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

And There's More!!

Finally!!

After a really busy month the work is sent

to the "packing department" and is now

packed up and ready to go to DeMontfort.

A mixture of work is enclosed, this is a detail from

a piece I was particularly pleased with.

Don't very often say that but I thought the

light hitting the figures worked really well.

One Down .... to go!!

This is the first painting completed for an event

at Artique Gallery in April.

As well as seascapes there will be a

good selection of my other styles,

including wildlife, yay!!!

Don't get the chance to do wildlife very often

so looking forward to doing those.

It's going to be a joint event with Toni Hargreaves

on 28th April 6-8pm at Artique Tunbridge.

Well can't stop here chatting got pictures to paint!!

What's Another Year??

I started this picture nearly two years ago.

Just fancied doing something a bit different!!

I had a brief window of opportunity time wise,

or so I thought. But then things got really busy!!

I've never had chance to return to it and I doubt

I will this year either. Maybe next year??!!

For those interested in the technical stuff,

it's an acrylic underpainting on Fisher 400paper.

I've just started to work the background

with pastel as well. It was the light and

atmosphere I liked, so watch this space!!

But not too often, it could be a while!!!

Back to the Future!!

Cryptic Title??!

Not really, all will become clear.

This is the start of my future and I am now free

from previous contractual obligations.

I have lots of new ideas that I want to work on

so I am taking a trip back to to Devon for a

few days!!I shall be getting reference for the

new work and when I come back I shall

be puttingthe ideas in to practice.

It's been a long time since I saw

this sort of coastline so I'm hoping

the weather will be kind, but it will

be great whatever the weather!!

The Things You See!!

Well what can I say!! I know it's been ages since

I put anything on my blog. I have no excuses,

but I do have reasons, can't say what, sorry!!

Anyway!! I was away recently delivering

some pictures to galleries, yes it was when

we had summer a couple of weeks ago!!

I was up early this glorious morning

to take some photos. I decided to cross

the bridge and this is what I saw!!

No!! I couldn't believe it either!!

This bloke was just stood there with

a pig on his shoulder!!!

It was plastic, of course, but still??!!

As I walked past him he merely said

"Lovely Morning"

What could I say?

How Long??!!

I've just looked at my last blog entry, aarrrgh!!

Has it really been that long since I put anything up??

I'm afraid so!!

But I have been really busy, honest!!!

Apart from moving house, stressful is not the word,

the run up to Christmas was manic and I delivered

my last lot of pictures to galleries the weekend before.

The New Year has been almost as busy getting ready for

an exhibition at the Wykeham Gallery and also more gallery stock.

The Sporting & Wildlife Exhibition starts at

Wykeham on 27th February

for more details and to see all the images

check out their website

http://wykehamgallery.co.uk/

This one is entitled "The Unexpected"

Going, going, gone!!

Apparition has found a home.

He certainly made an impact on people

and has now found someone to watch over

"Apparition going..."

"Going..."

"Gone!!"

Go! Wildlife! Go!

In the jungle the mighty jungle.....

Though it's no longer a "fashionable" genre I still

resolutely refuse to stop painting my wildlife pictures.

If seascapes are my bread and butter then

wildlife is the icing on my cake. I do think there is a

slight resurgence and I've just sold a piece at the

National Exhibition of Wildlife Art.

I've also sold a few wildlife images recently through my

local,and very supportive, gallery Hepplestone Fine Art.

This piece, entitled "Apparition" is currently available from them.

Painting Live

This was me in full flow at a VIP evening held

at Westover Gallery. I really enjoyed this event,

met some great people who showed a

genuine interest in what I was doing.

It's great to get out and show people how it's done.

Well not too much, don't want to give all my secrets away

BUSY,BUSY,BUSY!!!

My name is Wendy and it's been 12 days since my last post!!

I now accept that I have a problem.

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH HOURS IN THE DAY!!!

So bear with me and I will put some orangutan photos up,

I just need to find a bit of spare time.

Does anyone have any or know where I can find some?

Just a Taster

Back in the freezing cold UK!!

It's about 20 degrees colder and I'm still running on Borneo time.

It was a truly amazing experience and we are already planning to go back and do the Sabah end of the island. I've tried to upload a video clip but it doesn't want to play ball so I'll just use a photo for now to give you a taste of jungle life.

I got a huge amount of reference so I'm really looking froward to starting on some new work!!

BORNEO HERE WE COME!!

This is going to be AMAZING

Just one of the things planned on this trip,

a canopy walkway over the rainforest.

The itinerary is pretty full on so I won't bore you with

all the details, but of course there will be...

a trip to see the ginger monkeys:-)

Watch this space for real pics when I get back.

See ya!!

And Finally!!

The finished ellies!!

Do you know, I had never called them "ellies"

before I went to Botswana, but that was what

everyone called them, so I sort of picked it up!!

Still waiting for inspiration on the title.