Bottled Sunshine and a holiday!

I've been amongst the missing again, after having another holiday in Scotland.
This time we went to Inverewe Gardens, Poolewe.

Here's a pic of wee Paddy in our camper.

and a new painting...

Bottled Sunshine

Hope you're all well - and I'll be visiting soon - as well as posting some more holiday pics.
 

Paddy on holiday, Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond.

On a recent holiday to Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond, I took my painting implements.
The weather was so beautiful, I painted en plein aire.
Of course, I had a model who was at hand all the time - and so I painted a portrait of him, as well as taking photos and making sketches for further paintings.

Here's the portrait:

Paddy on holiday

 and here are a few pictures of the place we stayed, so you can see some of Scotland's beauty.

Water Baby

Every now and then you see a photo that you simply have to paint.
This lovely girl looked like she was having such fun, enjoying her holiday by the sea.
I asked permission from the parents who took the photo - and away I went!

Water Baby

Using Saunders Waterford paper and Winsor & Newton paint, this lovely girl is on a quarter sheet - size 15" x 11"
 

A holiday, painting inspiration and the handsome Paddy

Recently we took a little holiday.
Four days of enjoying the countryside with my two loves; hubby and Paddy.

The photos from the trip are HERE

and little Paddy looked so cute when he placed his paws on the door of our folding camper that he inspired this painting:

Paddy

On Saunders Waterford paper, 140lb rough

15" x 11"

Always on Duty

Hello friends!
Hubby and I have had some time off and have been doing some work in the garden.
You can see what we've been up to HERE

As well as the garden project, I've done a little painting:

this is Always on Duty as it was on my drawing board (where I sometimes paint) in the Summerhouse.
The eagle eyed amongst you will notice I was trying out a different technique to my usual.

and here's how it looks close up:

Always on Duty

click the painting to see a larger version.



Now we're back to normal, with wet weather - I'm looking forward to catching up on all your blogs.

Ben - part two

Ben is now a happy healthy dog and he thoroughly enjoys his holidays where he can play in the sea and the sand.


The painting is progressing with the beach painted and some water too .

Let's do Battle!

Sometimes I think to myself - what shall I paint?
Nothing springs instantly to mind, so I browse my photo library.
I am sure everyone who paints has a stack of photos on the computer all waiting to see the light of day as a painting!

I came across some holiday pictures from two years ago - when we went to Battle, near Hastings.We stayed in a converted oast house - and it was wonderful :)

Amongst the many pictures, I found one of the doorway of the oast house, with the wisteria out around it. How jolly romantic .
Not so romantic was the recycle bin next to it, so I've changed that in my painting to a flower pot. I've also left out a load of trees in the distance. Artistic licence !

Here's the first stage

Coughs and Sneezes

"Coughs and Sneezes spread diseases
Trap yours in your handkerchief "

Sadly someone I may never know didn't do that, and I have gone down with such a nasty bug, that I could have picked up from anywhere!
Its why I have been absent from my blog - why my week's holiday has been spent cuddled up to the warmest of all nurses :)

Every cloud has a silver lining...



Another few days and I will hopefully be back to normal - and painting again!

Walkies

This will be we three in the next week, as we have the half term off.
Hopefully we won't have any snow...

we'll be taking the camera wherever we go and fingers crossed we'll have some lovely pictures to make paintings from later in the year.