“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ....Oscar Wilde

Friday 12 February 2016

Paint Party Friday... Artichoke

The spring bug had seriously bitten me earlier in the week, so I thought for this week's Paint Party Friday's link with Eva and Kristin I would paint something springy.
Setting myself up on the kitchen table once more I got to work.
I thought I'd create a new 'My Week on a Page', but then it seemed rather ridiculous with what was happening outside this morning!
Take a look...
Let me tell you icy rain is no joke!

I had wanted to paint a crow. 
Mainly, because we have two resident crows that are spending 90% of their time in our garden. 
Most of that time unfortunately is spent with them attacking the garden mirror. 
Remember Muffin had a set to with her own reflection last year, thinking her reflection was another trespassing dog... well now it's the turn of the crows!
Obviously the crows must think the same... a rival that has to be dealt with before the spring shenanigans... or they want to win over the new bird on the block!

But because the weather was so awful I had a change of plan... I decided to paint an artichoke that I'd picked a few days ago from the garden. 
When the weather had been good earlier in the week, I'd spent a few hours tidying up and couldn't resist picking it.
I struggled, but not as you might think... with mixing paint or the composition of this piece, but because I'd had a great chunk of cast iron land on my hand this morning, whilst I was cleaning the grill on the wood burner!
Oh boy did I let out a yell... and a few colourful expletives too.
So here's the artichoke partly done... I wanted to show the wip without any of the black ink outlines.
It seems that I'm just not able finish a painting without using my trusty micron/ uni-ball ink pen.
I'm not particularly liking the angle and wish that I'd have drawn it more from the side view, but at least I managed to get something onto the paper.
That's it folks... I'm off to put an ice pack on my hand and drink a nice glass of red (with my non dominant hand) for medicinal purposes, of course.

Here's the link for anyone to join in with the Paint Party Friday if you'd like to see more artists work.
Paint Party Friday
I'm also linking up with Alexandra's  Sunday Sketches 
.

Have a wonderful fun weekend everyone and thanks for visiting my place. 


40 comments:

  1. Very lovely, Denise. There are some things that I have painted that just look unfinished without the black lines. I bought a wonderful book by an artist whose chief technique is using watercolor enhanced by black pen. Sometimes it is really needed to give that certain punch.

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    1. It's great to hear that someone else thinks that the black lines add to the finished piece Faye. I've tried both, but I have to admit the lines win every time for me.
      I hope you've had a great weekend so far. Happy PPF to you

      Delete
  2. love your watercolor drawing , and red wine for medicinal purposes, well, I'll drink to that :):) Hope that hand is better! Happy PPF!

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    1. It's amazing Linda, after my second glass I forgot all about my hand!
      Happy PPF to you... cheers!

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  3. those crows are quite the entertainment! thats such a shame you hurt your hand,, I hope it feels better soon,, the painting is beautiful!

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    1. It's funny because the crows haven't appeared today Laurie, now I find myself wondering why? I did plan to take the mirror out of the garden, just to give them a break but I obviously don't need to now.
      I'll miss them!
      The hand is turning all kinds of beautiful colours as the bruise comes out, but it's on the mend thank you.
      Have a wonderful weekend

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  4. The artichoke is looking pretty, Neesie! Hope your hand feels better soon!

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    1. When I think about it Laurie, perhaps painting something brown wasn't the best option, but I just loved the dried flower head.
      My hand is recovering thanks. Have a great weekend.
      Happy PPF to you

      Delete
  5. Oh dear I sure hope you didn't burn yourself too badly!! Wonderful artichoke... I think micron really gives it depth. We are having warmer temperatures while the rest of the country is in a deep freeze. Someone posted a daffodil...imagine that!! Here's hoping you get your nice weather earlier this year than last!

    Hugs Giggles

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    1. No burn Giggles, I was cleaning the ashes out so the fire was cold. Just a colourful bruise now.
      I am proud to say I have daffodils out too although tonight the temperature has dropped to minus 4! I think those daffs will be regretting being so keen to sprout up!
      I've also seen my tulips leaves popping through too. It's all so crazy and so confusing for nature right now.
      Hugs back to you

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  6. This drawing is really beautiful. I am so sorry to hear about your badly bruised hand! Ouch! I love the entertainment from animals. You have a beautiful vista out your kitchen window. feel better soon, and I will look forward to crows later on!

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    1. Thanks Gloria, I spent very little time on it (what's new) so was quite pleased with the outcome.
      My hand is working it's way through all the wonderful colours... but thankfully isn't bothering me too much.
      The crows were missing today for some reason. They drive me mad when they're making such a row attacking the mirror, but I miss them now they're gone. No doubt they'll be back soon though.
      Have a wonderful weekend.

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  7. interesting colour and texture! Funny I did avocado today.

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    1. Thanks Christine, well here's something even funnier... I ate an avocado today! Haha
      I'll be along to see your work soon.

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  8. Beautiful paintings, Neesi.
    Happy Valentine's weekeng ♥

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    1. Thank you Sirkkis,
      I didn't spend long on it but it was fun.
      Happy PPF to you

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  9. Hey Denise - I hope you were not burnt badly.
    Great drawing and the difference between the painting without the black outlining and with is really remarkable!
    sandy xx

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    1. No burn thankfully Sandy, just badly bruised. Let me tell you cast iron is heavy when it lands full force onto the back of your hand.
      I just can't seem to stop drawing with the black ink. I just feel it's unfinished if I don't use it.
      Have a wonderful weekend

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  10. Ouch! :(
    There's something about watercolor and ink that I just love, too.
    Hope your hand is better soon.
    (I love crows!)

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    1. Ouch indeed Rita, but it's recovering now thanks.
      The crows didn't appear today for some reason and I'm not sure why. I was going to move the mirror so it wouldn't stress them, but it can stay where it is for now.
      It's strange because now I miss them.
      Enjoy your weekend

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  11. Just lovely. Watercolor and ink perfect. Hope you don't have to drive in the icy rain.

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    1. Thanks Nicole,
      Yet again I didn't get much time for art this week, but at least I managed something.
      It's minus 4 here tonight so I won't be going anywhere!
      Roll on spring!
      Have a great weekend whatever you have planned.

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  12. really nice view from your kitchen, and ow! hope your hand is ok

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    1. It's a fantastic view Jennifer and one I never will never tire of, although it can be a little distracting at times. There's always something to capture your interest.
      My hand is recovering thankfully... just going through all the various colour changes.
      Enjoy your weekend.

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  13. Yay!! Spring has sprung! Not here--we are at 1 degree. Love your paintings this week--so good! Have a great weekend! xo

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    1. Neither are we Dea because today we had snow and tonight the temperature is supposedly going to drop to minus double digits!
      I rushed painting the artichoke for this week, but I was quite pleased with the result.
      Have a great week

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  14. I love the painting of the artichoke - it's not an easy thing to paint. Hope your hand heals quickly, Happy SSx

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    1. I thought it was a good idea to paint the artichoke until I started... then I realised it was going to be quite tough.
      I'm glad I carried on because I'm quite pleased with the result.
      Happy SS to you and I hope you have a great week.

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  15. It's phantastic to see how creative and flexible you are and changed your mind as fast as the weather changed and created this wonderful artichoke illustration. I love it so much because it's great how you have created the texture with only one color of brown. Gorgeous! And I love the view you have from your kitchen table!

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    1. Thank you for your lovely words Stefanie,
      I really wanted to link up with the PPF gang, but I hadn't been able to paint all week so it had to be created very quickly on the Friday morning.
      I did under paint the artichoke... which I think helps with textures and layers.
      I'm very lucky to have such wonderful views from every angle of the house, although it can be a little distracting at times. There's always something of interest or eye catching!
      Have a wonderful week.

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  16. Oh I hope your hand feels better soon! Gorgeous artichoke, I think the angle is beautiful as is your painting.

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    1. Thank you Lisa, my hand is working it's way through all the wonderful colours of the rainbow, but it's okay.
      I'm still not sure about the angle of the artichoke.
      I hope you have a great creative week

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  17. Lovely artichoke painting ~ despite the weather ~

    Happy Valentines Day ~ ^_^

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    1. Thank you Carol,
      Let's hope this weather improves soon because we had snow today!
      It seems we'll have to wait a little while longer for spring.
      I hope you had a happy Valentine's Day and a creative week lies ahead.

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  18. What a lovely painting. I often use the micron pen as well. Recently I use it first and then fill in the lines like a color book. Wishing you some sunshine soon and a healed hand. xo irene

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    1. I have used my micron pens for both before painting and after Irene.
      We actually had snow today... but we've also had some sun. It's so confusing.
      My hand is just working through the colour wheel at the moment. It is definitely on the mend though.
      Have a great week.

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  19. I love your painting! The black outline really finishes it off well and brings out the detail. I love my micron pens too, don't know what I did before I knew about them :)

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    1. Aww thank you Clare, it's always great to get such positive feedback.
      I am such a fan of the micron pen too and I love the finished effect. If I don't use it, then I feel it isn't finished, even when it is!
      I hope you have a great creative week ahead.

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  20. Sorry about your hand. Hope it gets better soon! (Last year a kettel bell fell on my foot. Aoch!)
    Nice painting, GOOD and personal angel. And I love the finishing touch with the black ink. :)

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    1. My hand is fine now thanks Catharina,
      It's turning beautifully coloured, but at least it isn't painful anymore.
      Thanks for your lovely comment about my artichoke.

      Delete

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