How Now Highland Cow

It appears that I’ve been on a unplanned break from blogging… who knew?
Well I certainly didn’t.
I’ve been enjoying the summer and keeping myself extremely busy, but the autumnal weather seems to have arrived, so I’m thinking it’s time to come indoors and indulge in my indoor pursuits… blogging being one of them.
The other pursuit that I can’t imagine ever giving up is producing and creating artwork.
This is my latest piece… the Highland Cow.

Yes, I know another Highland Cow... I virtually have my own herd now.
I really enjoyed playing with this one and in an effort to keep it loose, I even left my glasses off at times. I know... rather risky, but I feel that it did the trick. I've thought that this particular piece was finished at least three or four times, but kept returning to it to add a little here and there.
Finally, I've decided that's it!
He's done and I'm rather pleased with him.

I suppose he just needs a name now… I’m saying ‘He’ but I suppose it could be a ‘she’?

Great to chat once again... I've missed you.

Have a great day and don't forget... I’d love to hear if you have a suggestion for a name for the Highland Cow.

Paint Party Friday... How Now Brown Cow

Hellooo...

I haven't been partying with the PPF gang lately, but I thought it was time to get my act together and link up. 

I've been very busy, but I have managed to produce some art.

This highland cow has been evolving for quite some time now.

He/she has highlights, so I thought he/she should join in the Paint Party Friday too.

It's a practice piece before I start a serious commission.

I've bought new paints and been having a great time getting to know them.

I've had music blasting out and dancing whilst splashing about with a paintbrush. 

It's been very liberating! 

I've also been working away on my @Makeartthatsells assignment.

We are currently completing the final month of Bootcamp.

I will really be sorry to finish this class.

I think I'll be signing up for more, as there are lots to chose from throughout the year.

The sketch below was a personal one.

It's 'Ernest' my Great Granddad who was born in 1867.

As I sketched, I was lost in my thoughts about my family and it's history... 

a little like 'Who Do You Think You Are?'

For those who might not be familiar with that tv programme... it's where a celebrity traces their family roots back through the years.

I find it fascinating.

I also thought I'd use this sketch to practice my very weak lettering.

I fear now that I've plastered poor 'Ernest' on a 'WANTED' poster!

One fact that I did come across from my research notes, was that he was a 'Tole Dealer'

I had no idea what this might be... so after more delving, I found that it involves ornately decorated trays or chandeliers etc!

Who knew?

How strange especially after painting precisely that in last months assignment. 

Who knows, Ernest might have been a painter too!

I had many thoughts on how his life might had been back then. 

He actually married Mary, the daughter of a Scottish farmer, when they were both 31 years old.

I'm thinking that this was rather old for marriage back then.
Maybe that's why he is wearing a tartan tie... to impress Mary?

I also wonder why this photo was taken... was it for some special occasion?

I haven't done much lettering, but now I know that I've obviously got a lot more practising to do!

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll join my over at the Paint Party Friday.

Eva and Kristin do an amazing job of sharing everyone's great artwork.

Have a great weekend.

Tasseography...Tea Leaf Reading. PPF

Hello Everyone and Happy Friday to you all.

I've been missing in action lately on the blog front, as I just haven't seemed to find the time for blogging, favouring a quick line or two with a photo into my Instagram account instead. 

I've often thought...ooh that would be good for a blog post, but then moved on quickly to other things.

One of the things that has been keeping me busy over the last few months, has been my Bootcamp assignments from the makeartthatsells online course.

February's assignment was 'Tea'

Anyone that knows me knows I'm a huge teapot!

I drink copious amounts of tea per day, so this assignment was just my cup of tea (Aghh...sorry)

Anyway, for the main assignment it was to paint 'Tea Leaf Reading'.

Fond memories of my favourite Aunt came flooding back to me. 

My Aunt was quite a fun loving character and always up for a laugh.

Now I'm not saying that tea leaf reading isn't serious for some, but the vision of my Aunt bent over a china teacup with her face so serious, relaying someones future tickled me, but her readings were very popular.

I personally believed every single word she said.

I was probably under 10 at the time.

Here's my design... although for some reason the colours don't seem to be true.

The original is much brighter and vibrant, but I'm not sure why this is happening or what I can do to correct it.

Did you know that the art of tea leaf reading is called 'Tasseography' because I certainly didn't.

I'm linking up with the lovely artists over at the Paint Party Friday link.
Thank you ladies for hosting once again.

(This is my mock up practice ... with the help of my son)

Right... I'm off to make a cuppa with loose tea leaves.

Who knows, I may have the gift of fortune telling?

I'll have to see if I can see anything in my future.

Have a great weekend and thanks for popping in.

MATS Bootcamp... PPF

Here we are once again... Friday!

I've had quite a busy but fun time since we last chattered and would you believe it, I'm another year older! 

Moving on swiftly I mentioned a few posts ago that I'd enrolled on to an online art course with the brilliant Lilla Rogers over at Make Art That Sells. 

Each week we are given a mini assignment that leads up to the main assignment at the end of each month. The course lasts until May, so I will have masses of fun times ahead. 

The first mini assignment at the beginning of January was to draw/paint the contents of my bag, which lead nicely into the following week's main assignment... a book cover of a famous woman and what she might have in her bag?

My nominated person was Tina Fey. 

Everyone was allocated a particular woman for their birthday month. 

There were some great inspirational, powerful woman amongst the twelve options.

I knew a little about Tina beforehand, but I had to do some research to ensure I captured her personality. I can't believe I had such a good time doing research. 

Tina Fey is a very talented comic along with all her other attributes.

Here's my mock up of my completed piece.

I learnt so much whilst completing this assignment.

For a start I've never really done a portrait! 

Anyway, after much huffing and puffing plus shouting for help with Photoshop, I finally managed to enter it into the MATS (Make Art That Sells) Gallery for the month of January!

Apologies if you've already seen this painting in my Instagram feed or on Facebook, but I know there are many who don't have access to those online links and ask that I post here too.

I also decided to paint a personal birthday card this week for a family member.

I had approximately 30 minutes from start to finish in order for it to get into the post... if I wanted it to arrive on time.

Yes, I know... always last minute with me, but this time it worked out perfectly.

I was really pleased with the outcome and the recipient initially didn't realise it was hand painted!

How's that for a compliment?

I obviously work better to a very strict timetable!

My daughter when visiting possibly noted that my art supply case was overflowing and couldn't close, so as part of my birthday present she bought me this super large bag!

It's 100% linen with this gorgeous design from Danica Studio

It's also lined and what do you know?... it still has some space even with all my brushes, pencils,

pens and bits! 

This can only mean one thing... I can buy more supplies... YAY!

I'm linking up to Paint Party Friday 

Click here if you'd like to join me. 

They would love you to visit and see all the amazing artwork.

Have fun everyone and thanks for visiting.

Paint Party Friday... Elf

Hello everyone...here we are... Friday once again!

 With only a few weeks until the holidays begin, I thought I'd do a Christmassy sketch this week. 

Hopefully something to inspire me into all the preparations.

The only trouble is that this is kind of mixed up... a Santa look-a-like if you will. 

I did have an elf in mind but then Santa intruded.

 I wouldn't say that I'm a negative person, but as I come to write this post I begin to wonder?

I'm normally a half glass full kind of person, but yet again I'm posting something that I don't particularly like. I'm hoping that the Paint Party Friday gang will be able to help me. 

It seems the trouble is that I've lost my passion for painting. 

I think a lot of it is that I don't have a theme, or subject matter that I can progress with. 

My subjects just seem so random and individual. 

I think if I kept to a theme it might help.

I'm trying out new paints and with each painting I'm learning, but the end design isn't quite what I'd like. 

But it's a journey...right?

I'm going to be with family over the next week, so they'll be no time for painting.

But hopefully I'll find inspiration from somewhere.

I'm determined that in the New Year I'm going to devote more time and energy into my art.

(Where have I heard that before?)

I started sketching the design below a few months ago and I feel maybe it's time to revisit.

I apologise for the photographs.

Unfortunately it's difficult to get enough light at this time of year.

I hope you can see it.

Now don't laugh but we are making plans for the girls (hens/chooks) to stay in a 'Hen Hote'l whilst we are away. I know it sounds ridiculous and I would be laughing along with you... but I feel this is the best option.

It would be a lot to ask someone to come a few times a day to see to them and the Hotel sounds brilliant.
I'm hoping that I'll be able to do a blog post...if all goes well once I get back.

Yet again we've found a mass of feathers and a wiped clean breast bone on our garden this morning, so the fox has ventured here once again. 

Poor wood pigeon by the look of it!

The hotel option is far safer.

Thanks for visiting my place and if you'd like to see more artwork, then why not join in the party over at PPF by clicking HERE.

Have a great Friday everyone.

Enjoy

Up up and away... PPF

It's been quite some time since I joined in with the Paint Party Friday link and even though I'm not totally happy with this watercolour, I've decided it's better to just put it out there and enjoy seeing everyone. 

I've missed you.

My head wasn't particularly in the right space for painting, but I decided that I needed the therapy that painting can provide. 

The reason was that sadly we have had to say a final farewell to my husbands Mother, my fantastic MIL (who never interfered in all the 40 years that I knew her) and my children's fun loving (anything goes) Grandmother. 

She had been ill for quite some time, but it still so painful to say goodbye.

She would love the fact that she managed to reach her 87th birthday...even if it was only by a few hours.

I have just looked back to see when I last joined in with the PPF link and it was back in September! 

My goodness how does the time go so quickly.

If you'd like to see all the entries in Eva and Kristin's PPF link up then click here.

Thanks ladies for hosting and I hope you'll forgive my absence.

Take care everyone and have a great weekend.

Autumnal Folio Focus...PPF

I don't think I've ever been so late in entering the PPF party, but I've been in the classroom all day.

Well not exactly in a real classroom, but painting at my kitchen table.

I enrolled into an online class called #FolioFocus and it's week one.

Has anyone enrolled or heard of it before?

I'd love to hear if you have.

The lessons are to help build a stronger portfolio and this week was all about botanicals.

How could I refuse with it being botanical or fall behind on the first week. 

So using my new paints I jumped right in.

To say I've learnt so much today that my head hurts is an understatement.

I decided to embrace autumn as it's arrived. 

I wanted to hang on to summer, but alas I failed. 

I hope you like this and I'm actually quite pleased...which is incredible not only that I've managed to actually share a finished piece of work this week, but also that I like it!  

I'm linking up with the Paint Party Friday gang.

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting once again.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thanks for your visit today.

It's always great to see you.

Love Nature Gouache Painting...PPF

Well here we are on the first day of Autumn and it's a beautiful warm sunny day.

Blue skies above with fluffy white clouds to complete the picture.

If this is how autumn is to carry on...I'm all in favour.

Goodbye Summer... sadly you were a huge disappointment. 

If you had an end of term report it would probably read..."Must do better"

Remarkably this week I actually managed to have a play with my new Turner gouache paints.

I certainly learnt quite a lot using them. 

For instance, when I use watercolour paints I seem to use them as gouache paint, but when I'm using gouache paint I use them as I would watercolours.

Does that make sense or is it gobbledeegook!

Basically, I don't think I use either particularly well.

I much prefer drawing in ink!

I'm completely aware that I seem to be neglecting my blog in favour of the quick and easy Instagram. Here's a photo I posted earlier this week.
I just loved his fluffy butt!

But hopefully life will settle down soon and I'll be able to spend more time visiting and writing posts.

I'm linking up with the Paint Party Friday gang.

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting once again.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thanks for your visit today.

It's always great to see you.

Paint Party Friday...wip

Diddledeedee....diddledeedee...

That's me once again trying to cram in far too much into each day!

I have all good intentions of showing complete artwork here every Friday, but it seems I'm always sharing wip's.

As you can see our kitchen table is getting a little crowded, especially on rainy days.

I'm thinking that it's time I took back my studio desk.

So here's a little more on the cacti and succulents that I saw whilst visiting the botanical hot house recently.

As much as I hate to show work that isn't completed... at least it shows the process.

This photo was taken on a very wet grey (dreich) day.

Thankfully today has dawned with blue sky, sunshine and white fluffy clouds.

I'm off to Edinburgh to stay for a long weekend with my daughter.

Who knows we may just have a PJ and Paints weekend? 

I must dash places to go and people to see...

I'm linking into the Paint Party Friday as usual.

Please pop along if you'd like to see lots more art from all over the globe.

I apologise if I haven't visited you yet, but I will try to during the next week.

Happy Friday Everyone 

😊

My Menagerie... PPF

No surprises today in guessing what I might have drawn for this weeks Paint Party Friday link up.

Of course it had to be chook related at some stage.

We have two breeds of chicken living here with us... Maran and Bluebell.

My painting is a little mix of both of them.

Definitely free range with my painting...haha! 

(Sorry I couldn't resist that)

This painting could be 'Flo' the soft sister of 'Big Bertha' (Maran) and 'Canny Annie' (Bluebell) 

(nee Anxious Annie... I've changed her name, because I think she's actually really switched on. 

She works the system and gets just what she wants/needs!)

The bowl of eggs show our morning collection of fresh eggs. 

All four girls are firing on all cylinders and we have four beautiful eggs daily.

Happy Chooks indeed.

I couldn't resist popping them into this bowl with the rooster on it.

It's a really old cereal bowl, that we got when my children were very small and we lived in Brunei.

As you can probably guess...it came with a famous cereal.

So this portrait is called AnnieFlo' 

Now who remembers 'Hetty'?

NO! Before you mention it...we haven't got a Highland Cow now!

I draw the line there...although with my hubby and his hobbies...ie hot tub he may well decide to try and persuade me to have one!

I met up with an old friend last week and she mentioned how much she liked my Highland Cow painting, so I thought I'd revisit it and have a go at painting another. 

I find it fascinating how my painting is progressing and it's not until I look back that I see and realise that I'm evolving as an artist. 

Do you find the same with your art?

Hopefully, I'm moving in the right direction! 

I have also had the pleasure of receiving photographs of my Giraffe painting in their new homes.

I have two in Australia, two in USA and a few in the UK.

That seriously makes me smile :D

So on that happy note I shall love and leave you this week.

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting PPF once more.

Have a brilliant weekend everyone 

Easter's been and gone...PPF

Phew...I'm a little late today. 

One of the reasons being that I've been to the vet's (yet again) with Muffin.

She's still not put on any weight, but there again she's still not really eating and last night she was sick numerous times, so that's not surprising.

We think that she's still loosing weight, but I haven't weighed her since Wednesday.

Basically, because I couldn't bare it if she's still losing.

Anyway, we have more medication and are due to see a consultant vet next week, if she doesn't improve. 

So obviously, she's been our top priority this week and therefore I haven't had much free time for painting, but I did manage to finish off my Easter Bunny though.

I know he's a little late for Easter, and it's a little like seeing Christmas decorations or cards in January, but I know a few people who were interested in seeing how the finished painting turned out.

So here he is....

(I thought he went well with my daffodils...it's just a pity it isn't Easter)

I think he definitely looks like a bunny caught in the headlights, don't you?

Maybe he's just in a panic that someone will take away his chocolate eggs.

I'm saying that it's a he...but maybe it's a she...because obviously she loves chocolate!

The colours aren't really showing up correctly, because it's actually painted on white paper and I loved the effect of the sky, where I used a sponge.

So how many chocolate eggs do you have left...or is that a silly question?

I'm quite proud of the fact that I have one large one still, but I think it's on borrowed time!

I will try to visit as many blogs as I can, but I'll obviously have to see how the week goes. 

But I will definitely visit all that come to call here.

Can I ask that you send some positive, healing energy our way for Mufftypup.

She sure could use some right now.

I'm linking up with the Paint Party Friday link.

Thank you Eva and Kristin for hosting such a fantastic get-together for creatives. 

Enjoy your Friday and have fun this weekend

GIVEAWAY...PPF Muffin...Pup and Pooch

 Well here we are once again...Friday.

It's been yet another sad week, having to say goodbye to Zac, but he was a fun loving little chap, so we're going to have a little fun today. 

I've decided to have a 'giveaway' but first for those who wanted to see the completed watercolour painting of Muffin from last week.

Muffin...Pup and Pooch.

I'm still not sure if it's actually finished and I must admit I learnt so much during the painting of this one. I think you might be able to see...from the puppy to the pooch... there's quite a difference.

I'm carrying on with my ink drawing of the Tiger, but I didn't want to post unfinished work...yet again. I'll hopefully finish it and let you see the outcome next week.

On to the fun stuff... THE GIVEAWAY

You may or may not know that there's a giraffe named April, who is about to give birth in a Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, New York any day now, and she has a live webcam on her to capture every moment.

I painted a Mother and Baby whilst I have been watching the live footage and I've decided that if you would like to enter the giveaway for an A5 print, then please press following button in my sidebar, and leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

If you'd like to enter the prize draw through Facebook, then once again press like and leave a message there. I hope to have that post up soon.

I hope to have Muffin draw the lucky winner, as she did on my last giveaway.

Here's a clip if you'd like to see that. Click here

(Oh my... doesn't she look cute, so young and fluffy too)

All names entered into the draw will go into a 'hat' (or spread over the floor for Muffin to walk over... with her taped paw, and hopefully one name will stick to her paw)

The draw will close as soon as April has her baby, so hurry and enter...she's looking like she could produce at any minute. 

I shall be linking up with the Paint Party Friday today, to carry on having fun.

Have a great day and thanks for visiting.

Good Luck to all who are entering the draw.

April The Giraffe with her baby... PPF

Can you believe it? 

There's not a feather in site in my painting this week.

I decided to give the current trend of bird paintings a little rest for this week.

Something else has caught my eye and if you live in the US, you may well be aware of April the Giraffe who has a live webcam in her pen, in readiness for her imminent birth. 

She's already given birth to four babies...so she seems to know what she's doing.

There is quite a few people watching now and some have even been watching since day one of the transmission. There's quite a community of people watching whilst chatting, but as with these things there's always the trolls trying to spoil it, but you can easily switch off the comments. 

So I thought I'd give April some attention myself and try to paint her with her baby.

Oh yes, and there's to be a naming competition. 

I'd prefer to see her out in the wild, but April was actually born in the captivity.

She even kissed her keeper this morning.

There's still such a long way to go on this painting, but at least it's allowing me painting time, because it's been quite an emotional week and I didn't want to paint initially.

We had to say another goodbye to a family member 

(I may do a separate post about her... because she was an exceptional and inspiring woman who was greatly loved and will be missed. 

She was quite a character too) 

 I've also been worried about Muffin.

She's lost quite a lot of weight so we're keeping a close eye on her... not that we don't normally anyway.

Here's a little clip of her walking through the woods... where you wouldn't think anything was wrong or that she was 13 years old!

She's got quite a swish on her toosh hasn't she? 

Today is Paint Party Friday's 6th Birthday, so if you can spare a few moments, then click here

I hope you have a happy day and great weekend.

Thanks for your visit once again and I hope to see you again soon.

Robby Red Breast... PPF

A very quick post today.

I'll maybe explain in a few days, but for now I'll just link up with the Paint Party Friday Link.

It's the sixth bird in my watercolour series.

It was obvious to me that I had to include a robin in my flock.

I thought I'd taken some wip pictures, but it appears I didn't. 

Apologies for the rush this week.

Thanks for your visit.

Have a wonderful weekend and make sure you hug the ones you love.

My Flock of Birds...PPF

Another week done and another bird joins my flock.

This flock of birds must be the most unusual flock to gather together. 

This week I decided to paint a Jay.

They can be quite shy birds, but I did manage to capture two together with my camera, which is a major achievement in my book.

For those of you living outside of the UK... here is what they look like.

I know that the same named birds can vary quite substantially across the globe.

This week I remembered to take the odd shot of wip along the way. 

Firstly, a rough sketch to make sure I get the proportions right, before adding paints.

Enjoying the process especially with such great light.

Not sure I like to post such a close up of detail, but I know I enjoy seeing other artists work in progress, so here it is warts and all.

I hope this might help inspire others.

Here's the final painting, although I don't think having it stuck on the window has done it any favours. 

It has robbed it of colour... typical now we have sunlight it's too bright!

And finally my flock.

I think I'll add one more, but I can't decide what bird.

If you have any requests or ideas I'd love to hear them. 

Just pop a note in the comments below.

Do you have a favourite?

I keep changing my mind... but then that's just typical of me.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a fabulous Friday.

I'm linking as usual with Paint Party Friday.

Hope to see you there.

Toodleloo for now