Turtles for the rookery

So, I have been busy trawling the internet for pixar and disney characters! I never thought this time would come, ever! I'm sure there is some kind of copyright breach for me uploading this picture to the internet, but its not the first one I've seen, and not something I'm going to fret about. Anyways, these little guys are for my friends Claire and Keith. They are expecting their first little hatchling any day now. I've had loads of fun recreating these two! Whou would've though turtles were so cumbersome to paint!

I'm back at my easel!

So I've been away from my blogger community for far too long! How is everyone? I've still been managing my art class once in a blue moon and working on 'creative' presents for friends who have all decided to start having babies at about the same time! Those pics will come later! Anyways, here is my giant painting 99% finished. The sky needs changing (too rainbow) and I need to 'plonk' a monk in the foreground somewhere. But for now, it is hanging proudly in the lounge. Love to everyone! Oh and I'm engaged now! Geeze, I have been away for some time. Time for some online challenges, what have I missed?

A big leaf of faith

Soooo I've gone back to my old art school for a few months. The opportunity makes sure I commit at least 3 hours a week to painting, and i can immerse myself in all the wonderful work other students are creating. I really need to work out a new balance between work and painting, but at the moment, I can only commit to these 3 hours! This is a big canvas I'm working on, from a photo I took of the 'tomb raider' tree in Angkor, Cambodia. What an amazing place that is, an ancient civilisation being swallowed up by the forest. My progress has been slow with doing such a detailed under painting!

Art in Music....welcome to the 80s....

Well I'm back, so how fitting, that I devote my latest challenge to Calypso Moon Artist Movement to the song 'Here I am Baby' by UB40 UB40 take there name from the unemployment benefit (UB) form 40 in the UK, so as I am also unemployed, and back in Australia this seemed to fit. That and we were having an 80s music theme in the house. So this is what I produced! I think I known all the words now to all UB40 songs haha.

Traffic light box....my first stencil!

Well I've been busy since I got back to the Gold Coast, my confirmed home! Our local council has started up a project for painting traffic light signal boxes (or TSBs), and I was one of the lucky ones to take on one of the 13 offered. This box located Marine Pde/Gold Coast Highway, next to a boatramp and what use to be a fish shop called Holy Mackeral. I haven't finished it, but I'm pretty happy with the result, not bad for my first stencil effort! I had to paint it rather than use spray cans, not exactly sure how the pro street artists get the accuracy for so little time....this took me the best part of a day to complete. This is my second box I've painted, my first one I painted many moons ago in Brisbane - http://svc169.wic021v.server-web.com/artforce/rating.asp?id=675 gosh I've come a long way since then!

Back to the painting board....

Well I've finally unpacked my paints and brushes! Having travelled for over 3 months, I had a lot of bottled up inspriation! And glass is one of them. I find it really difficult to paint from real still life, usually having to take a photo first and then working from that. So I've set myself up a challenge, to paint bottles and nick-nacky things from my mum's house. And believe me there are lots of interesting things to paint! These bottles are from my mum's old bottle collection actually, obviously they're a bit rough, perhaps I'll go back over with another layer once I work out what is missing.

Once I've mastered them I've got a new challenge, to paint 20 paintings in 20 weeks, and auction them for charity. I'm sure people will want to buy them? I thought perhaps painting everyday scenes from my city would be a good theme, any other ideas?

3 months of backpacking!

Hello there, thanks for stopping by. As you see, my blogspotting has come to a hault whilst I pack up my things and move back to Australia. With of course 3 months of travelling along the way home. I have packed my mini watercolours and a big stack of 300gsm postcards! So all is not lost :) See you soon!

Ship to shore! (40cm x40cm oil on canvas panel)

 

Well here it is.... my aqua delight, a lonely boat in a moody bay. Painted for my boyfriend's mum, it looks great with a silver frame. Not quite my usual style, but I'm liking the colour scheme! Not so mish mash.

watercolour in practice 1

So I have this wonderful full set of windsor newton water colours BUT I just can't seem to manage them. I see some beautiful work done in watercolour (see Jacqueline Gnott's page! she does some AMAZING STUFF!), and I am sure that if I just practice alot more, I might just get some results I'll be happy with. Meanwhile, I should stop being so stubborn and read the guide books I bought on watercolours......its a bit like not reading a manual for a new phone or camera for me!

Driving Home (5"x7" oil on canvas board)

Drving home one afternoon from work (Queensland 2008) I stopped at a set of traffic lights and noticed the gorgeous sunset lighting up the horizon, as if on fire. And yet the storm clouds still lingered. It was getting darker, and cars had their headlights on. I took a quick photo on my phone out the window! Fortunately the lights are red for aaaaggggesss at this intersection.

Virtual Paintout - Manhattan

Ahh, finally I made a submission to the Virtual Paintout although I concede me and painting horses is a no-go zone but this was such a lovely scene. I think I'll have to go back to it and clear it up a bit when it dries, I like the shading from all the trees. Would love to go to Central Park one day!!!! URL on googlemap

PAWS (5.5"x7" oil on canvas board)

Climate Change...I'm sure if polar bears would, they would put their big paws up and say 'STOP climate change!'. A submission for the Climate Change theme at The Green Palette  The canvas is actually 24" x 20" and I have separated it up into 7 individual frames, to be auctioned (hopefully!) when completed and all proceeds will go to Ric O'Barry's Save Japan Dolphin Mission.

Harbouring in progress (40cm x 40cm oil on canvas board)

Oh man! I just can't get this picture finished and I have spent 3 days on it now!!!!! I'm struggling with the join between the two main boats, I added the second one in to the reference picture....but ahhhhhhhhhh....will it ever get easier? This is a painting for my boyfriend's mum, so it needs to be perfect! :) will re-post when I am finished....meanwhile, back to some more challenges!

Finished! Well it was tweaked and tweaked...and here now the finished product! Not sure   about painting out the second boat but I quite like it.

Sally in ROYGBV (24mmx30mm oil on canvas)

Another submission to the Calypso Moon Artist Movement a self portrait using all the colours of the rainbow. You can see the look of concentration in my eyes as I focus on myself in the mirror. Haha, I don't think I've ever spent so long in front of the mirror! I should of brushed hair and perhaps I need to wear more moisturiser! I really enjoyed this challenge, as I avoid painting portraits at all costs! I'm awaiting to see whether people think this looks like me.....? For one my eyes are much smaller than they are here...Oh my just going to leave it ;)

I'm the one on the right

Thanks for the comments everyone! For some reason I am having issues with commenting myself, so apologies if I don't get to respond. I just realised this is my usual pose when I'm online, ha just caught myself! Can't wait to see everyone else's!!! :)

Cheery Blossom (12"x12"on canvas board)

Another little flower study on cherry blossums...I seem to get quicker with these, the underpainting wasn't very accuarte, making it a bit confusing for the detail. Nonetheless, it seemed to come out okay. the sky was very blue on the day I took the photo, not a cloud in sight! Still tossing up whether to add a little bumble bee in :)

Thanks to Paula, I added in some clouds!

If I only had a heart...(10"x10" oil on canvas board)

Take II

So here is a tin man robot, a can of tuna and opener. Inspired by a friend of mine who loves both tuna and tin robots. Why can't they go hand in hand? Do the machines that are our hands have emotions? Also inspired by Inspiration All Around Us 'falling in love' this week. I think I may have to paint in some more additions to this scene, your suggestions are welcome! Thank you :)

A bit more on Tin Toy Blue Aerial Robot. He, or should I say her? Is a red footed, clockwork robot which shuffles along with a nice side to side motion. Arms hang at the sides and are freely jointed so they swing a little as he (she?) moves. What a fine looking robot. Come to think of it, perhaps it is me that loves tin robots and not my friend!

Take II - I had another dabble. After seeing a few other inspired paintings I thought I needed to add more atmosphere. Perhaps it is now love triangle? :) I like this painting a story business! I've also finally decided to start signing my paintings! SEE, my initials. All have dates scribbled on the dates, along with the title. I've bought some lovely nautral coloured linen vancas boards, can't wait to start on them!

Moroccan Lemons (12"x12" oil on canvas board)

This was my dash attempt of the online art forum Inspiration All Around Us
I need to fix the top of the carafe as its not quite right, but I'll get around to it once it dries. Next challenge is HUGE and I'm hoping to start on it soon.

My ticket to freedom (10"x12" oil on canvas board)

I have submitted a painting for the 'Freedom' challenge at the Calypso Artist Movement
The Art challenge for July is depicting what freedom is? For this I chose to paint myself with headphones on, sunglasses and a good book, oh and my backpack slumped on a chair, in a sleeper train travelling from Bangkok to Malaysia. I remember the glossy green metal interior and navy vinal seats (which folded into beds to my surprise!). I had been caring for my termially ill mother for a year and I was in need of a break a few months after she passed away. Freedom for me was rejoicing in my my own health, celebrating my mother's life, and getting back out into the world. I had orginal plans to fly to Kuala Lumpur from Bangkok, taking another flight to start a trip in Borneo. However, the demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which is dedicated to bringing down the prime minister, caused mayhem across Bangkok as they fired on government supporters....and as they set up camp at the international airport, it made my travels a little bit frustrating! But where theres a will theres a way. I'm sure the demonstrators had their own agenda for freedom. For me, the 26 hour journey was freedom, despite the lack of food and water, the cat scratching in the cage next to men, and the cockroaches crawling around my feet. It was a moment where time was my own, I could do whatever I wanted as I had complete freedom of choice. I do miss my mum, and she is the one who always encouraged my painting.

Tall Poppy Syndrome (20" x 16" oil on canvas panel)

Here goes my attempt at a field of poppies for my friend Gill. I can easily say that I won't be attempting poppies again, mind you, whats a painting without a challenge? Such delicate big bright flowers! I didn't have a reference photo, so my head is full of poppies at the moment :) maybe thats how 'tall poppy syndrome'starts :)

Ginger beer books

Ginger beer and my AZ London map guide....two of my favorite things that help me get through the hustle and bustle of London. This was just a play around with my new little display lamp....more still lifes here I come! I think the kettle is next! I need to get a clearer photo....when the sun comes back out tomorrow.