My Studio Assistant

Dear Departed Katie and Topsy

Until last August, I had been without a pet since my last cat passed away 5 years ago, I was so bereft that I felt I couldn't go through the end of a pet's life ever again.  Anyway, my asthma had greatly improved since no longer owning a cat.

But, things change, I was introduced to a lovely cat that a neighbour of mine has, I looked after him in my own home while she had some plumbing work done and he was such wonderful company!  He was affectionate, outgoing, playful and even slept under the covers in bed with me.  He has the softest fur you can imagine and, the odd thing, it is curly!

It turns out that this cat is a breed called Devon Rex and his behaviour is very typical.  They are very human-centred, playful, intelligent, great climbers, eager to be part of whatever activity is going on.  In a way, their traits remind me more of dogs.

They look very beautiful, they have slender bodies with long legs, pretty triangular faces and huge ears and of course, this amazing curly coat.  Oh and this coat doesn't affect my asthma!

Anyway, my neighbour invited me to visit a friend of hers who breeds Devons as she had a litter of kittens who needed socialising before they were rehomed.  This breeder is a wonderful lady and cares very much for her animals.  She has many retired older cats who she is caring for in their dotage and she very carefully selects healthy traits and colours when she decides to breed a new litter.

Devon Rex Kittens

The kittens are adorable!  They have very little in the way of coat, almost bald and their ears seem even bigger on their heads, making them seem alien-like.  Of course I put my name down for a kitten (need you ask?)!

A week before the kitten was to take up residence with me, I got a phone call from the breeder.  There was an 8yr old Devon Rex at the local cat rescue centre and would I please adopt her instead of the kitten? 

My Studio Assistant, D'arcy

And that is how D'arcy came into my life - it was love at first sight, she loved me and I loved her and we have been inseparable since.  She now comes and sleeps in the studio with me, or sometimes she sits on my shoulder and lets me know what she thinks about my work. 

Little Talismans

Yet more works in progress, these are the starts of a series of 4 inch talisman pieces that shall incorporate a lot of mixed media surface work before they are completed.

 

They are good fun to work on, I hope to get at least one finished by the end of the weekend.

Scribble Sunday

10"x10" on Canvas

I love the scribble on this painting, it was my handwriting, gone over the top several times, within a masked area, which forced it to be confined within specific boundaries.

Triplicate Tuesday

I have worked these three together, so all their colours are uniform.  Each has it's own voice, though, so they could stand alone.

Usually, I begin my paintings with the darks first and then move to the lighter ones in subsequent layers (of which there are many), but I decided to experiment with the light, transparent colours first and move towards the darker, more opaque colours as the painting progressed.  It has resulted in quite vibrant lights, requiring less paint to get them to shine. There also are subtle colour gradations as transparent colour on transparent colour merges to form another colour.  It means that there is less of a need to mix colours prior to application, they mix on the canvas.  This was how I used to paint in watercolours and makes for some lovely, bright mixes.

My paintings have been rather difficult to photograph, but I decided to get the Canon SLR out and I am pleased to see that it picks up the texture much better.  You can just see on the first one, the top left corner has crumpled leaves as well as modeling paste text (from Rumi's Meditations).

I intend to use them together as they are to occupy a large wall space in a gym.  There will be more done to them before they are completed, so watch this space.  Will I be able to post another Fearless Friday or will it be a Failure Friday?

Stencil Sunday

One of my favourite ways to include mark-making is to use my own home-made stencils.  They remind me of screen-printing and I love how I can reuse them again and again.

I use a hot stylus to burn the design and as it is held like a pen or pencil, my own hand is evident in the finished stencil.

Today's new stencil is on the top left of this painting, the interlocking squares.  This is a negative image, the stencil blocks out the paint, whereas other stencils, like the chevron to the right of it, uses the positive image.

I am still working on the theme of boundaries, so all my stencils reflect that subject in some way and this design is based on field shapes.

Almost There!

Well, I thought I had finished this, but I hid it from myself for a while and then took a long, hard, critical look at it this morning.

I want to do a few more things to it (not much) and then call it done - it is on its way to the framers on Tuesday ready for exhibiting next month.

More Progress and a New One

Thanks for the lovely comments on my landscape piece, it is still coming along nicely and I am really enjoying working on it.  Here it is as of last night:

There is much more I need to do on this still.  As it is quite large, I am working from top to bottom rather than all over like I usually do and I still have much of the foreground to put in.  Once it has dried enough I shall work all over it again, refining it further.  

On Saturday, I was unable to work on it once I had got some colour in, so I began my next painting, here it is just sketched in with a burnt sienna wash:

As I don't like to use solvents or any other quick drying medium, just linseed if I need the paint to spread easier, drying time is a bit longer, so something else to work on may help my productivity.  

Having said that, I feel that having a larger piece may mean that I can work on different areas while the other dries. 

A Bit More Progress

I managed a bit more on the landscape, I worked a fair bit on the sky but it still needs some attention, plus I blocked in some of the fields and trees.  It is now beginning to look a little less purple!

Tomorrow, I may post the beginnings of another similar format painting that I have begun to draw out.  I need something else to work on while the layers dry.

Panorama Landscape WIP2

Thankyou very much all of you who have left such positive feedback on my newest landscape.

Here is a bit more work on it, I completely changed the sky as I thought the clouds were a bit too pointy and unrealistic.

This is it just blocked in and I will add the lighter parts of the clouds in a day or two.  I am having great time working at this size and format - and on canvas, for a change!

Bluebell Woods - Work in Progress Part 2

I am still working on my bluebell woods painting, it is taking a lot longer than I thought it would!  After a bit of a panic thinking I just couldn't cope with all those trees and all those bluebells, I think I am almost there.

This is where it was last night.  More has been done to it since, but I am beginning to think I prefer last night's stage better.  Hmm.

Hopefully, soon I will be able to post the final, finished version!