Christmas and New Year Greetings

I would like to wish all those who have visited my site ,
a big thank you, a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Your thoughts and encouragements have been a great spur when sometimes it hasn't worked as I would have liked. I have enjoyed the "challenge " of each challenge, attempting scenarios that were out of my comfort zone.

I am looking forward to next year ,and i enjoy looking at your web-sites ,it is really interesting seeing the variety of styles one challenge can produce. A phrase they use on Strictly Come Dancing, is Keep Dancing! All I can say is Keep Painting!!!!!!!
All the very best for 2012,
Luv Syls x

November and December Challenges

The last challenge of the year was an upside down yellow rose, posted by Paint and Draw Together. I wanted to add some drama so I added the dog-tags and painted it in acrylics giving bold colours to an emotional subject

 I added some holly to give this challenge a little more colour. Pen and wash, Studio Atelier

 I enjoyed this challenge as it reminded me of summers in France. Pen and wash for A Day not Wasted.

 

Pen and wash, for the Rookie site.

I can't believe another year has passed, but I look at the Challenges I have attempted and feel I have certainly been stretched, and have found the subjects so different and some I wouldn't have thought to have tried without the impending deadline!!!

Well it's goodbye to the to the Old year and hello to the New one , bring it on!!!!!!!

October Challenges

 

This is the first of two still life.Painted in oils for Paint and Draw Together.

 This is the second still life ,this time painted in acrylics, for the Rookie Challenge.

 For the Studio Atelier challenge the subject was  "your  pets", also painted in acrylics.A picture of our lovely dogs, although alas two of them are no longer with us.

The last challenge for this month was a Paris accordion player.A little changed from the original reference, but i felt this gave it a warmer feel and a little encouragement for him.Painted again in acrylics for A Day Not Wasted.

September Challenges

I really enjoyed this challenge from Paint and Draw Together. The subject was Old Door,  I felt it was very Provencal. I painted it in watercolours, so reminiscent of doors in that area.

The sweets were from the Rookie Challenge. I chose to use crayons for a change as I had never used them before, not best pleased but it's good to try something different.

The painting of a Parisienne Waitress was for A Day Not Wasted, a great subject very much enjoyed and back to oils.

Holiday Paintings in Provence 2011

These are some of my sketch book paintings from my holiday in Southern France.

 This was the first painting day of the holiday and you can see from the sky it wasn't very sunny, in fact soon after arriving it poured down with rain and we had to abandon the field and work from references. Pity. 

In every village somewhere there is at least one very old  2 CV .They seem to be preserved like national treasures!! This is a scene from a hamlet called Les Barbiers.

The French are very thrifty, this door was on a block being saved until someone can find a use for it.

The house of the most important person in any town or village is the mayor. This is the Maire in the village of Murs. It has an unusual turret feature - no bell,  just a round structure.

July - August 2011 Challenges

Studio Atelier  - Breakfast Time

(ink sketch)

A Day Not Wasted - Passing Through

(oils)

Paint and Draw Together - Pitcher, Peaches and Apricots

(oils)

  Rookie Painter - Peonies

(oils)