Iris

Oils on canvas board 12" x 10" (Unfinished)

Still a way to go with this, but it was fun trying - another great weekend!  This is becoming a bit of a habit :) but a good one I'm pleased to say.

I wish I could devote more time to painting, it's so very enjoyable and I would really love to improve.  Improvement comes only with diligent practice and a grim determination to continue the journey no matter what the obstacles.

Orchids

Oils on Canvas board 16" x 12"

Sorry about the glare on this one, I will try to get a better photo soon.  Orchids are so elegant and beautiful they called to me to paint them.  I just wish I could do them justice, but "never give up" is my motto and therefore I will be attempting another painting soon.

I may even go back to work on this one too.  It was not easy, but then nothing good ever is.  I will stand it where I can see it and let my mind work out what needs to be done.

Time spent thinking and dreaming is never time wasted.

Pink Hydrangeas

Oils on canvas board 12" x 10"

Quickly did this little one last night in poor light and alla prima!  Quite pleased with it -  I like elements of it, like the background and the pot.  I think I am learning with backgrounds, but now I would like to improve on painting flowers.

Breaking things down into elements, focussing on one part at a time is much easier than worrying about a large problem.  You just have to nibble away bit by bit until finally there is no problem at all.  When I paint I try to improve one part at a time until I am confident with it, then I focus on another element.  It works for me.

Yellow Begonias

Oils on Canvas 16" x 12"

Just finished this one that I had begun some time ago.  Increased the dark/light contrast and added definition without losing the painterly feel that I have come to enjoy.  I hope you like it too.

Sometimes it takes a while to actually see clearly what needs to be done.  Patience brings its own rewards.  Like a good wine clarity takes time and cannot be hurried or forced, but being patient is well worth the wait.  I am glad I did not hurry this one.

Geraniums

Oils on canvas board 16" x 12"

Today was the first time in such a long time that I made time to paint. It was an amazing feeling being back at the easel, smelling those glorious smells that come with painting in oils and just forgetting everything else but the process.

It's just a start, nothing fab, but I love it anyway partly because it is the first in too long a time and secondly, because geraniums always remind me of my childhood when my dad enjoyed growing them and always of course in terracotta pots.

I hope this is the beginning of my return to painting.  I have missed it so much.

Summer

Acrylic on deep canvas 12" x 10"

detail showing how I wrapped the painting around the edges of the canvas.  I think it looks cool and saves on framing.

The photo has brought out as white what is in real life more subtle creams, i.e. the hat.  I really enjoyed painting this one and (although I never thought I would say it!) I am fast becoming a fan of the quick drying acrylics.

Another Seago study

Oils on canvas board 16" x 12"

Another study of a Seago painting. I really loved doing this one and I must say it looks even better in real life - sadly I can never quite get the colours correct on screen, but this is pretty close.

After Seago

Oils on canvas board 16" x 12"

An amazing weekend spent painting in oils. Studying the work of Seago I found I loved the sketchiness of this.

Blue Vase

It's been a long time coming, but at last I have had time to paint again! This is acrylics on canvas and I am hoping it is good enough to go into an exhibition in May. Fingers crossed.

Sorry quality of photo is poor, but it was taken with my phone. It also took longer than my usual 60 mins! :)

Painting is the best medicine

Feeling poorly - full of cold and no energy but I sooo wanted to paint.

I managed this sweet little gouache and it cheered me up so much. My artwork is what keeps me going, gets me through the week. I really love gouache it has such a magical quality and just like watercolour results are quick.

Next weekend when I'm hopefully better I have promised myself time for oils.

Gouache Experiment

Decided to try a little experiment with gouache and waterproof ink.

Firstly, drew the outline of the flower with pencil and then laid white gouache in places.




Then when the gouache was dry I painted over the whole thing with black waterproof ink.

Wait until the ink is completely dry. Then wash off under cold water using a brush to gently remove some of the ink. In theory, where the ink lays over gouache it should lift off revealing the white paper underneath and the ink where there was no gouache remains untouched.

The finish was not quite as expected - in fact, you could say it all went hideously wrong. lol

However, it is quite an interesting effect and I will try this experiment again. I quite like the effect, it's just the black lines across where it didn't quite work for me.

I think perhaps I need to lay the gouache a little thicker, allowing it to dry completely and then go over with the ink. I also think it might be better to try something a little more robust than 140 lb paper. This could be the reason the ink sunk into ridges or lines across the paper.

Gorgeous Gouache!

OMG! I'm in love! I have just discovered the delights of gouache. It's like coming home, I've found my medium, it's better than chocolate even!

This is just a small quick study and maybe if I try something larger I'll come down off this cloud but so far it's so wonderful to work with.

It's like using watercolour but without transparency, it's opaqueness means that it covers even dark colours. It's easy to make changes and yet you can work in detail much easier than with oils (at least for me anyway!)

I cannot wait to have more time so that I can really get to know my new love!

Lovely Lily

Watercolour on HP paper 16" x 12"

Spent all weekend painting - how lucky am I? The most wonderful time which made me wish so much that I had more time to paint, but alas bills have to be paid so it's back to the day job!

I am fast discovering a love of painting florals. Not only do you get to enjoy the visual beauty but you're also surrounded by such heavenly scents.

Obviously, this one doesn't really fit with what this blog is all about... making a painting within 60 minutes, but I really needed to show this just to prove that I can actually paint something decent.

My pride has had a dent recently and I'm feeling a little unsure of my ability to paint so every little success boosts my failing confidence and self esteem.

I hope you enjoy this one.

Lavender Fairy

Coloured pencil on Stonehenge paper 7" x 5"

If there are fairies at the bottom of the garden then I hope they look something like this.... because of where I live it had to be a Lavender Fairy of course!

The coloured pencil was a departure for me - I liked that I could get detail with them easily but I find them a little difficult and not as satisfying as actual paint.

I always think that a fairy must have wings something like a butterfly, but of course it doesn't have to be that way they could be very fine and transparent like a fly.

When I fiddled with this drawing in a software programme and made it negative, I rather liked the look of the wings.... interesting.

Poppies

I spent a long time trying to get a likeness of a poppy and found they died so fast when cut and placed in a vase. The only way was to leave them to thrive in their own environment.

The Poppy at first glance is a simple flower, but upon closer inspection there is so much more to them and when several gather together they are astonishing in their beauty. They can make such a difference to the landscape.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings, here is my latest painting.

Acrylics on deep canvas

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.

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.

Sunflowers Quick Sketch

Watercolour sketchbook

Just couldn't resist going back to my old favourite Sunflowers. A quickie in the small sketchbook, but it cheers me to look at them. Sunflowers are so uplifting.

Don't worry I haven't forgotten the portraits, back to them shortly. :)

Teddy with Sunflowers

60 min Ink and wash

This is one of the preliminary studies I did in ink and wash before working on a similar set up for a large oil painting.

I really like teddies and this is one of my favourites - of course the had to be teamed with my favourite flowers too.

Sunflowers in Ink and Wash

40 min ink and wash on tinted card

The best part of the week I bought two bunches of sunflowers on special offer and took one to the office and one home, so I am surrounded by sunshine!

I am still hooked on the sunflowers and am busy on another large oil painting, but I had time to do a quick study in my favourite medium.

Really lifted my spirits.