10 min studies

Six 10 min (stop watch timed) studies. Same apple, moved around a bit each time.

back to basics

Last week I took a break from paint and yesterday I stood at the easel and went. “hmmmmm, what now?” Then I remembered that some of my friends from the daily painting movement are partiipating in the Daily Paintworks 10 min challenge. This week Carol Marine set this challenge.

The rules: Get a timer. Divide your canvas or canvases small squares (or rectangles). They should be smallish – a couple or 3 inches square or thereabouts  (mine where 4″)– they don’t have to be perfect. Now choose ONE object. Just one. Set your timer for 10 minutes. Paint your object in the first square. When the timer goes off – stop! I mean it. Repeat until you are done. You can rotate your object and/or change the light for each new square.

I haven’t painted a still life in months so it was a good back to basics exercise for me – perfect!

the born leader

This is a small still life from a few weeks ago. 8x8inches oil on canvas bord.

Ingratitude

In case you were wondering about Slinky Malinky (now don’t roll you eyes…some actually were).

He has not strayed again and seems happy enough to come and go without need to take three day roams that have my hubby Rob almost arrested for curb crawling as he searches the streets for him (sad but true)

Is he delighted to be home? well yes, lots of affection on offer. Is he grateful to have such good owners who care for his every need? Hell no!

This is what I caught him at last night!

It’s not like we don’t give him water! I don’t know why I do it, I really don’t!

colimore harbour at dusk

A change of pace again today! Those of you from about these parts will know this scene well. It’s Colimore Harbour in Dalkey just down the road from where my Dad and my Mum grew up. It’s a familiar view but the reference photos for this painting were taken in the last light of the day by my uncle Roddie and were strikingly unusual. The photo is not great as I stupidly forgot to photograph it before it was framed. So this was the best I could do trough glass!

Colimore Harbour at Dusk 10×8 inches oil on canvas

dancing in the rain

The kids are back to school this week. It’s been a good three week break (thanks to the snow closures) but I didn’t really feel the benefit until the last week. Christmas over, back to work but the kids were still off so I didn’t have to contend with their busy schedule on top of my own. It’s great to get a chance to catch your breath before the madness of term time/work begins again.

This year will be harder financially that ever before but it looks to be an exciting one creatively. I don’t know if you do resolutions, I don’t really, but in so much as I have some general aims they would probably be

• to simplify my life wherever possible
• to ruthlessly cut spending on the things that matter to be able to spend a little where it does.
• to keep regular exercise as a priority for me
• to let go of the stuff I’m not able to do

These are undoubtedly hard times but I heard a lovely saying the other day that I have taken to heart.

found: makoub

hat trick

It think we have all been busy these last two weeks first dealing with the disruption the snow brings and then with getting prepared for Christmas. I have been only painting small, particularly while I had kids under my feet during the snow, but today I’m back at the easel painting big again.  I plan to develop the series of interiors as they have been proving very popular and I have had some commissions for more. 

hat trick 8×8 inch oil on canvas bord

December Birthdays

Emily Dickinson would have celebrated her birthday on Friday, along with little ol’ me! If she was on facebook her status would have read “We turn not older with years, but newer every day.”

I’m with you Emily and I would most likely have ”friended” her. As it was, I spent the day basking in the birthday wishes  and kind words that tumbled onto my facebook page from near and far all day and into the night! Isn’t global communication marvelous.

And speaking of famous literary (and dead) people on facebook. What if romeo and juliet were on facebook?