Instinct

In art as in love, instinct is enough.

 Anatole France

Instinct
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Busy as a Bee

Its been a little on the cold side these last few weeks, its making me a little wishful for summer and the gentle hum of  bees and the warm sun. Although I would be overjoyed to have just one day of snow so I can paint some more red cars, something about the cool snow and the warmth of red.

Busy as a Bee
watercolour and ink
watercolour paper

Happy Things V ( A better photo)

My routine at the moment seems to be work, housework,  and then painting. This means that its usually late by the time I start painting and so too late to take a proper photo, so here is a better photo for yesterday and as its Sunday, a beautiful sunny Sunday, I can paint all day. I wish everyone a peaceful, happy Sunday whatever you're doing, and thank you so much for all your recent comments, I love you for it. xxx

Happy Things V
oil on oil paper
8" x 10"

Happy Things V

I had better luck with my vintage teacup search yesterday, a little further afield but I didn't have to buy the whole set and I found two teacups and saucers.

About a month after we lost Pisho, Minnie appeared in our garden, she was a tiny little thing and so full of energy and mischief. Here she is trying to swat the seconds hand in our clock, she's already knocked over two vases that were in the centre!!

Minnie the Minx

A Place in My Heart

Its funny how four years ago I actually felt uncomfortable around cats and was afraid of getting scratched. My daughter brought home a rescued kitten, our Tibby and at first I felt very put out, but slowly she grew on me and then our second kitten Pisho was rescued too. My heart broke over losing Pisho and there isn't a day when I don't think of her, there are reminders of her all over the house and garden. She was a very vocal cat and answered me every time I spoke to her, she made a lot of sense. She has a place in my heart, always.

 This is a random painting of a kitten from a photo.

A Place in my Heart
oil on oil paper

Solitude

The thoughtful soul to solitude retires.

Omar Khayyam

Solitude
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Conservatory Sketch

I had every intention of  painting  after I came back from our local charity shop to look for some more vintage teacups. There were some beautiful sets, but all I needed was teacups and saucers. I did choose a set of four cups that are modern but really pretty designs . I brought them home and after sorting out dinner I thought it would be a good idea to give them a wash. My mum taught me this great method that really gets rid of every bit of stain on crockery. In a large pot add Daz handwash powder and boiling water and soak the dishes that need washing for about twenty minutes and then a light scrub with a scouring sponge and they come up new and squeaky clean. So, I washed the cups and then thought I would wash all the cutlery since there was plenty of the soapy water left. After that I started on all the dinner plates we use and before I knew it I had spent the entire evening cleaning and ended up with sparkling crockery and cutlery, but no time to paint!!.
Just this little sketch.

Conservatory sketch

First Impression

Realize the value of putting down your first impression quickly. (Charles Hawthorne)

First Impression
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Happy Things IV

This teacup is from the beautiful Art Deco period I love so much.

Happy Things IV
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Happy Things III

I've been digging out some of my china collection I've bought from charity shops over the last six years. Its fun  revisiting my love for painting ceramics.



Happy Things III
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Happy Things II

A better photo for yesterdays painting and one for today.

Happy Things
oil on oil paper
8" x 10"

Happy Things II
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Happy Things

Happy Things
oil on oil paper
8" x 10"

Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.

Chaim Potok

Teacup Sketch

Just a quick sketch that I will hopefully be painting tomorrow.

Teacup Sketch

Land and Sea

There is an eternal landscape, a geography of the soul; we search for its outlines all our lives.

Josephine Hart

 

 

Land and Sea
oil on oil paper

 

Lit Up

A house with daffodils in it is a house lit up,  whether or no the sun be shining outside. 

~ A.A. Milne

Expectation II

I'm hoping that by painting robins and snow we might actually get some snow!!!

Expectation II
oil on oil paper

Expectation

Snow was forecast  today but it looks like it passed us by. So a little robin painting cheered me up.

Expectation
oil on oil paper
5"x 7"

Fabric and Flowers

As promised a better photo of yesterdays painting. I will be adding to this post with a painting or sketch later on today though, hopefully anyway.

Fabric and Flowers
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Fabric and Flowers

I couldn't beat the daylight deadline today, so I will take a better photo tomorrow. It was wet and cold today and Minnie, our kitten did not want to leave my lap and kept trying to pull the fabric down. In the end I gave up and waited until she fell asleep.

Fabric and Flowers
 

Minnie the Minx

Still Life Sketch

This is a sketch of a still life set up with a fabric pattern. Hopefully I shall paint this in oils tomorrow.

Still life sketch

This Moment

Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.

Omar Khayyam

 

 

This Moment
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

 

Apple Sketch

I've been neglecting my sketching so here is a simple apple.

Apple sketch
pencil on cartridge paper

End of the Day II

I always have my camera handy and love to capture moments like this.

End of the Day II
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

French Peonies

I am very lucky to have a friend who lives in the South of France and she sent me some beautiful photos of peonies that grow in her garden around March time.

French Peonies
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Tulips

Life obliges me to do something, so I paint.” Rene Magritte



Plums on Green

A little painting that is reminiscent of the first year I started painting in acrylics.

Plums on green
acrylics on watercolour paper.

Belonging

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Mother Teresa

 

Belonging
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

 

Chrysanthemum

Yeeay!!!! 31 paintings complete today!!

For next month, God willing, I have bought myself some mixed bouquets and will be working on larger and more stylised flower paintings and try to use different colour palettes. Its early days, but I am excited and looking forward to some more experimentation.

For todays painting I have dug out an old clip on lamp, at the brilliant reminder of a friend, and found that it is so much easier to work out the lights and darks. When I first started painting I did use a lamp regularly and looking back find some of those paintings much stronger. It just goes to show that we can lose our way sometimes and I am grateful to have people around me who help me find my way again.
Thank you so much for all your comments this past month, your encouragement makes all the difference. xxx

Chrysanthemum

Apple and Plums

I've been struggling with a mixed flower bouquet, I've scraped it three times and then put it to one side for another day. Instead this was blissfully simple, however I will return to my bouquet tomorrow for a challenge is to be relished.

Apple and Plums
 

Part of the Journey

Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.

Greg Anderson

 

Part of the Journey
oil on oil paper
14"x 12"

 

Within

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

Buddha

Within
oil on oil paper
8"x8"

End of the Day

The work is done and time to gather at home.

End of the Day
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Carefree

With this painting I set off to not put every detail in and also not to fill in all the background. I think it has a touch of carefreeness about it.

Carefree
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Spread your Wings

“I have come to accept the feeling of not knowing where I am going. And I have trained myself to love it. Because it is only when we are suspended in mid-air with no landing in sight, that we force our wings to unravel and alas begin our flight. And as we fly, we still may not know where we are going to. But the miracle is in the unfolding of the wings. You may not know where you're going, but you know that so long as you spread your wings, the winds will carry you.”
― C. JoyBell C.

Spread Your Wings
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Happy Sunday

This is my idea of a happy Sunday, beautiful tulips in front of me, all day to paint and a palette of gorgeous paints. Of course my music is playing too.... Harlem Shuffle by Bob and Earl, this is the fast version, the dancing is spectacular!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-BVJtCxtBY

Happy Sunday
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Experiment in Colour II

I'm feeling that experimentation is the key for this year, depending on how brave I can be. :  )

Experiment in Colour II
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Trust II

Trust II
Oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.

Joel Osteen

Trust

Trust
oil on oil paper
 

Trust in what you love, continue to do it, and it will take you where you need to go.

Natalie Goldberg

Fruit

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.

Khalil Gibran

Fruit
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"
 

Peace

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

Jimi Hendrix

Peace
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Daffodils IV

Its been very spirit lifting painting these fragrant, cheerful flowers, but I think this fourth version is enough for now.

Daffodils IV
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Daffodils III

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Confucius

 

 

Daffodils III
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

 

Daffodils II

It snowed for all of five minutes and then melted. I won't be getting my outdoor easel out of mothballs just yet. Lol

Daffodils II
oil on oil paper
8" x 10"
 

Daffodils

He that has two cakes of bread,  let him sell one of them for some flowers
of the Narcissus,
for bread is food for the body,
but Narcissus is food of the soul. 

~ Mohammed (c. 570-632 AD)

 

Daffodils
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

 

Growth

Growth
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.” Kurt Vonnegut