Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Checking in

Just checking in really, these are busy times with family visiting, a weekend away and the twins turning 9!!!

Here is a painting I've been sitting on! I finished it a month or so ago and I was really pleased with it. It was one of those paintings that happened really easily, I think all the slaving over the other ones seems to be preparation for these ones that just paint themselves. So now I've sat with it for a while and I still like it I'm ready to share. Hoping to get down to some more painting soon, now that the kids are back at school.

I hope things are going well for you and the sun is shining!!!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

sketchbook snippets



I wonder if you have been taking part in the sketchbook challenge? Or checked out their blog/website...I especially enjoy reading the artist interviews. There are some very tempting monthly prizes!!! and all you have to do is post a drawing to the sketchbook challenge flickr group each month....Having said all this, I haven't managed to enter anything for May or June and it's nearly halfway through July and still nothing posted...sometimes the weeks just get away. BUT I have been drawing, and maybe this is the best prize, to be using my sketchbook again for the fun of it, to explore and play, some pages are awful and just get painted over, some are too private to share, some are a few scrappy lines that only mean something to me! Here are a couple of samples.


Just a little aside about sunflowers! I planted some sunflower seeds because of Van Gogh, they did grow and finally flowered over the last couple of weeks. I don't know if it's the kind of seed or if it's my poor soil, but they are a tiny stunted variety, knee high not shoulder high, and the flowers are very shortlived, they barely last a week before they start to shrivel and go brown - a bit disappointing. I'd love to hear if you've had more success!


Saturday, July 2, 2011

work stress lino

Dear reader I've been neglecting you... and lots of other things in my life.

The last 2 months have been hectic because a workmate has been on leave and a lot of her responsibilities ended up on my plate, it's been incredibly busy and by the end of it quite stressful. I've been feeling like someone swimming through an underwater cave, holding my breath, knowing I'll get there if I just stay calm and keep swimming.


Now I'm back out in the air and the light I'd expected to feel relieved and happy but instead I'm exhausted and out of sorts. It's been hard to settle down to painting, but I have started a lino cut based on this gouache drawing. Chiselling a lino is very relaxing for me.

Hopefully next time I'm here things will be back on a more even keel.
best wishes to blogworld!