1666 Mandarins

10" x 18" oil on panel,to be framed

This one took me quite a while, but I'm finally pleased with it, lately I seem to be painting a lot of oranges , maybe because we always have plenty in the house and they are such a vibrant colour and just set off this blue & white terrine so well.

Exhibition!!!

COME JOIN ME IN DUBLIN, AT THE PEOPLES ART EXHIBITION (HELD 5 TIMES A YEAR.)
NEXT WEEK-END MAY 10,11,12 ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ST STEPHENS GREEN IN THE HEART OF DUBLIN WHERE I WILL BE DISPLAYING A LARGE AMOUNT OF MY LATEST STILL LIFES! DO COME BY AND SAY HELLO...

1665 Fuzzy Bee SOLD

6" x 6" oil on stretched canvas, sides painted

I painted this one in oils rather than acrylics, I have to say I enjoy the juicyness and texture of oils over acrylics and I always seem to come back to them.

1664 Velvet Faces

6" x 6" acrylic on canvas,sides painted black

Pansies are one of my favourite flowers, it must be their 'faces' each one with an unique personality and lovely velvety petals.

1663 Bleeding Hearts

6" x 6" acrylic on stretched canvas, sides painted black

These flowers are so fascinating, a hardy perennial that flowers year after year, I believe they come in a darker red and pure white too.

1662 My Flower Garden SOLD

6" x 6" acrylic on stretched canvas, sides painted black
AVAILABLE ON EBAY http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251264144568

Having fun getting away from my usual still lifes and painting with acrylics too, which take a bit of getting used to after painting so long with oil paints.

1661 Busy Bee SOLD

6" x 6" acrylic on canvas, sides painted

Back to small canvases, a flower from my garden with a visitor.

1660 Creamy Camembert

8" x 10" oil on canvas panel

One of my favourite cheeses especially when fully ripe on crusty baguette with a glass of wine mmm....

1659 Tomato Reflections

11" x 14" oil on panel, box framed

Another one finished that I have been labouring on! I might grow some tomatoes this year as there is nothing like growing your own and eating them straight off the vine with Mozzarella, basil, olive oil and balsamic dressing and a nice crusty loaf  mmmm...

1658 Cheese and Tomato & Portumna Castle

7" x 14" oil on panel, to be framed

I'm running out of ideas for titles, hence the rather boring one! sometimes it's easy and one just pops into my mind while I'm painting or just after completion, and there are ones like this... and blank.
I'm painting like a mad woman so that I will have a nice big inventory for the summer, but they just keep selling and I can't keep up! It's funny but these classic set-ups are so popular, I'm becoming quite an expert in painting cheesy subjects and I get to eat it afterwards an added bonus!

Our local castle, I haven't been to visit it yet as it's not open to the public until May, looks very grand from afar, they must have a lot of fireplaces with all those chimneys!

1657 Apple Chat and the Cliffs of Moher

8" x 10" oil on canvas board

I have gone back to painting smaller paintings for the upcoming art exhibitions in Dublin so that I have a variety of price points to sell.
Looks like the weather is getting slightly warmer here, thank goodness but of course it's raining today, a very unusual occurrance here in Ireland ;)

I thought that I would include a recent pic taken by my daughter of one of Irelands landmarks for your enjoyment!

1656 Lit from Above SOLD

8" x 6" = 20x15 cms.

I have been experimenting with lighting and effects and the distortion glass causes to objects, this small painting took almost as long to paint as a larger one, and elipses are such fun to paint aren't they!!!?  ;0

1654 Put the Kettle On!

14" x 18" oil on canvas panel to be framed
At last a new painting and one I would call a 'fiddler' I could go on indefinitely 'improving' but I'm getting it to the framers tomorrow so that'll stop myself and I'm starting something new and not so complex methinks ;)

1653 Orange Glow

10" x 18" = 25.5 x 46 cms oil on panel

Another one done and another to finish before a bunch of family arrive at the week-end staying for 10 days, house is clean, beds are made so am all organised and ready!

1652 Elixier

16" x 16" oil on panel

Here's a looser painting using both brush and palette knife, it is featuring a large copper jug that I bought recently at a general sale auction along with a couple of other copper and brass items.

 I've got a few paintings on the go at the moment that are just waiting for me to finish them, I think I prefer getting one finished before going on to the next one as I lose momentum and interest, but sometimes I have to wait for the paint to dry before carrying on, the disadvantage of oil paint. I have a drawer full of acrylics that I might dig out and use sometime, they sure dry fast.

I've just noticed that my keyboard is covered in paint spatters, I'm a messy painter I must admit, my hubby always laughs at my painted face when we stop for lunch, and most of my clothes have paint on them somewhere too ;)

1650 Flying Away

14" x 18" oil on canvas board

I have been working on this one for ages and I am finally happy with it, guess which bit was the most challenging to paint!? ;)

1651 Pears & Friends SOLD

6" x 6" oil on panel
It's a long time since I've painted a small still life and it was really refreshing after so many large complex ones. I scratched into the gesso to get this interesting surface to paint on, then I used palette knife  to scrape into the surface paint  to show it up more.

1649 Cocktail Collection

11" x 14" oil on panel
I'm in the middle of 2 intricate paintings that are taking ages to complete, hence a looser one for my mental healths sake!  I had to paint quite fast on this one as the flower and the leaf began to wilt quite quickly, I'm loving painting looser with the aid of a palette knife too and it's surprising how much more paint I use this way.

1648 Cheese and Crackers Anyone?

11" x 14" oil on canvas board 

Good ol' cheese and grapes, such a popular subject, I'm getting quite an expert at painting grapes I've painted so many!

 I have just started a new painting which seems enormous 24" x 24" and I have to squeeze out a bunch more paint onto my palette which I keep forgetting to do, it's a very complicated subject so who knows how long it will take me to complete, well better get cracking.

1647 Serene Pose

12" x 12" oil on canvas, NFS
This is a  kitty belonging to a dear friend back in England, I have been promising to paint her portrait for ages and I have finally got around to it. It took me quite a while to get her right, but I am finally happy with her.

 Unfortunately my painting room faces south and I have large patio doors to let in lots of light which is far too bright and when I paint from my computer screen the colours and contrast change dramatically. Especially difficult on a day where the sun comes in and out, drives me batty!

1646 'Blue Iris' and he loves chocolate!

 

12" x 12" oil on canvas board, framed

Another classic set up, a hand painted plate, bought in a job lot of plates and bowls at a local auction house paired with my favourite Denby jug.

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Thought I'd share with you a recent pic of my grandson eating a chocolate truffle ;O

 

1645 Simple Pleasures

8" x 10" oil on canvas board , framed  €245 free shipping

This crusty bread was deeelicious with this lovely French Brie, washed down with a glass of vino yum! My kind of lunch but oh no I'm going to WW's  darn, I almost forgot!

1644 'Cider Jug' and back again in Ireland SOLD!

11" x 14" oil on panel,framed

Yes I'm back painting and back in Ireland at last, rest of the family are pleased to have me back, just as I am glad to be back!

I've spent the last couple of weeks sorting out all my artwork, repairing and cleaning framed examples and generally getting myself organised. Just sent off 4 paintings to a new Auction house in Northern Ireland and 7 to another and 4 to one in Galway. Six are at the framers with another few due there so now I can see the rabbit for the trees ;0 or is that the wood for the trees!

This painting is a set up with an old Dorset cider jug surrounded by inquisitive fruit (English cider is alchoholic ;)) of course the contents have long since been imbibed.

This little video of my Grandson Kai who is 18 mths old walking down the stairs for the first time by himself, Bless him 

'1643 Apple Wrap' and wrapping things up!

9" x 12" oil on panel, framed

This will be my last painting for a few weeks, as I am packing up my things in preparation for my flight to Minnesota and then back to Europe a few days later. I've had to buy an extra suitcase to put all my accumulated stuff in, which will be excess baggage but still cheaper than posting it home.
Will keep you posted as to my whereabouts looking forward to going home!

1642 Opposites Attract SOLD

8" x 10 oil on gessoed panel, unframed,  

Here is the last painting of 2012, it was too dark to photograph it yesterday.

Here's that shiny apple again with a cute tomato eying him up. 

Wishing you all a Happy New Year and a great 2013 to all art fans, faithful followers and fellow artists.

1641 Seen to be Green SOLD

7" x 10" oil on panel, unframed

This was the shiniest apple I have ever seen at the store, do they have little elves with polishing clothes to get them that glossy?!!

1640 Peared Down

16" x 20" oil on   canvas panel, framed

Back to straight realism for a while, I might intersperse these with a few experimentations, just to please myself!
I shall be winging my way back to Europe at the beginning of the New Year, looking forward to being back home again and having a dedicated room to paint, peace and quiet with no interruptions from little people and pets. Not that I don't love em but granny duties are over for awhile  I can really concentrate on my art career and make plans and be deliciously self indulgent as well.

1638 Dissolving Lemon SOLD

6" x 8" oil on panel,unframed,  

I'm enjoying playing with my still lifes, this one is on roughly gessoed panel and painted with a brush and palette knife, the mandarin to the left is unrecognizable dressed in gold foil and the lemon decided to join the background.

1637 Kissing Cousins SOLD

6" x 8" oil on panel

Another experimental piece, this time I gessoed the panel and then scratched into it to make this effect and then painted the fruit onto the surface. I like the resulting painting, it's different as they say!

1636 Outshine You

12" x 9" oil on panel, framed
This little orange just outshines the other objects in this still life, they retreat into the background with envy!

1635 Mangoed!

9" x 12" oil on panel, framed
Another loose one, a combination of brush and palette knife. The colourful leaves I found on our patio and I thought that they would be a good combination with this lovely mango,  that echoed their hues perfectly.

1634 Wrapped

 

9" x 12" oil on panel, framed available

This is an upside down wineglass disguised with  aluminum foil. The little mandarins are bathed in the reflected light.

1633 Foiled Again!

9" x 12" oil on panel, framed 

I loved painting the one yesterday, so I found some coloured foils in my local store and thought that I might do a series of foiled items and see where this will lead.  

1632 Not like the Others SOLD

Ebay

8" x 11" oil on panel  SOLD

I'm enjoying myself so much creating these looser still lifes and trying to think up new and different ones.

Congrats to Carrie Waller for winning the Outstanding Watercolor Award in the Bold Brush Competition. To see her amazing painting   click  here  and all the other wonderful paintings.

1631 Don't Squeeze Me SOLD

9" x 12" oil on panel,unframed

Another experimental one and is available on 

1630 Red on Red and Affordable Art Fair Dublin

9" x 12" oil on panel, unframed SOLD

Here' a dark and moody one for you and a hard one to photograph too, especially when the weather outside is grey and rainy, I've got it as close to the original as I can, I hope. This one is also available on Ebay so do hop on over and put a bid on it please! Christmas gift for someone dear, always appreciated - the gift of original art. 
Hope everybody had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying a few days of relaxation. 

Here is our stand this morning, at the Affordable Art Show in Dublin, Ireland, with hubby in the spot light. Liza my eldest daughter is also on hand to support her dear ol' Dad ;) she's the one behind the camera!

1629 'An Apple Besides' SOLD

ebay

12" x 9" oil on panel , unframed SOLD



Another loose one painted with a palette knife, I'm trying really hard not to perfect things and hope that I may have many happy accidents ;)  I'm loving stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new, I want to make my paintings have more energy and that something that makes them less than ordinary.

I'm guessing it has something to do with self confidence, and confidence in ones ability. I learn something new with every painting. I'm really inspired by browsing other artists blogs and web-sites and get so many ideas that kick start my own creative juices.

1627 Jugendstil

12" x 16" oil on linen canvas, framed

This is the painting I needed a break from, it's finally finished! Now onto some more loose ones...

1628 Little Gourd

9" x 12" oil on panel, framed


Just finished a really tight still life which I found I wasn't really enjoying painting, so I thought that I would give myself an artist's 'bus-man's holiday'  so I set this one up and with a large flat brush off I went and enjoyed  painting this immensely, fast and loose with a bit of palette knife work too, so whatta you think?

1626 Flanked

9" x 12" oil on panel, framed

Well it's back to still lifes!
This colourful autumn leaf was found by my daughter and it has dried beautifully, if a bit fragile, I teamed it up with these two pretty pears that echo its colour palette.

1625 Mama, Papa and Me

20" x 20" x 2.5" oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted, available.

The last of three paintings in this mini series, I chose it because of the long shadows which were so perfect on that bright and sunny day. Now what to paint next.....................

1624 A Walk in the Park (also available as a print)

20" x 20" x 2.5" oil on gallery wrapped canvas, sides painted, available. Click  here to see this as a print

Kai was wearing his new winter coat and walking to the playground in the autumn sunshine. He's off to the store today to buy a pair of 'welly' boots, which I hope will feature in my next painting!

My Prize!

This sweet clown ACEO and easel were my prize for leaving a comment on Carol Blackburn's blog (check out her blog here http://carolblackburncontemporary.blogspot.com/  ) it came in the post with some of Carol's beautiful photos as an added bonus!

Thank you Carol
Keep up the good work!

1623 Is that Sand? also available as a print!

20" x 20" oil on deep gallery wrapped canvas,sides painted ready to hang  also available here as a  print

Oh so lovely to paint loosely after so many 'tight' paintings and to paint thickly too, I really enjoyed painting this one. The subject is of course my grandson Kai when he found a large mound of sand at a pumpkin farm recently.

1622 Dark and Luscious

12" x 12" oil on deep gallery wrapped canvas, to hang unframed

The last of my three grape paintings, now I'm going to paint something completely different, my grandson. It's always good to change subjects now and again and I'm aiming to paint much looser too, well try anyway ;)

1621 Full of Juice

12" x 12" oil on deep gallery wrapped canvas, to hang unframed

The second of three hanging grape paintings, the next one is already blocked in and will be of black grapes on a dark background that will be another challenge!

I have entered the Boldbrush painting competition, sponsored by FASO my web-site provider and free to enter, every month. The quality and quantity of the work done by other artists is staggering and perusing those wonderful paintings really shows one what can be achieved with a paint brush.   Here is the link  http://faso.com/boldbrush/

Well the 80 days of blue skies and sunshine are over and it's rain, rain and more rain here in WA, I think it's preparing me for the weather in Ireland.