A New Girl and a Giveaway

On my blog I have two ways that you can become a follower. Google Friend connect and by email. As far as I know there is no way of telling how many people follow by email but this week my total number of followers on Google Friend Connect has now reached 90.

I thought I would mark the occasion with another Giveaway. So here is one of my postcard sized girls made especially for this occasion.

She was created with oil pastel on paper and mounted on mount board.

Anyone visiting this post is welcome to join in.  All you have to do to be entered in the draw is to leave a comment and indicate that you wish to be included in the draw.

Pleas note: ONLY PEOPLE WHO STATE THEY WISH TO BE INCLUDED WILL BE ENTERED IN THE DRAW.

 The winner will be drawn by hand (I don't know how to set up a random generator thingy) and will be announced here on SUNDAY 7TH JUNE 2015.

I hope you will join in and please check back next week to see if you are a winner. 

GOOD LUCK

XXX

Update. The draw has now closed.

Paint Party Friday

I want to start by saying THANK YOU to all who have visited and commented here recently I love hearing your thoughts and comments. It has been very hectic over the past week and I have not been able to spend as much time as I would like visiting my blog friends. I hope to rectify that ,at least a little, at the weekend.

I posted a WIP on Wednesday and I have done a little work on one of the faces and this is how it looks at the moment.

I read a little while ago on someones blog (sorry I can't remember which one) that some people are unsure about posting 'works in progress'. I myself like to see the process. I think you can learn so much from seeing how other artists work I certainly have and still do. Talking of which...........

Earlier this week I ordered a book called 'Brave Intuitive Painting' by Flora Bowley and it has just arrived and is sitting here in its cardboard packaging just waiting to be opened. I just love getting 'arty' books and I also get one of my favourite sub-straits to work on for free (cardboard packaging).

I am linking this to PAINT PARTY FRIDAY.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

XXX

WOYWW

This is what's my desk looks like this Wednesday.

I am currently working on another canvas board. I am starting to get a liking for them, I think.

Although I use layers in my backgrounds the results are mostly luck rather than design. I find that I still really struggle with them. So much so that I have decided to really concentrate on learning how to improve them. 

I have a large size Dylusions Journal and I don't work in it as a often as I should. I always feel that I want to produce a finished piece that can be put in a frame instead of just playing for playing sake. so I have promised myself that I will start working  in it to produce  just layered backgrounds. I definitely need the practice.

I am eagerly awaiting the postman to deliver a lovely new book I have ordered for inspiration. One of my great loves is looking through 'arty' books. I wish I could buy them all. But then I would never get anything of my own done. LOL!

I am linking this to WOYWW.

THANKS FOR VISITING

AND

 FOR ALL YOUR LOVELY COMMENTS

XXX

A Fishy Tale

I began working on a background on cardboard and just couldn't get it right. Many layers of paint and citra-solv papers later I still wasn't happy with it so I started to tear the top layer off and eventually discarded to whole thing apart from some of the citra-solv pieces.

I was determined to get something finished today so here is what I ended up with. A very simple collage using the left over papers.

I am linking this to ART JOURNAL JOURNEY where the theme for this month is THE SEA.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

XXX

Just Pastels for WOYWW

Just having a play with my beloved oil pastels. I'm still using my Portfolio's.

I have um'd and ah'd about investing in some artist grade oil pastels for a while now but I enjoy working with oil pastels so much that I have decided to go for it and order some. There is a set of 'Portrait Colours' that I have my eye on.

Linking this post to WOYWW.

Playing with Paper.

Over at Art Journal Journey this month the theme is THE SEA.

This theme is close to my heart as one of my most favourite sounds is of the sea. Whether it be the tranquil sound of the lapping of the waves or the crashing sound of the waves on a windy day.

This is my second entry for this month and for this one I decided to create something using just pieces of my citra-solv papers.

For those of you that may not know about Citra-Solv. It is a natural concentrated cleaner and degreaser which when painted onto National Geographic magazines dissolves the ink to make randomly patterned papers which can be used to make individual pieces of artwork.

Here are some examples of the types of papers you can get from using this technique.

And I think this one already looks like a squally sea.

Thank you for stopping by and I want to say a BIG thank you to all who left such lovely comments on my last AJJ entry. I really appreciate you taking the time to let me know your thoughts.

Bye for now.

xxx 

Untitled

Over the last week I had two unfinished paintings to complete. One I finished earlier this week if you missed it you can see it here.

The second was in my Dylusions Journal.

Inspiration for this portrait came from the paintings of Modigliani and I mainly used acrylics and oil pastels together with inktence pencil and watercolour pencil.

I am linking this to Paint Party Friday. Why not pop over and see what other party goers have been up to this week.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

XXX 

WOYWW

This is what is on my desk this week.

 All at Sea

I used some leftover inky paper that was just right for the rusty boat and the sea is made up of citra-solv papers. I hope you like her.

I am linking this post to WOYWW. Pop over and take a look at what's on other desks this Wednesday.

I am also joining in with ART JOURNAL JOURNEY. The theme this month is THE SEA. Follow the link to see who else is joining in.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY

AND

THANKS TO ALL WHO TAKE THE TIME TO COMMENT

I LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

XXX

Untitled

I am on the verge of finishing my little sailor girl. However, yesterday I felt like creating something different and quick. So I did another postcard size girl.

Meet Tuppence.

 Tuppence

5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch Postcard

I used Stabilo all pencil, inktense pencil, acrylic and oil pastel. Her dress is cut from fabric. These postcard size girls are turning into a  mini series.

I hope you like her.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

XXX

WOYWW

It's a very wet and windy Wednesday here in my part of the UK. I don't know where Spring has gone. But Wednesday means time to share what is on my desk.

I have taken a break from my Modigliani inspired portrait and started a new mixed media piece on cardboard.

The sea is layers of citra-solv papers and the background is layers of gesso, handmade papers and acrylic.
Her little boat is some left over inky paper. It is, in fact, the back where the ink had seeped through and it was ideal to give the boat a rusty look.

I am linking this to WOYWW where, if you follow the link, you will be able to visit other desks around the world.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

XXX

A Little Progress and PPF

There have only been subtle changes to her skin tone and eyes since my last post on Wednesday but I wanted to share her here for Paint Party Friday.

Next time she appears here she will be finished
.
I am linking this post to PAINT PARTY FRIDAY which is a regular get together for artists around the globe. Hosted by Eva and  Kristin. Why not pop by and check out what other party goers have been up to this week.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY.

XXX