Peaceful

It has been a while since I have posted anything. But life has been pretty hectic and busy and it started to show in myself, so I have taken some time out and had a bit of a life makeover, which was very well needed.  I have been looking for balance, and I am still trying to achieve this.  So there has been lots of reading, starting every morning with meditation and changing my bad eating habits to good ones, and I am very much enjoying this new way of living, and there is so much more I want to change and keep developing!

Enough about me, I have been working on a custom order which has been a lovely experience. It was for a child's holy communion and I enjoyed painting this very much. I wanted to keep it old looking, but also keep an element of illustration as it is for a child. I chose the colours carefully, and there was a lot of mixing going on until I felt it was perfect!  I am very happy with how this turned out. I do miss this painting already! but it has gone to such a lovely person.  The most important part of any artwork is enjoyment, and you can always tell if someone has really enjoyed creating something just by the energy it gives off. It has to come from the heart!

I wonder what will be my next project will be?

March give away

Here is my next give away. An A4 flat canvas board. If you are interested in owning this gorgeous piece leave a comment on what love means to you. There are lot of different types of love!  I look forward to reading your comments! winner will be announced at the end of March!

Winner

What a busy week, so much to read and so much to paint, and lots of photos to take! But I am enjoying myself a lot!

I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has taken part in entering my blog give away, so many emails and private messages!

So here is the winner of this lovely piece.

Karen B.  Please email me so that I can get this sent to you ASAP.  Well done Karen! xxxxxx

Keep an eye out for the next piece that will be up for grabs!

New painting in progress

I have now been shopping and brought lots of new paints and feeling the need to get down to some serious painting.  I have gone back to one of my favourite subjects, Angels!

I  love the thought of angels,  having something around to support us when times are tough and even good.  So many times we are surrounded by people but still feel so alone. 

 

This is just the begining of the painting, there is still lots to do, but I am loving this one so much!
I had better get back to painting!

Happy Weekend!

Busy busy

This part of the year has been so busy, I always feel better once January is gone.  Feels like everything stands still.  I have been spending my time on reading, but I seem to have book overload at the moment and not enough time to read them all!

These are books by Susannah Conway, I am only just begining to read 'This I know', but I am already enjoying it very much.  Susannah's partner very suddenly passed away and she explains how grief is very challenging, but how it also teaches us a lot, and at the moment I can really relate to this! so I am looking forward to reading more of this book.  I also brought her 'Instan Love' all based on polaroid photography, which has now got me hunting down a polaroid camera! very inspirational book. You can check out here site here http://www.susannahconway.com/

I have also been taking some time out from my own illustration work, and been researching and following others, which is such a great learning curb.
I have been reading through Kelly Rae Roberts e-book 'flying lessons' which is filled with amazing information if you are looking to further your art!  I will be posting more about her on a later blog, as I lurv her work!

I ordered a book that is called 'Art saves' which is filled with other artists stories which is also encouraging. So much reading and not enough time! but so enjoyable.

I want to progress my floral illustration work to, and I came across another artists called Jill Bliss, whose work I love, and ordered her journal, which encourages you to draw flowers without worrying about mistakes, she helps you to concentrate on the shapes and explore patterns, again I have only just started to try this out!

 

 

Of course I needed some subjects to use so I had to buy myself some lovely yellow roses.

I am on a mission to find the best way to scan and print my work, so that I can offer prints for sale, so if anyone has any helpful suggestions I would love to hear from you.

Over this year I want to produce small original pieces which I will post on my blog which are free, and just require you to leave a comment when these pieces come up. You can see my most recent one on an earlier post.  Just a little way of spreading some happiness around!

First set of greeting cards

I have got my first batch of greeting cards for sale.  They have worked out ok, but I can see where I have some more new stuff to learn, about the use of technology when sending art off to be printed.

However, I am pleased with these. I also love the gold envelopes they come with.

 

 

 

 On sale here:  https://www.etsy.com/listing/123255120/mary