I dreamt last night…

That I had created a wonderful painting. I’d entered it for a competition and got it in. The dream continued as I walked around a massive gallery, in and out of many rooms. I could not find the painting anywhere. Then I walked u some steps and round a panelled wall. It was there! It said ‘awarded master of art’ next to it. I remember being elated and shocked at the same time. Someone had recognised me as an actual artist! I was standing back, looking at it, wondering how I’d managed to create such complexity and colours. I don’t remember waking up but I’m glad I remembered the dream. It’s odd how things get in your brain, what you want isn’t always what you get, but it’s good to dream!

Catfish?

My purse on my chair which I’m using as an easle. Paintings to the side and behind, pallette underneath it. Digitally manipulated. I just thought it looked interesting. The cat really has a strong stare. The way it’s crumpled makes it looks like it’s frowning. I don’t know whether anyone would actually like something like this?

Clownfish

Last night I also tried drawing a clown fish and thus is what I came up with. I used a fountain pen to draw over the acrylic paint. I hope this isn’t too silly. It looks like a happy fish. Maybe I should have tried lighter blue and red so that you can see the pen drawn on top of it.

Not sure if this is a sketch, cartoon or a doodle. And in a way I wished I had done a bit better details on it, maybe including scales? I might do more to it, I might play with it more….

Getting up late

I am what they call a night owl. One of those people that stays up too late, can’t sleep and then get up too late. Half the day has gone before I see daylight.

Sometimes I don’t start painting till the afternoon. Then it means that I end up painting under artificial light. That’s OK but it affects he colours that I paint with. The light does make everything look more yellow and you cannot really see blues properly. I will wait till daytime to check the real colour (we live on a planet with blue skies and everything has a blue cast to it, but we don’t see it because our eyesight adjusts to it).

What shall I paint next?

I don’t know what to paint next, I have so many paintings, maybe too many? If anything ever happens to me will they end up in a charity shop? Should I donate some to my local museum? I’m responsible for a lot of acrylic on canvas! The thing is I love painting and drawing so much. I hope I bring as much enjoyment to other peoples lives as possible. Art makes me feel better, more relaxed, happy, or sometimes sad, contemplative, thoughtful, or just calm.

I can’t show the finished painting yet!

What WAS on the easle. The crab painting is going to a relative who may see it and I don’t want her to see the finished article. It’s boxed up and ready to go. Acrylic paint means I could get it finished today, but I’m too late to catch the post. I always dither about posting things, I try and use boxes I’ve received things in so I use a LOT of parcel tape. Also bubble wrap. I hope it will arrive safely…. I’ll post a picture of the finished work when it has got to its recipient. X

Work in progress

Blue crab, I’m going to lighten the background of this acrylic on canvas. This was promised a year ago, but I was struggling with the complexity of it. I’ve overpainted some on the legs. It’s hard to work off a photo on my phone which is all I had to go on. And it’s very easy to get bits wrong. I didn’t draw it out or draw a grid, I always go for things freehand. I get bored with drawing out then having to paint out lines!

Degree shows

Staffordshire University is holding its first degree shows for a couple of years. We went to see the fine art show today. Its also on tomorrow. I thought the show was one of the best I had seen in years. (we go most years). There was a lot of interesting images and ideas. Some exceptional painters and thought provoking installations. I decided not to take photos as each of the students will have their own copyright and I didn’t have permission to take pictures of their work. If you are in the area tomorrow pop in and take a look? Check on Google for opening times. Staffordshire University, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.

Finished?

Clouds pile up above a dark blue sea and waves rise, ready to crash against a rocky coast. Cliffs covered in boulders and vegetation stand above a small sandy area.

Having to describe what I have painted is hard, I know what I can see but finding a description that adequately explains it is difficult, especially since I’ve added texture and patterns. I’ve entered it for a local open art exhibition. It’s a bit of a risk, but I wanted to try. X

Coast abstract

I’m trying to replicate a photo of a felt pen drawing I did that I had put through a filter in Photodirector. So this is an acrylic painting work in progress based on the filtered image. An analogue to digital and back to analogue image…. Its interesting to try and add the digital texture. Appeals to my pattern needs. I think I’m addicted to pattern!