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... 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

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.

Woohoo New Paints... PPF

I'm having to be super quick posting today, as I have visitors and as they've just nipped out I thought I'd nip in!

I'm so excited to have new paints and can't wait to use them. 

I've not painted using gouache paints before, so any tips and advice will be gratefully accepted. 

I thought I'd colour in my own design that I posted last week, but as you can see below...I didn't get very far before my visitors arrived. 

I'll have to wait (with baited breath) to get to use these new paints...but I'm hoping that we can become great lifelong friends.

I've also joined an online course, so hopefully I'll be able to share details and results from class with you soon.

Must dash...the hostess with the mostess duty calls.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and thanks for your visit.

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

Thanks Eva and Kristin for hosting once again.