When your vase is filled with flowers, paint them!

Good morning friends.

In the last post I told you to look down if you needed inspiration - and today I'm saying if anyone gives you flowers - once they are in the vase - paint them!
That way, you get twice the pleasure from one bouquet.

Which is what I did when my darling OH brought me flowers.
Funnily, when he was buying them, he was asked what he'd done wrong, that he needed to buy flowers for his wife. Isn't it a shame that was someone's first thought? He was told, nothing wrong, it's because I love her and she loves flowers, so I buy her some!

In this painting, I experimented with a few different techniques.
All great fun  - and very important to experiment, I feel. It makes you grow as an artist.
I hope you enjoy looking at this painting; painted on Saunders Waterford and measuring 8x11 inches.

Gratitude

If you are wondering what to paint, look down!

If you ever struggle with 'what shall I paint next?' then there is no better recommendation than to look around you. If you love painting flowers, look down!
Even the humble weeds can be inspiration for a painting.

Here is my version of a common weed in the UK,

The Happy Dandelion

Painted on Saunders Waterford, 140lb Rough paper, using W&N Artist Quality paint. 

8" x 11"

Paint and play, stretch and learn!

I showed my husband the jam tarts when he returned from work yesterday and he said, "hmm. ok. not up to your usual standard. Have you posted that?"

To which the answer was yes, as you know. This is a journey after all.
You will see a variation of works from me - I am no longer plugged in to the "must create a masterpiece each time"

That's a good thing that came out of my C&G Creative Watercolour course. The fact we learned to take paint and play with it and by doing so we stretched our imaginations and we learned.

Sometimes you learn things that you love and adopt, sometimes you learn that certain styles are to be admired, but they're not for you to paint.

So for me, every time I pick up a brush, learning is my main object. Masterpieces, when they happen, are a delightful outcome :)

Here's another I painted yesterday, dedicated to a friend Wyna, who is on this painting journey too - and happy to go her own way, as I am :)
Watercolour and aquapasto medium, Arches 140 Rough, 11" x 8"

Wild as Wyna

Reports, tennis and attention!

In which we report that Missy had her one month check up and got excellent grades !

No regrowth of the sarcoma and the scar had healed beautifully, with only one tiny bump which may yet go.
My gorgeous Missy.

As we carry on life as usual, Wimbledon tennis makes an appearance - which is my favourite sport to watch, but which has Missy begging for attention!


It also signals the end of art club for summer break this Weds.. will my mind be free of tennis to paint? Don't hold your breath..

drawing

here 's the latest drawing.
I love drawing, its so restful and time flies when you are absorbed in it.

When I draw for a painting, I only do the basic shapes, because the paint will do all the work of making my concept come alive.

Maybe not all, perhaps I do have a brush in it somewhere!

Gordon Stage 1

I have a few gargoyles in my garden, I love their little faces.
The first one was bought as a present for hubby - who promptly named him Gordon.

I thought it was about time I tried to paint Gordon's miserable little face :)

So here's the first stage, the drawing.

Gargoyle III

Normally I would paint more than this before I took a photo - but I think these eyes deserve a post all to themselves!

Gargoyle II

after the pencil drawing , the background paints...

village life

One of the nice things about being in a village is the way people try to keep it pretty by the use of flowers.
This post box is in a neighbouring village to mine. Its such a draw for people who like to paint. You can see why.