leaves and the scent is gorgeous.

Golden Corydalis Lutea and Ladybird
Line and wash on cartridge paper

Wild Geranium and Lace Wing Day 7

I've had fun trying to draw and paint these in between the rain showers today.
 I just love this weather, seriously, I love English weather, I find it refreshing, exhilarating, I am never bored unless its endless sunshine.

Wild Geranium and Lace Wing
line and wash on cartridge paper

Figs and and Ant Day 6

Its been a blessed wet day after the months of little rain.
 I have this tiny tree that is bearing the most delicious figs, today there were ants crawling all over it.

Figs and Ant
line and wash on cartridge paper

Pansy and Butterfly Day 5

I am thoroughly enjoying this challenge I set myself.

Pansy and Butterfly
line and wash on cartridge paper

African Daisy and Beetle Day 4

Hi guys, so excited to be back posting, and I've made it to Day 4!
Thank you for your comments ladies!!

These African daisies are growing in a pot and actually survived last winter.

African daisies and beetle
line and wash on cartridge paper

Mustard and Bee Sketch on Day 3

It feels good to be posting on my blog again and I find myself settling into my old routine.

This plant appeared in our garden like a giant weed and I welcomed it with open arms, plus the bees love it!!

Mustard and Bee Sketch
line and wash on cartridge paper.

Bluebells and Bee Day 2

Well I've made it to day two!!!

Bluebells and Bee
Line and wash on cartridge paper

 The bluebells are nearly finished in the garden, but this one was just perfect.

This one is dedicated to Colin Vaerncombe (RIP), the writer and singer of It's a Wonderful Life. This song is in my top ten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1ZoHfJZACA

Daisies and Ladybird

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and doing what makes your hearts sing.

I've been away from blogging for about three months, and it has been a busy few months. Both our son and daughter were married within the last four months. So a lot of changes, seriously feeling the empty nest syndrome, although our son will be staying for the foreseeable. It is so much harder for kids to get on the property ladder.

There isn't a day that I don't think about posting something and now that things have calmed down,  I've decided to sketch plants and insects from my garden. This is a challenge for myself for the next thirty days, but if anyone wants to join me, I would love the company. I thought about starting at the beginning of a month, but then it means more wasted time, so its today.

I discovered this group called Metronomy , I've been listening to them all day, love them!!!
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFrNsSnk8GM

Day One Daisies and Ladybird
cartridge paper  pen and watercolour

Waller Avenue in the Rain

How has it been over three weeks since my last post!!! I have to admit it is proving harder than it has ever been to get back into a daily routine of painting. I've been trying all sorts of remedies, going to see exhibitions, buying self help books on creativity, in fact I am waiting for Julia Cameron's " The Artists Way" to be delivered. I had this book about seven years ago and foolishly thought I would not need it since I was well into my daily painting after I read it. I have however started to write the morning pages which so many people swear by, this morning.

This rainy painting has been on my easel for the last three weeks and finally I finished it last night, it felt like a weight has lifted and the gate is open again to creativity.

Waller Avenue in the Rain
oil on canvas board

My Version of Trafalgar Square

It's been too long since my last post and most of the time in between has been spent trying to paint  and failing miserably. Life is such that there is always something going on and from experience I have not let things stand in my way, I have continued to paint through thick and thin. So what has been stopping me now? Possibly energy levels are not what they were and yet from the history of famous artists, for example Renoir, who was so ravaged with arthritis he had his brushes taped to his hand to carry on painting from a wheel chair during the last three decades of his life.
I feel inspired by the courage and strength of such artists and feel that I can paint not just now and then, but daily, with my heart and soul.

This hasn't turned out as good as I wanted, but I painted this one today and its a new beginning , I'm back and I feel hopeful that I can carry on with this incredible art journey with my friends from around the world.

Trafalgar Square
oil on oil paper

Winter Woolly

This is one I experimented with last year, my rabbit hole year.

Winter Woolly
watercolour on watercolour paper

Winter Flowers in Watercolours

  If anyone has any elderly neighbours now is the time to look in on them, the weather is seriously cold and  sometimes they don't look after themselves very well.

Winter Flowers

Watercolour Flowers II

I should have posted this one yesterday.

Watercolour Flowers II

Watercolour Flowers

Since I began this blog going back just over six years ago I have always been busy with work and kids. Through plenty of trials and tribulations I did not stop. Now I feel ready to get back to what I used to do and it does feel so good.

Watercolour flowers





 

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!! I wish you all great health and prosperity for 2017.

This is a quick fifteen minute sketch, just  so I can post something and start this new year. I have been going through a block, I can't seem to get into the habit of daily painting. I know it's simply a matter of beginning after the long break.

Rose sketch using a black biro

Glorious Greys

Thank you so much for all your welcome comments ladies!!!



The National Gallery in London is holding the Australian Impressionists exhibition and its on till 26th of March. I was very lucky to see this on the 12th this month with a dear friend. It's not a huge exhibition, but the quality is amazing. I particularly fell in love with this painting by Tom Roberts called Trafalgar Square. I have copied it today as a learning exercise as I have already bought a print to drool over!! After the exhibition I tried to find this viewpoint with my camera, it was quite difficult, because its been over a hundred years since this was painted, so much of the skyline has changed. My next painting, all being well is going to be my version of Trafalgar Square from one of my photos.

I've spent my spare time this last week setting up this corner of our living room, it's more organised and there is more light next to the window. I really enjoyed painting in my corner today and feel refreshed and ready to carry on with my painting journey, to learn and grow my skills.

After Tom Roberts Trafalgar Square
oil on oil paper

A New Beginning

Hi everyone, I hope  you are all well and looking forward to the holidays.

I shut down my blog back in March and its been a long journey back, the result has been that I have not painted as much as I normally did. I have now realised, thankfully, that I need this blog and all the wonderful artists that I kept in touch with. I look forward to catching up with what you all have been doing and to getting back to what I love best, painting everyday.

This is one I painted last month.

Autumn Trees
oil on oil paper
12"x 9"