Reinvention

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

George Bernard Shaw

Reinvention
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Smile

Peace begins with a smile.

 Mother Teresa

Smile
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Belief

“To be an artist is to believe in life.” ~ Henry Moore

Belief
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Alstroemeria II

The truth of the matter is that the people who succeed in the arts most often are the people who get up again after getting knocked down. Persistence is critical.

Scott Turow.

Alstroemeria II
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Alstroemeria

It has been super hot these last couple of weeks, I can't tell you how much I am craving the rain though. 

Alstroemeria
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"
 

Change

Each bud opens into a world that is rapidly changing.
 Its impossible to imagine how violence can be an answer to any problem and once that happens it sends ripples throughout the lives of many. I know that there are more good people than bad in this world, in that I find the courage to look to a better future.

Change
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Peace

I would like to dedicate this painting to all the people in Nice.

Peace
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Attention Seekers

I'm back on track guys, really enjoyed painting this, some real and some my own interpretation, hope to loosen up more as I go along.

Attention Seekers
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Attention

That's the motivation of an artist - to seek attention of some kind.

 James Taylor

Attention
oil on box canvas
20cmx 20cm

This quote is so true of how I feel, its nice when it does happen, especially when it comes as a surprise. I was contacted by a fashion company last week, they want to collaborate with me to use my paintings as prints on their clothes, scarves and accessories. As I am already committed to working with someone else I won't be taking up the offer, but its flattering none the less.

I've been absent these last ten days which were meant to be holidays from work and therefore painting days, but as it so often happens plans don't work out, we all ended up with flu. Today I felt well enough to pick up my brushes again.

Delight

How can one help shivering with delight when one's hot fingers close around the stem of a live flower, cool from the shade and stiff with newborn vigor!

 ~Colette

Delight
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Experiment

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sweet Freesias

Really the sweetest smelling flowers you could hope to find. I tried to be as impressionistic as I could and feel like going more abstract so watch this space. :  )

Sweet Freesias
oil on oil paper
10" x 8"

Tea and Roses

I find the less I fuss over any subject the better I feel about the finished painting.

Tea and Roses
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Letting Go

I have found that the more I go into a subject the more I can let go. An artist, I think a Royal Academician ( I can't remember his name) once said that in order to paint freely first you have to  learn to paint the traditional way. This one is experimental, not sure if it works, but I had fun nevertheless.

Letting Go
oil on oil paper
8"x 11"

Peonies

These peonies started on a box canvas, I spent  much of yesterday trying to make it work. In shear frustration I changed to oil paper and within two hours I painted this. I don't know what it is about the texture of oil paper but I love it.

 A dear friend told me about an artist that sticks paintings done on paper onto a box canvas. I think that's such a great idea, especially if you paint the edges of the canvas in a contrasting colour or in black, which will frame it beautifully. Once this is dry I'm going to try that and post the result.

Peonies
oil on oil paper
10"x 8"

Energy

Energy and persistence conquer all things.

 Benjamin Franklin

Energy
oil on wrapped canvas
7"x 5"

Focus

Focused, hard work is the real key to success. Keep your eyes on the goal, and just keep taking the next step towards completing it. If you aren't sure which way to do something, do it both ways and see which works better.

 John Carmack



Focus
oil on wrapped canvas
7"x 5"

The Next Cow

I don't like looking back. I'm always constantly looking forward. I'm not the one to sort of sit and cry over spilt milk. I'm too busy looking for the next cow.

 Gordon Ramsay

Meet Daisy's Friend

Each has its own character and I'm enjoying exploring their features and the essence of cow.

Meet Daisy's Friend
oil on wrapped canvas
7"x 5"

Meet Daisy

My first ever close up cow painting. This reminds me of an exhibition I went to with a friend, I won't say which exhibition. After we'd seen about half way through the paintings on display, my friend had had enough of the large amount of cow and hare paintings, in fact she said " if I see another cow or hare I will be sick" !!! She made me laugh, but I always enjoy looking at paintings, doesn't matter what the subject is, what fascinates me is how they are painted.

Meet Daisy
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

Changes

Yesterdays painting with some changes in the background.

More Baa's

More Baa's

It doesn't matter what subject I paint, I always enjoy working my way around each subject. I do sometimes head more towards realism, but my aim is always to be loose and keep it fresh. I hope I have managed it in this painting. :  )

More Baa's
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

Ewe and Lamb

All that a child needs is great love.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind

Ewe and Lamb
oil on wrapped canvas
5"x 7"

Chicken Among the Wildflowers

" Art should be something that liberates your soul"

Keith Haring.

Chicken among the wildflowers
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

Two Lambs

These lambs begged to be painted and really after painting this I don't feel I can eat lamb again. I never have been happy eating any kind of meat, but I find as I get older its more and more difficult to justify.

Two Lambs
oil on wrapped canvas
5"x 7"

Wrapped Up

This sheep looks overdressed in the present weather, its beautifully sunny today.

Wrapped Up
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

Goose

Thinking of a title is sometimes harder than actually painting, would anyone agree with me??

Goose
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

Visualize

Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build. Robert Collier

Visualize
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

Sketches

I find sketching especially relaxing and try to do as much as possible, here are a couple I did before I did the paintings.

Relaxing Sunday

This is what I've been doing on my relaxing Sunday.

Relaxing Sunday
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

You Can Count on Me

Sheep are the such a lovely part of the countryside, quietly grazing, unassuming.

You Can Count on Me
oil on wrapped canvas
15cm x 15cm

The Journey

There's no destination. The journey is all that there is, and it can be very, very joyful.

 Srikumar Rao

The Journey
oil on wrapped canvas
15cmx 15cm

Wimpole Hall Library

Hi everyone, I hope you are all well and painting away or enjoying life in general. Something I vowed to do this year was paint regularly and am finding myself making excuses. I'm sure there are many who find that life gets in the way and cannot find the time or the energy to paint or sketch everyday. Everyday that I don't paint I feel so bad about it, even if I have a perfectly good reason not to. I know that I have been through some dire times in the last six years and still kept painting.
So, now its time to put those excuses away and enjoy what my heart craves for everyday.

This is a new subject for me, one I loved doing and found fairly easy, surprisingly .

Wimpole Hall Library
oil on oil paper

Anemone Heaven

I so love these flowers!! I paid a pound per stem for these at St. Pancras station, but worth every penny.

Anemone Heaven
watercolours  

Ebb and Flow

There have been times in the last six years of  painting when I have stopped painting for, maybe a few days or even weeks. I've often written to a good friend in frustration trying to work out why sometimes I just can't paint. She has explained it very well, I think, she reckons that creativity isn't constant, it ebbs and flows. To realise this does help enormously, it takes away the frustration and brings back a sense of calm. Knowing that in a few days I will be up and running again. Last night I was up and painting again after a week, it felt good.

Ebb and Flow
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Sunny Day

My son bought me these flowers so all plans to paint anything else stopped and what else would I want to paint on such a beautiful sunny day.

Sunny Day
oil on oil paper

Alstroemeria in a Jug

These flowers have staying power, I've had these for two weeks and they still look good.

Alstroemeria in a jug
oil on oil paper
 

Purple Prince

This is a tribute to Prince, its a tragedy to lose such a brilliant artist.

Purple Prince
oil on oil paper

Keep on Dreaming

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe.

Gail Devers

Keep on Dreaming
oil on oil paper

No art is less spontaneous than mine. What I do is the result of reflection and the study of the great masters.

 Edgar Degas

This quote is one that I aspire to, I want to reflect more on how my work is progressing and also to learn from the great artists who got it right in their own unique ways.

Reflection
oil on oil paper

Spring Light

Spring Light
oil on oil paper

 

 

All seasons have their beauty, but the light in spring is something special, as if to say awaken from winters slumber.


A Quick Sketch

This is my ideal of how I like to work, fast and loose, it makes me very happy to paint like this.

A Quick Sketch
watercolour and pen

Spring Gift

Another photo that sent me running to my painting table. :  )

Spring Gift
oil on oil paper
8"x 10"

Inspiration

A friend sent me some beautiful flower photos, I think she knew I needed some inspiration.

Inspiration
oils
10"x 8"

Urban Sketch of Local Park

I've been watching the urban sketchers with interest over the last few years and have wanted to join. Finally I've begun and it feels good to be out, catching sight of signs of spring everywhere and the deliciously cool weather we've been having.

Local Park sketch in watercolour and pen.

A Change is as Good as a Rest

After a few weeks of watercolours I was missing painting in oils, it feels good to use a medium that has such a rich texture and can be scraped off if it doesn't work. This one, however, was a walk in the park, something that doesn't happen too often.

 

 

A change is as good as a rest
oils

 

 

Revival

The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.

 Harriet Ann Jacobs



Revival
watercolours

Spring

Spring is the time of plans and projects.”

Leo Tolstoy.