A Mothers Bond

A mother bond - Graphite Sketch


When I was little, I used to love watching my mother sit at her dressing table with all her make up laid out in front of her.
She would go through the same routine each time, foundation, mascara, eye shadow, blusher etc. Until finally she would apply several layers of lipstick, finish of with a good dowsing of hair spray all over her hair and face then quantities of expensive perfume.

My mother as a young woman was really beautiful like a pin up but with the stress and strain of bringing up 4 children and pretty much working full time it took it's toll on her she also smoked heavily like so many of that era.

One day I sighed and said I can't wait to get older so I could wear make up....

My mother stopped what she was doing turned to me and said, ' Darling you are so pretty and clever you will never need to where make up'

I looked at her for a while longer, trying to work out what she meant
Finally I gave in, as to me my mother was pretty and clever too ( all mums are)
'So how come you wear make up then?'

Once more she stopped what she was doing swung round to me, opening her arm's calling me towards her

'Because my love; 'When I was a little girl, No one told me I was pretty and clever!'

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As I grew up and still to this day I hardly ever wear makeup
beauty is not what you apply to your skin, it's what makes you.

I have never had time for superficial men or women
In today's world people spend a lot of effort trying to be what they are not just to fit in..

I don't want to be like every one else... I am Cosmic...

Stonehenge On Tour?

 

Stonehenge - Acrylics On Large Boxed Canvas.

Every Year when I was younger we would wake up early and walk across the fields to watch the sun rise over Stonehenge
sometimes we would sit on horse back on the brow and look across the chalk downs to the stones, watching the hippies and druids chant / dance between the stones, like native Americans on the prairies edge just observing quietly.
Other times we would go join them in our over sized woolie jumpers and flip flops
I have always had a bonding with the stones and enjoyed the times I was able to sneak in with a book and nestle between the stone, enjoying the immense magical energy they radiate.

The last time I stood between the stones was about 14 years ago I gain special permission from English heritage to photograph the stones as part of my course but it was winter and although we had a sharp frost the mist soon
descended and the photo quality was poor, especially in black and white.
Since moving to Wales I haven't been able to do my annual solstice pilgrimage

So this Summer solstice I was delighted to read that the stones hitching their skirts up and coming to me!

Stonehenge is going on tour and its first stop is the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Thursday (June 21).
‘Sacrilege’ is a life-size inflatable replica of Stonehenge, created by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and is part of the Cultural Olympiad.
The once-in-a-lifetime experience of having an Olympic bounce on a replica of the world’s most famous standing stones
The 100ft ‘bouncy castle’ The Garden is the only Welsh stop on the 26-date ‘Sacrilege’ UK tour in the run-up to the Olympics

 

Here are some other photos I took at the National Botanic Garden of Wales

 

 

 

Back To Basic's

Iris Sketch

Garlic Sketch

Break In the Skies
Acrylics On Canvas

Every Artist has confidence issues, I get them all the time.
my problem is I can't always get whats in my head on to canvas
I am not a natural artist, I have a natural artist eye.
I see art, colours and beauty in everything I see but I have to work really hard to
project what I see on to canvas

When I hit a rut, I always go back to basics, working on quick colourful
piece's, sketches and trawl through reference photos

I think I am always going to have these hiccoughs but I guess as long as there's always someone out there
to spur me on I will always get through them.
Although I think I might have to give up painting because I can't afford the materials or course fee's anymore,
I am spending more then I am getting back and one thing I learnt right at the beginning you can't cut corners
on quality, this will only reflect in the work.

Dryslwyn Castle - Castle In The Mist

I Love Castle's... No I really love castles
If I have to go on a road trip, I try to makes sure I go via a new castle, anyone comes to visit
I drag them around castles ( I think that's why they don't visit often!)

So you would think this is a natural marriage.. Art and castles, so did I..
Wrong!!!
I worked and re worked this piece and in the end
I had to force my self to step away from the easel!
End result - Castle in the mist
It's a cosmic piece!!

More Info on this castle
http://www.castlewales.com/dryslwyn.html

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Today is Fathers Day.... I am thinking of you both
He would have been 78 this month..
RIP..

And Finally
Saw this today, thought I would share....

Blossom Bird

Acrylics on Canvas
About A4 in size...

I sing of brooks, of blossoms, birds and bowers,
Of April, May, of June, and July flowers.
I sing of Maypoles, hock carts, wassails, wakes,
Of bridegrooms, brides, and of their bridal cakes.
I write of youth, of love, and have access
By these to sing of cleanly wantonness.
I sing of dews, of rains, and, piece by piece,
Of balm, of oil, of spice, and ambergris.

Eiffel Magnifique

First Layer On..

Eiffel Magnifique - Acrylic on Stretched Canvas 20 x 24

Original Photo I used...


I have never been to the Eiffel tower or central Paris
as a child we would drive past the outskirts of the city often and I would just catch a glimpse of it in the night sky
I begged my father to take me, next time he would say, it never happened!
Again in adult life I tried to go so many times and always failed.

However I have painted the tower a few times

This one I did a few years back

I hope one day I will make it to Paris!
I will stand underneath it's pillars marvel at it's existence and enjoy all it's romantic glory.

All About Tree's

Indigo Winter
Acrylics on Canvas Roll

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Voices From The Shadows
Pastels On Colour Fix Paper

I have this week been playing with light behind tree's
I am a natural born tree hugger! I love tree's
but painting them is no easy feat, I spend a lot of time
studying them, I particularly like the way light filters
through them, the shadows this leaves on the ground
more so in winter when the sun is low in the sky.

Penguin Hugs....

Sometimes as you get older the aches and pains all get a bit much
so it's time to down the brushes and have a little rest
hot water bottle, endless cups of tea and watch some movies
Fluffy slippers and loyal dogs at your feet!

The below painting, Acrylics on Board was done just for a bit
of fun but it makes me smile
Penguins are so cute and such a joy to paint!

Penguin Hugs

Free Watermarks...

Ever wanted to put watermarks on your images
for FREE??
here is a lovely little program

download direct :)http://download.cnet.com/Easy-Watermark-Studio-Lite/3000-12511_4-75328801.html?tag=rbxcrdl1

Tabby KAT

My friend asked me if I painted cat's in short 'No'
I really don't like painting other peoples animals
I have tried many times to paint my own dog and failed
my dog has real intense eyes, get them right the rest doesn't matter
but capturing the essence of other peoples animals, at the moment
I feel is beyond me, however I wanted to try painting on to black board
and her cat Tabitha would be ideal.
So I went with the thought ' what have I got to lose?'
I feel I have done a good job of the painting but not captured her pretty little cat
in fact to my mine looks more masculine!

However I really did enjoy painting it!

Forêt Rouge

I love painting large canvasses but the work and time that's involved in producing such
work takes immense effort.
Forêt Rouge is a lovely impressionistic piece
depth colour and movement.

William The Welsh Black Bullock

There is nothing more welsh or magificant the the mighty welsh black cattle

Drovers would herd them to English markets. Herds from south west Wales travelled towards Hereford and Gloucester up the Tywi Valley to Llandovery. Herds from South Cardiganshire reached Llandovery through Llanybydder.
They would then return to Wales with large amounts of money, a targets for highwaymen. The result was the formation in 1799 of the Banc yr Eidon in Llandovery, the Bank of the Black Ox, which was later purchased by Lloyds Bank!

As the name suggests, the cattle are naturally black. They generally have white horns with black tips, Red individuals occur occasionally, red and other colours were more common in the past.
Its hardy nature coupled with its habit of browsing as well as grazing makes it ideal for rough pasture such as heathland and moorland, mountains. Traditionally bred for both milk and beef, commercially it is now usually used only for beef.

Acrylics on Canvas

And now for Something Different!

Boys Don't Cry
Acrylic On Canvas

Whit Whoo
Acrylic on Canvas Board


Every now and then I paint something different!

Boys Don't Cry.. Has so many deep meanings, I could explain them all but we all see a different
story in it.

Whit Whoo, I can't help but laugh when I look at this painting, every single owl has a different thought
and expression!