Painting Shadows

My shadow shot this week appeared during a painting session on Tuesday. I am so happy with the painting, I do hope you can spare a moment to pop over and see it.

Once again I must mention how grateful I am to Tracey for hosting Shadow Shot Sunday. It really has made me look more closely at every moment and take in beauty that I may have missed.

If you’re not already a shadow hunter, you really should pop over and play along, it lots of fun and a little bit addictive.

I’m blossoming….

Into me, a more authentic me than I have been for a while and I’m loving it. I feel like this simple little water colour symbolises the ways I feel I am blossoming.  I little bit funky, a little bit quirky, standing out from the pack – but not way off the scale! Maybe one day I will be completely out there, but for now, just a little left of centre is where I feel at home.

"I'm Blossoming"

water colour and pitt pen on coffee stained paper

A4

2010

$30
SOLD

Yesterday I felt like a real artist again….

I was paid for the sale of “Namaste”, posted “Peacock Pod” off to its new home and delivered "Pink & Pretty I & II" the commissioned pair below. Oh if only every second day was like this and the alternate days were spent immersed in creating!

Pink and Pretty I & II

These were commissioned for two beautiful little girls rooms, but it seems Mum may now be keeping them in the sewing room as they compliment the stained glass in there!

I did it!!!

My first ever cardi, I am really getting into this crochet business. I still can’t read a pattern, but thanks to the fabulous Kirsty and her inspirational post I now have my very own made by me cardi!

I was so chuffed when I found three mismatched vintage buttons in my stash that were exactly the same size and the perfect colour – it was meant to be!
It needs a few adjustments, the centre button needs to be moved a little and the shoulders need to be sewn up a little more. I was going for a very open boat neck, but with a little wearing (ok I have hardly had it off since I finished it on Saturday) it has turned into an off the shoulder number.

I love it so much and it was soooo easy. I have already bought the wool for the next one. I am so glad I put the desire to make a cardi out there into the universe even if it seemed I was getting ahead of myself at the time. I have been doing a bit of that lately and it is paying off for me in a big way.

Did you see the painting I did on Tuesday? If you haven’t seen it I do hope you can spare a moment to have a look, I am so happy with it.  I hope it finds a new home soon, I can see myself getting attached to this one and wanting to keep it if it hangs around too long.

I’m going to be sitting down with a cuppa and visiting lots of creative spaces today, won’t you join me?

In my studio

I stumbled upon Works for Me Wednesday and since then I have been thinking about sharing this studio organization tip that really, really works for me. It’s a cheap plastic storage draw set turned into palette and painting trolley.

I had a piece of scrap picture framing glass cut to size and I taped it to the top with a sheet of white paper underneath. This gives me a work bench/ palette in one. I mix thick paint on the glass and clean it off at the end of a painting session easily and perfectly with a razor blade in a handle thingy. I mix glazes in the lids from Moccona coffee jars, I don’t bother cleaning these as it would be really fiddley, but for some strange reason I can’t throw them out. So I have a huge collection of little glass jars with different colours inside, perhaps one day I will dream up a use for them!

The top draw of my trolley has my paints sorted into colours inside icecream containers. I have red, yellow and blue each in their own containers. Then white and black in together, all the earthy tones in together and greens and purples together. The next draw down holds all of my painting mediums and the other two have acrylic paints and my silver leafing supplies.

On the whole my studio is a pretty disorganised place, but this little corner has to work well and it does, everything is easily within reach and functional.

I know not many people have an art studio in their homes, but perhaps this tip will spark and idea that makes your special corner work for you.

Trees

The idea...

Playing with colour...

Decision made...

What a mess...

But it’s all worth it!

"Lone Tree Hill"

oil on canvas

102 x 51

2010

$250

Do you have a favourite tree? I do, he is a grand and towering gum tree and he stands on top of a very special little mountain, which sadly, is no longer ours. The tree’s name is Ernest and I give him a pat or sometimes a hug whenever we meet. Our special little mountain is park land now, so hopefully he will out live me in safety and serenity.

This isn’t a portrait of Ernest, he is fortunate enough to stand amongst many other splendid trees, but thinking of how special trees are made me think of him. I didn’t expect the tears that are now falling, I think the loss of our mountain paradise is going to hurt for many more years.


He who plants a tree, plants a hope.
- Lucy Larcom, Plant a Tree

Shadowy self portrait with our puppy….

Our not quite two year old Akita pup joined us on our recent camping trip. He loved exploring around the creek and lazing by the fire. I snapped our shadows on the rocky creek bank as we wandered and investigated.

Check out what the other shadow chasers have been snapping for Shadow Shot Sunday over at Hey Harriet’s….

Break in transmission…

I’ve been AWOL a few days. Did you notice?

We escaped for a little camping.

By the creek.

With a beautiful mountain view.

If you look closely at the first photo, you may glimpse a project I was working on while we were away. I have just finished it and I am as proud as punch.

Pumpkins…

When a country drive deals you pumpkins……

Make pumpkin soup!

So delicious and perfect as the weather starts to turn cold in my neck of the woods.

Make a Wish...

“Make a Wish”

Watercolour and pen on watercolour paper

21 x 29.7 cm

2010

$30

This is my favourite water colour and pen piece so far. I am wondering if I should look into having it made into a print.

I made a wish on it as it was completed. My wish was to get to continue to keep creating beautiful things that bring joy to people’s lives AND to sell enough artwork this month to cover the cost of an e-course I would like to participate in next month. Keep your fingers crossed for me……

What do you wish for?

Strange Shadow....

My shadow today is lurking inside this seed pod. With the sunlight shining right through its transparent form, the shadow is created where the sun has shone on the unseen other side and is cast within the quirky pod.

Pop on over to Hey Harriet’s to see where everyone else has found shadows this week.

Flowers for you on a Friday

Actually I am not sure if they are technically flowers or seed pods, but the sentiment remains the same. I just wanted to share something pretty and wish you a spectacular weekend.

My Crochety Creative Space

Perhaps it was the plethora of crocheting posts in last weeks My Creative Space. Combined with fact that I love my knitted wash cloth but, I’m not much of a knitter - it took me about 6 months to knit one little wash cloth! Anyway what ever the reason I decided I would crochet my next wash cloth.

I fancied a round one, I can’t read a pattern so I thought I would just take my limited granny square experience and wing it. How hard could it be? I just wouldn’t do corners and go round and round. Well it started to curl up at the edges so I added some extra stitches. Then it got pretty wobbly and I thought I might fix it by not putting so many extra stitches. Anyway this is the result, may I present to you “The Jelly Fish Wash Cloth” It’s very "original" but I love it!

Then I had the crochet bug, I found this tutorial and decided to give this little basket a go with the lovely cotton yarn that Anka sent me as part of my pin cushion gift. It is so fabulous! I am pretty chuffed at how my crochet skills have taken off in one week.

Next I made a crochet basket from twine (I have completed it since the photo shoot) and now I am working on another wash cloth. All I have to do is learn to read a pattern, I have a hankering for making myself a cardi (not that I am getting ahead of myself!!).

I have still been painting too, I just haven’t had the energy for oils, but I have been dabbling with some little water coloured sketches. The first one Peacock Pod sold the day I posted it, which had me doing a little happy dance. This is the second in the series Peacock Puff, I am liking this series, I think there will be more…..

Peacock Puff

Watercolour and pen on paper

254 mm x 178 mm

2010

$30

Now of to check out what all the other creative folk are up to. Who knows what new project they may inspire!

Stunning Sky on a Watery and Wordless Wednesday

Watery Wednesday
Wordless Wednesday

Peacock Pod

Yesterday was my day to paint, but I wasn’t feeling the greatest so I just pottered around stretching canvases and editing photos. I fell into bed exhausted and disappointed, feeling I had wasted my only day to paint this week. I slept restlessly for a while and then woke with an idea, I contemplated staying in my nice warm bed, but the feeling was too strong, so I relented and wandered into the studio.

Peacock Pod

Watercolour and pen on paper

254 mm x 178 mm

2010

$30
SOLD

I knew so many details about this piece before I even set foot in the studio. I knew it had to be completed in watercolour and a particular brown brush pen. I knew the colours and the layout. It’s so surprising to me that it had to be watercolour, I rarely use them, I have never been confident with watercolour. I had to scramble around to find the pen I had in mind and hunt out the watercolour paper. I sat and practiced the colouring and lightly sketched out the design. I hardly faltered, just moving from one step to the next. Towards the end I decided to add the extra brown dots, I didn’t angst over the decision I just did it.

This is such a departure form my regular style, which is a funny sentiment to me as my “style” is so varied and unsettled anyway, but this piece is way out there for me! I’m pleased to say it has had some positive feedback on my facebook fan page already. I gave them a sneak peek this morning, if you want to get the first look at things and a bit more behind the scenes action you are very welcome to come and join me over there too.

Congratulations Selina!

On Friday Little Guy, Curly Guy and I went to the show, we checked out all of the weird and wonderful chickens, ducks and pigeons, stroked the animals in the nursery and gazed upon the prize winning, pumpkins, corn, artwork and photos.

We also spent a few minutes visiting with this special little bear and admiring this clock. This is Posie, Selina’s prize winning bear. Posie got a third prize and Selina’s clock got a first prize. Well done, you clever, clever lady.

I have a soft spot for Posie – because I picked her name, so whoever becomes her new owner better treasure her – or else……. You can find a great selection of Selina’s vintage chenille creations at Handmade Heaven.

 

Pin cushion swap delight!!

I have been soooo spoilt by the very generous very fabulous Anka from Happy Hang Around.

This purple package made it’s was to little old me all the way from Romania.

Every single item in this jam packed gift brought delight and will be treasured.

Anka made the most delightful PURPLE pin cushion just for me, but she didn’t stop there…..

She also made a beautiful sewing box and a cover and lanyard for a new pair of super sharp scissors.

And then she filled that little sewing box with heaps of purple sewing treasures.

I have put the cotton yarn to use already crocheting my first ever basket over the weekend. It was the perfect medicine for me as I sulked around in my sickly fog all weekend.  More about that in another post (the crocheting not the sickness I am over my sooking about being sick now!).

A huge thankyou to Anka, I can’t express how touched I am by your gift. I will think of you through out my life as these treasured items are well used and loved. Thanks also to Kate for organising this swap, it is the first I have ever participated in and I enjoyed it so much.

Two perfect purple pressies….

Lucky, lucky me, look what the post man delivered today!

I bet you can already tell it’s going to be special because it has a Curly Pops tag….

I couldn’t get a photo of it, but inside that fabulous glasses case is the purple polka dot fabric from the lining of my custom made Curly Pops camera bag. Can I just take a moment to mention here that I haven’t used another bag since the day my camera case arrived! It goes with me everywhere and makes me so happy.

And this purple pretty is my third Curly Pops brooch, it’s already my favourite! I think it might have to live on my camera bag so it can go everywhere with me too.
Thankyou, thankyou thankyou Cam. You really have made my day!

Untitled

I sat on the floor and doubted and procrastinated...

  

 I decided to listen and follow the signs I was sent… 

 

I played with some colour schemes...

I mixed some paint and got stuck into it...

And look what I have to show for it!

I’m still riding high on my creative wave.

A title hasn’t revealed itself to me yet, so if the perfect title pops into your head please share!

How does this painting make you feel? What does it make you think of?

Now I'm off to Kirsty's to check out the feast of creative goodness that is on offer on My Creative Space day! Won’t you join me?

Edited to add this piece was titled “Namaste” thanks to a suggestion on my facebook fan page and it is now SOLD.

Wading on a Wordless Watery Wednesday…..

Wordless Wednesday and Watery Wedneday

Day or night?

When do you create? I was pretty firmly a day girl years ago when I had a day off during the week and therefore the house to myself. Since Little Guys arrival I have had to change many of my creative habits. The paintings I have done recently have been created at night after Little Guy was tucked up in bed, with a glass of red and some tunes on, cocooned in my space.

Today Little Guy is off to his Family Day Care home and I plan to paint. The studio is ready the canvas is prepared and I am scared.

I’m scared that it is just not going to flow in the day – there will be no glass or two of red for a start! Hopefully when I have the house to myself and the tunes on the fear will dissipate and the creativity will flow. Wish me luck……

Sculpture 1

I’ve been sharing some of my paintings on a Monday lately, but today I thought I would share a sculpture.

This is “Sculpture 1” it is my first ever stone sculpture. The main body is carved with files, chisels and a hammer out of Hebel and the sphere is cast plaster. I really enjoy sculpting and I miss it. I am looking forward to indulging in it again when we move to the new house and I have a dedicated space.

Sketchy Shadows…

While scribbling in my sketch book of nothing in the afternoon sun, this striking shadow presented itself on a crisp white page.

I was taken by the beauty and the rhythm and had to take a break form sketching to capture my shadow shot for the week.

It’s time to chase shadows around the globe again with the help of Hey Harriet’s Shadow Shot Sunday.  Pop over and take a look around, perhaps even join in. But be warned chasing shadows is addictive and will change the way you look at the world….