trying out watermixable oils, and all sorts of stuff

Although I`ve had a set of these for donkeys years, I never actually painted a picture with them. After seeing a few of my friends using them at art group I decided to "Give them a try" and this is what I came up with. It`s quite difficult to photograph oils, but you get the idea. The colours aren`t quite that bright IRL, and there are more variations in the sky colours, with pinks and lilacs amoungst the blues.
I have to say, I loved using the WMO, and I will definately use them again.

Another picture I painted this week was the following...........back to my old faithful.......watercolours.

I love painting night scenes, with all the bright colours reflected on the water.

Yet another St Mary`s lighthouse.

...........just trying these colours for a bit of fun. I enjoyed using the bright yellows and pinky colour together.......a very eye catching combination.

I took the reference for the above painting several years ago, but never got round to painting it.

While I was waiting for the sky to dry on the St Mary`s lighthouse painting, I played with this.

All tied up

I liked playing with lots of wet in wet washes, and I used candle wax resist, for texture........ I liked playing with the different techniques so much, it was hard to know when to stop......lol

At Last!....... I can finally add this painting to my blog..........

Baby Esmai, painted several weeks ago, but the recipitent only got it this week.

As you can tell, I`ve been busy.

Rainy day

I couldn`t get into my painting yesterday, so I did this quickie. It was painted very quickly, with almost all of it done wet in to wet, appart from the figures.

I painted this picture of St Mary`s lighthouse yesterday too. (before the Picture above)

Today I had a bit of a fiddle with my painting that I did in the Joe Hush workshop. I`m still not happy with it, so I will be doing it again someday hopefully..........it`s slightly better than it was.

Latest paintings.

It seems like an eternity since I last posted here. My life has been pretty busy lately.

I went to a workshop with a fabulous artist by the name of Joe Hush last week.
I really enjoyed it......... although I`m not keen on my version of his picture.

 My trouble was, I kept fiddling while I waited for Joe to do the rounds. I would like to paint this again someday, but without the fiddling. I found that I had too much time on my hands and so I over worked it all. Never mind......there`s always tomorrow, to try again.
I do like my farmer and sheep though....lol.

This is as far as I got during the work shop, the rest I finished off at home......

Another painting that I have done recently is Ruth`s reference of some juicy red grapes.

I have painted this picture several years ago, from a reference photo by my friend Ruth Harris.

I prefer my earlier attempts, but here is the newest painting anyway.

OOOOOHHHH, and I nearly forgot to mention...

I entered 3 paintings into the Federation of Northern Art Society`s autumn exhibition, and all three paintings were juried in, that was a nice surprise.

The exhibition is on until January 29th at the Woodhorn Museum, if you are interested in popping in for a look-see.

North shields fish quay at nighttime

I`ve painted this scene before, but in the day time. I love painting night scenes, and so I couldn`t resist having a go at this.

For once in my life, I`m quite pleased with how this painting turned out...... and judging from all the lovely comments it got from art group this afternoon, there are a few people who also liked it.

It looks like a very detailed painting, but the "details" are just blobs of colour, and lines here and there, There are very few details in the painting really, if you look closely.

It`s painted in watercolours, with a few touches of white acrylic for some of the high-lights.
Hope you like it, thanks for looking.

Sunny sunflower.

It`s been a miserable week weather-wise, so I thought I`d get in a last few "Rays of sunshine" before the winter arrives.

I started this off at Tuesday night`s art group, but only finished it on Thursday night, because I wasn`t feeling very well. After a busy weekend, this is the first chance I`ve had to get a photograph of the painting.

I enjoyed doing this, because of the bright colours.

 I  worked quite rapidly, and wet into wet for almost the whole painting. Appart from letting the flower dry completely, before painting in the background

Fuschias in acrylic.

This is my latest painting. I worked on this at last nights art group, then todays art group. Unfortunately the sun was so bright this afternoon, that I had trouble getting a decent photo. If you look to the left hand side, that is what the colour is like on the other side.

This painting will be on show at our art groups annual exhibition....

Snow is almost upon us..........

haha. I worked on this at last weeks NSAS meeting. I think a few people were disgusted at the thought of winter arriving. I have to admit though, I love the snow. The photo of this painting is a bit bright, there are alot more footprints and shadows etc in the foreground snow.

I didn`t paint at Wednesdays art group because we went on a trip to Bowes Musuem, which was lovely. Some of the paintings in the gallery were absolutely amazing.
I might even have a go at painting the above picture one day.............notice I said might!!!lol.

At the weekend I did my little bit for charity.......... ART ON THE BEACH, in aid of MacMillan nurses.
The weather was a bit blustery, so we ended up painting, "NEAR" the beach instead........lol, because the wind was too strong for the gazebo`s and the rain was threatening, so we couldn`t do without them.

I Painted three pictures at the event, two out of my head and one from an old photo that I found lurking deep in my art bag, because where we were sat you couldn`t actually see anything.......lol. The tide breaker wall was in the way, but not to mind, I had a wonderful day, I met lots of lovely people, and we raised lots of money for charity. I`ll let you know when I find out the totals, in a few weeks when all the sponsor monies are collected in.

For some reason I haven`t got a photo of the other painting, I`ll post that when I post my next picture.

I didn`t go to either art group this week, because my mum came for a visit, so I`m itching to paint again.......... I might just start on a new painting tonight!...........watch this space.

.

A few close ups of my pastel cat, Pepsi.

Finished my Puddy cat.......... Pepsi

I worked on this at todays art group. I also did too much chatting.......... which meant that I had to finish it at home.

it`s "painted" pastels, on a sheet of paper that I`ve had for donkeys years, so I can`t tell you the name of it.

I haven`t decided on whether I will frame it in a double aperture frame, or whether, to put it in two separate frames. I`ll have a think about it, and also see what frames I come across when I go frame shopping.

weekend dabbles in watercolours

I painted this life boat scene at the weekend. I worked from a photo of the Blyth lifeboat, then I invented the water, and the moody sky. I thought this looked better than the dirty, miserable looking factory that was on the other side of the river, behind the RNLI boat.

North Shields Art society was back on tonight, so I started on this painting of my lovely cat "Pepsi". I worked in pastel this time.

 As you can see, there is still Alot more work to do on it. I`m at my other art group tomorrow, St Andrew`s Art Group, so I`m hoping to finish it when I go there.

I will either frame it with a double aperture, or cut it into two seperate paintings, and frame them seperately. I couldn`t decide which image to work on.!!! lol.

North Shields fish quay. Watercolours

We were painting at Pam`s house this week.... but I think we did more talking than painting to be honest. Either way we had a lovely time.

This is my effort for the night. I finished it off this morning as usual.

I enjoyed painting this scene. Although it is quite a detailed and busy subject, I managed to emit alot of the detail, but still keep a sense of the place. This is something I struggle with....... normally I try to paint in every detail, but I`m gradually learning to cut it out a bit.

I`ll keep practicing!!!!!

Tyne and Millenium bridges, at night.

Painted in watercolours, using a ton of masking fluid..lol.

I painted this at Jean`s house last night, then finished it this morning at home.

Hoppings fair, Town Moor. Newcastle. In acrylics.

My friends and I got together again on Tuesday for our weekly paint-in.........and this is what I painted.

I thoughly enjoyed painting this picture, which is unusual for me when painting in acylics, because I am so used to working in watercolours.

To create this painting I combined two different photographs of the rides, and stalls. The photographs had no people in, because I took them just as the fair was closing.

After I had painted the rides etc, I then whipped out my sketch book, and added the people from lots of different sketches, that I had.

At the very end I painted in some dots and dashes of white, to make it look like the lights were shining on the people, and to seperate them from each other.

Now I can`t wait to start my next acrylic.

 We went for a drive last night, so that I could get some reference photo`s of the famous bridges over the Tyne. The bridges were spectacular, all lit up, and the water was flat calm, so there was also lots of lovely reflections......... so guess what my next painting will be?

Watch this space............

Finally, I`ve been painting again after a week with none.

I haven`t been very productive this week at all, but thank heavens, me and a couple of the ladies from the art society decided to meet up in each others houses on a Tuesday night to paint together.
............so last night this is what I did........

I wasn`t at-all happy with it. I made the mistake of working from too many reference photo`s. ( My way of trying to loosen up a bit) .... I also had trouble with the paint drying too quickly, so I got in a bit of a mess.

Anyway, when I got up this morning I had a bit of a "play".......

I added more colour, and clouds etc into the sky area. Normally my one rule would be never to go back into the sky once it`s dry, but I felt that I had no choice with this painting, and it would have only gone into the bin anyway, so I wouldn`t be making it any worse than it already was. I also added more colour to the sea area, and put a touch more of a yellowy wash on the right hand side of the light house to emphasise the light glowing on that side.

I still didn`t like the painting, so I tried a crop, and came up with this...

At the moment I still think it`s headed for the file known as the bin, but I`m going to leave it for a while to see if it grows on me a bit. I`ll definately be painting this scene again. That`s for sure!!

Tyne bridges

I had a lovely time last night, painting with two of my new friends from the art group.
This is what I painted........

                                          

Whirlwind weekend............

I`ve had a busy weekend yet again.......... I thought weekends were supposed to be for relaxing and winding down.....lol

We saw a lovely art exhibition at Bedlington. It was so inspiring to see so many various works of art all in one place. I just wanted to dash home and paint.
We got speaking to a lovely lady, if you read this.....you know who you are. Thankyou for your hospitality, and friendliness.

Sunday, we went to drop off some paintings to be hung at a gallery in Newbiggin, while we were there, there was a Lifeboat event on at the beach, so we went down and I got some lovely reference photographs for my next lifeboat painting. They put on a bit of a show, were they " rescued" a man out of the sea, so I sat there in my wheelchair clicking away with the camera.
............There is only one problem with living in such a beautiful area........... I`ve got 100`s of reference photo`s piling up, waiting for me to have the energy to paint them.

After we`d been there we went to Blyth, so Dougy could do some fishing, and I could do some sketching. I didn`t do much sketching, because I wasn`t feeling too good.
Poor Doug didn`t catch any fish, but Danielle caught 64.........yes 64 crabs, with in an hour. Everytime she lowered the net down she would get several at a time, one time she got 8. She ended up ripping a piece of paper out of my sketch book, so she could keep a running total. ( We put them all back)

How can you not be inspired by such scenery? We go past the beach several times a day, and every time we go past it looks completely different.

I`ve been making cards, because my hands weren`t up to painting the last few days, so I haven`t got any new paintings to show you yet, but I am meeting up with a friend from art group tomorrow night,  so I`ll have something on Wednesday to show.

Swan of many colours....

                                         This is as far as I got at yesterdays group meeting.

....................and this is the final. I finished it this afternoon. This photo is a bit harsh, I`ll try and get a better one tomorrow.

It`s amazing the various colours used to paint the white swan.

That`s what I`ve been up to today. My husband has also been busy doing some framing for me.

I`ve been having a ball!!!

I`ve had a lovely time the last few days. ......

On Tuesday we had been shopping. (I`d forgotten to take my phone, as usual). When I got home, I found that I`d had a text from one of the ladies from North shields art association. Basically it was to ask whether we were meeting up at my house, or hers, or Jean`s ( another lady from the art group)...........I had completely forgotten about it!!!!
Anyway, they came to my house, and we had a lovely time, chatting an painting all evening.

Yesterday, I went to try out another art group in the area. St Andrew`s art group, in Monkseaton. I really enjoyed myself, the people there were so friendly, and welcoming that I decided to join that group too.

With being so new to the area, it`s been a lovely way to make new friends.

Actual painting wise........... I`ve been working on one of the swans I photographed at Leizes Park the other day. I`ll have to post photo`s later, because I haven`t photographed it yet.

............. so I`ll be back, ........with said pictures.

Painting in pastels for a change.

It`s at least 3 years since I last painted in pastels. I thought pastels would be perfect for this scene.....

                                          The picture is of Cullercoates Bay, Near Tynemouth.
After our art society`s AGM last week, Doug and I went for a drive along the coast, and the sky was a beautiful mix of pinks, and purples, and blues etc This was about 9.30pm, you wouldn`t think so would you?

I`m trying to get some practice painting beaches and seascapes, because on September 17th, I will be taking part in an "Art on the Beach" event, at Newbiggin By The Sea, in aid of MacMillen Nurses. It looks like it`s going to be a fun day, with various arty events going on, and we will hopefully, break the world record for the most people painting on a beach at one time............ so you just might see us in the Guiness book of records!

Sketching

I was having trouble with my hands yesterday, so I went out to get some reference photo`s rather than paint. We went to Leizes park in Newcastle where I got some lovely pictures of the park and the gorgeous swans cleaning themselves on the lake. I`m looking forward to painting those one day.
They also had a fun day on and a dog show, so I got some pics of horses, ....and dogs...of course.

After the park, we took the scenic route home, through China town, and then, we stopped off at the riverside to get some pictures of the famous bridges over the river Tyne..... more photo`s to add to my ever growing "I must paint" box.

In the evening I was still feeling unwell, so I got out a big, chunky pencil, which was easier to grip for me, and I sketched the following pictures. They are only quickie pics, but at least I`m still doing "something arty".

The photo`s aren`t very good..... that is why it is always best to take your photo`s in natural daylight, and not under artificial lighting at nighttime.

.......and just to whet your appetite, here`s one of the Tyne...

I couldn`t resist

..............painting a quicky.

Longsands at Tynemouth.

I`m not very happy with this painting, because I was having trouble with my grip, and I splashed paint a couple of times, that is why there are birds in the sky.....lol, but at least I got to wet my brushes.

............and just for Doug...just to bring back a few memories for you.

AAaaaaaaaaarrrr, back to my art.

My friend has just gone home, on one hand I`m sad, but on the other hand........ I can paint again, woohoo. I`m mad I know, but after not painting for over two years, now that I`ve started again, I don`t want to stop.

A friend of mine`s daughter had a baby boy, so I made this card for her, so I suppose that was arty.

I`ll be back when I`ve wet those brushes..........see ya later!!!

It`s been a busy, busy week.

I haven`t been able to paint the last few days because I`ve had my friend staying with us, so we`ve been driving around all the beauty spots, showing off our lovely area.
Plus.......... I`ve had a couple of hospital appointments, and also I`ve had two art society meetings this week. I`ll write more about those at a later time, but needless to say, I`m excited about the coming months.

My friend goes home on Saturday night, so I`ll be adding more paintings soon, and I`ll let you know what I`m going to up to soon. ..... so watch this space!!!!

18th July 2011 life boat painting.

Well, I`ve been at it again. I painted the following picture last night,

I drew it out the night before, then I couldn`t resist painting it. When Doug and I went out fishing a couple of weeks ago, this lifeboat sailed past us, on it`s way to help a little boat whose engine had broken down.
Dougy has taken up sea fishing, so our plans are for him to fish, while I paint. We just need some nice weather now.

                                                                  Bamburgh Castle

Another of my new paintings. This is the famous Bamburgh casts le, which is just a few miles up the coast from where our new home is. I figure I better brush up on my landscape skills, living this close to some of the most beautiful coastline and scenery in the world.

As we now live 2 minutes from the beach you will probably see alot of seascapes in the future. That`s if I can master some of the skills needed to paint such scenery. There are so many gorgeous scenes right on our doorstep, that I am itching to paint every sight I see. If only I had the time, energy, health and skills necessary............... aaaaaarrrrrr!!!!!

Some of my new paintings

St Mary`s Lighthouse.

This was the first painting that I did after a two year break. The colours look slightly washed out in this photo, but on the whole I was quite pleased with it, seen as it was my first.

I felt like I was learning all over again, everything felt completely new and different. I had to re-learn my colour mixing and how much water each brush held, and which brush had the best point etc.

Boats at bay.

This was the second painting that I did. I worked from a photograph for the boats, but invented the background.

I`m getting a bit more used to colours, and brushes etc now This is a little looser to what my old style used to be, and I`m going to try and stick with the looser style. I also did quite a lot of colour mixing on the paper, which is new to me, and I really enjoyed it. In the past I would have built up 7 or 8 glazes of colour, but this way of working is quite alot quicker........... and the electricity bill should stay down, now that I`m not drying each glaze......lol

Welcome to my new blog

........... hopefully it will be a place for me to log my paintings, and to set myself little challenges to encourage me to keep painting.
After recently moving to Newcastle, I have joined the North Shields Art Society (NSAS) which I`m loving. Unfortunately it will be closing down for the summer holidays, this week, so this means I might slip into not painting again.
I`m hoping that by having this blog, I can give myself little tasks and challenges to keep me motivated.

One of the first challenges will be....... trying to get into the habit of keeping this blog up to date...lol.