Couple Dancing

Another small study of a Renoir painting, this one was wonderful painting the dress and I think I could make it better if I spent a little more time on it.

Studying Renoir

Quick study in acrylics on canvas. Renoir's paintings are so beautiful, I love the colours and the subjects. Painting these were much more difficult than I expected, but probably due to the small size I chose.

I used deep canvas and continued the paintings around the sides which looks quite cool in real life.

Colour mixing can be frustrating, but surprisingly I really enjoyed myself. Discovered that I need a much smaller brush for detail, i.e. facial features. I may have to steal one of my small watercolour brushes for use with the acrylics.

Blue Vase

Acrylics on canvas

I seem to be going through a blue phase just lately, I am attracted to everything blue. My new clothes are all in blue, my paintings lean towards blue and I feel I need the calmness of blue for healing.

I do think that colour is important and I have noticed at different times I am more attracted to one colour than another especially in the clothes that I wear. Normally I wear bright colours because it makes me feel bright and cheerful, I love reds and yellows but when I feel down I wear a lot of greys and blacks. Now, as I said, I am going through a distinctly blue phase. It's a lovely colour.

Fluffy Teddy

Teddies are always such an enjoyable subject. This one is in watercolour pencil in the sketchbook and I was rather pleased with how he turned out.

Beach Baby

Another baby painting as I endeavour to get to grips with figures and using acrylics.

Very quick sketch as I just wanted to get the general idea down. Poor skintones but these would be improved when doing a proper painting.

Acrylics in sketchbook.

Midnight Rose

Things can look very different in the middle of the night, the lack of light alters the colours and can sometimes create an almost ghostly feel.

It's important to remember that when the light returns everything will return to it's normal state.

Acrylics in sketchbook.

Timed Out!

Ran out of time here. Only able to capture the essence of the pose and I so wanted to get that lovely chaise longue, but alas time was not on my side.

Back to Life!

This is one of my favourite poses, the back. However, I haven't really done it justice. Ah well, you can't win them all.

Life Forms

Took a little more time getting the form with this one. I just loved the model's hair, wish I could have mine so long. :)

Drawing from life is so much better than from photographs, but it isn't any easier I can tell you. It was nice having a model to work from because friends and family really will not sit still for long enough.

Quickly captured

I rather liked this pose, so relaxed. Getting the main elements of the pose quickly is hard for me particulary trying to get everything proportionately correct at the same time! Charcoal is really good for speed.

This turned out better than I expected.

I hope to improve my speed the more of these I do.

Impressionism

Practising figures, this time a child, in an Impressionistic way.

Wanted to capture the warmth of the sun and of course I do need to practice children in particular.

Facing the Challenge

Hurriedly sketched this one using for reference an illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith.


I just love children at this age when they're starting to get more mobile and inquisitive.

Plenty More Fish in the Sea

Another after Charles Robinson. Ink with watercolour pencil. I rather like the way these fishes seem to be in conversation.

Reminds me of what my grandmother told me when I was jilted by a boyfriend... plenty more fish in the sea.

I need to practice fish, I think. We have inherited a large pond with some rather sizeable fish in and I'm thinking maybe I should get out there now the weather's warm and start painting!

Summer Days and Fairies

Ink on tinted sketch paper - After Charles Robinson's The Siesta

A quick study of the illustration entitled The Siesta, which appealed to me because the fairies seem to be using a cobweb as a hammock. It reminds me of warm Summer days languidly lying in our hammock. I also adored the shape of the cat.

I could have worked more on this to give more detail, but didn't really have the time.

Mother Bear

Acrylic in small sketchbook

This is Mother Bear, just a very quick sketch of her in acrylics. I was getting ready for my stint as steward at a local exhibition when she called to me to paint her and I just couldn't resist.

I still managed to get there on time so no harm done, but it just goes to prove to me that the urge to paint can occur at the most inopportune times.

Angel Scattering Autumn Leaves

Ink in sketchbook

After Charles Robinson again, this time a fairy. I'm kind of pleased with it, although Charles Robinson's was of course better, but then he did add colour. I'm afraid to use colour in case I mess it up again. Ah well, it's only a drawing.... maybe I will try some colour on it after all.

If we are paralysed by fear and afraid of messing up we will never move forward, never enjoy the thrill of taking a risk and possibly succeeding. Where is the fun in that?

I think I'm ready to take a leap of faith.