New work.....

"Whilst she sleeps"

I am playing around with the idea of taking my work in a slightly (very slightly) different direction.

I've been feeling a lot more grounded and calm recently and feel the need for this to come through in my work...a more tree hugging, yoghurt knitter kinda vibe!!

She's still a work in progress, but I like her.

I have been mostly....

working on top secret projects!!!

Starting a new painting.....although I'm being drawn to the craft side at the moment, so I expect it will sit on the easel for a while, waiting for the inspiration to strike again.

And I've been working on me abit too...maybe I'll explain that at a later date....

With this extra time....

I've been tidying my "studio"......

My little cheering squad looking on while I am working at the easel 

Started on a new piece......

No longer intimidated by a blank canvas.

Been outside to gain some inspiration......

Love the bright colours of flowers

Baked some goodies....

They taste good

Painted in cheesecloth and fluffy socks....

Snuggly

And finished the painting I started last week.....

It's been a good start to this re-jiggled life!!

A new start....

For what seems like forever and a day I have struggled with the whole work/life/art balance.
This has left me sad, angry and frustrated a lot of the time.
BUT finally I may have got it sussed.

By jiggy my work schedule, I seem to have jiggled myself more time for arty/crafty stuff and more time for my life as well.

Go Team Me!!!

So yesterday, after spending the morning doing "work" stuff, I came home, relaxed, thought about art and life stuff and then spent a large part of the afternoon watching the rabbit that lives in the garden...no pressure.

The Garden...no rabbit

This morning I have been creating a surprise for a friend and again, no pressure. It felt good.....

Back behind the easel.......

For the first time in ages, I feel excited and enthusiastic about being in front of a blank canvas.

I believe that "creative me" is sneaking her way back in....

I'll keep you posted

xxx

Trust your artistic insticts

Many moons ago, I started this painting for a college project.
I loved it, (my instinct was telling me it was good).
My tutors did not.
I battled and struggled, tried to change into something they would like.
They still didn't like it.
I gave up and fell out of love with it.
I left it abandoned and gathering dust.
Every now and then, I'd look over at it and scowl.
But now I look at it and love it again.....except for those stupid bits I tried to change to please others.
So I am going to trust my instinct, put brush back to canvas and finish the painting how I want to and not how others believe it should be.

Old Sketches

Maybe I'll start working on these some more......

Things that are inspiring me today.....

Decaying. old boats

Layers of rust

 

 

A long forgotten, half finished piece of work

Brightly coloured wool

Thick oil paints

My selection of painting tools

A painting that I love, although my art tutor said it was rubbish

A jumble of ribbons and trimmings

And my beloved watercolours

New Challenges.....

http://creativeeveryday.com/creative-every-day-challenge

A New Year....

Yet again...it's been a while.


So what have I been up to...not painting that's for sure!!!
The lure of the paintbrush has been lacking of late, the lure of the sewing box and wool basket has been stronger.


I've been doing this:



A Wee Knitted House bought from here whilst on holiday
http://www.no47tobermory.co.uk/



Restoration of a inherited blanket that is the size of the moon!!! Much undoing of ancient sewing.

My nights are spent reading and digesting these and filling sketchbooks with new ideas. (oh and on the subject of sketchbooks, don't let me sign up for another Sketchbook Project, yet another empty, expensive sketchbook resides at my house)

Boxes full of wool tops waiting to be turned into something special.

Needle felting

My first attempts at needle felting

And cross-stitch presents for friends!!!



Basically, I've been having a crafty time!!

:o)