New Painting

Not sure if I mentioned it, but I purchased an A3 watercolour pad the other week, as I do prefer larger things to paint on now. The intention was to attempt an Abstract Face, not quite sure what happened there, she is not really abstract but obviously not realism either... Anyway, I quite like her so then decided to have a go at glazing, she has about 10 coats of different colour glaze so will take some drying but the colours are amazing, sadly not quite shown off on my photography there.

I currently have another abstract canvas on the go, not too large and its giving me some grief, not being very friendly toward my tape, so that too will be taking a different direction soon.

I have joined a sketchbook group on Flickr, so enjoying some ink, pen and pencil sketching in the evenings now - all good practice so I am told. I do so enjoy looking at other peoples works, I dont feel quite as 'odd' that its all I am interested in these days, there really are others like me out there.. Funny someone was telling me about a lady they knew who's only interest was her dogs and working them, thats all she does! I didnt see a problem with this, to me if someone is lucky enough to find something they enjoy so much they are very lucky, and usually a happy person too.

Righto, back to that painting lets see where it takes me.

Anyone for Abstract?

So, this is what I have been up to for most of the week. Its a bit on the large side at 30" x 30" and has no hanger on yet, so if I do decide (after varnish) I want to hang it somewhere I will need to speak to my joiner friend about adding a frame to the back.
Mostly Acrylic paint, with a bit of inks.

I have today scaled down to an A3 watercolour pad, and a couple of smaller works to practice on. Must say I could quite easily get used to working on a larger scale.. might need some more paint first though.

I have seen some great groups on Flickr so going to join a couple of groups on there, even found a couple of local artists which was interesting.

I am starting to think I was born to do this, just should have realised it a good few years ago, ok my paintings will not be to everyone's tastes but I can live with that, I just love to paint.. once I have walked the dogs, done the chores I cant wait to get out the brushes and thats me till teatime (and often beyond).

new easel fun

On Saturday I took delivery of a much needed new easel, my others were quite small and the week before I visited a car boot and purchase 4 very large canvas's to paint on, around 32" each, seemed like a good idea at the time till I realised I had no way to use them, plan for the future is clearing out a room to use the wall with a hook on. Anyway, my easel arrived wrapped in a huge piece of card, cut in half made it around 25" which fit nicely on said new easel. As it was a bit wonky I tried covering it in newsprint and pva to make a stronger surface to work on....

Turned out not to be one of my better ideas, but it did give me more confidence to work on my first larger surface before moving to either a board or a canvas. So, here is my first larger abstract, still a bit wonky due to the paper and card but gave me practice and the fun. I varnished it too just to see how that would look.



Still not overly confident I am priming a large piece of board which is about 36" to have another go on... think maybe I am spending too much time watching Rolf Harris, he was on the tv last night with the Jubilee Art, how fab was that? only wish I could have got to London to see the exhibition.

I am also having a go at a wooden box, that too is at priming stage at the moment, but I have plans to give it a new bright and lined look and pop it in the Etsy shop.

Hope everyone had a great Jubilee weekend, I did enjoy the coverage I saw and cant wait for the concert to be on CD.

The Cosmic Garden

Yes, I know I said I would return to sewing, and I did make a start... but now the weather has gone soooooo hot its just far too hot in the sewing room to do a thing, so I did more painting without any pressure and found myself doing something with the canvas I primed and painted blue some time ago. I watched a great video on youtube yesterday by Donna Downey for one of her inspiration Wednesdays, during her tutorial she used this fantastic quote from 'Andy Warhol' that I am going to use every day and print out somewhere very large...

"Dont think about making Art, Just get it done, Let everyone else decide if its good or bad
Wether they like it or hate it,
While they are deciding make even more Art."

So, thats what I am going to do (or at least while my confidence lasts).

My painting is called Cosmic Garden, and its my own creation of garden with the background of the northern lights from earlier in the year.

I am finding I have a need to paint each day, and I am at my happiest doing so. Although must admit its been tough going today, its very hot for us here in the UK and my house is getting towards unbareable now, we have had no sleep for a few days now as its just too much, sorry for those who enjoy it but can we please have it a few degree's cooler now? and some clear chilly nights would be great.

Hope everyone is enjoying the weather but being careful, we are not used to such heat here.

Walker Art Gallery

Here is me at Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool yesterday - in awe of the sculpture with the toilet behind me there, and just loving all the abstract Art.
We went to see the Rolf Harris Exhibition, WOW!!! is all I can say, I was totally gutted we got there quite late (about 11.30am) so the book signing had closed as the queue was just huge. I did manage to get a glipse of the great man though, he looks amazing, I think he is 82 years young this year. I purchased the book about his paintings on show, some cards and a t-shirt (I just love the t-shirt), we had to queue to actually view his exibition but was well worth the wait, I loved his work but most of all enjoyed getting to see the actual painting he did of the Queen.

As the husband had taken me we were not there as long as I would have liked, as its really not his thing - so I dragged him round till he did start to appear a bit weary then we went for lunch. I will go back in a few weeks with my friend, who loves art.

This visit and a few weeks of deep thought has brought me to the conculusion I am going to have to return to work, so I have started designing a new bag today for the Etsy shop. I love art and painting, but it will be a few years before I am good enough to make any money from it and the pressure of trying too hard is not a good thing. Somehow I am going to have to divide my time to going back to sewing and having some fun art time too.
My designs have changed, If I am going to sew its going to be designs I like.. so at this rate it might take me all week for bag number one of the year, but should be worth it.

If blogger continues to behave I will show you when the bag is done later in the week, I have gone back to 'old blogger' while it will still let me, unfortunatly I lost my old page design so still have the awful colours but at least I can follow everyone and post again.

I have done a few hours sewing today, so must be time for painting now.

have a good week x0x

On the drawing board

You may remember some time ago I tried 'Duncan the Donkey' not a huge success so gave up on him. Having sorted out some interesting quotes I wanted something to go with the idea of old age, my old people were not so good so I had a go at tortoise last night, the idea is there.... earlier today I painted them too.




Maybe a bit more work on character, but I think they are coming on ok - OH said they do actually look like tortoise so thats a start.

I did manage to put my very first ACEO in my Etsy shop and even sold it on the same day, so have added a few more and when I get around to the photo's might even add some Altered Art ones for something different.
Yesterday I visited the charity shop and came out armed with frames and art blocks, have done some priming of them, but got a bit impatient with one of the frames so now sporting a rather large couple of plasters on my cut to bits thumb when I broke the glass on one, not helpful for sketching and painting.. not that I have had a lot of time today with OH at home under my feet.

So many idea's floating around my head and not enough hours in the day.