Framing Miniatures and my 2016 Kingfisher Series

2016 Kingfisher series

Have you ever seen a Kingfisher? I've only seen one once, so when I was recently commissioned to paint one I turned to the artist meets photographers facebook page 'Photos for Artists' to find a decent reference photo. I was not disappointed - the talented Peter Skillen had several to choose from. And therein my Kingfisher series was born. How could I choose from all those fabulous photos? 

6 x 4 inch watercolour, SOLD

6 x 4 inch watercolour, £20

2016's sketch diary is completely different to 2015's

By sheer determination and stubbornness, I made it to the end of my 2015 sketch diary. One quick 5 minute pen sketch every day...well OK, I didn't manage to do them all on exactly the right days but I was never more than 3 days behind at any one time. And I didn't use a timer so some of them may have overrun their allocated 5 minutes, although not by much. 

But I did get bored. By October I was very definitely fed up with just doing pen sketches, but felt that I had gotten so far so must continue to the end in that style. 

This year, to save myself from the boredom aspect, I have decided to vary my sketches. Sometimes colour, sometimes pencil, sometimes pen. Sometimes watercolour, sometimes coloured pencil, sometimes acrylic ink pen. Who knows, maybe even some glitter will make it's way into this one! 

The idea is for it to be fun, however that may be achieved.

Oh and this one will include a words to record feelings and other such stuff.

Here is my start:

If you wish to see last year's diary in all its glory, follow this link

Do you draw a diary? I'd love to see it - do please leave your link in the comments below.

Summer sketching

Over the summer I organised a sketching club for my local art group. It was very much easy come, easy go, with no commitment required and I think that it worked out very well.

Week 1 was at our local woodland, Ruff Woods near Edge Hill University in Ormskirk. It turned out that I was billy-no-mates for this one - it was cold, the venue didn't have toilets (which ruled out all of the older ladies) and not even the elusive red squirrels put in an appearance. Speaking of toilets, ahem, I'm not sure what's going on at the end of the path...

Week 2 was at one of the club members houses and I'm ashamed to say that none of us sketched a single thing despite it being a gorgeous morning - we spent all our time drinking tea, eating toasted teacakes and chatting!

Week 3 was a miserable day and it was quite amazing that 4 of us turned out at The Hayloft, which is a farm shop and tearoom in Lydiate. We took shelter in the barn with the peacocks and peahens, but barely made it to an hour before we retreated into the tea room for brunch. This sketch is no-where near finished, I need to go back on a sunny day. Unlike the others, which are all sharpie, watercolour and oil pastel, this one is in watersoluble wax.

Week 4 was at another club member's house. Again the weather was appalling so we sat in the conservatory. A little sketching and a lot of chatting and delicious biscuits washed down with gallons of tea.

Week 5 was at the local allotments right by the church where we meet. Again I was on my own, probably because the church hall was not open and there was no toilet access. I found myself attracted to this wheelbarrow housed in a makeshift shed.

I missed week 6 as  I was away in Bakewell so I sketched the local fish and ducks, viewed from above at the bridge by the car park..

I'd enjoyed the whole sketching thing so much that I decided to take a still life along to our regular art club meeting. I asked my facebook followers what I should take along - the only stipulation was that it must be small enough to carry in my bike basket - and this was what I came up with.

I'm very pleased with how the sketching club progressed, and how my own sketching style has developed. For all of these sketches (except the peahen) I used watercolours, iridescent oil pastels and coloured sharpies. I really like the loose expressiveness of this style and will be interested to see how it develops as I do more.

I'll definitely organise something similar for next year, choose venues that all have toilets so that everyone can come along and join in the fun.

A watercolour postcard home

Lucky lucky me - I recently got a freebie set of watercolour postcards from Cass Art in Liverpool. When we took our week's vacation in Wales this last week, I knew that I would have lots of spare time as my daughter and her friend had tonnes of revision to do for their forthcoming A levels. What better way to spend it than painting?!

If you follow me on Instagram you'll have seen that I regularly walk my friend's Fox Red Labrador (who has the most impossibly short and cutest legs that I have ever seen on a lab) so the first postcard home was addressed to Rory. We were staying on the coast in Wales, and Rory is a HUGE fan of water....

Next on the list was my wonderful Dad. He used to breed budgies when he was a lad, and I now own two beautiful budgies that we are hoping will breed, so it made perfect sense to me to paint my budgies at the seaside for him

I was wondering what to paint next when a seagull flew by. My in-laws live by the sea and love bird watching, so this was for them...

My very dear friend has an elderly black labrador who's beach visiting days are sadly over, he can't walk very far at all these days

What next? We met a very friendly bunch of sheep (yes, I know that they are really a flock, but such friendly animals deserve a friendlier collective noun) so my Aunt got this one

Now feeling in a VERY silly mood, my other aunt loves orchids and is very good at persuading them to flower year after year

And that's my postcard list covered :D

I still had time to spare, so on my facebook page I asked what else I should take to the beach...this suggestion pinged right back to me!

Do you think this counts as proof of posting? Hehehee

And here are all my paintings from our short stay. What fun!