Bits and Bobs................and more Bobs............

Hi, its good to be back in blogland am happy to say the Shingles is on its way out along with the pain (big sigh of relief).

The following is a bit of a mixed bag of artwork, but it proves I haven't been idle..........

This painting I've designed for a Wedding Card in December.  Painted in Acrylics

Having a go at the Mona Lisa in a 'Brigadoon' style setting................

A bit of fun worked in coloured pencils

Attempts to draw Jack Sparrow in charcoal pencils.................mmmmm methinks a lot more practice is needed.............lol

A small box, painted in Acrylics and coated in Varnish, definitely a fun project but difficult to photograph as parts of the varnish looks white in the photos

and finally...........

 

The above Art Journal Pages are the results from a free Art Journal Wisdom online course at Dirty Footprints Studio.  (also see my sidebar, give it a go, I promise you will enjoy it)

Phew I hope you didn't drop off to sleep with this lot to look at, don't think have posted so much at one time before...............

Thank you very much for calling in and being so patient with me...........have so much catching up to do in Blogland and also on Facebook.  Will be taking these works with me to Paint Party Friday this week.

Take care of yourselves and thank you for all your kind wishes and hugs, Annette xx

New Drawing Box and Journal 52 - Paint Party Friday.

Rain, Rain and yet More Rain.............no wonder there are so many Ducks in the UK........

I had another sort out of rubbish I'd collected but found an old wooden pull out box which housed dominos and thought this would be ideal to keep my drawing bits in, well some of them anyway.  It was covered with brightly covered farmyard animals and this is how it ended up...............

First I painted it with Black Gesso, then sanded it to reveal some of the colours below.  Covered the inside rim and outside with Washi Tape.  To finish off I used Modge Podge Gloss to seal it.

The picture on the front is from a brochure that was given away at our local museum displaying clay models.

Am really pleased that I now have a useful box to use while am watching the TV

Journal 52 Week 21 prompt is Mandalas.  I have always avoided doing these, but the whole object of these prompts is to challenge yourself.............so had a go at making two of them.

The first one is in Black pens and the second one uses an old Gelli Plate background, Acrylic Paint and Black Pens.   Used CD's to make the circles.

Have also finished two small canvas board paintings which have to be framed and have finished a large canvas, which will show you next week if I remember.

So all in all a great productive week.  Thank you for dropping in, take care of yourselves, hugs Annette x

Mix it Monthly and Journal 52

Hi, am feeling a lot better now and have managed to complete some journal pages.
Mix it Monthly's Challenge this month is Coffee

Coffee for One

Using the colours that were requested, in Acrylics and Gel Pens  (the brown spots were supposed to represent coffee beans)

The second one, the colour scheme went totally out of my mind and off I went into my own dream world.

Coffee of Dreams

Acrylics and a white Gel Pen

Am also putting both the coffee pages into Art Journal Journey, where they asking for Circles

Journal 52 challenge for week 18 was using a Hand or Hands

Acrylics and Oil Pastels were used

Journal 52 - week 19 was to use a photo or photos

Photos, acrylics and stamping

Am also posting these pages into Paint Party Friday this week.  Thank you for popping in and thank you for all your wonderful sympathies on Monday.  Its great to be eating a meal again instead of gallons of water. Hugs Annette x

PS.  If you are on WordPress it won't let me leave a comment at the moment, it keeps saying you are typing too fast - error.  Not had that problem before so sorry if you haven't heard from me.

Journal 52 - Week 17

First have to apologise for not visiting you, only my computer contracted a virus which disabled it.  Its now been fixed and am happy to be back in blogland.

Journal 52 prompt this week is Refresh, which can mean all manner of things, I chose to Refresh and Renew with colours in my spread - plus

IF YOU GET SIMPLE BEAUTY AND NOUGHT ELSE YOU GET ABOUT THE BEST THING GOD INVENTS

Refresh and Renew my love of all things Asian and a chance to use my new Portfolio Water Soluble Oil Pastels and I love them, so creamy and easy to use.  Chose this quote from Robert Browning because this expresses my true feelings about everything.

The journal spread will also be for this weeks Paint Party Friday.

Thank you for popping in and will try and catch up with you all very shortly.  Hugs Annette x

Journal 52 and Paint Party Friday

Hi, am really early for Paint Party Friday, mainly because have so much to do at home.

The page below is for Journal 52 prompts Week 5 - Abstract Art and Week 10 - Art for a Cause (combined)

Gelli plate background, ink pen and Acrylics (the words are digital)

I think it is Abstractish...... painted with the Macmillan Nurses in mind who do such a wonderful job supporting Cancer patients.  Have personally experienced this twice in my life and have many friends who are undergoing Cancer treatments.

For Paint Party Friday am showing a canvas board painted in Acrylics.  Its called the Poetry of Flowers.

Have just been sent this beautiful Haiku for the above painting, by Jez one of our Paint Party artists at 18.11 today, thank you so much Jez

Light as Thistledown

Fragile moments of Beauty

Heal Sorrowing Hearts

By Jez Eden

At the moment am working on a large oblong canvas using a similar design to the above and colours, but in a different formation.  Will show you when am nearer completion............

Have a great week and weekend, am off to Lou Lou's Vintage Fair in Bedford on Sunday with my youngest daughter and friend, followed up by a visit to a Themed Bar/Restaurant,  Laurel and Hardy, supposed to have a sun terrace.........so hope it is dry and sunny......

Thank you for popping by, take care of yourselves, hugs Annette xx

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY PAINT PARTY FRIDAY

Cannot believe we are starting on our 4th year at Paint Party Friday..........have seen the number of artists grow considerably since it first started.  Many thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting this well loved blog. We have such a lot of amazing artists who are always willing to share their knowlege and to boost us amateur painters along.

Created this digi to celebrate the party................

THATS DEFFO NOT MY BODY..............LOL

and a small page for fun,  from one of my art books ' Perching on the Naughty Step'  done in watercolours and acrylics

Wishing you a very happy weekend and take care of yourselves, hugs Annette x

Mix it Monthly - Abstract and Paint Party Friday

Hi, have been enjoying a rest, well sort of, apart from Spring Cleaning and there was a lot of Spring to Clean......

Mix it Monthly are asking for Abstract Paintings using the colours - Deep Yellow, Orange, Deep Blue, Sky Blue and Light Turquoise. Not really sure about the term Abstract Art so looked it up and it says

'Art that does not attempt to represent external, recognizable reality but seeks its effect using shapes, forms, colours and textures'

Painted in Acrylics (on Canvas Sheet), its my interpretation of a piece by the wonderful abstract artist Osnat Tzadok 

The second piece for Mix it Monthly using the same colours is just something from my head.

Painted in Acrylics (on Paper) and watercolour pencils

Have enjoyed taking part in this March Challenge and again it has stretched me out of my comfort zone.
Am also off to Paint Party Friday another art challenge which keeps me on my toes..........lol

Wishing you a great weekend, take care of yourselves, hugs Annette xx

PS:  wow have just received this from Zoe Sanderson a beautiful piece of mail art and the wonderful Somerset Studio magazine, have never seen a magazine like it, truly wonderful with loads of inspiration. Thank you so much Zoe. xxxx

The Final Face of 29 Faces

Woo Hoo, have completed the challenge set by Ayala Art, its a wonderful challenge to have been a part of.
Have made some new friends and met up with old friends, seen some great art with a very supportive group of artists.  The challenge has pushed me into drawing every day and given me confidence to blog my attempts.

This is my Final Face

At the moment am calling it 'Town Life' until I can think of a better title.

Sketched in Graphite Pencils, palette knife, Acrylic Paint on Watercolour Paper plus a black pen.  Did you spot the couple on the roof.......

Just in case you missed Face 28 am showing it again

Am sorry this challenge has ended,  but will continue to draw every day because I certainly need the practice.  Have now a File for all of the 29 Faces, they are going to be great references for the future, plus the family will want to have a look at them.

To finish this post am proudly showing you a picture of the prettiest face, my great grand-daughter Amy.

Thank you for your company in this great challenge as know I couldn't have done it without all your support.

Am also sharing my final face with Paint Party Friday another terrific group of Artists.

Have a wonderful weekend and take care of yourselves, hugs Annette x

29 Faces - Faces 7 and 8

Hi, am sharing my Faces with Paint Party Friday.  Am slightly ahead because am away all day Saturday.
These are the latest Faces.  Am still trying for realistic, which is a personal challenge.

I know I said after the last male fiasco that would never draw a man again......call it a moment of weakness......

The following Faces are from in the week...........Faces 1 to 6

All the above faces need some work done to them when time allows.  So far am really enjoying the challenge of drawing a face a day......only 21 more to do..............eeek.

Thank you for dropping in, will see you either today or on Sunday, in the meantime take care of yourselves,
Hugs Annette x

A Very Special Paint Party Friday for Tracey

Hi, today at Paint Party Friday we are celebrating and showing our support to Tracey who is undergoing Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.  This lady is so brave and full of wonderful humour.  We were asked if we would like to create something for her reflecting her love of painting cups, mugs etc and then it would be made into a collage to honour this wonderful woman which you can see HERE

For my part I created this fun ATC using mixed media

Then I thought Nettie you have never drawn or painted a cup and saucer in your life, so get off your butt and have a go.

So there you have it, not a patch on the wonderful drawings that Trace does, but it was made with a kind heart.

Raising my cup to you Tracey and all the other wonderful artists at PPF.  Happy Christmas to all.
Hugs Annette xx

Paint Party Friday and Mix it Monthly

Hi, am early I know for the Paint Party Challenge but wanted you to see one of my paintings framed and ready to go for a Christmas Present to a dear young lady who is very special to me.  The reason I painted this for her is because she has always wanted to swim with dolphins but when she had the chance she was violently sea sick and couldn't get off the boat to fulfill her dream.

14'' x 11'' painted in Acrylics

Sorry about the bad photo as you can see my reflection in the glass which causes peculiar shadings.  The word Love is wooden which was painted then glued onto the glass, still you get the general idea.

Piarom has a fun challenge at Mix it Monthly - painting owls using only 3 colours.

This is an ACEO on canvas using acrylic colours:  Crimson, Cadmium Yellow Deep Hue and Cerulean Blue Hue. As you can see the owls are drawn free hand...........lol, also used Black and White Staedtler pens.

Mother and Daughter are on their way to have a Girly Day Out Shopping. Yep they are waiting for the Shopping Bus to spend their hard earned cash/worms.

Thank you for popping in, take care of yourselves, hugs Annette x

Dabbling

Hi, its ages since have taken part in Paint Party Friday and have really missed it.  Mostly because I've been playing with designs and paints and not really getting anywhere even though it has been great fun.

The above is a Calla Lily I painted in Acrylics and then framed it with Photo Flexer (free digital programme)

Canvas 18 x 12 inches is drying on the easel.  The canvas has been painted over numerous times but have never liked the results.  This time painted various shades of blue, then used modelling paste over a stencil, its still not dry.  What will happen next have no idea............so its a wait and see jobby.

A page taken from my Sketch Book, background created with Pic Monkey (free digital programme), the lady on the left is an angel but using the background her wings got rather lost, still it was fun to do.

We went to the Castle Theatre in Wellingborough on Tuesday to have a coffee and popped upstairs to see the latest Art Exhibition, such a joy to see, paintings were by a local artist Brenda McKetty (Painter/Illustrator), mostly whimsical seaside scenes, but it was the colours she used that thrilled me, wonderful joyful colours which made me smile.

Hubby had his 'op Wednesday and arrived home at 10.15 pm, good to have him home safely.  He has to go again in February for more Stents but they will keep him in hospital this time as he has to have quite a few.

Playtime over as have to get my Christmas Heart Tags finished.  Thank you for dropping by and wishing you a lovely weekend, stay warm and safe.  Hugs Annette x

Paint Party Friday and Summer of Color the Finale

Hi, have at long last finished my large canvas in water mixable oils - Walking in the Rain  anyways it has to rest for 6 months before its varnished which leaves me a bit of time in case I change my mind............

Here is how it was the last time I showed you................

very red............lol

The Summer of Color 2013 is ending this week.  Have taken part the last two years and each time I've tried to vary it.  This year have made a collage, using the chosen colors by the majority (we all voted)...........have to say my choices were in the minority.........lol......it was a great challenge to take part in and to see all the wonderful pieces the members displayed.

I would also like to enter this fun piece of work with Ali-Craft who are asking for Butterflies

Thank you for visiting me and hope you enjoyed my offerings for Paint Party Friday and Summer of Color.

Am taking a blogging break until September and I hope to see you then.

Have a terrific weekend and take care of yourselves, hugs Annette x

Happy PPF and Summer of Color

Hi, today I have two pieces to show you for the party..............

The Keeper..............she is the Keeper of Secrets.  Painted in my Art Book with Acrylics

Woo Hoo, the Summer of  Color started this week and hosted by the lovely Kristin, if you would like to join in this fun time or see what others have produced go HERE......  This is the third year of SOC and have managed to take part in all of them, each time doing something different.  The colors this week are Citron Green and Turquoise.

For this year am doing Birds in the appointed color prompt.  The idea is, when finished they will be made into a collage, thats if they turn out OK, otherwise will have to have a rethink..........yep I do that a lot...lol

Thank you for dropping by, have a great weekend and take care of yourselves, Hugs Annette x

Brigadoon and Going your own Way.... for Paint Party Friday

Hi,  haven't done very much painting that can show at Paint Party Friday this week as most of it is works in progress, but am showing a page from my art practice book.  She started off as the Mona Lisa but turned into Fiona from the musical Brigadoon.........a village in Scotland which only appears 1 day in a hundred years.....

Acrylics

as I was painting her the tunes of this musical kept going round in my head.......so instead of Mona we now have Fiona...........

Also would like to show you a page that was blobbed with watercolours..........for those of you who don't know this is a technical expression..........lol

Drew a fish then used it as a stencil.  Added the words and framed it digitally.  This is a question I often ask myself.

Am off to Art class in the morning so will catch up with you later in the day.  Thank you for popping in and wishing you a terrific weekend.  Hugs Annette xx

More Flowers for PPF

Hi,  managed to finish the painting I started last week which is of a Gerbera, painted in Acrylics on a Canvas Board.

Am also preparing for the end of term exhibition of our art work where we display our canvases for visitors to see (which is pretty scary).  One of my exhibits will be this painted bottle and am not sure if it will go down well, but have painted it so am displaying it............lol

It was a bottle of Rose' wine which was undercoated with Gesso, painted with Acrylics, Transparent Crackle Glaze, and coated with Modge Podge Sparkle.  The Hummingbird (Designs by Ryn) was stamped on Kitchen Roll and adhered to the paint. Sticky back ribbon, gold wire and beads.  The cap is painted gold with sprinkles of gold glitter.  Unfortunately you cannot see the pretty glistening from sparkles in these photographs.

Have got another bottle on the go at the moment which has been prepared differently, still thinking about the design.

So pleased to see you here and being a part of my art adventures.  Thank you for all your wonderful support.....am sure I can hear a bottle of wine calling to me.....whats it saying?.......drink me.....well it would be rude not to wouldn't it and after all I am supposed to be a debauched artist am I not............lol

Take care of yourselves and have a terrific weekend, hugs Annette xx

Painting Flowers for Paint Party Friday

Hi, I got a bit mixed up about last weeks lesson, thought it was painting petals, leaves and such like when in fact it was using masking fluid.  We were told to paint a flower using masking fluid..........never used the stuff before and got in a right old mess.............am sure its something you need to practice with as had terrible trouble getting the darn stuff off.   As you all know I have never drawn or painted flowers so practice was needed.  Borrowed a book from our local library called 'The Acrylic Flower Painter's A to Z' by Lexi Sundell, its a fab book with brilliant instructions, especially for a newbee like me.

The paintings below have been painted with Acrylics on Canvas Boards and turned out a lot better than I thought they would.

Rose Mallow

and of course I had to play with it............

Morning Glory

Yep am now enjoying painting flowers and have another one in progress which will show you next week if it turns out OK.  The flower which was painted in class with the masking fluid has a huge hole in it where I rubbed too hard on the paper getting the fluid off...........so its in the bin now with the rest of my mess ups....

It has been terrific to have January just to paint and its certainly something I will do again.

Wishing you all a terrific weekend, take care of yourselves and thank you so much for dropping by and giving me your support.  Hugs Annette xx