Thistle and Robin... PPF

Welcome to 2017

I'm hoping that this year my art can go up a gear... or at least get out of first gear.

I have lots of ideas, half hatched plans and masses of enthusiasm. 

I just need to prioritise now.

I started off this week painting a thistle. 

I used Windsor & Newton Cotman 111 round brushes (no 3 and no 5)

Why these particular brushes you ask? Because basically my daughter left them behind when she left after the holidays. 

I couldn't resist trying them out, but don't worry I've sent her new replacements. 

Something tells me she came off rather well in this transaction.

Brand new brushes for old ones... but I'm pleased because they worked beautifully.

For those who like to know details...

I used my Kuretake: Gansai Tambi Japanese Watercolour paints on Daler Rowney Aquafine smooth A4 Hot pressed paper (300g/m2) 

I'm pleased with certain aspects of this painting, but it was also yet again a learning curve. 

I have so many learning curves that it feels like once again I'm in a complete spin. 

I've decided to go larger and have another go at painting it.

I think that I should keep to one theme instead of flitting like the proverbial blue * fly. 

That way I hope that I might actually develop a style.

I'm linking up for the first time this year with the Paint Party Friday link. Click here

Happy New Year Eva and Kristin and thanks for hosting your fantastic inspirational link up once again.

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I'd just like to add that I've had some success with my new camera zoom lens. 

As regular readers of my blog will know, I've been trying to capture the image of my camera shy robin for quite some time.

But at last I managed it...

How cute is he? 

I was doing a little tidying in the garden and he was very interested in what I was doing out there, especially as the ground was frozen solid.

As soon as I moved away, he hopped down into the dried leaves to check out what I'd unearthed.

I'm so happy with these photos, but as you can probably imagine I've got about 150 others of my new little feathered friend. 

Lovely to see you here once again and I hope to see you again soon.

Have a wonderful weekend

Happy Thistle Thursday!

A little late but liking up with Wordless Wednesday

Have a terrific Thistle Thursday! 

Challenges on many levels...

Well, I could tell you about the crazy week that's just past, but I'll spare you. 

Suffice to say there's been two medical appointments, a car dying whilst fully loaded up with everything but the kitchen sink, plus a dog thinking a trip to the park was imminent and my son having to go to court! 

Hang on, let me rephrase that my son had jury duty! (Phew) that's better.

Anyway, I'm still trying to keep up with the Inktober challenge, so here's some more of the ink sketches I've managed to finish.

The orchid was a request from my sister. 

It's her orchid so how could I refuse? 

She's my big sister after all and I've always done as I'm told! (hehe)

There's also her gargoyle... 

I sketched him on Monday which seemed appropriate for the kind of day I'd had.

That was the day that the car died... well it's reborn now actually, after the trauma.

It seems a new battery was all that was needed. 

Hmm... I wish we could just get a new battery when needed.

It has been a fantastic Autumn here which is great after an atrocious summer. 

I've really been enjoying it which is just as well because I've heard that 'they' say we're in for a severe white winter. I don't hold much by this because the same 'they' said we were going to have a fantastic summer!

I'll wait to see... but I have fully stocked the freezer, bought matches, torches and we've got enough wood to last for a good few winters.... so bring it on!

Meanwhile, the garden is still blooming and the autumn colours are catching my breath at times with their amazing palette.

Here's a little visitor to a thistle...

Even with beautiful sunshine throughout the day, we are enjoying lighting the wood burner in the evening.

I've been watching the geese fly over daily, but I've been mystified by why some are flying south (well I know why that is and I'd do the same if I was a goose) but why they also fly north!  

I had to google this and it appears they are flying to their feeding grounds by day and then they return to their roost for the evening.
Mystery solved.

And just before I leave you for this week... in case you were wondering (oh how I flatter myself) about that Kio Carp painting that I started a few weeks back... well here's a little snippet.

I'm really not sure when I'll be able to finish it, but I'll keep it close to hand. 

It still needs so much work on it.

At least it's good to end with some colour.

Have fun and enjoy your creativity everyone... in whatever form it takes.

As always I try to visit everyone at the Paint Party, but so far I haven't been successful. 

If I've missed you then I apologise... I'll try harder this week.

I'm hopeful that one of these weeks I'll actually manage to see everyone. 

Meanwhile thanks for stopping by my place 

xx

My Sunday Photo