Looking for your wings?

Bet you're glad you're not a Goldfinch. Imagine having to cling precariously to a prickly teasel stem while trying to fish out a seed. I hope it's worth all the effort!

Pushed myself a bit this week for Take a Word's 'wings'challenge and moved away from painting poppies to tackle a feathered friend.

I just started thinking about Angry Birds and so now have an image of me pulling back this stem and sending him somersaulting into piles of piggies... Waheeeeee...........

I've been buying up piles of beautiful nature books from charity shops with the intention of painting the subjects within, but up to now all I've done is look at the pictures! Thank goodness for these art challenges around blogland that often give you the little push you need to try something a bit different!

I'm also joining in with Gritty Jane's 'painting a day for 10 days'. It's been easy so far with it being the weekend... I'm not too sure that I'll find much time tomorrow - might have to be a quick finger painting!

While we're on the subject of wings... I wanted to share with you a special something.

Find your Wings - an Art eCourse with a difference

Last year I ran an art course that changed lives. The feedback I received from some of my students literally brought tears to my eyes. It's time to run it again.

This isn't a course where I'll teach you to paint like me. Instead it's a series of exercises that encourage you to find your own style - to play and delve deep into the recesses of the imagination that may have got a bit dusty over the years.

What happens?

We have five weeks of lessons via a private blog and Facebook Group where you can share your work and hang out with other students.

Lessons start on Monday 1st April - an auspicious date if ever I saw one - and run for 5 consecutive weeks, but the classroom will remain open for another few weeks afterwards so you can work at your own pace.

Cost is just £35 - that's £7 per week if my maths is correct. However, get in early and you can take advantage of my early bird discount and pay just £30. You'll need to register by Monday 4th March 5pm GMT to take advantage of this special price though.

Places are strictly limited so I'm able to give everyone my attention - so sign up now before they disappear in a cloud of magic fairy dust!

Find out more and sign up over here at my new sparkling website which I made last week!

Who you lookin' at?

I've got my beady eyes on you sunshine - just watch yourself! Tap, tap, tapping on your door...

You've got to feel sorry for the crow family - much maligned. Not helped by this new series The Following - a serial killer obsessed with Poe. Creepy. This fellow is actually pretty friendly. He does have his eye on your jewellery though....

I bought a couple of bird books yesterday from a charity shop - I feel an urge to painted our winged friends (alongside the current floral obsessions). Had some of my poppy paintings printed up onto large canvas this week - the idea being to take them back to the galleries that showed an interest and see if I can persuade them to adorn their walls and tempt their customers. Wish me luck!

This fine black bird is thrilled to be visiting his brethren at the Take a Word challenge this week and he also put in a request to check out my friends at Sunday Sketches. Who am I to argue with him?

Crone song

Tunes of love, joy and sorrow

the crone's songs lines her face

Memory notes dance across cheeks

and the voices of generations sing a story

I don't often draw wrinkles. In fact, as women we seem to focus on how best to prevent them and so hide the passing of the years. I think we prefer our voices, rather than our faces to tell our story!

This old lady has been sitting on my Pinterest board - faces to draw - for some time. So when I saw the Take a Word challenge for wrinkles this week, I thought it was about time I attempted someone with a bit more character than the fresh-faced beauties I usually create.

If you look very closely (or just at the pic below!!) you will also see that she is sketched over a collage of crinkled tissue paper decorated with musical notes. I actually remembered to scan in my background before I drew her which is a small miracle!

Sharing too with with my regular crew at Sunday Sketches.

PS: if you like art journal collaborations, you may enjoy yesterday's post.

Blurring the lines

This is a great quote from Lady Gaga.

Einstein has a intelligent things to say on the subject too. He writes that the gift of fantasy means more to him than any talent for abstract positive thinking. He acknowledges that our imagination is more important than knowledge too "for knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

The alarm clock pulled me this morning from my fantasy village. It's a place I don't believe I've ever been yet I visit it many times in my dreams - a thriving community with tea rooms and antique shops; places to work, play and explore. History and interest paint the landscape and the community gives it soul. So far the only downside to this fantasy location is the parking. Last night my car got towed and I faced a fine of £320 for its return - let's hope that one remains firmly locked in the pages of fantasy - or maybe I should just take extra care where I leave my car this week.

As I paint and create I let my imagination flow. Gone are the days when I feel obliged to capture reality in my artwork. Instead, just a sense of it is enough, with the colours and textures telling their own stories.

Sharing with Take a Word's Fantasy theme. This piece is a fantasy mixture of three pieces of art - don't you just love how PhotoShop can bring your wildest fantasies to life?!

Exposed

Over-exposed, double-exposure, exposed to sunlight, exposed to the elements, exposed to scrutiny from the ladies (and occasional gent) that visit the Take a Word artistic challenge.

I should point out that this was a perfectly acceptable photograph when first taken. I just exposed it to a few effects in Photoshop.

It was taken in a little alley in Skiathos Town on the Greek isle of the same name. I'm going back there soon... Can you feel the heat from the cobbles and see the deep blues of the sky captured in the paintwork? I'll bet there's a black cat about to amble around the corner and look on with disdain at the tourists that don't leave it a few scraps.

Camera top of the list of essentials to take on this trip. Skin ready to be exposed to Greek sun and Muse laying herself bare for exposure to inspiration. Finally stomach preparing for exposure to lots of tastiness.

I am soothed

I have been digital collaging, listening to music and sipping a small glass of wine - the last of the weekend bottle (frugal times...) It's got more layers than an ogre (watch Shrek for explanation!), but I love staring into its depths and dreaming.... Don't you just think there's epic story in there? Do you want to turn the pages? Who is the ghostly figure?

Well, this piece started off as an experiment in Black & White for The Three Muses same-titled challenge, but I guess my Muse clearly fancied their Take a Word challenge of Vintage instead! I drained the colour of a flower photograph with the exception of the red dahlia. It was pretty enough, but where was the drama? I put some context in with another of my photographs of Coton Manor House. Kim Klassen supplied a texture (in fact it was this week's freebie, so thanks Kim :) and I added some mystique with some images I bought from Etsy.

I love experimenting in this way. The layers are out of proportion with intent. What lush colour and texture. What story... I could play all day.