CHRISTMAS GARLAND 2011

Created this little watercolour of a garland of winter leaves and berries with some Christmas tree baubles to

WISH YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS

AND HAPPY PAINTING THROUGHOUT THE NEW YEAR

and thank you for your interest and support throughout 2011

RUIN FROM COAST ROAD NORTH NORFOLK

My monthly painting day with Sandra in her lovely studio creating a piece of work from start to finish in one day. Using photographs I had taken back in the summer on the way to Salthouse along the coast road. Using only palette knife and soft palette of acrylic paints on 20" x 16" box canvas, with just a little adjusting when I got home.

Having gone back to painting with a palette knife as I used to with my magic and secret garden series before I moved to Coltishall, I am so pleased that I propose creating a series of North Norfolk scenes in the same style for exhibiting next year. I have plenty of photo references I have taken over the past few years.

MOORED BOAT NORTH NORFOLK COAST

This watercolour was painted a few years back and hung in my permanent show at The Rising Sun Coltishall. As you may remember, it is currently closed for refurbishment and Sally and Richard the landlords have moved on, so all my paintings came out.

Don't think I ever posted this piece on my blog. So, as I have not worked on anything new of late, thought it would be one way of getting a new post.

Off to Sandra's in the morning for our monthly all day painting session together in her lovely comfortable roomy studio. Have plans to create work from photos I took at Salthouse (North Norfolk coast) earlier in the year. Want to tackle it or them in a less literal way although using acrylic on canvas.

COLTISHALL COMMON NEW FOOTBRIDGE

Last summer a new footbridge was built across to Coltishall Common from the parking area outside the riverside pubs. At long last I have got round to creating an acrylic only 7.5" x 9.5" to go with my earlier Coltishall snow scenes and wildlife paintings.

I don't think I ever posted the second of my winter scenes on the common last winter which replaced sales at the local riverside pub permanent exhibition - so here it is!!

So, with the remaining three from the Rising Sun Pub, which is currently closed, I now have four local scenes in this small canvas format of 7.5" x 9.5". I have a plan for them but won't disclose in case I spoil a surprise.

TWO RED ROSES

Have not painted new work of late but did manage to finish the Trevi Fountain I posted recently.

So thought you might like to see what we did at last Thursday's ladies' art session I hold in my home weekly. Two of the ladies coincidentally brought red roses to paint, so I joined them and gave a little advice here and there. When they all left I sprayed the painting with my fine mist spray that came with my Artelier acrylic set, letting the colours run and adding some droplets of red, yellow and blue to strengthen the base, spraying and tipping the paper as I went. Resulted in a more interesting background than the plain white paper.

So thats it for now. I have some work to do for Christmas so hopefully will have a quieter couple of days to get down to it.

MORE ITALIAN ACRYLIC INK WORK

Haven't painted much new work lately but you may remember my Italian practice work last year when Anita and I had planned to visit Italy sketching together. Had to put it off, but will make an effort to organise next year. So I thought I'd show you a couple of small pieces created from a trip to Italy a couple of years ago.

GONDOLA CORNER

This little painting is from my visit to Venice two summers ago when I went to Italy with Clive for our 50th anniversary. Its framed in my art study as a lovely reminder of a lovely time. Thought you'd like to see it. BTW, acrylic ink on Lana Vanguard support. Quite small at 8" x 5" in a 14" x 12" frame.

GRAND CANAL REFLECTIONS

Here's another little acrylic ink on Lana Vanguard done at home from photos taken during the same holiday whilst going down the Grand Canal on one of the ferries. Just 8" x 11" currently only in a two inch double mount awaiting framing.

Both going into Christmas shows at local Norfolk galleries.

PAINTING DAY AT SANDRA'S STUDIO

I have just had a great day painting with my friend Sandra when I drove down to Norwich City to her studio about 10 miles from home. We set ourselves a challenge of creating a piece of acrylic artwork 20" x 16" in one day.

I took a sketch of the Trevi Fountain plus a photograph to work from. The sketch was the important thing as I had used washes of gouache blocks of colour and I wanted to repeat this idea. The photograph was to give me more detail where I needed it for the statues and windows.

Here I am working on the canvas. My arm had begun to ache so Sandra quickly whipped up a home made marl stick from a piece of dowling and a taped wrapped round piece of cotton to give my arm support.

Here is an image of the painting by 4.30 when I packed up to get home before the city traffic built up. We'd had breaks for tea and cake mid morning, soup and rolls and fruit for lunch and another cuppa in the afternoon when Sandra's husband Malcolm joined us. So all in all delighted how far I had got. Needless to say, lots to do to finish it off.

Here we are working in the studio together, back to back because being left handed I needed to face the other way to have my paints etc to hand!!

It was a real fun day and so good to create a full piece of work with another artist with lots of interaction and 'what do you think of this?' every so often or other such enquiries. Sandra created a wrought iron gate from her sketch book on a trickled, blended background of lovely soft aquas, lavenders and greys all over crumpled tissue to give texture. We had lots of chats, laughs and music - a fun day. Plan to make it a monthly event (except Jan and Feb when Sandra is going to New Zealand - that's right 'sketching'. !

Hope the images above enlarge with a click.

CROMER TOWN AND FISHING BOATS

I was up in Cromer on the Norfolk north coast last week, firstly invigilating at the COAST Festival and then spending time at my friend Anne's home where I slept overnight so we could visit more of the COAST events in Sheringham the next morning, finishing with a visit to Felbrigg Hall to see the NOVA sculpture trail.

Before going on to Anne's I had a walk round Cromer in the sunshine (but very breezy) capturing lots of ideas for small works for a Christmas exhibition at The Garden House Gallery in Cromer .

Firstly, I created this pen sketch with my Mitsubishi Uni pens from 0.4 right up to a brush ............

... and from this and some photos I have now created this watercolour for the Christmas exhibition. I drew in the detail with my Lamy pen and Lexington Grey waterproof Noodlers ink so that the linework was not intrusive once I had added the colour washes with my Daniel Smith watercolours.

DAY AT THE RACES

Went to Fakenham races last Friday with my art friend Sandra to not only have fun betting but to do a bit of sketching. Had a great start with a 7-1 winner in the first race! - nothing after that.

When we arrived the bookies were setting up and gave us a chance to sketch them before the crowds arrived.

It was interesting that a young lady was setting up and taking the bets during the afternoon at this first bookie stand in the long line.

After gorgeous soup chowders (Sandra had smoked haddock and I had a crab and lobster one) with chunks soft bread we spent some time near the paddock watching the horses parade and later went across the course to see a race level to the winning post from the other side. Here is Sandra sketching the back drop to a sketch she planned to do of the horses thundering past us at the end of the next race!! Braver than me! So a sketch of a sketcher sketching!!!!

A wonderful afternoon in continuous sunshine and a big thank you to Sandra for treating me into the members enclosure so we could see the races from the best (and less crowded) stand. Unfortunately we were also in line with the first fence when my second race horse fell!

WHITE ORCHID ACRYLIC DEMO

Went across to the western extremity of Norfolk nearly into Cambridgeshire last week to do an acrylic demo for an art group. I took my favourite pot and white orchids, but the rest of the painting is made up including the lace cloth, window, shadows and turning the back wall into a corner to create two tones to give variety. All these things were created as I went along with no preconceived ideas.

Showed them so many different techniques, I never finished the painting completely that evening and due to insufficient drying time was unable to do the final glazes and subtle changes in tone and composition. However a quiet weekend enabled me to complete it.... oh! yes including changing the table from straight to circular, creating a corner to the room, softening the shadows ... all as follows:

Here are some close ups so you can see the different techniques I showed the art group members.

Textured pot: I created the pot shape with palette knife and modelling paste and whilst wet pressed on confetti/sequin waste strip of holes. When dry (used a hair dryer which they found quite amusing) I applied normal acrylic paints in layers of glaze thinned down with flow enhancer to ensure the pattern showed through:

I created the lace with white and Turner's yellow acrylic paint and painted darker holes in lace pattern, then added three layers of different coloured glaze to create the soft shadow.

Finally, here is a close up of one of the orchids.

Their chairlady rounded up the evening by saying it was very rare to have acrylic demonstrated in 2 hours and all they had learned would give them encouragement to tackle this medium. The buzz words to go home with were 'be more adventurous' and 'love colour - any colour not necessarily what was in front of them' .... or something like that!

SUNFLOWERS WITH SMOKEY BACKGROUND

Finished this sunflower mixed media painting on Lana Vanguard support a few weeks ago and entered in local Rotary Antique Fair and Art Exhibition and pleased to say sold it together with the white gladiola painting I posted recently. Nice surprise selling a pair of floral pieces to one buyer.

I wanted to soften the background so added some white acrylic ink just tinted with a little light blue and rubbed with a soft cloth until I could see the floral images through - thus creating this rather smokey background.

WET ON WET GERANIUMS

Another sunny afternoon in the garden and I could not resist painting the geraniums again in another way - this time wet on wet watercolour on my Lana Vanguard shiny surface.

Decided to add detail of the flowers with fineliner red pen to contrast with the loose wet washes.

PAINTING IN THE GARDEN IN INDIAN SUMMER

Although turned into October yesterday, we are having such lovely weather I have been painting in the garden, still full of colour and blooms.

GERANIUMS IN A POT

Here is the pot of colourful geraniums in the corner of my garden near the little garden house, showing the Japanese anemone in the background in the raised flower bed and part of the lavender by the side of the paving. Sketched in the sunshine in the garden the other day with Helen.

...... and then I painted it close up again as a full watercolour in the garden yesterday.

PENSTEMON IN GARDEN
Here is a quick study of a penstemon in my garden sketchbook. Although tall and lanky spikes the blooms are so delicate.

Plan to put colour to my pen sketch of the full right hand flower bed showing the penstemon, the trunk of the chopped tree which allowed me to plant more flowers there this year, the peony tree, dahlia, californian poppies, phlox, orange large poppy heads, petunias and an acer. Too big to scan, so I'll photo it after adding the colour and post it then.

PAPPA DRAGON OVER THE SEA

At last I have completed pappa dragon for my trio for the DRAGONS AND PEARLS event in Sherringham. This time over the sea with castles in the background. .. and instead of breathing out flames he has pearls coming out of his mouth and floating away.

Here are some close ups of the various parts from wings, legs, tail, castles and pearls providing more detail, texture and colour:

Here is pappa's head with the pearls breathing out of his mouth instead of flames. I think I might add two horns before calling it a day and completing my trio family of dragons. Its been lots of fun.

JAPANESE VASE ELY PALACE

A few years back Anita and I were invited to paint in Ely Palace. Although we spent the day working in the grounds, inside I was attracted to two large vases on corner windowsills and took a number of photos. Here is the acrylic of the JAPANESE VASE as finally completed - my daughter having bagged the CHINESE ONE full of deep purples. It has only just been adjusted as a result of a comment by my husband who said the deep burnt orange flowers I originally created dominated the vase - then I realised why I was not satisfied with it - so voila here it is with the toned down blooms ready for submission to the Art Circle autumn show in the Forum Norwich.

MUMMY DRAGON WITH PEARLS

This is the second in the family trio of dragons for the Dragons and Pearls Event in October. Although I consider her finished, I might add some more colour (greens probably ) to the wings. What's your opinion?

Here are two images of the work in progress.

As you can see from the top finished work, I adjusted her after this as the belly and back portions needed to run into each other more smoothly... and I darkened the area behind the large pearl in her hand to help make it more prominent, turning it into a rock for her right arm to rest on.

Now onto number three - daddy, which I think I will do all in shades of blue and make him strong, fiery and handsome! Not sure about the background having already used a tree for baby and mountains for mummy.

BABY DRAGON

This has been great fun and part of a trio. A project entitled DRAGONS AND PEARLS to be part of the Sherringham and Cromer festival in October .... and here is a close up of an earlier stage of the baby dragon.

This is my first piece of a trio in acrylic ink on canvases 30" x 12" . Don't know why I tackled the baby dragon emerging from his egg high in a blossom tree first but I am offering him to the Turning Point Healing Centre to raffle to raise funds.

Following is the sketch onto the canvas using Stabilo 45 fine liner soluble pen. Works well as you can adjust the lines with a little water.

I plan to do his mum as a very demure feminine lady dragon adorned with pearls ........ as yet dad is only a twinkle in my minds eye looking very handsome and created in shades of blues. Here are some ideas in graphite.

WHITE GLADIOLA IN PASTEL

Penny brought these lovely gladiola to one of our recent ladies group meetings, as we had planned to practice working with white flowers together. As you can see above, I demonstrated that white flowers are anything but WHITE!!

Here is an earlier stage before adding warm tones to the background, which made it come alive.

I enjoyed working in pastel again after so long.

FRONT GARDEN AND GATE

Seem to have had nothing but rain this August, so sat in the front sun room doorway and sketched our garden gate leading out to the lane. Afraid the lamp on the higher parking area is a bit out of proportion - but oh so useful as you park up in the dark when it comes on automatically.

Also sketched the hanging basket on the garage wall, alongside the gate.

Both in my columbine second garden sketchbook of course, making a double spread.

NORTH WALSHAM NEW ART CENTRE STORYBOARD

This is the completed canvas 14" x 40" high for the Opening of the new Art Centre constructed alongside the North Walsham High School. Its three paintings were created in acrylic ink on Lana Vanguard adhered to the canvas. An artist friend likened it unto a story board as I was inspired by the variety of students' work in the art department and, of course, the amazing architecture of the new art centre. All in all, great fun to do.

Here is a close up of the third acrylic ink collection mainly inspired by student's work in the art department. I could not resist the cat/dog or whatever animal it is created for a ghouls and ghosties project their tutor gave them and , of course, we always need a big butler sink with all that paint and dirty brushes about .

NORTH WALSHAM NEW ART CENTRE

A small town 7 miles from my home recently received a grant to build a new prestigious art centre available to students and the community. The local NOVA group of artists were invited to produce work for the opening. Along with other members I visited the construction and art department of the school to get inspired to create work for submission. I am producing one canvas 40" long with three images painted with acrylic inks onto my favourite Lana Vanguard support, stuck to the canvas with gesso.

The top image is of the construction showing part of the school behind. The added school logo is one I noticed in the art department.

This is the second image create by a visit into the school art department. The faces along the top were inspired by those made by the students with wire. The hard hats appear because we took them off and placed them on a blue table top after our visit to the construction.

I have ideas for the third image based on seeing the butlers sink and a big black cat piece of artwork in the art department and probably a row of what seemed like Russian dolls, but I think were painted ceramic bottles created by the students. I'm pleased with how its going, but have ideas about outlining each block image with thick black marker pen and bringing out some of the objects by outlining in pen. Nor sure yet.

TWO BOAT PAINTINGS IN KINGS LYNN

The West Norfolk Artists show hung at St Nics Chapel during the Kings Lynn Festival is over and I happily went along on the last day to meet the gentleman who purchased my two boat paintings.

Here is an image of a section of the exhibition showing my fishing nets painting top left and the Kings Lynn Fishing Boats down the aisle hung near the font.

Here are close ups of both works, which I produced in oils after originally creating them in acrylic.

Sorry, this photo was taken at the exhibition after the hanging and as it was at the top of the board, the perspective makes it look awkward, but the cabins and masts were at all angles due to the rocking of the boats tied together at the quayside - 5 boats in all!!