Spring on a Branch

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This is based loosely on a British bird called a chaffinch.The leaves just sprouting helped me to decide on the name.

Persistence

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Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning.
Quote by Dennis Waitley

Roses and Lily Vase

Roses and Lily Vase
8"x9" Oil on canvas
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The vase,or pitcher was no problem.The roses took hours!! You would think that painting a subject over and over would make it easier,maybe with certain subjects but roses are hard every time.

Single Rose II

A rose is the visible result of an infinitude of complicated goings on in the bosom of the earth and in the air above, and similarly a work of art is the product of strange activities in the human mind.
Quote by Clive Bell.

Single Rose II
5"x7" Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame.
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Dales

Dales
5"x7" Oil on stretched canvas
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

I started this painting from a photo and half way through I lost the photo.They say things happen for a reason,so I carried on and much of the detail has been left out simply because I have no choice.

Painting is a blind man's profession. He paints not what he sees, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen.

Quote by Pablo Picasso.

Purple

I'm not sure what this flower is called but its purple..haha

Purple
5"x7" Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

I kind of relaxed and let this one happen,I'm not sure if thats a good thing or not ?? Anyway,its good to paint.

Bird II

Bird II
Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame
Available £20 plus post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

From cranes,geese, swans to these small birds ,I love painting them all.I love the poetic quality there is to birds,their ability to fly brings to mind how we can let our minds soar to whatever height we choose.

Red Pepper

My bluebells are out !!!
 They always bring back memories of a school trip when I was eight.We were taken to a bluebell wood and it was a delight for the senses,the heady fragrance and the colours were just mesmirizing.I am lucky to have such a memory.

Red Pepper
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7"
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

This pepper and dish looked like they were made for each other,I had to paint them. : )

Solitude

Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius.

Solitude
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7"
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Quote by Edward Gibbon

Song

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

Song
5"x7",oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame.
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping.

Lou Holtz quote.

A Journey

"I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom."

A Journey
9"x12" ,Oil on stretched canvas.
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Les Brown

Update on Travelling Chicken Challenge

Nan Johnson of Art Is Not a Thing has set up a new blog to keep in touch with my travelling chicken http://travel-chicken.blogspot.co.uk/.

So far it has travelled from the UK to Illinois to East coast and now its on its way to California!!
Karla Uphoff and Nan Johnson have both painted beautiful versions of the chicken,so do check it out.

Unravelled

Unravelled
12"x9" Oil on stretched canvas,no need to frame.
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These ranunculus have been slowly unravelling from their tight buds ,a bit like me over the years. Lol.

A Single Rose

A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.

A Single Rose
Oil on canvas panel,5"x7" ready to frame.
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Leo Buscaglia

You Are What You Eat

You are what you eat
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7",no need to frame.
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This is what I keep reminding myself!!!

Pet Me

Pet Me
Oil on stretched canvas
No need to frame
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

This weeks DPW challenge is to paint someone or something lying down.I have been wanting to paint Toni our kitten since we got her,but I lacked the confidence to try.Yesterday I took the plunge and gave it my best,it was easier than I thought it would be.I often find that the more I'm afraid of a subject ,it usually is not so bad.Its all a matter of practice.

Spring Meadow

I can't believe its been nearly a week since my last painting!! Its been a week of mundane tasks,interruptions and a blankness where there should be inspiration.

Spring Meadow
Oil on canvas,ready to frame
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

I finally made myself start with something fairly straight forward,sometimes as you're driving past a scene just sticks in your mind .Even if you forget the details ,somehow you can fill the rest in.

I love the English weather in April,there's rain,hail,and sparkling sunshine.My pansies are doing so well I took something colourful pictures.

L'Amour

I've been taking a little break from painting in order to catch up with the less fulfilling tasks in life.I did find some time for sketching and hopefully today I will paint.
I was watching this pair in the garden and found them a worthy subject!

These flowers are a lovely deep purple and just starting to bloom,I think they're called nicotiana??

At One

This bird looks so peaceful and at one with nature.

He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature.

At One
Oil on canvas panel ,10"x12"
Available £30 plus £10 post within UK,outside UK £15 shipping

Socrates

Cheeky

This little fellow flies around our garden sometimes and I wanted to capture his cheeky expression.

Cheeky
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7"
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I'm still finding my way around oils and it lends particularly well to this kind of brushwork,although acrylics with the use of a retarder(as my good friend Jean Nelson has said) would have the same effect.To make the best of both mediums is my ultimate goal,as I am already comfortable with acrylics I would not want to lose that.

We are Family

Onions come in all shapes,sizes, colours and flavours.I like to think that people around the world are all family too and that there is more good in the world than bad,otherwise it would all decend into chaos.

We Are Family
Oil on canvas panel,5"x7",ready to frame
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I am finding the artist community especially ,nurturing and supportive and I know without this support I would have found it much harder to keep going.
So, bless one and all.

The Travelling Chicken Challenge

Recently I got in touch with my good friend Karla from "Karla Uphoff Fine Art" and asked her if she would like to take up the challenge of painting a little ceramic chicken I bought and used in one of my compositions.She loved the idea and she has painted an amazing version.Do check it out on her blog.She in turn has offered it to one of her friends and now the little chicken is on its to the East Coast to  Nancie and her blog is called Art Is Not a Thing . I would like to add that Nan has come up with the perfect name for the challenge .

I hope this chicken travels a long way and brings together  many artists.

Nectar

“She is mine own,

And I as rich in having such a jewel

As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl,

The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.”

Nectar
Oil on Stretched canvas,7"x5"
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

William Shakespeare quote.

More Sketches

I'm getting into the habit of carrying my sketch book with me everywhere I go.I was sitting in the car waiting for my husband  to have some dental treatment done( I hate waiting rooms) and I had a great time sketching.An hour flew by,although the people nearby did give me some funny looks.They might have thought I was on a stakeout or something!!

The Pink Candle After Henri Rousseau

The Pink Candle After Henri Rousseau
Oil on stretched canvas ,9"x12"
Can be hung as is or in a frame
Available £30 plus £10 post within UK,outside UK £15 shipping

Henri Rousseau was more famous for his rich jungle scenes with tigers and lush foliage ,but I find this still life attractive because of the colours and shapes and a mellow atmosphere.

Fruitful

Fruitful
5"x7" Oil on canvas panel
Ready to frame
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My love for oils is growing .

Missing the Rain

“A profusion of pink roses being ragged in the rain speaks to me of all gentleness and its enduring.” Missing the Rain 8"x9" Oil on canvas Ready to frame Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping William Carlos Williams ( American poet 1883-1963) I am so missing the rain that this quote attracted me even more.I could quite happily enjoy looking at,hearing and feeling rain everyday and its been two weeks , we are heading for a drought if we don't get some good inches of rainfall.

Fiery Threesome

Picture taken in daylight

Fiery Threesome
5"x7" Oil on canvas panel
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping
Ready to frame

This red chili is called habanero and is the hottest chili I have tasted. It does have a fruity flavour to it that makes it stand out from most.
I've taken this photo in not so good light so hopefully tomorrow I will take a better pic.

Faith



Faith
8"x9" Oil on canvas
Ready to frame
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.”  

J.M.Barrie

Apple of My Eye

Apple of my Eye
Oil on stretched canvas,5"x7"
Available £20 plus£5 post within UK,outsideUK £10 shipping

I painted this for this weeks challenge on DailyPaintworks ,which is to simplify an apple.Its hard not to keep going ,but I think I stopped before I went too far!

Southern France After Andre' Derain

Southern France After Andre' Derain
Oil on canvas 8"x9"
Ready to frame
Available £30 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping.

Something I should do much more is copy paintings by artists I admire and love.Its supposed to be the quickest way to learn,so this is my offering today .

Faded Rose

It was not in the Winter
Our loving lot was cast;
It was the time of roses—
We pluck'd them as we pass'd!

That churlish season never frown'd
On early lovers yet:
O no—the world was newly crown'd
With flowers when first we met!

'Twas twilight, and I bade you go,
But still you held me fast;
It was the time of roses—
We pluck'd them as we pass'd!

Faded Rose
Oil on Canvas Panel,7"x5"
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Time of Roses by Thomas Hood

Orchid

This orchid was given to me by my husband on our wedding anniversary last week. This is not my favourite flower, after being married for so long you would think he would know that ,but bless him he still does'nt have a clue,lol!! I will say that where it really counts he is always there so I think I'll have to forgive him the little things.The whole idea of romance is pure hype and I don't mind anymore,I must be getting old.

Orchid
7"x5" Oil on canvas panel
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

This was painted in oils as I went all out yesterday and bought everything I needed to start.I'm surprised that today it was a bit of a struggle as it can turn to mud very quickly so every brushstroke has to count.

Portrait in oils

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Today was wonderful!!! Adebanji Alade ran an oil painting workshop on portraits in Cass Arts which is in Islington.Adebanji worked his magic and I don't know where four hours went.He is a truly gifted artist and an equally gifted teacher who can communicate his passion with humour and ease.I painted my first portrait in oils and I felt like I was in heaven,the look and feel of oils and the freedom with which you can move oils is so different to acrylics.It almost felt like  it painted itself,I don't know if that makes sense ,but I am hooked on oils.
Bringing the painting home was a bit tricky and there was a little smudging but on the whole its in great condition. This is painted from a photo of his wife,I must ask him what her name is so I can name my painting.

Spring Chicken

Spring Chicken
Acrylic on acrylic paper
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Forsythia's always mean spring to me.I love them and they are everywhere,but unfortunately I just can't manage to grow them in my garden so I have to resort to asking for some from neighbours.As promised I said I would have another go at painting this little ceramic hen and I feel that I achieved a better result this time.I hope so anyway.I bought a variety of chocolate eggs and I could'nt resist adding one of them too.

Sunrise

Sunrise offered a very beautiful spectacle; the water was quite unruffled, but the motion communicated by the tides was so great that, although there was not a breath of air stirring, the sea heaved slowly with a grand and majestic motion.

Sunrise
6"x8" Acrylic on acrylic paper
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Quote by George Grey

Hen and Eggs

This is a little ceramic hen I bought today and some candy coated chocolate eggs.Painting this has been a REAL challenge!! I think I am going to have to have another go because I don't feel I have done justice to this subject.Any suggestions would be greatfully recieved.

I am going to send this ceramic hen to a my dear friend Karla Uphoff,who is a very talented artist from http://karlasplace-karla.blogspot.co.uk/  .She will paint it and then offer it to anyone who would like to take up the challenge.
I think it would be fun to see this little hen appear on blogs all around the world and see how far it can travel.

Sing your Heart Out

"Just as the bird sings or the butterfly soars, because it is his natural characteristic, so the artist works."

Sing Your Heart Out
6"x8" Acrylic on  acrylic paper
Available £20 plus £5 post within UK,Outside UK £10 shipping

Quote by Alma Gluck

Fragrant Red Rose

"The world is a rose, smell it and pass it to your friends."

Persian Proverb.

Fragrant Red Rose
6"x8" Acrylic on acrylic paper
Available £20 plus £5 within UK,outside UK £10 shipping

Orchid Sketch

The highlight of my weekend was recieving an email from my friend,a fellow artist and blogger.She bought my painting "wing and a prayer"  last week and she recieved it yesterday.This is the email she sent me!!

"Oh Azra, I could not believe what I saw when I opened that package. The painting arrived in perfect condition, and it is so much more beautiful in person than looking at it on the internet. I knew it was special when I saw it on your blog, but I had no idea of the intricate colors and rich brushstrokes. I almost feel guilty for having it instead of someone else. Almost! I have the painting on my bedside table so it will be the first thing I see when I get up and the last thing I see when I go to sleep."

 

Her reaction and support is something I will always cherish .