Bottle and Cowrie Shell

It's been a while since I completed a painting! Too many distractions like sitting in the sun reading. I was also privileged to spend a day with John Dyer http://www.johndyergallery.co.uk/ who came to school to work with the children. He was so inspiring and I don't think a workshop with the children would have been much different had it been for adults. It did make me want to have a go but it's so different to what I do that it was a bit of a struggle!! Hence the time since my last still life. The bottle went really well on this one but the shell was a lot harder.

Blue and White

This group of objects were my haul from a cold Sunday morning at the car boot sale. Mostly tat,but if you look hard enough there are sometimes treasures to be found!

Darning Mushroom

Something a bit different. An old Sylko cotton reel and wooden darning mushroom are amongst my recent aquisitions. I guess you could call them objet trouve - literally found objects but also everyday objects turned into art. I wonder if anyone still uses a darning mushroom or do we just buy new socks and throw the old ones away!?

Silver Cup and Figs (sold)

From a photo taken when figs were around! A 1/2 pint silver cup, probably intended as a christening mug but found in a charity shop. Starting to get a bit of sunshine in the studio giving me some much needed warmth - roll on summer!

Posy

A gift from my friend Lindy, who's so good at that sort of thing, these daffodils were completely closed to start with. As always, I enjoyed the glass and reflections the most and I did really struggle with the flowers.

Little Red Oilcan again (sold)

I'm much happier with this painting. Done in one sitting, approx 2 1/2 hours. I have started using a lightbox setup again and it really makes a difference in controlling and directing the light!

Victorian Beer Bottle

I wanted to try the bottle again, but as the main focus. A very frustrating painting though, with the background scrubbed and re done 3 times!

Little Red Oil Can

Don't ask me why I chose the pliers - I'm not sure but I needed three for this composition! I might try the bottle, an old Victorian beer bottle from St Anne's Well Brewery, and the oil can on their own. The building that was St Anne's Well Brewery, is quite a well known one in Exeter, located underneath our famous iron bridge and now the home of Starz Bar.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone who is kind enough to follow my blog, a very happy Christmas.

The light of the Christmas star to you
The warmth of home and hearth to you
The cheer and good will of friends to you
The hope of a childlike heart to you
The joy of a thousand angels to you
The love of the Son and God's peace to you

Irish blessing

Still Frozen

Not that I'm harping on about it But this cold weather is so unusual for us!

Went out this morning and took some photos - my house is at the far right bottom of the picture.

Too cold to paint!

I haven't given up on my blog but I don't usually post unless I have a painting to show you all. Who wants to just listen to my waffle!

I haven't painted for a couple of weeks as it's been so cold here that it's hard to heat the studio. Things are looking up at the weekend though, so I am hoping to start something then.

I haven't been wasting my time though - I've been shopping! Got some great items to paint so look out soon for: an Oxo tin, some old beer bottles and a little red oil can!

Silver Hot Water Jug (sold)

We found this little beauty in an antiques shop in Honiton and I couldn't resist it. I am guessing that it's from somewhere at the beginning of the 20th Century but if anyone knows for sure I would love to know. It's the elegance of the fluted design and the little touches like the scroll on the handle, that are so appealing. They really knew how to make things in the 'old days'. The usual pastels on board, approx 12" x 10".

It's getting pretty cold in the studio now - I must look bonkers sat there with my feet on a hotwater bottle, with fingerless mittens on and two jumpers! All for art....

Figs & Honey

There is such a fantastic range of colours on the outside of a fig! Depending on ripeness: from cold blue to deep purples and browns. I suppose I should have found a proper honeycomb straight from the hive but I quite like the plain old, half used jar from my cupboard. Tricky light and shadows but more dramatic I hope.

Three fat figs

I liked the 'picture' that's through the window but am not sure if this detracts from the focus/object of the painting, which is the figs. I think they probably hold their own just about.

Stilton, wine & figs on a sliver tray

Why do I do it? Pick a difficult elipse with complicated shadows and highlights!! This painting is approx 14" x 16", Unison pastels on a colourfix primed board. Not my usual supper, I hasten to add.