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.