New paintings and regular art updates.
I had my hair cut on Monday so I added a fringe to my self portrait then I tidied up the chin. Finally I finished the painting on the right side of the portrait. My hair is still long as I grew it out during covid. Now I just have it trimmed occasionally. It’s slightly different to my usual style. The acrylics I used were not as opaque as I normally use so I think it looks more like a watercolour.
I added shading to a rose painting I started a couple of weeks ago to give it more depth. It is one of those blush roses, with pink and red on the edges of the petals and some yellow further down. Roses are beautiful flowers, but the simplest of them, like wild roses, Rosa rugosa, are better for insects to pollenate and collect nectar. That is because the petals are open and the central part of the flower is easily accessible.
Unfortunately a lot of flowers are now being bred to have twice the petals (doubles). They look beautiful and interesting, but they make it hard to pollenate by insects like bees and they are frequently infertile so they don’t produce viable seeds.
Look for bee friendly plants if you are looking for flowers for your garden.
I might do some more to this tomorrow but a full day on it has knackered me. The sky is a bit wrong and I could darken some of it to add shadows. I think the roof is too light too so I might add blues and browns.
It’s for a project about Molly Leigh but I might also try and enter it for an exhibition. I want to make it the best possible representation.
Tribute to my lost sister, as a young woman. I promised it but it’s taken months to finish. Perhaps I can finally move on? It sat half done, staring at me. But I feel she is at rest. Art has always been my freedom. I can work through my feelings when I do it. Life has to go on, even though its sometimes really tough.
I decided to do a bonus small painting to go with my bigger close up of a poppy. It’s called red poppy. It’s hard to come up with an original title. Lots of red used in these but I’ve tried to vary them and give that wrinkled feeling that poppies have.
Hard work, but I think it was worth it. I think some of my paintings are like knitting or embroidery, pulling all the threads together to bring it to a finished piece. And sometimes it’s knowing where to stop, to feel satisfied. Sometimes my hubby says I overwork things, but I think I know where I am with this. I decided not to add any bees or butterflies, I think that would just distract.
Red and green spins in front of my eyes. Trying to capture that motion. Almost three thirty am. I’m tired but happy. Signed and dated.
I’ve wanted to alter this painting for a long time. I had a grey blurred background before but it just merged in to much with the Barn Owl. Now it stands out against the night sky. I also added many tiny stars. I could have flicked splashes of paint but I wanted more control over where they went.
Oh my busy hands and brain!
I really must be insane.
Spending hours transforming
Reeds and rough planting
Into old grey Nog
Bean pole legs and yellow beak
Through the vegetation peeks!
It turned out very tasty and fruity. I use sugar free jelly and blancmange, but the amount of fruit I put in was very naughty.
As I whipped the cream I was a bit enthusiastic with the hand whisk and some od it went over my Christmas jumper! At least we were not going out so I can slob around in my pyjamas and dressing gown.
By the way instead of sherry I used fortified British wine that was very fruity.
Cheers everyone!
Mallaband-Brown