Waiting for Bedtime.... and a couple of practice pieces

You all know how much I like experimenting with my watercolour, so I tried a couple of different exercises, one from a magazine and one from a friend's painting.

Once these practice pieces were done, I created my own painting.
This is it:

Waiting for Bedtime

the two practice pieces are these:

lamb

bridge

As you can see, the practice pieces bear no resemblance to the painting I wished to paint. Sometimes that happens. I need to paint to get my confidence in what I want to do, going. So any painting works.
Rather than me thinking overly about what to paint for practice, I will look up "how to" paintings. I'm not overly fussed on the outcome, it's the practising which is important.
Practice is always important - and I'm sure that both my wildlife and river paintings, when I make them, will be all the better for these practice pieces.

A quick demo ends with a promenade stroll

When I had my friends over to visit recently, I did a very quick demonstration of painting.
Using one of their photos from a recent trip to the seaside, I showed them how quickly you can make a little painted memory of the day.

The majority of the painting was done quickly -less than 30 minutes. The branches of the trees were left until I had some time to myself, to finish it.

This I did recently - and here's the result.

Promenade Stroll

Painted on Saunders Waterford 140 rough, size approx 7x10 inches

Leaves Launch.... a floral painting

This is a painting of a floral gift, given to me to mark the launch of my novel, All in the Leaves.

I wanted to paint the roses and vase, so that I could always remember the flowers and my launch party - with a smile!

Leaves Launch

The  paper is Saunders Waterford, 140 rough - and the size is quarter sheet.
Many thanks to Lynne and Stuart for the flowers and the support.

A new year .... and new beginnings!

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2014, full of joy and creativity.

For my first post of the year, I want to show you someone else's work!
A friend expressed an interest in learning how to paint in watercolour, so she came over for an afternoon teaching session, with her sister, who didn't want to paint, but loves looking at art.

My friend wanted to paint a giraffe, so I suggested we draw a small one and a larger one. That way we could practice on the small, before it got transferred to the large.

Here is her practice effort

and this is second effort, as far as we had it finished on the day. I think it's going to be beautiful.

While the sisters were waiting for the background washes to dry, I painted a quick snow scene for the one who doesn't paint - as a memento of the day.
It's only small, 7" x 10"

Signpost

I hope the New Year brings you joy, the chance to try something new - and the chance to shine. God bless.

Santa's Other Helpers

Here's a seasonal watercolour painting I made in the last few days:

Santa's Other Helpers

These two little sweethearts will be winging their way to their new owner in the New Year.

Hope you all had a good Christmas.

From our house to yours, a Merry Christmas

I got a chance to paint yesterday and today!

So here, From our House

to you, in yours

A very Merry Christmas!

Getting ready for Christmas ...... and the Morning Commute

Good morning my blogging friends!

Isn't the run up to Christmas hectic? I haven't painted anywhere near as much as I usually do - although that is also in part due to the fact I was catching up on all the things I hadn't done, because of writing and publishing my novel - All in the Leaves.

We put our tree, decorations and the lights on the house up, yesterday.
Now there are ordinary cards to write, presents to wrap and food shopping to be done. I have a feeling that painting will take a back seat until I break up for the holiday after this weekend.

So here, my last post of this year  - the Morning Commute
I hope you enjoy it.