Thistles- Winner

Congratulations Sharon Graves!!! You are the winner of this giveaway painting. I have sent you an email, so all you have to do is send me your address details and it will be on it's way to you! Thanks everyone for your support and signing up. It's been a lot of fun....and I will be doing it again so stay tuned!!!

Darning Needle

Drawing #64

Graphite and pastel

Another quick drawing  ...no painting today! If I don't start painting early enough my light is not that good on dark winter days so I do other art related things. I have forgotten what darning needles are for these days!! I wonder if anyone uses them now.

New Brushes

Drawing #63

Graphite and pastel

A short post today! I am busy with a few flower paintings at different stages.

A drawing of my new brushes I bought when I was on holiday in Australia! The black one is a Neef, it's a little more expensive and is my favorite. The other two are Isabey...nice to paint with as well!

Lavender

8"x6" Oil on canvas

I picked this bunch of lavender when I was out walking, I love the perfume of it and it lasts for days! Instead of putting it in a vase, I left it on my table and painted it as it was. I have been working on larger work and have got a little behind with my daily paintings. I used a palette knife as well as a brush. I definitely need a lot more practice but loved using it....love violet and green together too!

Tulip Sketch

Drawing #63

Pen and watercolor

A very quick sketch!  I bought these Tulips yesterday at the supermarket, I went to buy groceries but when I saw these in this cane pot I couldn't resist buying them as well! I love white flowers!! This is a warm up for  a larger 70x40cm  one in oil!

More Girls' Stuff

Drawing #62

Graphite and pastel

Some more girly stuff! This time both belong to me. This was interesting, the earrings and the lipstick are different kinds of silver, so it was a little tricky, but I think it looks close enough to the real thing. I have not finished a painting this week!! Not good!  Among other things I have been taking part in the 30 days Marketing Challenge...I have learnt a lot even though some of it has been time consuming. ( I'm not the best at technology) Thanks Leslie:))

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Painting Give Away - Thistles

Time for a painting giveaway!! This is for my blog subscribers....if you would like to be in the draw to win this painting, just enter your email address in the box at the right, click the submit button and it could be yours! It will arrive gift wrapped and with a display easel. I will announce the winner on May 31st. so stay tuned!

Signs of Winter

Signs of Winter

8"x6" Oil on board

$85 + s/h
Click here to purchase

This scene is part of the Estuary close to where I live. If you follow my blog you will know this is a favorite place of mine to paint! There are so many different views and I pretty much love them all! I have been wanting to share my painting process, but always forget to take the photos of each step. Leslie Saeta set us this task in the 30 day marketing challenge...so  here it is!!

My Painting Process

1. I  begin  my paintings by blocking in shapes to establish my composition...keeping it simple, no details, just shapes and values to see where my darks and lights will be.

2.  I then lay in areas of color to each of the value planes paying attention to the temperature relationships between the planes. Next I start using intermediate values, making sure the shifts are subtle. Once they are all working I can add details and highlights to the tree and grass in the foreground.

A good book to help you approach this is  Carlson's Guide to Landscape Painting by John Carlson.

Newsletter Badge

Here is the badge I created for  the marketing challenge! I send out a newsletter every two months...all you have to do is click on the photo to sign up. It's that simple!!

Thread Collage

This month Leslie Saeta has invited artists to take part in a marketing challenge... I used Pic Monkey website (it's free) to put together this collage using some of my thread series I did last year..a nice way to present a series!! It's easy and gives them continuity side by side..... some are still available. You can visit my

Daily Paintworks Gallery to view and for details.

Lunchtime

Drawing #61

Graphite and pastel

My lunch today! I was about to eat this boiled egg... it looked so good with the silver spoon and eggcup, I set it up so I could draw it first. It was cold by the time I finished so I had to boil another one!  The things I do for the sake of art!!!

Dreadlocks

Drawing #60

Graphite and watercolor

Here are the dreadlocks! I had a good time drawing this one, I have always been fascinated with dreadlocks... not sure why. I think drawing them would be easier than growing them. From tomorrow I am taking part in Leslie Saeta's 30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Days, I will do what I can to keep up with it each day!! I have to paint first!