December 2013

This challenge from Paint and Draw together came through in November. As I worked on it I was aware my husband was putting up Christmas lights, suddenly we were well into December and thoughts of Christmas were coming through, walnuts appeared, a bottle of wine, a bauble  and decorations - it had to stop before it got really out of control. However, I do feel in the Christmas mood and wish everyone a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Continuing with my farmyard theme, its chickens - these have obviously only just been allowed in to this paddock as the amount of grass will testify. It is a painting out of my head so please excuse any mistakes.

Our little Millennium Art Group, (10 members) meet on occasional Wednesdays, there is no tutoring just a few of us who meet to paint. Over Christmas we have put up some of our work, (mine is the Peony study).
Hope you have had some enjoyment from looking at the work I have done over this last year, and I cant wait for the new challenges to come.
All the very best for the New Year.

November

This month has rather thin offerings.
This months challenge from Paint and Draw Together was this rather beautiful lotus, which I painted in oils. I loved the vibrant colour of the lotus, but added a few goldfish for good luck.

A Day not Wasted posted this picture of a mare with her foal. Sorry, but found the foal rather ugly so concentrated on the mother. Drew the mare in charcoal, a media I haven't used for a long time may do something else with the challenge if I have time.

October paintings

 There were no challenges for September as Lee was on holiday and this was a challenge set by Paint and draw Together.A pastel drawing of Lelas sister,I'm afraid i have made her look rather anemic,although I was pleased with the likeness.

 On holiday in France we went for a trip to Geneva and was feeling a bit guilty about not have produced any pictures,so I quickly set about this clock tower.

Lee back from holiday and posted this really difficult picture of a place called Tellaride Colorado.My goodness this was a fence and a half!!!

August - Part 2

 

I had a wonderful week in Provence painting in the sunshine as my husband relaxed with a book or two. The first two watercolours are in Lieux, with some stunning cliffs crossing the landscape. I also found a little pottager and had to paint the aubergines.

There are some truly colourful outcrops of ocre around the area we were based, and the weather has made some very dramatic features of the rocks in this ocre wood.

 Bonnieux - a hill village . There are many examples of these villages round and about.

Menerbe is another hill villiage nearby with a splendid clock tower at the top.

Now for two oil paintings, the first at a village called Venasque, with a war memorial by the side of the church.

My other oil is of a table in Viens. Although there was nothing set on the table at the time I felt it wouldn't be long before it could be set for an "apros."
I'm not sure I really liked the size of the watercolour paper I used but it was worth a try.
Can't believe we are now at the end of August, and summer pictures can bring back good memories of our time in Provence.

August - part 1

For some reason I found this challenge from Paint and Draw together very eery. Lela had composed the picture from three different references.

I tried to start the painting several times, but alas no. So for the first time I thought I would try it as an abstract, and for me it works, (but I wouldn't want to do all challenges abstract).

The pigs, I am calling this  - "It's stopped raining can we play out ?" It is the next in the series of around the farm.

July Challenges

Only two challenges came this month. The milkmaid by Vermeer was an interesting one to paint. It was the challenge set by A Day Not Wasted.

This challenge was set by Paint and Draw together. I called it ...This year, next year sometime, never......

I challenged myself with this reference. Malcolm and I had been to Italy for ten days. One trip was by boat to Amalfi, a town built into the cliffsides, the scenery was stunning and very dramatic.
As yet I have not found the reference I want for my pigs and chickens, so they are still to come.

May Challenges

 The challenges were slow coming this month so I challenged myself. I made up this herd of Jerseys, there is something quite beautiful about these cows, so here is how I attempted to put them on canvas.

Paint and Draw Together put this wonderful challenge up - lights and darks and dissapearing edges.

 I couldn't resist and called mine  " yummy biscuits"

 A Day Not Wasted posted quite late - A Provencal Building.

There are a lot of abandoned buildings in the Provence countryside, but I thought bring in a little life.

March - April

This month started with Lent  and then Easter, so lots of distractions and challenges were late coming. So I thought I would find a challenge of my own  --- Sheep.

The first challenge was this butterfly, Paint and Draw Together.

 Fragile, so I thought water colour, but later i painted another version in oils

Running out of time with A Day Not Wasted I painted a watercolour and pen version of the Irish Headland. I was not at all pleased with the result - it was  rushed  and not  worthy of a beautiful scene.

There are two new challenges to come  -  a stunning sunrise, and some spring crocus ,but they may very well go into next month, I am not sure yet.

January - February 2013

The challenges this month went over to February and were not as many as usual. However a friend asked if I could paint a scene from Tuscany where she spends time in the summer. I was very grateful to do so. While the weather was cold and dull here I was enjoying the Tuscan sunshine that the picture exuded.

I enjoy still life pictures, but had to add a little extra.

We have been to Roussillon several times over the last few years and this challenge was very enjoyable. However, I can't believe how pale I made the wall of the Marie, it should have been really bright. I may work on it and bring it up to the more vibrant tone 

it should be.

This is the ammended painting - more colour, less insipid.