Tuesday 30 September 2014

Sketching 'La Natura Morta '




Summer is over and the weather is changing.  We've had some high winds over the past week and it was one windy night when I heard something patter as it blew into my room while I was asleep.
With no glasses and in the dark I could just make out the shape of a small lizard by my bed.  
After a little bit of nudging  it wasn't going to move and I realised it was not only dead but perfectly conserved by the hot dry weather.  It must have got caught between the window and the blinds.

So what else could I do, I sketched it the next morning.  It's still on the sideboard much to my daughter's horror...she says it's looking at her!



Leaves are starting to turn too, this is one I picked up.  Autumn is here, my favourite season!
What's your favourite season?







Monday 15 September 2014

Sketchbook Sunday (on Monday)






I have been getting back to my watercolours this week...sometimes I need to be inspired by a colour or something I see to really enjoy this watery and rebellious medium!
The plums are painted in my favourite colours for painting, I love juicy pinks, reds and purples.





This is a black bumble bee that I found resting on my garden wall.  They are not particularly aggressive although they look quite frightening...it was the size of my thumb and very black and shiny.
When you get up close the black becomes a vivid blue in the wings.  But I didn't get too near, I'm not that brave....I zoomed in with my camera and took some photos!

Sunday 7 September 2014

The Edge




This is a scene slightly off the footpath through a regal hunting forest from  hundreds of years ago.  It's  a little opening that gives you amazing views over the forest.

On this occasion it's about as far as I got as some cows made an appearance, not that I am afraid of cows....but my friend was! Ok so they were very big with long horns and didn't seem to want us to to go any further, but that's no reason to hide behind a tree?
We had to turn back, cutting short our walk... so now you know what I was thinking about while painting!

40x40 cms, oil on mdf board