Poinsettia

A beautiful indoor winter plant, the red bracts are modified leaves not petals. Its often used as a centerpiece for Christmas decorations. This is a painting I did of one. I remember my mum had one growing in the spare room. I don’t think it likes too much heat? The indoor gardeners here will have a better iidea than I do. It seems to have been taken over in popularity by Amaryllis buls which also flower around this time of year.

Finished at last

This took a long, long time. I can still paint but shaking isn’t helping. If I put things on the easle it’s a bit better, but sometimes I have to hold the painting to add details, then if I try and paint my left arm and hand shakes and the canvas wobbles. So I have to redo things. I wish I wasn’t getting old. Painting means such a lot to me. Then typing, the phone wobbles side to side as I stab at the keyboard. Thank goodness for predictive text! Anyway I hope this little dogs owner loves this painting, she’s been really patient. X

Preparing to paint

Eight tiny and four small canvases waiting to be painted. Despite my shaking arm getting worse, and my right hand starting to shake too. Life has to go on.

I’ve been asked if I want a small table at a craft fair, and I said yes (foolishly). Now I’m faced with these blank canvases. I have an idea for some images, I just hope they turn out OK. The trouble is I’ve put this off for weeks and the fair is tomorrow. Luckily I have some old paintings waiting at my studio so I should be OK. I just need a bit of courage. X

Memory

Cherry blossom. A painting I did a few years ago. It’s meant to signify the hope of spring in the middle of winter. I hope you can see the profile of a woman’s face in it. Perhaps she is the spirit of spring.

I saw this on my friends memories page and realised I wanted to share it. I think adding the blue shadows adds depth and gives it a more 3d effect. I can’t help wishing the winter was over and the sun was coming back.

Nebula

I’m looking at some photos of my old paintings, I realise I’ve got a lot of inspirations, including astronomy. This was a painting I did of a Nebula. I tried to be as accurate as I could. Clearly it’s impossible to be exact, and positioning of the stars is approximately done. I don’t remember which Nebula photo I looked at. It was probably in the Sky at Night magazine which I sometimes use for inspiration. I’m no expert, I think I’m more interested in the visual representation rather than the celestial mechanics and chemistry of the different gases.

It’s a little world

A small painting I did in acrylics a few years ago. It features North America and was an attempt at painting clouds. Its not as accurate as I would have liked but then I needed to possibly use smaller brushes. The cloud patterns stretch across the width of the continent and show the direction of the winds as they curl and blow and bend in them. I always think its interesting how clouds tend to cling to the coastlines, except where s major storm appears to be in the gulf of Mexico. Also the lack of cloud cover over California. I’m not sure I’ve got the colours right. I tried.

Dog work in progress.

He’s almost done, looks like a Teddy bear so it needs some more attention.

I am struggling with the fur, trying to soften it, it looks too spiky at the moment. I need to get the ears right and his belly sorted out. The photo I’m working from has him in a dogs rain cover or coat, but that is covering areas I need to paint. Three hours of work and I feel like I’m only shuffling forwards. But I’ll get there.

Blossom

It’s been a while since I painted this. It’s a cherry tree in blossom in the snow. I like turning trees into faces. When it happens that you can see faces in objects or photos it’s called Pareidolia. But if I create the pattern myself is it something else?

I may do some similar art soon. I will see if the idea appeals to me.

Dog, work in progress

Acrylic on canvas, a few more layers. The rough edges of his coat, where they touch the grass, need sorting out. The dig has got a silver coat and a collar and lead on which I’ve left out so I’m trying to decide where the shadows should fall and his fur. I think I’ve made some of it too yellow, I need daylight to check.