I have been painting...

every day this month - just not writing much on the blog this week.

Here are some I prepared earlier:

Inktense pencils before they got wet

and after...

We remember

In memory of the fallen and those they left behind.

As my partner's son prepares to join the British Army next month, a heartfelt thanks for every service man and woman who choose to risk their lives for us every day.

Thank you.

What lies beneath

Six of my paintings actually. I mashed them up in PhotoShop and am rather chuffed with the result.

Interestingly the song "somebody that I used to know" is running round my head which feels appropriate.

I freakin love making art me.

This Art Every Day excuse is perfect! However, today we have guests for dinner which means I have to (temporarily) pack away my art studio so it can actually serve its intended purpose as dining table. I dunno... the things we have to do for family eh? I might keep some pencils out.. and a scrap or two of paper, just in case they ask for a demo or something...

Still life

Well it's hardly radical, but I have actually created a painting that doesn't involve faces!

I went at this without much planning, just loosely copying from a beautiful photograph in a book. It all stems from my 'letting go' phase. I just wanted to draw, so I did. I couldn't be doing with the hassle of making sure my ellipses were elliptically correct (or even spelt right!). I needed to see the colour run across the paper and so it did.

It's all Inktense pencils - lots of layers of dry then wet then dry then you get the idea.

I really love how this turned out, it's got an interesting energy to it. However, as soon as I tried to do another I found myself slipping back to the more structured approach and it lost all the fun.

I think sometimes I forget why I paint. Of course, it's lovely to end up with some wonderful artwork that might one day grace a wall in a fancy frame - even better if someone pays for the privilege, but really it's as much about the process of getting there as the end result. It should be fun and never a chore!

Right I'm off, busy day, must dash...

Sharing with the folk at Paint Party Friday and Art Every Day Month

Still

Well, it's been quite hectic not joining in with Art Every Day this month. So far, I've been painting, drawing, preparing backgrounds, experimenting and generally getting very paint splattered. It's amazing how sometimes we need to lift the pressure to set ourselves free.

Normally I'm a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of girl. I'm a deadline thriver. Lately though, I knew I had to slow down and it has been really good for me.

The spark is glimmering that much more brightly and I feel a zing running through my batteries. The trick now will be to keep it there, fan the flames and harness all that warmth and energy in a healthy way - without getting burnt!

Now I know when I said I was experimenting, you might not think that these two ladies look much different to my usual style. The 'face on old book page' has become a bit of a signature of mine - in fact, it was Art Every Day Month this time last year that set me on this particular storyline in the first place.

Well, they are not the experimental results... you'll have to wait until tomorrow for those. I'm saving the best for Paint Party Friday!

There is a new richness in these ones anyway - achieved through my new-found fascination with the Derwent Inktense pencil.

Upside Down

I figured if I put the images in then the words might come; kind of an upside down approach. Have you turned your art around lately? Viewed from a different perspective? Go on... take a look...

You might be surprised by what you see. Stepping away from anything and shifting focus allows time for the mind to recompute.

But then again, sometimes, it's OK to go with first instincts, even if they do seem a bit strange...

Meet Angular, native of the Easter Islands

More samples of the art I'm not doing every day this month (see previous post!!)

A back to front approach

Created from a Kim Klassen Beyond Layers challenge using original photo by Kim which I've cropped, then added Kim's February Magic texture and a couple of photo filter layers.

I chose the quote from a selection I found on the theme of reflection and thought it fit perfectly.

Second post today and I'm still on a creative roll so will make the most of it!

Not joining in

I'm not joining in with Art Every Day Month* - that's what I'm telling myself... because you see I have been a bit guilty of overloading myself in recent weeks and so I'm not making any firm commitments....

What I am doing though, so far this month, is making art every day.... so I thought it would be churlish not to share... and also have a little peek at what others are doing too....

I just won't be blogging about it every day, because that would be another commitment... so don't expect to see me here every day.

There. I think I've covered myself now. Right I'm off to make more art (while mentally composing blog posts ready to share later....).

And here's some of the art I've not been making every day. It's a sketch for a larger painting I'm planning... and then I kept at it, threw some colour down then added a few layers in PhotoShop, just for good measure... And there's a floral doodle I played with last night too.

*Art Every Day Month is an annual event run by lovely Leah. I've been there the last two years... but as I said... I'm making no new commitments this year..... (tee hee..... just don't tell.....)

Collaborating

Back in the summer I was gifted (from Karen - I am Rushmore) a beautiful handmade journal with each page a unique opportunity to create more art and expand upon what was already there. Assorted ephemera, painted backgrounds, tags, textures ... all beckoned and invited me to come and play.

I was so excited - so much possibility... and yet...

So much opportunity to mess it up! The Muse went all shy, foolish thing. I tried reasoning with her. Doesn't she realise I just want her to be 'herself', my artist within that loves to create?

Well, it took some time, but I feel she's finally allowing her authenticity to flow through. This week we received back the Round Robin Art Journal that has been through the hands and creative thought of eight artists. I was blown away by the contents and you will be too - watch this space for once we each have our treasures back we'll be holding a blog party to share all that loveliness with the rest of our creative tribes in Blogland!

Taking part in this shared experience gave me the confidence that I wasn't going to 'ruin' Karen's book, and I am slowly adding my own layers, my story to sit alongside hers. I'm excited to see where this adventure will lead.

Thank you to all my artist friends who help me grow, push my boundaries and bring such joy and friendship!

Sharing this sketch over one of Karen's backgrounds today.I took the hard black line as the bridge of a nose and the rest just flowed from there...

A turnip for the books

A friend asked me to paint something as a Christmas gift for her husband. "Sure", I said. Then she warned me it was something a little out of the ordinary!

She had this idea in mind of depicting the pair of them as root vegetables - specifically turnips! They had to be snuggled up together and in love...

Ever one to grab a challenge, I grabbed its leafy tops, gave a jolly good yank and went for it!

I present my turnip couple, the perfect mash-up.

Who said romance had to be all hearts and flowers?

Sharing this piece with Paint Party Friday.