Day 23

I got a little behind again but managed to catch up today. And, I finally braved the oil paints. I LOVE them! I know I have a lot to learn but I think me and the oils may just turn out to be buds! I instantly felt like here was a medium I was going to get along with. Fingers crossed xx

Day 20 Oil on wood

29 Faces September 2014

I cannot believe it is September already! But, along with the downside of time going too fast, comes the fantastic news that 29 Faces Challenge has returned.

Whilst finding it tough to keep the discipline of a completed face each day, I really enjoy the process of daily creation. This time around, I am giving myself the extra challenge of using only charcoal and acrylic paint to create each one. I really want to learn more and push myself out of my comfort zone. No graphite - arrgh! I hope I will learn a lot - keeping my fingers crossed.

Here's day one (wonky eye!!) Why is it that I can always see things I want to change when I look back at the photograph hehe!

Day 1

Loving the Charcoal!

Over the past few weeks, encouraged by the beautiful artist Kelly Berkey, I have been experimenting with charcoal on wood. I want to try pushing myself to do something out of my comfort zone and using materials unfamiliar to me.

Wow! I am finding it hard. What I have discovered is that I think I am a bit of a 'neat freak', wanting straight lines, balance and symmetry. I find it really difficult not to pick up my pencil and go in to my drawings to straighten and tighten things up that I find messy and loose.

But, I am persisting hoping it will give me new skills, more confidence and a different perspective to my work.

Here are the most recent. I find it so fascinating taking a photograph of something I have been working on and comparing this with the original work. I often find I can so see so much clearer the next steps I need to take from this photograph than from the work itself. I wonder why?

Don't forget - today is the final day of my 25% off summer sale. Add code SUMMER25 at checkout xx

Interview with the Little Bohemian Butterfly

Hello! And, I hope you like the new look of my little blog. It's still a work in progress but I am liking how it's going so far. I really should say a huge thank you to Claire from a Little Bohemian Butterfly for all the help in getting me started and for giving up her time to help me out.

I connected with Claire when she came along to a show I was attending and she had an instant connection with my funny girls. After an online friendship grew, she asked if she could interview me for a feature on her blog, The Little Bohemian Butterfly. Of course I agreed and if you would like to have a little nosey at what we chatted about, you can click on her link above to reach her blog.

Claire has also posted an exclusive discount code there for my Etsy shop which can be redeemed throughout August. The code will be released on my site on Friday 1st August so blog readers will have it exclusively until then.

My new studio!!

I have some amazing news to share with you. Today I signed the lease and made the jump towards ... My new studio!! 

I am SO excited to begin this new adventure. It is a shared studio space with some amazing artists, photographers, musicians and such an amazing view over the river too. Can't wait to move in!!!

I am a lucky, lucky girl! 

Have a Lucky and Happy Weekend too! xx

View from the corridor

Corridor

From one of the windows

Overlooking the river

Written in the Stars

Happy Monday!! And, another beautiful day here. Sun shining and all is well.

Here is one of my latest girls that I said I would share with you.

Hope it's a wonderful day xx

Written In The Stars

Day 26

This little girlie shares her birthday with my real life little girlie. Though, she is not so little any more. 17 years old today - gone waaaaaaaaaaaaay too fast. She is growing into a beautiful, smart and independent young lady. SO proud of her (but that's enough growing now thank you very muchly hehe!!) Happy Birthday, Mathilda xx

Day 26

Day 13

Good Morning!

A bit of a grumpy madame today I feel!! xx

Day 12

Well, the snow went as fast as is came. My son's 'Snow Dance' in an attempt for a snow day, failed miserably and he has gone off to school this morning very grumpy!

Here's my Day 12 sketch that I sketched during our all too brief (in Charlie's opinion) snow storm yesterday.

Hope it's a good Wednesday for you xx

Day 11 - It's snowing!

The winter predominantly over and I thought we had escaped it. First I get the sniffles and now we have snow! I wonder if it will come thick enough to play?! I know my children will be excited already for a snow day!

I will be staying indoors. Brrrrgggghhh!

Hope all is well where you are.

xx

Day 3

Hello! Monday??!! Yikes! This weekend has gone waaaaay too fast!

My Day 3 sketch for 29 Faces Challenge.

Happy Monday!

Strength in Sadness

Day 29

My final sketch for the 29 Face Challenge.

But, as there are 30 days in September and I originally set myself the challenge of a sketch per day, I am going to sketch another tomorrow. I think I am enjoying this challenge too much hehe!

Have a great Monday!

xx

Day 28

Does she remind anyone else of Kathy from Wuthering Heights? I am not sure if it is the whispy hair or her clothes but I think she definitely belongs in a period costume drama!

xx

Day 26

It's Friday!!!!!

It had better not rain!

xx

Day 25

She looks to me like she needs a good hairbrush!

xx

Day 24

She was a very quick sketch but I like how she turned out. She looks like a happy little lady to me!

Happy Tuesday!

xx

Day 23

Cats Eyes

Although I didn't set out to, I think she looks like she has cats eyes!

She makes me smile and I like that.

Happy Tuesday!

xx

Day 22

I have had a lovely weekend. There's been lots of sunshineeeee!

Fingers crossed it lasts at least a little while longer.

Hope a good weekend was enjoyed by all.

xx

Day 21

I am not sure if she is a little Alice or perhaps a ballerina in the making.

Happy Sunday.

xx

Day 20

It's Windy Up North!

Happy Weekend!

I'm off out to lunch with my mum and my grandma. We don't all get together very often so I am proper looking forward to it!!

Cake - yuuuuuuuuuuuuum!

xx