Madame S Oil 20" x 30" ( Detail)

This is a detail of a larger painting that I have been working on. I apologise for the terrible photograph. I think it is because of the paint being too oily, all shiny and glarey in places. If anyone has a solution I would really appreciate some feedback. Then perhaps I can get the whole thing posted, ( when finished, of course).

This is tantalising, though, isn't it? It is painted from a photo of me when I was about 31, soon after I met Roy. So as you see I am still going through my mid life crisis! Although, how it will be resolved by painting myself, as young, over and over, and growing my hair long again, I really don't know. Actually, today I have made an appointment to get my hair cut, so maybe it's working! Remains to be seen if I go for the chop!

Sad Dog 8" x 8" Oil

I watched Susan Carlin paint this on UStream TV and she sugested we all paint him too and compare notes. So I did! Oh, I did enjoy myself. So thank you Susan.

The reference photo can be seen on Susan's blog, if you want to compare, but my offering doesn't really. Compare I mean. With a portrait of a specific person I get soooooo worried about getting an exact likeness, fiddle endlessly and make a mess. It didn't matter so much with this and consequently I was free from worry and just did it.

Must maintain this carefree-er ( well how would you say it?) attitude for the next portrait!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Roy 8" x 8" Oil

Well I wasn't happy at all, so I fiddled and fiddled. It bugs me that sometimes you can paint and it goes like a dream, and other times you make a muddy mess. Well, I can do no more to this, today anyway, slimy surface. Andwhat happened to my enlightened thoughts yesterday? Out the window! I am happier with this today, though.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Cool Off 10" x 10" Oil

My better half, Roy, rarely ventures into the sea. He doesn't like cold water. So I had to make a record of this, his initial reaction, as he took the plunge. He was pleasantly surprised to find that the water was quite warm!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Suits 18" x 22" Oil

This was a picture in a magazine that caught my eye and I saw it as an exercise to free myself of the dreaded 'fiddling'. I did enjoy painting this, probably because it did not matter how it turned out. Looking at it now, I can see a million things I want to change but I shall resist the temptation to return to it.

I painted this yesterday, and as I wanted thin paint, I used white spirit, which I haven't done for a while. It gave me such a headache, which I still have today, so I shall heed the words of David R Darrow, and stay with the walnut oil in future.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 200 GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Sisters 43/4" x 9" Oil

Ginger nuts.......my nieces, Kathryn and Stephanie, who emigrated to Canada about six years ago, when I think the photo was taken. I cannot begin to guess at what they are like now, but I love this picture, you get a hint of the difference in character.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Hot Dog 8" x 8" Acrylic

Sorry, didn't get to Hertford, so no life drawings, but I did get a day at the coast, where this dog made a very speedy bee-line for the sea, turned round, plonked himself down in the water and waited for the boss to catch up. When she reached him and called, he refused to budge! It was a VERY HOT day! And it made me laugh out loud.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 50GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Nude 20" x 30" Charcoal

Back in my comfort zone, again. I just adore drawing the nude figure. It will be HAS life drawing on Saturday, so expect some more next week!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 200GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Jackdaw Oil 18" x 24"

David Lee, art critic and editor of the art paper, The Jackdaw. I met him about three years ago when I took part in a portrait painting competition and he was one of the judges. He adopted this stance often, and I always thought " is he serious!"

He presented himself as a grumpy old git, but in fact I found him to be friendly and extremely helpful with his advice.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 450 GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Text Message Oil 9.5" x 9.5"

In the same vein as 'Phone Call', this young lady off loaded her baby onto her friend to answer the urgent ring of her phone. It is irristible, isn't it, to be wanted? And I can never get the better of curiosity!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 75 GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Leon Oil 9.5" x 9.5"

This face I find fascinating. I think it is the twinkle in his eye! Let me introduce Leon, who is a fellow member on Artbreak, check him out.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Banana Oil 61/2" x 61/2"

And now for something completely different, for me , anyway. Inspired by the hundreds of daily painting blogs on the www, I gave myself a break from faces, imagining it would be easy! I found myself fall into the same old trap.....fiddling with details. Nobody knows exactly, precisely what this particular banana looks like, it doesn't matter. But still I fiddled.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 50GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Feet Oil 61/2" x 7"

Life drawing again on Saturday, at HAS, where I produced this. Had a brilliant day! I think this pose was so enjoyable because it was so complicated. Love those feet!

Lyn is such a good model and very freindly and amenable, and has a lovely smile. Next time we are lucky enough to have her, I might concentrate on a portrait.


If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP please email me.

Phone Call Oil 4.75" x 7.25"

A frequent sight, nowadays. Stop whatever you are doing and answer that phone! Well, it is a nice break from the shopping!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 40GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Mirror Image Oil 61/2" x 7"

I have spent two days on this, and I am still not happy! It is my own fault because I hurried the initial drawing and got it wrong. Well, you live and learn! I like the painting, but it doesn't look much like me, although perhaps a little bit of flattery is good for the soul.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70 GBP please email me.

Team Oils 30" x 42"

This is probably very boring for you, but I have done some more work to 'Team'. I challenge you to spot the difference, and then tell me if it benefits the painting or not? It finishes off the story, for me. Still a lot of fixing to do, though.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 2000 GBP, please email me.

Katie Oil 14" x 13"

I have been internet-less for 4 weeks, so it is good to be back, it's like an old friend! Now, you would think that I would have about 28 paintings to post. Not so. I did find that without the incentive to post, I didn't do any small paintings. Shame on me. I have been working on a couple of larger ones which are not finished yet and I have decided not to post them until they are. Probably because they are not going according to plan!

Anyway, I finished this picture of Kate, yesterday. It was started at the last life drawing session at Hertford Art Society and after watching David R Darrow in the morning I thought I would have a go a la David. I very soon got fed up with being meticulous about every detail, the evidence of which can be seen on the right hand bottom corner of the painting. I have therefore discovered that I am a 'slap it on and hope for the best' merchant, which will have to stop if I want to achieve my goals.

http://www.davethepaintingguy.com/

http://www.davidrdarrow.com/

If you would like to purchase this painting for 125GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Team Oils 30" x 42"

No painting done today, but I have submitted this to the competition on the Laketrees blog, by Kim Barker.

laketrees

Submit by Saturday and you are in with a chance to win $100 too.

Weedy Oil 9" x 11"

This chap was walking the streets spraying the pavement. Probably weedkiller, but I don't know, can't think of anything else. If you have any idea, please tell me? I didn't pluck up the courage to ask! He had the smallest pack on his back, I wondered how far he could do before having to top up.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

A Good Joke Oil 10" x 8"

A family barbie, good food, good drink, good conversation, and plenty of smiling. Actually I can't remember if the joke was a good one or a bad one. Depends on your point of view, I suppose!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 70GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Conversation Oil 8" x 10"

Intent on their conversation, they were forgetting to eat!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 50GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Relax Pastel 20" x 16"

I actually did this yesterday but didn't get to post it. Another photo of a Hertford model. I really miss not going to Hertford life drawing this month. The hall is being used to get ready for the exhibition, which starts this weekend. Roll on the end of May!

Photos are good, and I am grateful that the models give permission, but the buzz is not there!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 250 GBP please email me.

Enough Paperwork! 12" x 10" Carbon Pencil

Made life difficult today, as I found that you cannot manipulate carbon pencil like you can charcoal or pastel, and I struggled. Looking at it now, I think his shoulder needs more definition.

This is from a photo of one of our Hertford models. He is always willing to be more adventurous with his posing.

I can't remember what that is in front of him, but it looks like a huge mountain of files, so it gave me the title!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 50GBP please email me.

The Verdict

' MORE? ' Acrylic 12" x 10"

' FAMILY ' Oil 24" x 20"

These two were accepted for exhibition in Hertford. I was quite pleased as in previous years it has happened that all six were rejected. My friend, Stella, though has ALL SIX accepted this year. Good for her, well done! Now that is some achievement!

Three weeks before we know if we have sold.

Laden Oil on Paper 5" x 7"

Paintings successfully delivered to Hertford this morning, so have had a jittery day wondering if any will be accepted for the exhibition! My friend, Stella, will collect any rejections by 5.30pm, so I am expecting a phone call with the verdict. Hate this bit!

I have managed a painting today, a very small one. I saw this little lady on the same day as I saw the 'Orange Bags' man. What a contrast! He was bouncing along the pavement, happy to have his shopping done, no doubt, and eager to get on to the next thing. She, though, was trudging along seemingly carrying the weight of the whole world.

We know nothing of others' lives and I have learnt not to judge by appearances. Her shopping may have just been very heavy. But she made me feel a little sad.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 50 GBP please email me.

Exhibition

These are the paintings that I am submitting for the Hertford Open. Another two, 'Katy" and 'A Quiet Corner', can be found previously on this blog. I finally got done, at the last minute as usual. My hope is to have them all accepted, and then, of course, to sell them all!

I would appreciate any comments, thoughts, even just a yes or a no, as to the likelihood of that?

Thanks for visiting. Have a good weekend.

School Walk 5" x 10" Oil on Paper

Sorry for my absence, but have been getting ready to submit paintings to the next exhibition.

This is the Herford Annual Open Exhibition, which has a selection commitee. I'll probably post them tomorrow, to get your comments on whether you think they stand a chance of, firstly, being selected, and, secondly, selling!

In between times, I have painted School Walk. Another subject seen from my window, in which the shadows and sparkling morning sunlight captured my attention. I'm thinking of getting nearer the school to attempt a more crowded scene. Maybe. Anyway, back to framing, etc.

If you would like to purchase this painting for 50GBP (unless otherwise stated) please email me.

Valuable Lesson

Sorry, no painting today, but I have to tell you that I have learned something of immeasurable value to me, today, so I have to tell you. I have been browsing others' blogs and found Greg Kapka. He is brilliant at sharing stuff, his blog is all about his journey of learning to paint.
Now I am hopeless with Adobe Photoshop, it is too complicated and comprehensive for me to even know where to start. But I read a piece in Greg's blog about quick fixing your photos. I had a go, and was amazed at the results. And I mean, GOBSMACKED! I have shown you the results on 'Portrait of Genni', 'All In A Days' Work" and "Riders".
Check him out, it is a fascinating site.
www.gregkapka.blogspot.com

Portrait Of Genni Acrylic 16" x 16"

Did it again! I continued to have a sort out, because I wanted an old canvas to paint on, and I found another discarded, half finished, painting. Well, I set to work, because I didn't want to paint over it. Portrait of Genni, must have originated in a magazine or on the internet somewhere, because I have no reference photo and I cannot remember how, when or why? I do know that I still like it, especially tiddled up. It looks like I used a very limited palette, ultramarine and burnt sienna and white.

Is this cheating? Do tell me your thoughts, I would love to know.

I am so glad I started this blog, it has made me work. I feel bound to post something and although I didn't set out to be a daily painter, I feel ashamed, lazy and disappointed if I don't.

And I feel like I am rediscovering myself. Life is wonderful, isn't it?

In The Sun Charcoal 10" x 12"

Got back to my comfort zone today. Charcoal life drawing, except this was done from a photograph of a model. Didn't take long, but it limbered me up to get down to a serious challenge tomorrow. No idea what, though!

If you would like to buy this, or any painting on this blog, please email me.

sharon.wright9@btopenworld.com

I do list some of them on Ebay, too, if preferred.

Morning Ride Oils 10" x 12"

I was actually fiddling with this old painting, yesterday. I didn't post it because my husband hogs the computer at the weekend! When he isn't hogging me that is, so to speak, so I tend not to paint much when Roy is home. Can't concentrate!

Move It Oils 20" x 30"

I have been painting this bigger picture of the lovely removal men. They were so cheery, they made me feel good, too.

If you are moving to, or from Scotland, I think they woul be a good choice. They can be found in Lochwinnoch, phone 01418878258. Thomas Taylor & Company.

Orange Bags Oils 10"x12" & Pam Acrylic 9.5"x 9.5"

Well, I did fiddle with "Orange Bags", and I am much happier with it, although you perhaps won't see the difference. It required just a bit of fine tuning.

The plan today was to use the three primary colours, acrylics, and just one brush, a fairly big one, and paint another self portrait. The aim was big and bold. But the best laid plans, and all that!

I found a nice photograph of my sister-in-law, Pam, who we will be visiting tomorrow. They need a flat roof repairing and husband Roy is to help. This portrait is to be a gift, although I am having second thoughts as I have no frame the right size. I enjoyed painting it though, and I finished it, which surprised me.

Orange Bags Oils 10" x 12"

I don't know what happened to adventurous. I think I have to paint how I have to paint and that is that. It's no use trying to be something else.

I may have over simplified this one, he looks like he is in Spain or Portugal, so I decided not to call it "Bet He's Been To Sainsburys!". Not enough dark darks I think. I may have to fiddle with this tomorrow!

Tea Break Oils 10" x 12"

So here is Tea Break as promised. Kept it simple to focus on the relaxed pose. Enjoyed painting this, I'm getting the feel of oil paint again. They are so much more expressive, and sensual and easier to use than acrylics, I forget why I abandoned them. Of course, I could change my mind again in a couple of weeks, if I get my pastels out again, for instance. I haven't used those for years, but it is a possibility as I am fast running out of materials. Starving artist in a garret, that's me!!!!!

SOLD

All In A Days' Work Oils 9.5" x 9.5"

Another great subject outside my window! With new people moving in next door, we have removal men. Two very nice chaps from Scotland, one of which you see here. Tea break next, I think!

SOLD

RIDERS OILS 12" x 10"

Well, I didn't have to go far for another subject, I looked out of my window again and there it was! I happen to think that there is no need for horse riders to use the roads and hold the traffic up. It's not like there is a shortage of fields around here!

I obviously worked from a photograph, there is no way I could have sketched this in the time they were in view, and while that is fine, I feel that I must stop editing the photo and then just copying that. It's easy to just copy and it isn't very adventurous. So, that is the aim with the next painting, be adventurous!