Step Back In Time

I did a series of Charcoals because I was looking for some different inspiration.

I am very much an artist that needs variety.

So one rainy day I took myself to the local nature reserve and

found what I was looking for in the raindrops and reflections on the water.

I also found it in the ripples on the sand on the beach.

From this I created "Ripple Effect" (above) and

"Receding Tide" (below), both of which sold to a private collector.

I'm going to return to the charcoals and I've just ordered some new materials.

Again looking for something different I've been

working on a self portrait. I'm not working on it

all the time so it may take a while to complete,

I'll put progress updates up as I do more.

BLIMEY!! THAT WAS QUICK!!

No!! Not the fact I've updated my blog again!!

Although, it is rare for me to blog twice in one week!!

I painted this picture as part of my,

"trying something different" phase,

looser and a change subject matter.

I had this image on my Facebook page

and was asked if it was still available.

I said it was and sent the picture off to them

"Laughter In The Rain"

The picture was delivered and within a day

it had been framed and was on the customers wall.

They emailed this image over and said how pleased

they were. Now that was quick!!!

I'm going to be trying a few more images

in the looser style over the coming weeks so

hope to keep up with the updates!!

Alice In Wonderland

"But then Shall I never get any older than I am now?"

I painted this picture two years ago after a visit to

my niece,this is her daughter Alice.

It was a beautiful summers day and so we were

able to sit out in the garden and watch Alice as she

played in her own little world.

I got some lovely reference and this is just one

of the images I’ve painted.

“But then shall I never get any older than I am now”

is a line from Alice In Wonderland

by Lewis Carol and for me this image of Alice

will remain constant and frozen in time.

I hope to paint many more pictures of Alice as

she grows,as grow she will, and in time

her new sister will be part of those paintings too.

Prince Comes Home!!

or how to try and capture a moving Billy Whizz!!

Meet Prince the Patterdale terrier, what a bundle of energy!!

I first met Prince in July as his owners wanted a portrait of him,

so I went along armed with the camera to try and capture him on film!!

Ha! Talk about moving pictures!!!

At this stage we were trying to tire him out see if he would

then calm down and "play ball" so to speak

After about an hour and over 100 photo's later, I looked through what

I'd got and decided that there was nothing that captured him in just the right way!!

So in September, when Prince was now a little bit older, and calmer,

I went back again to re-shoot. Margaret, his mum, had spent a lot of time with him

and he would now sit and stay and even lie down, albeit,

with a little bribery in the shape of cheese!!

Success!!

Margaret & Tom chose the photo they wanted to use and so

I began the process of capturing Prince for posterity!!

This is the finished picture

and isn't he a handsome chap!!

I delivered the framed picture to

Margaret & Tom this week and,

of course, Prince got in on the act!!

The happy owners of Prince!!

Inspiration!!

I spent a few days experimenting with some different ideas.

Different surface, looser style and set myself a time limit.

This is just one of the pieces I did, "Forever Summer"

I saw this little girl on the beach last summer,

lost in her own world, she wandered around the beach

eating her ice cream and watching all the other children.

She has been the subject of a few paintings!!

This month I have some more ideas I want to work on.

I'm trying to get a looser feel to my work and the

inspirational painting on the studio wall is this piece

"Woman at the Window" by Edgar Degas.

Although known for his pastel work this painting

was done in oil. Everything is captured with a few

well placed brushstrokes and it says everything!!!

So "watch this space".

I will mix these in with the artwork I usually do

but it's great to try different things, maybe even

be using oil paints as well!!!

The Autumn Collection, but not from M&S!!

There is definitely an Autumnal feeling about the weather now!

I love the early morning light and the mists that hang in the air

as the seasons change and the nights grow a little colder.

These are just a couple of the images I've done for the

Autumn Preview next month.

The summer wardrobe has definitely had more of an outing this year

and hopefully will stay out for a while yet.

So this is just a taste of things to come, but with any luck not until

November at least!!

"Colours of Morning"

"Til There Was You"

Finally

These are the last images for the event at Artique. Phew!!

It's been a long hard slog but I finally got there.

It's been great to work on a variety of images and

use different mediums.

Still love doing the wildlife so I saved them til last.

All were inspired by my safaris to Botswana,

looking through my reference made me want to go back:

though I'd like to do Kenya next time!!

"Watching For Mum" Original Oil

"Grandma Knows Best" Original Pencil

"Guidance" Original Pencil