New paintings and regular art updates.
Im doing lots of things to take to two craft fairs at the weekend. Looking for inspiration and the right things to paint on. The tiniest are paintings of baubles. I have ribbon to add to them so you could even add them to a tree. I saw a robin in a photo and he was sooooo fluffy I had to paint him…finally Im trying to paint directly onto the little chalk boards so the abbey will need more work.
Sharp staccato shapes,
Shaded, curled and furled,
Rustling in the wind,
Shadowed and dried,
Veins reduced to lines,
Patterned and patinated,
Crisp and soft,
Tired but ancient,
Light as life has left you…
Remaining skeleton of tree.
Depending on the weather in Britain we sometimes have snow in winter, or not. It depends on whether you live in the north, or are high up as the temperature falls the higher you get. This is a painting I did when I first moved into my studio at Spode, I think it was so cold in there that I didn’t have to think hard to imagine this image.
It’s based on an idea I had of hills in Yorkshire or the lake district , I think it needed more depth so I added the shadows.
I tend to talk to myself when Im painting, reminding myself where the guttering should be or how light would reflect into the shadows at the side of the house.
I like using my imagination. Exercising my visual memory. It’s worth trying to think through how something is put together. It helps you understand how it works.
The problem with doing tiny paintings is you have to rely on people to supply the small canvases. Unfortunately the place I usually get them has run out. They can’t order them in until a rep calls in two weeks and it will be another week till they are delivered. Way past the deadline I need them for. So I’m going to experiment by using tiny chalk boards and gluing canvas on. Hopefully if it works I can get a close match to what I want.
I will be in Macclesfield on Saturday and at the Potbank Hotel on Sunday so I want to have new art and something ready for Christmas x
One from the past,
a favourite painting,
Cat on the window ledge,
At the top of the stairs.
So long ago,
that plant has grown,
6 ft tall,
out grown the hall.
Now outside in the garden,
The cat is there too
Laid to rest
Favourite of pets.
Two days, one name change from frost woman to druid. The painting is complete. I enjoyed painting as a demonstration while at the exhibition this weekend. Thanks to my friend Raina for modelling for the initial face. Then lots of metallic paints later this image emerged.
I may do a bit more to the dark areas but I’m pretty pleased with it. A good weekends work.
This is a painting called frost woman I think. I started doing it as a demonstration at the exhibition. Someone said she didn’t know how I do it. How do I get things looking right so quickly and someone else said she would need to spend ages working out a design. But I admire both of their work. I guess we are all different. I love patterns and work well with them. And yet struggle with other things. I’m not neat, I don’t really do clean straight lines. I’m often messy, my eyesight isn’t what it was and I don’t think my concentration is as good as it used to be.
But I love painting.
X
With my friend Raina this morning. My box full of brushes. The hall, my Jupiter and two other paintings. Another display by other artists. The painting I have been doing as a demo today. About half way through.
The exhibition continues tomorrow 11am to 4pm.
You know that look cats have. That long slow stare, then a shift to look away at something else. Perhaps a twitch of an ear. Paws tucked up underneath. Then a sudden decision, movement, a lick of the paw. Settle again. Warm body resting on my knee. Curled up now, but if I move an eye opens and he stares again. Measuring minutes and hours, quietly, steadily…. I always miss his blink, to me his eyes are eternally open, then closed, but open…..
Just some cheerful colours from my early flowering Christmas cactuses.
I hope they brighten your day.
Today I’m having a bit of a rest.
Have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
