Christopher 20" x 20" Oil WIP

So, here is Christopher, using the same colours and washy paint as with Becca. I am hoping to unify the paintings by also using the background to link them. No idea how, yet!

And here they are , together.

Becca 20" x 20" Oil WIP

The initial blocking in, in very thin paint, of Becca, Sarahs' delightful daughter. The plan next is to get to the same stage with Christopher, Sarahs' equally delightful, quieter, son. I would like to work on both paintings at the same time to give some unity to the pair. It will take a very long time to complete if it doesn't stop raining!

Sarah 20" x 17" Charcoal

Sarah is my very exceptional, very sorely missed, ex-neighbour. She offered her time to help us to move house, and she worked like a dog. No stopping her til the job was done. She put me to shame. OK she is 25 years younger, but even so, she is hard working, knows her own mind, gets what she wants, is bringing up two children, virtually on her own, as dad works away from home, and has renovated a wreck of a house to exceptional standard. She has my admiration, and this is for her. Next on the agenda is her two children, Becca and Christopher, watch this space and hope for good weather, as my garden is now my studio! Can't stink the house out with oils!
Thank you all who sent good wishes for my house move, which did go very well, almost according to plan. Very grateful thanks to Sarah and Alex, Roy's mate and colleague, we couldn't have done so well without you.
I love it here. We are on the edge of the village, and it is sooooooo quiet. My car has been off the road so I have yet to explore the surroundings, although I have cycled around the immediate locality. All utterly delightful, I have a mind to paint some landscapes, and trees! I never knew how much I mised them! And now I have a garden full.
I got my internet connection back only yesterday, it took three weeks to get a phone line! I shall not reply to everyone who has posted messages or sent emails, but I sincerely thank you all. And I have missed you and look forward to catching up with what you have been up to. ( Sorry, terrible grammar!)
Happy painting, everyone, it is so good to be back.

Personal Update

We now have confirmation of our moving day........Friday 24th April. It was originally scheduled for 17th, but with various problems, it had to be put back. It is the reason I have not been painting. First because there is so much to do, but mainly because I didn't want to transport wet oils. I shall be back as soon as possible, as I have an indefinable necessity to do so. I am going to miss my studio, but I think Roy is aware that it will be a priority job!

And to make the post more interesting, this is my best, very favourite painting, so far,

And this, my favourite charcoal drawing.

Thanks for visiting, and for your support, and for your patience in advance. I shall be back!

Hats

' Mates '

' Girl in a Hat'

' Ray '

' Thelma '

' Snapshot '

' Boy '

Sorry no painting today, busy,busy,busy, but the Easter Bonnets got me remembering all the 'hat' paintings I have done before. Here is a small sample, in fact, the only ones that I have photographs of, that I thought might be of interest.

I think 'Easter Bonnets' is my favourite so far, and I think I might just take 'hat' as a theme for a future series.

Easter Bonnets 10" x 8" Oil

SOLD

There is something very appealing about hats. I never wear one though, memories of school uniform (yeuch) and I always feel too self conscious!

Paddle 10" x 10" Oil

I have been packing up my house in anticipation of moving on 17th April, although the date has yet to be confirmed. Fingers crossed! I had to take a break and paint today because I was getting very crotchety! We are moving nearer the coast, so expect many more of these this summer!

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

Awarded!

I am delighted and honoured to be tagged for this Passion for Painting award by Ramesh and Fabio and Galina! Wow, that is greedy!

I now have to nominate 7 other artists who I think have a Passion for Painting.

1. Michael Mikolon

2. Beverly Sams

3. Peggi Habets

4. David Larson Evans

5. Marc Hanson

6. Rob Ijbema

7. Adebanji Alade

Happy painting everyone!

OOPS! Should have listed 7 things I love too!

1. Husband Roy.

2. Painting.

3. Drawing. (is that cheating?)

4. Reading.

5. People watching.

6. Blogging.

7. Selling paintings.

New Blog

I have started a new blog today, called Front Page, where I shall be posting a face a day from the news of the day. I need to improve my portraits and I feel the way to go is to practise every day. Good drawing is the foundation of any painting and I know that if I do more I shall get better. I have exhausted family and friends and thought the news would provide an endless variety of faces and also add further interest.
My aim is to get brilliant and in demand! It will be very interesting to look back at this a year from now and see the benefits ( or not!).

Torso 21" x 26" Oil

Don't you just love bottoms? A favourite subject, certainly, I enjoyed painting this, and I stopped before I started on the 'fiddling'. Good day. I used a limited palette, Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre and Titanium White. Classic blue, red and yellow, although I wouldn't call these colours primaries.
Thanks for your visit and your comments which I appreciate very much.
Happy painting!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 200 GBP please email me.

Profile 12" x 12" Charcoal

A fellow artist who attends HAS life drawing, this is Jill, concentrating!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 40 GBP please email me.

Stephanie

This is as good as it's going to get. On to the next one!

Stephanie 10" x 10" Oil Work In Progress

Just did some more work on this today. Fiddled!

Gary Pencil 8" x 12"

Doesn't have quite the same appeal as a female, does it! This is my mate Gary who emigrated to USA, done from a photo, obviously. I used a Derwent Graphitint pencil, and found it difficult. You can't push it around like charcoal. I slapped some water on it, in frustration, and was happier!

I went to the studio with the intention of sorting out exactly what I was going to submit to the forthcoming exhibition. Although it is not until Easter, a form has to be sent beforehand, advising of your list of paintings, so a catalogue can be printed. This has to arrive by the 18th March.
I quite often put in some titles and then paint the pictures!

Blot Or Not? 18" x 12" Oil

I have long wanted to paint this subject, in protest, even though I don't do landscapes. Although I can appreciate their worth, I find wind turbines huge, ugly and so intrusive in the landscape. So, do you agree? Blot or not?

This is the view from my bedroom window, spoiled by the wind turbines, but the shape to the right of them, on the horizon, is Ely Cathedral. I am amazed that I can see it because it is twenty miles away, but it is testament to how flat and empty is the landscape of the Fens. I can't see it everyday, but every morning I look, and if I can, then I know it will be a GOOD day!

If you would like to purchase this painting for 100 GBP please email me.

Stephanie 10" x 10" Oil Work In Progress

I liked this image so much I had to paint it! But while slogging away with the paint, it ocurred to me that it might be better done in pastel. Well, we shall see how it goes.
It is my intention to submit it to Lea Valley Art Society Annual show. Although I'm not a member anymore, (it was the first art society I joined), I always submit to the show, which is held every Easter weekend, at a wonderful venue, Haileybury College, Hertfordshire.

Memo + Recline

I have fiddled again with the 'door' and this is the last time I shall post this, promise, except......

It looks OK in the frame but I think I prefer it like this! As your opinion, my blogging friends, is very important please be kind enough to vote for your preference at the end of this post, and whichever gets the most votes, Uncropped or Cropped, will then be submitted to the exhibition. Thank you.
Thanks to those who took the time, and thought, to vote, the overwhelming preference was for the CROPPED version. I think Roy has time to make a new frame!


I also had some fun today. From a sketch I did of one of the models at HAS, years ago.

If you would like to purchase 'Recline' (20" x 16" Oil) for 100 GBP please email me.

Untitled + More Sketches

I wiped the colour off the 'door' three times and I am still not convinced! All suggestions gratefully received. If I could photograph it straight, it would help too!

'Bridesmaids'

Did a couple more sketches, this time with carbon pencil, because it is blacker than charcoal.

Stephanie Studies Charcoal

I couldn't put the charcoal down!

This is my niece Stephanie, from old photos. She lives in Canada, so I haven't seen her recently. The family are hoping to visit this summer, which I am looking forward to. I miss my brother so it will be a real treat.

If you would like to purchase these drawings for 70GBP please email me.

A Quiet Moment Charcoal

Today I am so frustrated that oil paint will just not behave as I wish! So I got back to my comfort zone. Out with the charcoal and boy, oh, boy did I enjoy that!
It's good to be comfortable, and OK for a break, but where is the excitement in that?
Have a good weekend and happy painting!

If you would like to purchase this drawing for 45 GBP please email me.