Snowdrops and Sparrow acrylic painting on canvas

20 x 20 cms (8 x 8 ins approx). 

Unframed
Sold 

Back to painting birds this week.  Softer more muted colouring than previously.  Perhaps it's the frosty weather having an effect.  The snowdrops are less obvious in the garden than last year.  I think the birds have been pecking at them before they've a chance to flower.  Hopefully some will survive.  But just in case I've popped a few into an imaginary pot in this painting.

I used acrylics on canvas. The deep sides are left white, but I will probably paint the sides to suit the painting, making the picture suitable to hang on your wall without framing. Would also look good on a niche or shelf. You can add a frame if you wish when it arrives with you.

Available in my Folksy shop.  (This painting has now sold.  Others available)

Sketchbook and collage

Oil pastel sketch and mixed media collage work in progress

An unusual selection of work in progress on the easel today, as a result of a visit to town with a friend to view the exhibition of a young talented local artist.  Followed by lunch at our favourite eatery.

I quickly sketched the colourful starter plate with oil pastels on canvas paper.  Now it's propped on the studio easel with three collages I'm in the process of making.  So far on a hard board support I've used acrylic paint, cut and torn painted papers and drawings from my stash together with sketchbook ephemera.  I've a feeling today's food drawing may find it's way into a collage.

 

Painting - crochet coffee break

I'm making slipper socks for the chillier weather and made a drawing for this still life during my coffee break.  I needed to finish the slippers, so I added notes to remind myself of tonal values and colours so I could paint it later.

Interior with Plant - painting

 

This painting came about as a result of a process of making drawings from observation, a colour study and now this, the final painting.

'Strawberry on poppy dish' oil painting

Strawberry on Poppy dish

8x8ins

20.3x20.3cms
$99 plus shipping.

Fresh locally grown strawberries from January to May are just one of the perks of living on an island in the Mediterranean. It's just possible they may figure in further paintings before the hot weather frazzles the plants, I'll certanly be eating plenty!

This composition includes one of my favourite glass dessert dishes with glimpses of embroidery, known locally as Lefkara lace. If you check the link you'll see that it's not lace at all, but a type of hardanger embroidery.

Oil painting RED POPPY CUSHION

RED POPPY CUSHION

8ins x 10ins

(20.3cm x 25.4cm)

Oil on gessoed hardboard panel

CITRUS still life oil painting

CITRUS

5x7ins

Oil on gessoed masonite hardboard panel
$90 plus shipping.

The last rays before sunset were slanting in through the kitchen window and it was the strong shadows that interested me about this composition. Working with the new paints has had the effect of loosening my brush strokes so the overall effect of this is impressionistic.

Oil painting COFFEE

COFFEE

6x6ins (15.2x15.2cms)

still life oil painting on gessoed masonite hardboard panel
$90 plus shipping.

COFFEE still life oil painting Work in Progress 1

I'm trying out my new oil paints with a 6 x 6in still life on gessoed masonite hardboard. It's some time since I've painted with oils and anticipate it will take a while to readjust.

The Winsor & Newton Griffin alkyd oil paint is said to be quicker drying than normal oil paint, but not as quick as acrylic. I was hoping to be able to add layers and glazes in a single session in order to create this alla prima ... but it hasn't worked out that way. I think this will need leaving over night before I can adjust some tonal values and add detail. Interesting process though ... I shall persevere.

This cup is part of a Denby set I began to collect zillions of years ago. Sadly this cup, one bowl and a teapot lid are all I have left as a result of an earthquake shooting the whole deal out of a cupboard a couple of years ago! The ceramic hibiscus coaster is one of the type sold by the tonne here on the island of Cyprus.

Still-life BLUE POPPIES

BLUE POPPIES

5 x 7in

Acrylic on 3/4in thick MDF panel

This pot sits halfway up the stairs. I've been indulging myself with these small house/studio still-lifes and look forward to the several more I have planned. But with more portraits waiting for me, I'll have to pause for a few days.

Kitchen still-life - PARSLEY

4 1/2 x 7in

acrylic on 3/4in thick gessoed MDF

Here's today's painting. I love these chunky little jobs casually dotted around in unexpected places. With 2 coats of varnish it will stand up to kitchen duty very well I think.

Still life - Artist Model original painting

Artist Model

5 x 7in

(12.7 x 17.8cm)

SOLD

I bought this wee wooden man at IKEA last week and it was only a question of time before he got painted into a still life. Worked on gessoed MDF board.

Now available as a greeting card.

CLOCK WATCHING

CLOCK WATCHING

6" x 6"

(15.2cm x 15.2cm)

SOLD

I love the chunky solid look of this finished painting and like the way it can be displayed propped on a shelf or framed, whatever you like. The gessoed MDF board is a dream to paint on and I shall spray varnish all the surfaces, including the back for complete protection.

Clock Watching - Work in Progress 1

I thought I'd give the old alarm clock a last hoorah in a still life. Being smoothly metal it holds lots of lovely reflections that will be fascinating to play with.

Earlier this week I had some 3/4inch MDF cut into small panels. This one is 6" x 6" and had 4 coats of gesso before I began to paint. It has a very satisfying smooth surface and feels really great to work with.

MY NEW WATCH

Just look what number 2 son and daughter-in-law gave me at Christmas. It's so yummy I just had to paint it!

The painting is 6" x 4.5" acrylic on heavy 140lb Fabriano watercolour paper.

$25 plus shipping.

RED APPLE ON YELLOW original still life painting

Still life acrylic painting on canvas

7 x 9 1/2 inches (18x24cms)

I spent most of yesterday in town meeting with the girls. First coffee with Carole on her beautiful flower bedecked terrace, then off to pick up a painting that Panyiotis has framed for me. He's fixed it to a wood block and painted the sides charcoal grey, then floated it in a simple charcoal frame with a gap creating a shadow around. I'm pleased with the result and may try this again.

After lunch with Ann and Jenny, by the time I was home, there was only time for a tiny painting. These embroidery scissors have seen lots of action in the past, but recently are largely redundant. They make an interesting still-life though.

The finished painting can be seen on my Studio Bee Gallery blog.

OK just one then...

Just a quickie!

DAY 15 Project 365

The beginnings of another small format painting today, this time featuring orchids and mosaic. I drew the composition in pencil, including the canvas edges.

BLUE MOSAIC

BLUE MOSAIC
Acrylic on canvas, size 10cm x 10cm (4in x 4in). Painting continues on the 1cm deep edges, so no frame required.
SOLD