Whimsical watercolour birdies….

Check out these little cuties…

Love Birds

Great Expectations

I’m contemplating a series…And having them printed… Not just birds, but all this style...Do you think there is a place for them on Etsy?

Come and join in the fun…..

Look what I signed up for this afternoon. Go on, have a look, then join me – what a great, exciting, huge project to be part of!!

Image from the Sketch Book Project web site

http://www.arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

Fresh art materials…

So much potential… So much joy…

The Red Dress

A girl’s night out was fast approaching and of course the cupboard was bare. The thought of hitting the shops searching for a winter dress filled me with dread…..
Then I remembered a couple of meters of red corduroy that I had picked up from the op shop for $2. The plan had been to make the little guy some pants from it, but then when I realised how much fabric was there, I decided I could make a dress.  That was months ago and I hadn’t been brave enough to start. With a time limit hanging over my head I just set to it.

Taa-Daa! One slightly modified pillow case dress, perfect for over a long sleeve shirt with boots and leggings! I’m proud as punch. The girls night was a hit and I don’t even have a hangover – success all round.

Shadowy Dance Partner….

This is my adorable Little Guy dancing with his shadow on a stage he appropriated on a recent outing.

For more shadowy goodness pop over to visit Tracy at Hey Harriet.

Isn’t it funny…

How your state of mind can really affect what you see when you look at something?

I painted this little pair of watercolours a few weeks back with Anne from Frayed at the Edge in mind. She had liked Pink and Pretty I & II, but couldn’t make them hers as they were a commission.
I wanted to see if I could paint something in the same range for her, that she would like.  I was excited about the design, but when I finished them I really didn’t like them at all, so I scanned them, but never sent a copy to Anne.

This week I sat down and painted this little pair and I was really happy with them. When I scanned them I came across the first pair and now with fresh eyes I really liked them too! I emailed images of both pairs to Anne and she likes both and can’t decide which she likes best!

Can you help us choose which pair should make there way half way across the globe to the UK to make their home in Anne’s studio?

Snug and warm…

My freestyle crocheting continues, at the moment I am on a beanie kick! I delivered this little range to Handmade Heaven yesterday….

I am just making them up as I go along, I will learn to read a pattern one day (a friend has lent me a book), but for now there are too many projects just flowing and working.

Liesa bought this one before I could even put it on the shelf.

And doesn’t she look adorable in it!

I had to keep this one for myself (purple of course!).

And now for a big ohh-ahh moment – this is the first beanie I made.  A gift for a little friend's naming day. Isn’t that just the sweetest face?

I hope you are snug and warm wherever you are, if your heads feeling a bit cold I could always whip you up a beanie!!!

Head on over to Kirsty’s for more creative spaces, something tells me there will be other crocheting goodness to check out – along with all manner of things creative form across the globe.

Delivery Day

I’ve had a busy morning making deliveries to Finicky Furniture and Handmade Heaven.

"Lone Tree Hill"

oil on canvas

102 x 51

2010

$250

These three paintings now adorn the walls at Finicky Furniture along with a selection I delivered a couple of months ago.

"Freedom"

oil on canvas

101 x 76

2010

$200

 

I really appreciate Wayne letting me display my paintings amongst his beautiful handmade furniture and I can’t wait to him to make some custom designed furniture for our new house later this year.

“Flight”

oil on canvas

100 x 100cm

2010

$300

More on the delivery to Handmade Heaven tomorrow, you will never guess what I am stocking in there now……

Colours that make my heart skip

Phthalo blue and naples yellow… there is just something about this combination that draws me back to paint with them again and again

The winner is……

I'm not very good at this giveaway business. First I didn’t announce a draw date and then when I remembered to pick a date I didn’t stick to it! But at long last I have drawn a winner. I decided the first star to fall in the middle of the wash cloth (that is part of the prize) would be the winner.

And I couldn’t have picked a nicer blogger for my little 99 posts prize to go to. Congratulations Cathie from m.e.

Thankyou once again, to everyone who drops by, for your support and friendship on this blogging journey. I couldn’t have done it without you; if I did I would really seem quite crazy just talking away to myself here!

Although I am not very good at it this giveaway business, it is so much fun.  I think I shall have another one soon, perhaps for my 99th follower.

Early Morning Shadow….

Not the fresh, beautiful, early morning shadow you might expect…. Our friend’s band played last weekend and I captured this shadow on the wall of the pub in the wee hours. Luckily after many years of taking their gig photos I can hold the camera still after a few drinks!!

This weekend is a lot quieter around these parts; I hope you are enjoying a peaceful, rejuvenating weekend. I’m off to catch up with the other shadow chasers, pop over to Tracey’s with me for a bit of shadow gazing.

Do you know why?

The question was raised for me in a TED lecture recently and my head has been spinning trying to figure it out ever since. I just couldn’t articulate what was in my heart. I kept coming back to things like, I love to paint, I have to paint, it’s my passion, but these statements seemed lame and shallow and overused. I knew what I felt was more, but how to put words to it? When Tuesday’s painting session was a flop the light bulb went off, I realised what I was craving, what was missing from this unsuccessful experience.

 Pallete

oil on canvas

35.5 x 35.5 cm

1998

(Sharing another really old painting of mine here, just to put a picture that is sort of appropriate in the post!!)

Why do I paint?

I paint because: when it all goes right it is such a rush, just like a drug, it leaves me elated and energised.

I paint because; this is the arena where I feel accomplishment and pride in my skills in my creativity.

I paint because; my blood surges with adrenalin as I realise it’s all coming together, I know well before the last brush stroke if I am on a winner.

I paint because; my chest swells when I glimpse a new and fabulous painting drying on my easel. To think I have created this beauty to be left in the world long after I am gone is so exciting and awe inspiring.

And although these statements are about painting, it really is about why I create. When I am really into creating something it dosn't matter if it is a painting, sculpture or piece of jewellery the feelings of accomplishment and elation are the same.

I’m not sure I’m really at the core of it yet. But I feel I am on my way to being able to articulate and share why it is that I am so passionate about following my creative visions. Do you feel similarly? Are you able to articulate what drives you to spend your time and money putting your heart and soul into creating something that never existed before?

Inspiration

I’ve been pondering inspiration and where it comes from, I’ve been a bit funny about sharing these thoughts in case it led to any of you thinking I was a nutter (or perhaps just nuttier than you thought!).

I feel like I am inspired on different levels, sometimes it will be a colour scheme in nature, a texture or line that catches my eye and leads me off on a path to create something. These pieces are often good, but never my best work. They flow quite easily and are appealing and engaging, but something is missing.

Then there are pieces that I want to paint, a particular landscape or other image, generally from one of my experiences/photos. These paintings can be hard work and stretch out to months of meticulous work and as one gallery dealer once said to me. “What makes them more than a pretty photograph?” They are paintings, some of them are beautiful, but they don’t speak to me.

Then there is what I am starting to think of as “true inspiration”, this has only happened for me a few times. After the first time it was years before it happened again and I started to believe it was a one off occurrence. While sitting quietly trusting that inspiration would come, the idea arrived in my head almost fully formed. The painting was just about effortless, I never wondered what to do next and it just flowed. Both the experience and the end result filled me with joy. This piece “Untitled I” is the first piece created with the assistance “true inspiration”.

"Untitled I"

oil on canvas

101 x 76cm

1999

not for sale

I know this true inspiration is what I should be aiming for, I feel like both Adrift and Namaste have come from that place lately and they are making everything I have created since feel really flat. So I am going to have to trust and be quiet and wait. Just because I have time to paint doesn’t mean inspiration is going to come calling. I plan to be ready with the skills and materials on hand when it calls……..

That’s it for My Creative Space this week, lots of pondering, but nothing new and exciting to share. I have finished crocheting the new wash cloth that is part of my giveaway. I realised I didn’t put a draw date on it, so how about tomorrow? So if you haven’t put your name in the hat you still have a moment to pop over and do it!

I’m off to check out other creative spaces, to see what the productive creative folk have been up to while I have been trashing beautiful canvas's and pondering! More pondering on “Why?” soon….

Learning and relearning…

Yesterday’s painting session was disappointing, but the day wasn’t a complete loss. I learnt some lessons – big things and little things. The little things are mostly things I already knew, but they came around and smacked me in the head because I was ignoring them!

• Don’t skimp on the materials – make sure I have enough of the colours/mediums I plan to use and mix more than enough colour at the start, so I am not stopping and starting trying to match colours.

• Turn off facebook/twitter before I enter the studio. I am loving social media for feeling connected and sharing what I am up to in real time, but I need to focus (that goes for the little ding on outlook too – the email will still be there when I am finished!)

• As much as I love having a great playlist on the good stereo, the dodgy little radio in the studio keeps me focused and in the space

• I really like working with transparent colours and just don’t go for white mixed into colours

So these are the little things, I may need to print this list for my notice board so I don’t keep forgetting things I have already learnt! Stay tuned for some big ponderings….

Disappointment…

Today was a painting day, I was so excited to have the time, but not terribly inspired. I jumped in and started painting anyway, sometimes that works for me, not today…..

I’ve been pondering as the painting turned sour and especially since I decided to scrap today’s work. I have learnt and reiterated some good lessons. There is always a bright side!

I think I shall share some of my pondering over the next few days.

Just one minute for a very special lady…..

Image stolen from the Chunkychooky blog –hope you don’t mind Cath!!!!

One of my favourite bloggy people is a finalist in the Feeling Stitchy Rainbow of Colours contest. I’d love it if you could pop over and vote, it really only takes one minute. Of course you can vote for whoever you like best……but I must admit with out any bias at all Cath’s red entry is sensational. And she did go above and beyond the call of duty to create this beauty, giving her self an injury by obsessively stitching into the wee hours!

Repetitive Shadows

I love the rhythm in the shadows from the bollards and the colour in the lens flare. I know it wouldn’t normally be considered a very photogenic subject, but I thought it would be appreciated by my fellow shadow chasers!

Pssst… did you hear I am celebrating a blogging milestone with a giveaway? I love you to pop over and throw your name in the hat.

Once you have your name in the draw, why not make a cuppa and check out some more shadows? There are heaps on offer at Tracey’s today.

Waiting….

My creative space is waiting for inspiration to strike…….

I’m all ready to go! This canvas is so perfect, the shape is just so appealing to me, I really want to do it justice and paint something great on it – no pressure!

The second granny shrug isn’t taking shape as fast as the first, perhaps because I have the first one to wear so I am not so obsessed??

Did you hear on the grape vine today is my 100th post? I decided to do a giveaway to celebrate the 99th so feel free to pop over and put your name in the hat.

Creativity abounds over at Kirsty’s. I’m off to see if inspiration strikes me as browse around the creative spaces. Perhaps someone has a nice colour scheme on a quilt or a beautiful glaze on their ceramics that will take my eye and bring a painting to life?

99....GIVEAWAY TIME!

That’s right folk’s 99 posts here at Chasing Purple Dreams and as 9 is my number I have chosen to celebrate now rather than at the traditional 100 post mark.

I want to celebrate the joy that you have brought into my life by visiting this little blog. Some of you have read all 99 posts – thankyou and well done! Some of you may be popping in for the very first time – welcome, I hope you decide to stick around. All of you make my heart sing when you leave me a comment or drop by.

When I started this bogging adventure I could never have guessed how much I would enjoy it or get out of it. I have made friendships that I value so much and learnt things I never imagined. It really is quite a bizarre concept that strangers from all around the globe would gather here to create a community and support little old me, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.

I wish I could give each of you a present for putting up with my awkward writing and saying sweet things about my paintings (even the not so crash hot ones!). But for now I am just going to spoil one of you, with a range of things that have been part of the Chasing Purple Dreams history. So some lucky dream chaser will receive a package from me that will include…….

A pair of water colours…

A “Two Hearts” pendant…

A crochet dish cloth (not this one I have already used it, I shall make one just for you!)…

And some other random goodies that take my fancy…

I don’t want to make you jump through hoops for this one, so just leave me a comment and your name is in the draw.
If however you are feeling really keen to win you can click the “like” button over at facebook and join the dream chasers here by clicking the follow button and I shall give you another couple of chances!!

For those of you who already do follow along, thankyou, you already have a couple of extra entries with your names on them!

I wonder if this will prompt a few lurkers out of the background, you know who you are….. now is the time to make your voice heard!

Celestial Spheres

I think I have been putting a bit of pressure on my painting lately and nothing has been turning out quite right. So I sat down with a plan to play with no expectations. This is the result, “a strange little painting” as I described it to Curly Guy!
It was partly inspired by a design on a tissue box (of all the crazy places to get inspiration from!) and now that it is completed I can also see a bit of influence may have subconsciously come from the “Voyage to the Planets” documentaries we have been watching.

Celestial Spheres

Watercolour on paper

21 x 21cm

2010

$30

I’ve been changing things around here at Chasing Purple Dreams (did you notice the pages tabs at the top and the cleaner side bar??). While I was poking around I noticed this post will be number 98, so I am fast approaching the 100 post mark, traditionally an event celebrated in blog land with a give away. But my favourite number is 9 and I am particularly  partial to 99 so perhaps the celebration will start sooner than you think………..Stay tuned

S is for stars, swirls, shadows and Sunday.

Won’t you join me for a coffee and some shadows on this fine Shadow Shot Sunday?

I was thrilled to see the reflection of the swirls and stars on my coffee mug breaking up this shadow… oh the small things that bring delight to a shadow chasers day!

To check up what the rest of the shadow chasers have captured this week head on over to Tracy’s.

I hope you are having a fabulous weekend.

Sharing a little more of me….

I feel so comfy in this shirt, in this space.

Spending time creating feeds my soul.  I need it and I am so grateful to have a life that grants me the time and resources to indulge.

I’m feeling quite vulnerable sharing this photo of me, but I am determined to face some of my fears and share more of myself.

Is it just me?

“Flight”

oil on canvas

100 x 100cm

2010

$300

I’m not quite feeling it with my paintings this week. I don’t know if is because this one and a couple of watercolours I have painted haven’t turned out quite how I pictured them, or if it is because they are just not quite hitting the mark.

I suppose I have been a bit spoiled lately, everything I have painted has matched or exceeded my expectations and I have been instantly thrilled. Oh well, I shall push on, I know it won’t always feel like this and the next piece could be a masterpiece!

I hope your expectations have been exceeded in your creative space this week. I shall put on a cuppa and pop by for a look….

Painting day!!

Time to pull on the tatty old painting shirt that I love so much and hit the studio…..